One of our most niche areas is the electronics nook. Now that it’s reasonably well organized and decluttered (it may not look it, but trust me, considering where it started, it is!), I’d love to see it getting some more use. It’s a subject that can seem intimidating.
What would you like to do there? Here’s some possibilities, and I welcome other suggestions and comments.
Learn how to solder. This is a fun skill that’s pretty approachable. This lets you build kits, and make simple repairs, and is a great starting point.
Build some simple kits. We have run a basic soldering class where you put together one of a handful of simple kits with blinky lights or a memory game like “Simon” from way back.
Build a more complex kit project over a few sessions. There are kits available for radios, clocks, and even clock radios. We could do this as a group, either all working on one project, or with one for everybody.
The nice thing about a kit project is that it’s usually not necessary to know much at all about how or why it works. If you can follow the directions, you can build it, and you’ll learn something along the way.
Learn basic electronics. What are volts and amps, and what can you do with them? We have piles of transistors, diodes, resistors, integrated circuits, buttons and knobs. How do you quickly whip up a circuit using a solderless breadboard?
Troubleshoot and repair broken appliances and tools. Is there anything more satisfying than fixing a broken thing? No. There is not.
Learn about digital circuits. The Arduino family are simple little computers that are made for makers. You can get some lights blinking, servo motors turning, and speakers beeping. We have a lot of Arduino and related parts just aching to be put together into the next great invention. Digital electronics can be more approachable than analog circuits, since you often think more about the “ones and zeros” than about voltages and currents.
Learn about the tools, like meters, power supplies, oscilloscopes. What are they for, and how do you use them?
I’d love to hear peoples’ thoughts and ideas about how we can get more traffic in this area.
For me there is enough stuff around the house so projects just to make stuff would not get me excited. On the other hand count me in for a repair session, am not aware of anything around home that needs repairs but maybe there is something around the space that could use some attention?
Probably a bit late for this year, but maybe do a holiday light show using an Ardurino and relays.
I have some projects in mind, but they are a bit far off and only in the design phase right now.
I would suggest a kit class for Christmas decorations. (Quite an attractive thing and just in time for the holidays.)
One thing I’d be interested to try is repairing phone charger cords - I’ve got a pile of dead ones and I’m suspicious that at least some of them might just have a connection that came loose and just needs to be re-soldered.
I’m interested, but my schedule is starting to get clogged for November and December, and January and February are booked as well. Schedule whatever works for the rest, and I;ll try to sit in if I’m able. Otherwise… spring?
Having a look out there for fun things to learn how to solder, I found mostly Christmas trees in a couple of configurations and a deeper look has a pair of bells. The Christmas trees would be better as they are three dimensional. The price of the kits range from 8 to 19 dollars. This would not only be a fun project, but with the holiday theme, a good draw for the public.
Sources that I found were:
Amazon, Electronic Goldmine, Jameco, and Circuit Specialists
Electronics has always been a void in my knowledge base and I’d like to learn the basics. I also have very minimal experience with arduino, but could never get it to work. I think it’s a lack of u estranging to code
I’m interested in learning more electronics, which is an area of weakness for me. My major applications would be for repair, modifying, and accessorizing my motorcycle and RV. Please keep the discussion going and I’ll participate if the schedule permits. Thank you. Tom Herdt
I think electroplating could be the right amount of crossover between jewelry and electronics to allow people interested in making more cost effective jewelry to have a good opportunity to learn a practical electronics application which is useful to them. I have some solution sitting at my place I’d be happy to donate.