Quote:
Originally Posted by DonRotolo
Slow down a little. Transistors and microcontrollers and programming are all different planets.
OK, you say you have the basics: Resistors, capacitors, maybe inductors. E=IR and P=IE. Parallel, series, and series-parallel. OK, good.
Now move to AC electronics and see the differences. Get an oscilloscope (a cheap one, or borrow one) so you can see things. They are available for less than a week's lunch money. Wrap your head around impedance.
Play with diodes for a while. A transistor is basically 2 diodes back to back (but of course on the same die, so you can't build one from diodes). See what it does to voltage. Figure out how to use one as a switch.
Transistors are next, buy a bunch at Radio Shack for a few dollars (they sell an assortment for cheap) or PM me your mail address and I'll send you a pile. Look up some simple switch circuits on the Interweb and build them. Learn about biasing a transistor and why, to build a very simple amplifier. That o'scope will help you visualize what is happening. Look up the concept of a transistor curve tracer and get your head around some curve traces to see what they mean. It is OK to let some smoke out.
That should keep you busy until Kickoff.
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Yeah. I agree that they are completely different. However, if you have a good dev board, like the BASIC Stamp BOE/Propeller QuickStart, MCUs are easier to use than learning the ABCs!
I was thinking about ordering a large batch of a couple hundred, from a very inexpensive reseller. Is it just me, just AZ, or is RadioShack just expensive? I have seen no better performance in their products, but they cost a few times the cost as different resellers. I am good with the basics, like R's, C's and L's, etc. I am also good with the types of circuits because I have been playing with sparks since I was ten! I should, as you said, get a bunch of diodes. Which type should I start with? Schottky/Regular/Zener/etc? Do you know of a good oscilloscope that I could buy? I don't have too much of a budget. I do have an MCP3204 sitting around, so I could possibly use that as a poor-man's DIY oscilloscope? Otherwise, I could also use the one at school!
Also, I like how you call the internet, the interweb
!
And, Darn it: see the pic!