Hacking Electronics by Simon Monk

SKU: ADA1339 Brand: Adafruit

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This product has been retired. It is no longer available, but this page has been kept for reference.

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 a 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 Hacking 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 Chose a Transistor
- 3.6. How to use a Power MOSFET to Control a Motor
- 3.7. How to Select the Right Switch
Chapter 4: LED Hacks
- 4.1. How to Stop an LED Burning Out
- 4.2. How to Select the Right LED for the Job
- 4.3 How to Use a LM317 to Make a Constant Current Driver
- 4.4 How to Measure the Forward Voltage of an LED
- 4.5 How to Power Large Numbers of LEDs
- 4.6 How to Make LEDs flash
- 4.7 How to Use Stripboard (LED Flasher)
- 4.8 How to Use a Laser Diode Module
- 4.9. Hacking a Slot Car Racer
Chapter 5: Batteries and Power
- 5.1. Select 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. How to Use a Alphanumeric LCD Shield with Arduino
- 6.10. How to Drive a Servo Motor with an Arduino
- 6.11. How to Charlieplex LEDs
- 6.12. How to use a 7-Segment Display with an Arduino (I2C)
- 6.13. How to make an Automatic Password Typer
Chapter 7: Module Hacks
- 7.1. How to Use a PIR Motion Sensor Module
- 7.2. How to Use Ultrasonic Range Finder Modules
- 7.3. How to Use a Wireless Remote Module
- 7.4. How to Use a Wireless Remote Module with Arduino
- 7.5. How to Control Motor Speed with a Power MOSFET
- 7.6. How to Control Motors with a H-Bridge Module
- 7.7. How to Control a Stepper Motor with an H-Bridge Module
- 7.8. How to Make a Simple Robot Rover
- 7.9. How to use a 7-Segment LED Display Module
- 7.10. How to use a Real Time Clock Module
Chapter 8: Hacking with Sensors
- 8.1. How to Detect Noxious Gas
- 8.2. How to Measure Something’s Color
- 8.3. How to Detect Vibration
- 8.4. How to Measure Temperature
- 8.5. How to Use an Accelerometer
- 8.6. How to Sense Magnetic Fields
Chapter 9: Audio Hacks
- 9.1. Hacking Audio leads
- 9.2. How to use a Microphone Module
- 9.3. How to Make an FM Bug
- 9.4. Selecting Loudspeakers
- 9.5. How to Make a 1W Audio Amplifier
- 9.6. How to Generate Tones with a 555 Timer
- 9.7. How to make a USB Music Controller
- 9.8. How to Make a Software VU Meter
Chapter 10: Take Electronic Devices Apart
- 10.1. How to Avoid Electrocution
- 10.2. How to Take Something Apart AND Put it Back Together Again
- 10.3. How to Check a Fuse
- 10.4. How to Test a Battery
- 10.5. How to Test a Heating Element
- 10.6. Finding and Replacing Failed Components
- 10.7. How to Scavenge Useful Components
- 10.8. How to Reuse a Cell Phone Power Adapter
Chapter 11: Tools and Testing
- 11.1. How to Use a Multimeter (General)
- 11.2. How to Use a Multimeter to Test a Transistor
- 11.3. How to Use a Lab Power Supply
- 11.4. Introducing the Oscilloscope
- 11.5. Software Tools

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