Getting started in Electronics 001

I've want to get into building electronics for a while but I don't know where to start. So follow along while I figure it out.

 
I bought this kit from amazon. Here as my affiliate link to buy it. https://amzn.to/3XqMrxe
ELEGOO UNO Project Super Starter Kit 

Amazon photo of the Elegoo kit

It comes with a CD with a guide but I don't have a CD player. However there is a download PDF. Here is a link to the guide. ELEGOO Arduino UNO Project Super Starter Kit download link 1

I got the kit and reviewed the guide, It was confusing and goes strait to programing. I don't want to program yet. I want to get familiar it the stuff first before getting into the programing side of it.

A picture of some of the things that came in my kit.

If I was going to teach someone else and help them get started in electronics I would have them buy the BOJACK 37 Values 480 Pcs Electronics Component Fun Kit. https://amzn.to/41i5ZEU. It's $15.00 and has the basic things to get started. 

I got into electronics because I wanted to put lights in a dollhouse for my daughter. I learned how to use the power supply and the breadboard with LEDs.  Here is a video that explains how the power supply works. 

Power Supply

From my limited knowledge of electronics I made a dollhouse lighting kit. You can watch this video of what I learned. 

I found this book at my local library and am now following along and trying to learn how to read Speck Sheets. Link to amazon https://amzn.to/4kkCFX7

Stay tuned while I explore the next steps of this new world of electrics.

As of March 2025 I found a great starter kit. It's called theamtech. I'm looking into how to get my hands on one. They are still in pre-order.

https://www.theamtech.com

I'm going to just start posting kits I find that I would try here. 
ARDEST Electronics Project Starter Kit
https://a.co/d/2DwtaBi

Tooth Brush holder

I used k'nex toys. I have no idea why there are so many toothbrushes at my place.

8 foot wing (my cost $25)

I did this project in 2009 and I will I took more pictures. In one of the pictures you can see the small models I did first to base the design from. If I were to do this one again I would use half inch thick foam instead of the one inch. I would also use big garbage bags instead of old signs I picked of from a print shop.

the foam head you see is to prevent breaking the wing when lading and to give a little more wait. The glue I used was $6 insulated foam. I needed a lot and some things that would spread easily. All together I spent $25 on this project.

I also used a searial boack and ducktape to hold the shape of the foal of the wing. Next time I would use painter tape because glue would stick better to it. The the foal I only cut one side of the foam and placed tape on the other side for it to hold better shape.

longboard wind sail (my cost $10)

it was really windy one day and I thought "I really could use a wind sail for my longboard. I looked up the price for one and it was $150 used and $600 new. I don't have that kind of money, I rearly have $50 sitting around. I made it with less than $10, that was for tape and plastic. So It was time to make one. For a week I studied how they are made and looked at what I had sitting around my house. This is what I came up with.

Plastic, tape, broken golf club, crutch,  and an old clothes rack.

With a little creativity I could see what I could use for what. There were a lot of pieces I used from the crutch alone.
         The toughest peace to find was the wind sail mount to the board. a new peace was like $400 (mite as well by a used sail) But then I relised I could just use the rubber stopper on the end of the crutch.

The rubber cap on the board

Rubber cap held on with bolt

           Altogether the project took me 3 hours after I found all the pieces. If you would like to see more leave comments and donate. Thank you for your interest.

Gorilla tape for ends and corners

Rolled the edges to prevent ripping

easy take down and set up

Tape facing out rapped around pulls
so when I tape them on I could slide them out
later

If I cut the plastic I tape over the spot to
prevent ripping.

I found it to be useless in a city and in any wind less the 20 miles an hour. Best on the salt flats or beach with a lot of wind going one direction. 

Lights on a longboard, (my cost $40)

 This is LED lights on my longboard. I go longboarding a lot at night and wanted something to help me see and be seen. I Worked on this prototype for a day and it still isn't fully working because I'm missing some wire and tools to put it together the way I see it in my mind.

I need help with solving a few kingks in the design. The wires look really ugly and I think a smaller batter would be a good idea. Maybe a battery that everyone could get their hands on a little more easier.


Here is a link to the http://youtu.be/Rw73nTn9VuU


Here are links to all the parts I am using

#1. LED lights http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=LED+light+strips&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3ALED+light+strips

#2. Battery http://www.amazon.com/Tenergy-2200mAh-Rechargeable-Battery-Protection/dp/B003BH8GVY/ref=sr_1_19?ie=UTF8&qid=1384405685&sr=8-19&keywords=lithium+ion+12v+battery+RC

#3. Velcro http://www.amazon.com/Black-Hook-Loop-Velcro-Style/dp/B003KWLIO2/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&qid=1384405748&sr=8-11&keywords=velcro

#4. Wire connectors http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__9682__Male_JST_battery_pigtail_10cm_length_10pcs_bag_.html 

#5 Battery  http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=9173

#6 Charger

 http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__7637__Turnigy_balancer_Charger_2S_3S.html

All together I have put about $40 into this project and have ran out of funds at this time. I want to know if any one else wants to have something like this. If I find a few people to work with or can support the project I will continue to develop it till I can put it in a kit for everyone who wants one. If you like this idea please support me by donating some cash or time.

Check out the video too.

I had some ideas of what I want it to look like and work like. 

Here is a very basic outline of what I have done so far. Please by all means improve my drawing if you want to help. If you have a better way to wire it together I would love to hear about it.

 I found this really cool wire that is flat that we can use. It comes from a site called http://www.taperwire.com/ Here is a picture of the wire. I want to hear your thoughts on this so leave a comment, Thanks.