Cool old article on transistors

[Sixup]

I'm just getting started in an electronics/computer engineering degree program, and it is fun/interesting stuff to learn.

I'm indifferent about the plugging in wires and taking measurements(I was ok letting my partner build the board--yes go ahead while I figure out how this should work), but I love when the concepts come together in my head.

Anyway I was looking for some more info and found this cool and useful article, if anyone's interested in electronics: http://amasci.com/amateur/transis.html

 

[Teax]

When I went into engineering school, I found it extremely odd that there were still no good explanations of bipolar transistors.

Actually there is. I first encountered such explanations as in that article, in the handbook that came with this toy:

614416 Electronic XN 3000: Amazon.co.uk: Toys & Games@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/5136rDbKokL.@@AMEPARAM@@5136rDbKokL

In retrospect, it is wondrous how one can, while being oblivious to the existence of any mathematical explanations, manage to assemble many MANY different useful things fueled by this "gut understanding" alone.

I'm indifferent about the plugging in wires and taking measurements.

Sure, if we're talking about something you were ordered to do by your "engineering degree program". But I'm curious, how do you feel about sitting down alone in front of an easy-to-manipulate circuit, by which I mean that your ideas can be implemented about as fast as you can come up with them, and "taking measurements" takes the form of an LED?

There's something soothing about a conversation with reality. You can check your ideas against a canvas that will tell you exactly how well/badly thought-out it is. Like a monotone HAL-voice saying "I'm afraid I can't let you do that Dave".....

 

[Sixup]

Sure, if we're talking about something you were ordered to do by your "engineering degree program". But I'm curious, how do you feel about sitting down alone in front of an easy-to-manipulate circuit, by which I mean that your ideas can be implemented about as fast as you can come up with them, and "taking measurements" takes the form of an LED?

Yeah that sounds a lot better. But what is this easy to manipulate circuit? I assume our breadboards are pretty easy to manipulate it's just going to take some practice to get to that point of fast implemenation.

 

[Teax]

Yeah that sounds a lot better. But what is this easy to manipulate circuit? I assume our breadboards are pretty easy to manipulate it's just going to take some practice to get to that point of fast implemenation.

Yes, a breadboard is one good example, and yes it requires some preparation, be it practice or - more importantly - breadboard compatible parts.

here's how mine looks like The jumpers... I mean rectangular bent wires are self made, also I extended the pin length on some parts so it's easier to plug them into the board, like the potentiometer. But I did all that years ago. Building that depicted circuit took less than 5 minutes, considering that coming up with the entire circuit took 2minutes...

 

[Sixup]

Nice. What does it do?

Yesterday I made a 2 LED oscillating circuit. One LED on, the other off, back and forth continuously. I didn't design the circuit, but just getting it to work (which took me a...while, as I made some stupid beginner mistakes like plugging resistors into the same rail when they're supposed to be their own separate series branch) was exciting enough for now lol.

 

[Teax]

Nice. What does it do?

It's a sound system standby controller... it turns my amplifier into standby mode ~10 seconds after the computer outputs only silence. Sound Amps actually consume quite a lot even when there's nothing playing. The effect on the electric bill is insignificant though, compared to what the computer consumes, it was just an idea I found interesting....

The IC in the middle is an LM324. If you're still interested, I can upload a circuit diagram later... I can't find it right now... I was sure I saw it here somewhere... but then again that might have been weeks ago...

Yesterday I made a 2 LED oscillating circuit. One LED on, the other off, back and forth continuously. I didn't design the circuit, but just getting it to work (which took me a...while, as I made some stupid beginner mistakes like plugging resistors into the same rail when they're supposed to be their own separate series branch) was exciting enough for now lol.

you mean this one?

This circuit is actually presented in that toy I linked above great times.

The experience of what you just described is the systematic building of intuitive understanding that I find essential as a systems builder. It's mostly subconscious, and after lots of training(read: playing around) you will find it weird how some people do not just "see" some of the concepts you see, but you're laying the groundwork right now, making those neural pathways by making these "stupid mistakes" as you called them.... And I'm not just saying that because I too learned it this way

I guess it's what the guy in that article also rants about in his own unique way. Academia put mathematical understanding of electronics on such a high pedestal, that only children's toys are not ashamed of telling it how it really works. Well that, and INTPs....

 

[Sixup]

Spoiler

It's a sound system standby controller... it turns my amplifier into standby mode ~10 seconds after the computer outputs only silence. Sound Amps actually consume quite a lot even when there's nothing playing. The effect on the electric bill is insignificant though, compared to what the computer consumes, it was just an idea I found interesting....

The IC in the middle is an LM324. If you're still interested, I can upload a circuit diagram later... I can't find it right now... I was sure I saw it here somewhere... but then again that might have been weeks ago...



you mean this one?

This circuit is actually presented in that toy I linked above great times.

The experience of what you just described is the systematic building of intuitive understanding that I find essential as a systems builder. It's mostly subconscious, and after lots of training(read: playing around) you will find it weird how some people do not just "see" some of the concepts you see, but you're laying the groundwork right now, making those neural pathways by making these "stupid mistakes" as you called them.... And I'm not just saying that because I too learned it this way

I guess it's what the guy in that article also rants about in his own unique way. Academia put mathematical understanding of electronics on such a high pedestal, that only children's toys are not ashamed of telling it how it really works. Well that, and INTPs....

I'll look at the schematic if you can find it.

Yeah that was the one haha. Very cool that is in the toy.

Now I just need to get some supplies so I can play with stuff at home. Only have the ability (due to commute) to use the lab once a week so that's kind of shitty.

 

[DevinaBove]

I want to say that if we're talking about something you were ordered to do by your "engineering degree program". But I'm curious, how do you feel about sitting down in front of an easy-to-manipulate circuit, by which I mean that your ideas can be implemented about as fast as you can come up with them, and "taking measurements" takes the form of an LED?

 

[DevinaBove]

I want to know one thing that do you people use any simulation software or any EDA tool to check the virtual circuit before implementing your design?
If you used then which one is working best and is which will be cost effective?
I am also working on a LEDs circuit and wants a perfect design before implementing it on the hardware?

 

[Ex-User (9086)]

I want to know one thing that do you people use any simulation software or any EDA tool to check the virtual circuit before implementing your design?
If you used then which one is working best and is which will be cost effective?
I am also working on a LEDs circuit and wants a perfect design before implementing it on the hardware?

You don't need to pay for software as long as you don't get into commercial circuit design.

I used to use a freeware PSPICE, works good enough.

I don't entirely understand your questions, I'll answer with what I manage. If you understand theory and you have few elements, there's no need to simulate it, because you will be done implementing in a few minutes. You might aid yourself with a sheet of paper at best.

If you are going to do something bigger and you know the theory, then using a CAD tool may be a better start.

If you don't know how to do either of these things then learning theory or training on a program/tool should probably come before practice.