Discontinued

Description

You don't need an electrical engineering degree to start hacking electronics! This intuitive guide shows how to wire, disassemble, tweak, and re-purpose everyday devices quickly and easily. Packed with full-color illustrations, photos, and diagrams, Hacking Electronics teaches by doing--each topic features fun, easy-to-follow projects. Discover how to hack sensors, accelerometers, remote controllers, ultrasonic rangefinders, motors, stereo equipment, microphones, and FM transmitters. The final chapter contains useful information on getting the most out of cheap or free bench and software tools.

  • Safely solder, join wires, and connect switches
  • Identify components and read schematic diagrams
  • Understand the how and why of electronics theory
  • Work with transistors, LEDs, and laser diode modules
  • Power your devices with a/c supplies, batteries, or solar panels
  • Get up and running on Arduino boards and pre-made modules
  • Use sensors to detect everything from noxious gas to acceleration
  • Build and modify audio amps, microphones, and transmitters
  • Fix gadgets and scavenge useful parts from dead equipment

This 300 page book is a nice review of the most common skills and techniques a maker needs to hack electronics, and the color photos are awesome.

Hacking Electronics by Simon Monk (1:11)

Technical Details

Table of contents:

  • Chapter 1: Getting Started
    • 1.1 Getting Stuff
    • 1.2. How to Strip Wire
    • 1.3. How to Join Wires Together by Twisting
    • 1.4. How to Join Wires by Soldering
    • 1.5. How to Test a Connection
    • 1.6. How to Hack a Computer Fan to Keep Soldering Fumes Away
  • Chapter 2: Theory Guides
    • 2.1. How to Assemble a Starter Kit of Components
    • 2.2. How to Identify Electronic Components
    • 2.3. What are Current, Resistance and Voltage?
    • 2.4. What is Power?
    • 2.5. How to Read a Schematic Diagram
  • Chapter 3. Basics
    • 3.1. How to Make a Resistor Get Hot
    • 3.2. How to Use Resistors to Divide a Voltage
    • 3.3. How to Convert a Resistance to a Voltage (and make a light meter)
    • 3.4. How to Hack a Push Light to Make it Light Sensing
    • 3.5. How to use a Power MOSFET to Control a Motor
    • 3.6. How to Select the Right Switch
  • Chapter 4: LED Hacks
    • 4.1. How to Prevent an LED Burning Out
    • 4.2. How to Select the Right LED for the Job
    • 4.3. Experimenting with RGB LEDs
    • 4.4. How to Make a Constant Current Driver
    • 4.5. How to Power Large Numbers of LEDs
    • 4.6. How to Make LEDs flash
    • 4.7. How to Use Protoboard (LED Flasher)
    • 4.8. How to Use Stripboard (LED Flasher)
    • 4.9. How to Use a Laser Diode Module
    • 4.10. How to Hack a Slot Car Racer
  • Chapter 5: Batteries and Power
    • 5.1. Selecting the Right Battery
    • 5.2. Charging Batteries (In General)
    • 5.3. How to Charge a NiMh Battery
    • 5.4. How to Charge a Sealed Lead Acid Battery
    • 5.5. How to Charge a LiPo Battery
    • 5.6. Hacking a Cell Phone Battery
    • 5.7. Controlling the Voltage from a Battery
    • 5.8. Boosting Voltage
    • 5.9. Calculating How Long a Battery Will Last
    • 5.10. Battery Backup
    • 5.11. How to Use Solar Cells
  • Chapter 6: Arduino Hacks
    • 6.1. How to Set up Arduino (and Blink an LED)
    • 6.2. How to Make an Arduino Control a Relay
    • 6.3. How to Hack a Toy for Arduino Control
    • 6.4. How to Measure Voltage with an Arduino
    • 6.5. How to Use an Arduino to Control an LED
    • 6.6. How to Play a Sound with an Arduino
    • 6.7. How to Use Arduino Shields
    • 6.8. How to Control a Relay from a Web Page
    • 6.9. Switching with an Arduino and Transistor
    • 6.10. How to Use a Alphanumeric LCD Shield with Arduino
    • 6.11. How to Control a Servo Motor with an Arduino
    • 6.12. How to make an Automatic Password Typer
  • Chapter 7: Hacking with Raspberry Pi
    • 7.1. How to Set Up a Raspberry Pi
    • 7.2. How to Blink an LED
    • 7.3. How to Control a Relay with Raspberry Pi
    • 7.4. How to Control a Relay from a Web Page
  • Chapter 8: Hacking with Modules
    • 8.1. How to Detect Movement
    • 8.2. How to Use Ultrasonic Range Finder Modules
    • 8.3. How to Use a Wireless Remote Module
    • 8.4. How to Use a Motor Control Module
    • 8.5. How to Make a Robot Rover with Raspberry Pi
    • 8.6. How to Use a Seven-Segment Display with Arduino
    • 8.7. How to Use a Seven-Segment Display with Raspberry Pi
    • 8.8. How to Use RFID Modules
  • Chapter 9: Hacking with Sensors
    • 9.1. How to Measure Temperature with an Arduino
    • 9.2. Threshold Sensing with Raspberry Pi
    • 9.3. How to Switch with a Sensor and a Comparator Chip
    • 9.4. How to Use a Digital Temperature Sensor
    • 9.5. Arduino Egg and Spoon
    • 9.6. How to Measure Something's Color
  • Chapter 10: Audio Hacks
    • 10.1. Hacking Audio leads
    • 10.2. How to use a Microphone Module
    • 10.3. How to Make an FM Bug
    • 10.4. Selecting Loudspeakers
    • 10.5. How to Make a 1W Audio Amplifier
    • 10.6. How to Generate Tones with a 555 Timer
    • 10.7. How to make a USB Music Controller
  • Chapter 11: Mending and Breaking Electronics
    • 11.1. How to Avoid Electrocution
    • 11.2. How to Take Something Apart AND Put it Back Together Again
    • 11.3. How to Check a Fuse
    • 11.4. How to Test a Battery
    • 11.5. How to Test a Heating Element
    • 11.6. Finding and Replacing Failed Components
    • 11.7. How to Scavenge Useful Components
    • 11.8. How to Reuse a Cell Phone Power Adapter
  • Chapter 12: Tools and Testing
    • 12.1. How to Use a Multimeter (General)
    • 12.2. How to Use a Multimeter to Test a Transistor
    • 12.3. How to Use a Lab Power Supply
    • 12.4. Introducing the Oscilloscope
    • 12.5. Software Tools

RoHS 2 2011 65 EU Compliant

RoHS 2 2015 863 EU Compliant