H. Ward Silver 
Circuitbuilding Do-It-Yourself For Dummies 

DO-IT-YOURSELF

Here’s the fun and easy way to start building circuits for your
projects

Have you ever wanted to build your own electronic device? Put
together a thermostat or an in-line fuse, or repair a microphone
cable? This is the book for you! Inside you’ll find the tools and
techniques you need to build circuits, with illustrated,
step-by-step directions to help accomplish tasks and complete
projects.

As you accomplish the tasks throughout the book, you’ll construct
many projects while learning the key circuitbuilding principles and
techniques. Find out about measuring and testing, maintenance and
troubleshooting, cables, connectors, how to test your stuff, and
more.

Stuff You Need to Know

* The tools you need and how to use them

* How to make sense of schematics and printed circuit boards

* Basic techniques for creating any circuit

* How to make and repair cables and connectors

* Testing and maintenance procedures

Table of Content

Introduction 1

Part I: Working Basics for Electronic-ers 5

Chapter 1: The Toolbox 7

Chapter 2: Basic Techniques 23

Part II: Building Circuits 41

Chapter 3: Using a Solderless Breadboard 43

Chapter 4: Building a Printed Circuit Board 59

Chapter 5: Building a Prototype 73

Chapter 6: Building from a Published Schematic 95

Part III: Cables and Connectors 127

Chapter 7: Terminals and Connectors 129

Chapter 8: Wiring for Wireless Radio 159

Chapter 9: Mastering Power 185

Chapter 10: Audio and Sensitive Connections 205

Part IV: Measuring and Testing 231

Chapter 11: Meet the Test Equipment 233

Chapter 12: Measurements That Test Your Circuits and Projects 251

Part V: Maintaining Electronic Equipment 287

Chapter 13: Who Let the Smoke Out? 289

Chapter 14: Maintaining Your Cool (Stuff) 307

Chapter 15: Getting a Charge Out of Batteries 317

Chapter 16: Electronics in Motion 329

Chapter 17: Getting Rid of Interference and Noise 337

Part VI: The Part of Tens 347

Chapter 18: Ten Circuitbuilding Secrets 349

Chapter 19: Ten Circuit First-Aid Techniques and Supplies 353

Glossary 357

Appendix A: Circuitbuilding Resources 365

Index 373

About the author

H. Ward Silver has the experience of a 20-year career as an electrical engineer developing instrumentation and medical electronics. He also spent 8 years in broadcasting, both programming and engineering. In 2000 he turned to teaching and writing as a second career. He is a contributing editor to the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) and author of the popular ‘Hands-On Radio’ column in QST magazine every month. He is the author of the ARRL’s Amateur Radio license study guides and numerous other articles. He developed the ARRL’s online courses, ‘Antenna Design and Construction, ‘ ‘Analog Electronics, ‘ and ‘Digital Electronics.’ Along with his comedic alter-ego, Dr Beldar, Ward is a sought-after speaker and lecturer among ‘hams.’ When not in front of a computer screen, you will find Ward working on his mandolin technique and compositions.