Electronics

Let's Construct a DIY Electric Motor

Click on the following link to see a video demonstration on how to build a do-it-yourself electric motor ---> "Build an Electric Motor"

TechEd Speedster Project

Click on the following link to see a video demonstration on how to build a do-it-yourself electric racer ---> TechEd Speedster

Let's Make a Remote Control Electric Circuit

Objective:

The purpose of this exercise is to learn the properties of electricity and practice assembling and soldering electric circuits. Specifically, students will make an electric control device to control an electric powered vehicle.

Safety:

Learn these safety rules and always follow them:

- Always wear safety glasses when soldering.
- Clean tip of a hot soldering iron by wiping on a damp sponge.
- Allow at least one minute before handling any soldered material.
- Never solder a live circuit (one that is energized).
- Soldering irons come in models that use different wattages. Use the right size soldering iron for your projects; too much heat can ruin your board or components.
- Solder in a well-ventilated space to prevent the mildly caustic and toxic fumes from building up and causing eye or throat irritation.
- Always put your soldering iron back in its stand when not in use. Be sure that the stand is weighted enough or attached to your worktable so that it doesn’t topple over if you brush against the cord.
- Never place a hot soldering iron on your work surface: You could start a fire. Typical soldering iron tips can reach 800° F.
- Never, ever try to catch a hot soldering iron if you drop it. Let it fall, buy a new one if you have to — just don’t grab it!
- Give any soldered surface a minute or two to cool down before you touch it.
- Never leave flammable items (such as paper) near your soldering iron.
- Be sure to unplug your soldering iron when you’re not using it.
- Never leave a hot soldering iron unattended.
- NEVER USE A SOLDERING IRON WITH DAMAGED INSULATION AND EXPOSED WIRING

Background:

Watch the following soldering videos: Soldering Safety and How to Do It: Basic Soldering, you will be tested on the material in the video.

Take the following Soldering Safety test, you must score a 100% on this test before proceeding with this unit. Review the soldering video and safety rules above, if necessary. You can take the this as many times as necessary.

When you have successfully scored a 100% on the soldering test, turn on your call light or raise your hand and your teacher will issue you a circuit board, solder, soldering iron, clamps and wires. Solder the two wires in your kit together on each end using solder, a soldering iron and a vise or alligator clamp.

Collect these supplies

Western Union Splice

When you have completed soldering the ends of your two wires together, turn on your call light or raise your hand and your teacher will check your work by attempting to break the solder joints by hand.

Watch the Basics of Electricity video and take the Basics of Electricity test

Watch the following Soldering Wire to Alligator Clips video to learn how to solder alligator or micro clips to wire. Turn on your call light or raise your hand and your instructor will issue you wire and two alligator clips. You will be evaluated and graded on your skill in soldering the clips onto the wire..

Watch the video, How to Remove Solder describing how to remove and attach components to a printed circuit board. Turn on your call light or raise your hand and your instructor will give you a circuit board, soldering iron and a solder remover tool. You will be evaluated on your skill removing components safely from a PCB (printed circuit board).

Retrieve an Electronics Vocabulary worksheet, reference the Internet to find the definitions to electronics terms you'll need to know in this module.

Step-by-Step Procedure:

Get a 6" x 3" piece of scrap wood from your teacher

Get a piece of sheet metal from your teacher and layout the metal to cut 1/2" x 3/4" strips

Sanding the sheet metal makes it more conductive to electricity because some sheet metal has a non-conductive material on the surface to protect the metal from oxidation (rust)

Using tin snips or common snips cut four pieces of sheet metal to 1/2" x 3/4"

Using the hand punch, punch holes in the four metal contacts

Nail contacts onto the board as shown

Score 100% on the Soldering Safety Test and solder wire onto the metal contacts as shown

Cut and strip 1/2" of the insulation from a conductor and wrap it around the control stick as shown

Wrap the other 5" conductor around the control stick as shown

Hot glue the wires in place SAFELY using a hot glue gun as shown

Align and hot glue the control stick onto board by applying a bead of hot glue to the bottom of the mounting bushings as shown

Solder the wires from a battery clip to the two contacts closest to the battery holder.

Cut 2-3 feet of 20 ga. wire.

Strip the ends to expose 1/2" of wire.

Wrap ends of wire on the leads wrapped around the control stick as shown

Apply solder to the leads.

Your switch is now ready for use.

Simply solder a the contacts on a motor to the 2-3' wire connected to your switch.

Move the control stick back and forth to energize and change direction of the motor attached to your circuit

Sand the sheet metal before cutting it.

The smaller and flatter the solder joint, the better the conductivity of the connection.

Ensure the wires from the control stick touch the contacts.

Click on the image above to examine the solder joints. Remember the less solder and the flatter the solder joint, in most cases, the better the conductivity.

Electronics

Objective:

The purpose of this unit is to construct a simple 9V electronic kit and an electronic launch controller for your solid fuel model rocket. In addition, students will learn the science associated with electronics and electricity.

Learn these safety rules and always follow them:

- Always wear safety glasses when soldering.
- Clean tip of a hot soldering iron by wiping on a damp sponge.
- Allow at least one minute before handling any soldered material.
- Never solder a live circuit (one that is energized).
- Soldering irons come in models that use different wattages. Use the right size soldering iron for your projects; too much heat can ruin your board or components.
- Solder in a well-ventilated space to prevent the mildly caustic and toxic fumes from building up and causing eye or throat irritation.
- Always put your soldering iron back in its stand when not in use. Be sure that the stand is weighted enough or attached to your worktable so that it doesn’t topple over if you brush against the cord.
- Never place a hot soldering iron on your work surface: You could start a fire. Typical soldering iron tips can reach 800° F.
- Never, ever try to catch a hot soldering iron if you drop it. Let it fall, buy a new one if you have to — just don’t grab it!
- Give any soldered surface a minute or two to cool down before you touch it.
- Never leave flammable items (such as paper) near your soldering iron.
- Be sure to unplug your soldering iron when you’re not using it.
- Never leave a hot soldering iron unattended.
- NEVER USE A SOLDERING IRON WITH DAMAGED INSULATION AND EXPOSED WIRING

Background:

Watch the following soldering videos: Soldering Safety and How to Do It: Basic Soldering, you will be tested on the material in the video.

Take the following Soldering Safety test, you must score a 100% on this test before proceeding with this unit. Review the soldering video and safety rules above, if necessary. You can take the this as many times as necessary.

When you have successfully scored a 100% on the soldering test, turn on your call light or raise your hand and your teacher will issue you a circuit board, solder, soldering iron, clamps and wires. Solder the two wires in your kit together on each end using solder, a soldering iron and a vise or alligator clamp.

Collect these supplies

Western Union Splice

When you have completed soldering the ends of your two wires together, turn on your call light or raise your hand and your teacher will check your work by attempting to break the solder joints by hand

Watch the following Basics of Electricity video, you will be tested on the material in the video.

Take the following Basics of Electricity test

Watch the following Soldering Wire to Alligator Clips video to learn how to solder alligator or micro clips to wire. Turn on your call light or raise your hand and your instructor will issue you wire and two alligator clips. You will be evaluated and graded on your skill in soldering the clips onto the wire.(

Watch the video, How to Remove Solder describing how to remove and attach components to a printed circuit board. Turn on your call light or raise your hand and your instructor will give you a circuit board, soldering iron and a solder remover tool. You will be evaluated on your skill removing components safely from a PCB (printed circuit board).

Retrieve an Electronics Vocabulary worksheet, reference the Internet to find the definitions to electronics terms you'll need to know in this module. When you have successfully recorded the definitions on your worksheet, turn on your call light and your instructor will schedule you in the Electronics Module.

Login to the Electronics Module and follow the instructions in sessions 5-7 to complete the Robot Blinker kit.

When you have successfully soldered all of the components on the Robot Blinker kit, turn on your call light and your instructor will issue you a 9V battery and evaluate your work.

Follow the instructions for making an electronic launch controller from the National Association of Rocketry (turn on your call light if you need assistance. Reference the following drawing and graphics for help on the location of components on your rocket launcher:

Electronic Rocket Launch Hole Diameters and Locations

View A

View B

Enrichment Activities:

Complete the Basics of Electricity Web Quest using the following links in order of appearance on the web quest:

Assessments:

Electronics Vocabulary
Soldering Safety Test
Basics of Electricity Test
Soldering Alligator Clips to Wire
Removing Components from Circuit Board
Constructing an Electronic Launch Controller

Links: