Basic Electronics: LED Scope Part 1

Recommended for upper middle school and up. Requires tool set purchased separately.

Part 1: Basic Electronics teaches:

• The Nature of Electricity
• Basic electronic components
• How to read a schematic diagram
• How to solder
• How to un-solder
• How to use a Digital Multimeter
• How to use Ohm's law and some basic math to analyze circuits
• Basic Semiconductor Physics of how diodes and transistors work
• Simple Operational Amplifier (op-amp) Circuits
• Simple Digital Logic Circuits

After some basic theory about the physics of electricity (1 chapter), safety, schematics, and construction techniques are explained. The rest of the 12 chapters are all hands-on to apply and explore this material. Each module consists of a small section of theory, then detailed step by step instructions are given to build the circuit that puts this theory into practice. Next, the circuit is tested (great reinforcement and excitement as LEDs blink and speakers sound) and analyzed to show that practice matches theory. In the process, the knowledge and the skills from earlier modules are reinforced. Finally, there is a page of key items learned in the chapter that can be used for review and future reference.

The ten theory/build teaching circuits start with passive components, then diodes and transistors are used to build control circuits and an audio amplifier. The final sections use analog and digital Integrated Circuits (ICs) to teach the basics of working with operational amplifiers and digital logic gates.

The knowledge and skills gained here, in Part-1, are used to build the next, more advanced, LED Array Oscilloscope in Part 2.

This kit contains two printed circuit boards, components to build the power supply, test leads, and the main Signal Generator board (plus spare parts), a piezo speaker, wall-mount transformer, and all instruction on a CD in pdf format.