Easy | Moderate | Harder | More | Books
Each project has a stripboard (or pcb) layout plus extra instructions if necessary. Projects instructions are also available as PDF documents for easy printing.
Kits for all the Electronics Club projects are available from Bitsbox.co.uk and I recommend buying these because you will be sure to have the correct parts.
The projects have * ratings to show how difficult they are:
* Easy projects suitable for beginners.
** Moderate projects with one or two ICs.
*** Harder projects with three or more ICs, these require a little experience.
The Electronics Club projects are provided in good faith but no responsibilty is accepted for their accuracy or suitability for any purpose; you use them entirely at your own risk. All the projects have been built and tested to ensure they work but if you find an error please tell me so that I can correct it as soon as possible.
A very simple project which can be used to test components and connections.
A good first project to check your soldering skills and learn to identify components.
The LED flashes 3 times per second.
Flashes briefly.
To 'unlock' press all the correct switches at the same time but not any of the cancel switches.
The circuit starts timing immediately when switched on and bleeps when the time period is over.
The time period can be up to 10 minutes.
UK traffic light.
Eight LEDs flash in an apparently random sequence.
A 4026 counter and driver IC is used.
Flash sequence.
Eight LEDs.
18 LEDs flashing.
The circuit detects a sudden shadow falling on a sensor.
Natural light works but a beam of light is better.
18 LEDs flashing.
Press switch to throw.
Designed for 2-4 contestants but can be adapted for more.
First switch pressed lights its own LED and sounds the bleeper.
Designed for testing computer network leads but can be used to check any lead with up to 8 wires by using suitable connectors.
stock a wide range of components, tools and materials for electronics. I am very happy to recommend them as a supplier.
Learn how to solder.
Photo © Rapid Electronics
Identify components and read their values.
Suggestions of what components to buy and how to organise their storage.
For some great LED projects see this website:
These kits are supplied with a PCB making them relatively easy to construct. Component positions are marked on the PCB and this helps to ensure everything is in the right place. For many of the projects you can download the instructions to help decide if the kit is suitable.
Simple projects from Rapid
These are suitable for beginners with little or no experience.
More advanced projects from Rapid
For beginners I recommend Electronics for Kids because it has clear step-by-step instructions with breadboard or stripboard layouts for the projects and explanations of how they work.