Part II
Getting Your Hands Dirty
In this part . . .
Ready to get down to business and build an electronic circuit or two (or more)? This part gives you the lowdown on how to set up your own electronics shop, stock up on tools and supplies, and stay safe. It also runs through the essential “how-to’s” you need to know so that you can build — and troubleshoot — your circuits.
You find out where (and where not) to locate your electronics workbench, which shiny new tools you absolutely must have, and which electronic components to buy to get started. We explain the language of schematics — circuit diagrams — and how to transfer a circuit design from paper to live, current-carrying components. We show you how to use a solderless breadboard to build prototype (test) circuits and how to solder components to create permanent circuits. You also meet your new best friend — the oh-so-talented multimeter — which enables you to “see” inside your circuits and sniff out problems. And, we explain the basics of two useful, yet optional, test devices: the logic probe and the oscilloscope.
