#686 Practical Electronics

Book notes: Practical Electronics: Components and Techniques, by John M. Hughes. First published September 25, 2014.

Notes

1. Electrons in Motion

Atoms and Electrons
Electric Charge and Current
Current Flow in a Basic Circuit
Ohm’s Law
Power
Resistance
Example: Building a Voltage Divider
Summary

2. Fasteners and Adhesives

Screws and Bolts
Screw and Bolt Sizes
Screw and Bolt Drive Types
Screw and Bolt Head Styles
Selecting Screws and Bolts
Washers
Self-Tapping Screws
Rivets
Adhesives and Bonding
Glues, Epoxies, and Solvents
Working with Wood and Paper
Working with Plastic
Working with Metal
Special-Purpose Adhesives
Summary

3. Tools

Screwdrivers
Pliers
Wire Cutters
Wire Strippers
Crimping Tools
Socket and Hex Drivers
Clamps
Vises
Rotary Tools
Grinders
Drills
Drill Bits
Taps and Dies
Small Hand Saws
Miniature Power Saws
Specialty Metalworking Tools
Tweezers
Soldering Tools
Magnifiers and Microscopes
Workspaces
Summary

4. Tool Techniques

Working with Fasteners
Screwdriver Sizes and Types
Self-Tapping Screws
Hex-Socket-Head Fasteners and Hex Wrenches
Hex-Head Fasteners and Socket Wrenches
Adjustable Wrenches
Wrenches (Spanners)
Rivets
Dealing with Stubborn Fasteners
Soldering and Desoldering
Solder Types
Soldering Technique
Desoldering Wires and Through-Hole Parts
Surface-Mount Soldering
Surface-Mount Desoldering
Cutting
Rod and Bar Stock
Sheet Stock
Drilling
Selecting A Drill Size
Drilling Speed
Drilling Thin Sheet Stock
Lubricants
Punches and Pilot Holes
Using a Step Drill
Common Drilling Problems
Taps and Dies
Modification Cutting
Jeweler’s Saw
Rotary Tool
Summary

5. Power Sources

Batteries
Battery Packages
Primary Batteries
Secondary Batteries
Miniature Button/Coin Batteries
Battery Storage Considerations
Using Batteries
Battery Circuits
Selecting Batteries
Power Supply Technology
Wall Plug-in DC Power Supplies
Bench DC Power Supplies
Modular and Internal DC Power Supplies
Photovoltaic Power Sources
Fuses and Circuit Breakers
Fuses
Circuit Breakers
Summary

6. Switches

One Switch, Multiple Circuits
Switch Types
Toggle
Rocker
Slide
Rotary
Pushbutton
Snap-Action
Slide and Rotary Switch Circuits
Switch Selection Criteria
Switch Caveats
Summary

7. Connectors and Wiring

Wire and Cable
Wire Gauges
Insulation
Twisted Pairs
Shielding
Multi-Conductor Cables
Stripping Wire Insulation
Connectors
Connector Termination
Connector Types
Assembling Connectors
Soldered Terminals
Crimped Terminals
Connector Backshells
IDC Connectors
Ethernet Connectors
Summary

8. Passive Components

Tolerance
Voltage, Power, and Temperature
Packages
Resistors
Physical Forms
Fixed Resistors
Variable Resistors
Special-Purpose Resistors
Resistor Markings
Capacitors
Capacitance Values
Capacitor Types
Variable Capacitors
Surface-Mount Capacitors
Chokes, Coils, and Transformers
Chokes
Coils
Variable Inductors
Transformers
Packages
Summary

9. Active Components

How to Read a Datasheet
Datasheet Organization
Datasheet Walk-Through
Collecting Datasheets
Electrostatic Discharge
Packaging Overview
Through-Hole Parts
Surface-Mount Parts
Using Different Package Types
Diodes and Rectifiers
Small-Signal Diodes
Rectifiers
Light-Emitting Diodes
Zener Diodes
Exotic Diodes
Diode/Rectifier Axial Package Types
Diode/Rectifier Surface-Mount Packages
LED Package Types
Transistors
Small-Signal Transistors
Power Transistors
Field-Effect Transistors
Conventional Transistor Package Types
Surface-Mount Transistor Package Types
SCR and TRIAC Devices
Silicon-Controlled Rectifiers
TRIACs
Heatsinks
Integrated Circuits
Conventional IC Package Types
Surface-Mount IC Package Types
High-Current and Voltage Regulation ICs
Summary

10. Relays

Relay Background
Armature Relays
Reed Relays
Contactor
Relay Packages
PCB Relays
Lug-Terminal Relays
Socketed Relays
Selecting a Relay
Relay Reliability Issues
Contact Arcing
Coil Overheating
Relay Bounce
Relay Applications
Controlling Relays with Low-Voltage Logic
Signal Switching
Power Switching
Relay Logic
Summary

11. Logic

Logic Basics
Origin of Logic ICs
Logic Families
Logic Building Blocks: 4000 and 7400 ICs
Closing the TTL and CMOS gap
4000 Series CMOS Logic Devices
7400 Series TTL Logic Devices
CMOS and TTL Applications
Programmable Logic Devices
Microprocessors and Microcontrollers
Programming a Microcontroller
Types of Microcontrollers
Selecting a Microcontroller
Working with Logic Components
Probing and Measuring
Tips, Hints, and Cautions
Electrostatic Discharge Control
Summary

12. Discrete Control Interfaces

The Discrete Interface
Discrete Interface Applications
Hacking a Discrete Interface
Discrete Inputs
Using a Pull-Up or a Pull-Down Resistor
Using Active Input Buffering
Using Relays with Inputs
Optical Isolators
Discrete Outputs
Current Sinking and Sourcing
Buffering Discrete Outputs
Simple One-Transistor Buffer
Logic-Level Translation
The BSS138 FET
The TXB0108
The NTB0101
Components
Summary

13. Analog Interfaces

Interfacing with an Analog World
From Analog to Digital and Back Again
Analog-to-Digital Converters
Digital-to-Analog Converters
Hacking Analog Signals
Summary

14. Data Communication Interfaces

Basic Digital Communications Concepts
Serial and Parallel
Synchronous and Asynchronous
SPI and I2C
SPI
I2C
A Brief Survey of SPI and I2C Peripheral Devices
RS-232
RS-232 Signals
DTE and DCE
Handshaking
RS-232 Components
RS-485
RS-485 Signals
Line Drivers and Receivers
RS-485 Multi-Drop
RS-485 Components
RS-232 vs. RS-485
USB
USB Terminology
USB Connections
USB Classes
USB Data Rates
USB Hubs
Device Configuration
USB Endpoints and Pipes
Device Control
USB Interface Components
USB Hacking
Ethernet Network Communications
Ethernet Basics
Ethernet ICs, Modules, and USB Convertors
Wireless Communications
Bandwidth and Modulation
The ISM Radio Bands
2.45 GHz Short-Range
802.11
Bluetooth®
Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE)
Zigbee
Other Data Communications Methods
Summary

15. Printed Circuit Boards

PCB History
PCB Basics
Pads, Vias, and Traces
Surface-Mount Components
Fabrication
PCB Layout
Determine Dimensions
Arrange Parts
Place Components
Route Traces on the Solder Side
Route Traces on the Component Side
Create the Silkscreen
Generate Gerber Files
Fabricating a PCB
PCB Guidelines
Layout Grid
Grid Spacing
Location Reference
Trace Width for Signals
Trace Width for Power
Trace Separation
Via Size
Via Separation
Pad Size
Sharp Corners
Silkscreen
Summary

16. Packaging

The Importance of Packaging
Types of Packaging
Plastic
Metal
Stock Enclosures
Plastic Enclosures
Cast Aluminum Enclosures
Extruded Aluminum Enclosures
Sheet Metal Enclosures
Building or Recycling Enclosures
Building Plastic and Wood Enclosures
Unconventional Enclosures
Repurposing Existing Enclosures
Designing Packaging for Electronics
Device Size and Weight
Environmental Considerations
Thermal Considerations
Sources
Summary

17. Test Equipment

Basic Test Equipment
Digital Multimeters
Using a DMM
Oscilloscopes
How an Oscilloscope Works
Using an Oscilloscope
Advanced Test Equipment
Pulse and Signal Generators
Logic Analyzers
Buying Used and Surplus Equipment
Summary

A. Essential Electronics and AC Circuits

Units of Measurement
Voltage, Current, and Power
Voltage
Current
Power
Resistance
Conductivity and Resistance
Ohm’s Law
Series Resistance Networks
Parallel Resistance Networks
Equivalent Circuits
Voltage and Current Sources
Lumped-Parameter Elements
Thévenin’s Theorem
Equivalent Circuit Applications
AC Concepts
Waveforms
Other Waveforms
AC Frequency, Voltage, and Power
AC Phase
Capacitance, Inductance, Reactance, and Impedance
Capacitors
Inductors
Impedance and Reactance
Solid-State Concepts
The P-N Junction
Diodes and Rectifiers
Special-Purpose Diodes
Transistors
Operational Amplifiers
Basic Op Amp Circuits
Specialized Op Amps
Noise
Noise Sources
AC Line Noise
AC Ripple
Spurious Noise
RF Noise and RFI
Recommended Reading and Further Exploration

B. Schematics

Wires and Current Paths
Common Schematic Symbols
Schematic Capture and EDA Tools
Open Source and Commercial Tools for Schematic Capture
Other Open Source Schematic Capture Tools

C. Bibliography

D. Resources

Software
Open Source Schematic Capture Tools
CAE Software Tools
PCB Layout Tools
Hardware, Components, and Tools
Electronic Component Manufacturers
Electronics Distributors (USA)
Discount and Surplus Electronics
Mechanical Parts and Hardware (Screws, Nuts, Bolts)
Microcontrollers, Kits, Parts, and Supplies
Electronic Enclosures and Chassis
Tools
Test Equipment
Printed Circuit Board Supplies and Fabricators
Prototype and Fast-Turnaround Fabricators
PCB Kit Sources
eBay
Other Sources
Datasheets, Application Notes, and Manuals
Datasheets
Application Notes
Manuals

E. Components Lists

Controllers
8-Bit Microcontrollers
16-Bit Microcontrollers
32-Bit Microcontrollers
Memory
Serial Interface EEPROM ICs
Serial Interface SRAM ICs
Serial Interface Flash ICs
Logic
4000 Series CMOS Logic
7400 Series TTL Logic
Interface Components
Serial Interface ADC Devices
Serial Interface DAC Devices
Serial Interface Discrete I/O Expansion ICs
Relay Drivers
SPI Display Modules
Various SPI/I2C Peripheral Devices
Translation
Interface-Level Translators
Data Communications Components
RS-232 Interface ICs
RS-232 UART ICs
RS-485 Transceiver ICs
USB Interface ICs
Ethernet Interface ICs
802.11b/g Ethernet Interface Modules
Bluetooth Modules
Bluetooth Low-Energy Components
Bluetooth Low-Energy Modules
ZigBee Modules

Project Notes

#686 Practical Electronics

Notes

Contents

1. Electrons in Motion

2. Fasteners and Adhesives

3. Tools

4. Tool Techniques

5. Power Sources

6. Switches

7. Connectors and Wiring

8. Passive Components

9. Active Components

10. Relays

11. Logic

12. Discrete Control Interfaces

13. Analog Interfaces

14. Data Communication Interfaces

15. Printed Circuit Boards

16. Packaging

17. Test Equipment

A. Essential Electronics and AC Circuits

B. Schematics

C. Bibliography

D. Resources

E. Components Lists