Physical Computing | The Poetics of Virtual Spaces
 
Week 1 --> Basic Electronics
Week 2/3 --> BasicX, BX24 Programming
Week 4 --> Memory & Variables
Week 5 --> Analog Input
Week 6 --> Transistors & Relays & A Tech Research About TTC (Motion/Color Capture)
Week 7 --> Analog Output
Week 8 --> Midterm Project - The LED 5x7 Matrix Quest
Week 9 --> Serial Communication
Week 10 --> Serial To Director

They say that you never really learn until you have failed...
I now know it since I've felt it on my flesh. I realized how painful it could be to build an electrical circuit. Not only mentally since you're constantly trying to figure out why these damn light won't turn on, but also physically since we are using alternate current that has the power for a nice burning heat.
My first step in this week's assignment was to gaze at the electronic parts I have purchased and think -why am I doing this to my self. When I realized it wouldn't build me a circuit, I decided to get to work.

First some technical definitions:

    Electricity - send Information by sending pulses.
    Electronics - Using electricity to send information.
    Transduction - Converting one form of energy to another (i.e. motors)
    Voltage - Measurement of energy of all electrons on a circuit.
    Amp - Electrical current of a battery.
    Ohms - Resistance of a circuit.
    V = IR
    Volt = Current x Resistance
    (Remember: you always need enough current and not too much volt!)
    0 voltage = ground
    ~ = alternate current (Remember these when using the multi-meter)
    Resistor - offers resistance to a circuit. (duh...)
    Variable Resistor - Change its resistance with change of physicality. (i.e. photocell)

So...after finding out that a breadboard is not something you eat, I went straight to soldering. I loved soldering (my favorite part of the project) it smelled good.
Remember - Red wire should (makes life easier if it will) be soldered to the power (+) and black to the ground (-) of the power adaptor. Now, pay attention, this small detail made me burn myself. Make sure which is which on your power adaptor. I think that typically, the power is the inner pin and the ground is the outer part of the power supply connector. My distorted adaptor had it the opposite way where the ground is the inner pin. I didn't notice that at first and so I am forever stuck with the red wire being the ground and the black - power. Also, as I attempted to demonstrate my proficiency at lighting an electrical circuit, my power regulator got upset since the power (I thought red but was actually black) was hitting its middle leg when it suppose to hit to the regulator's left leg. Let me tell ya, this lil' one can really hit up! As I tried to pull my angry regulator out of the circuit, I burnt my thumb (this little s@#$). Since then I make sure remembering black wire = power.

First, I was a good girl and created a simple circuit, which contained a resistor and one fat LED that emitted nice yellow light. >> hello
Then I played, and connected 3 LEDs to the circuit without a resistor. They were all glowing and beautiful, but it means that too much power is transmitted to the lil' skinny LEDs which leads them to slowly burning out. As you see in the picture below, I placed them in series, so they all depend on each other for energy. (Remember - the long leg of an LED is the power, short is ground). If I was in a parallel mood, I would connect each LED to the power and ground independently and not to each other. >>

Finaly, I used a variable resistor, photocell. Interesting to see how this resistor affects the LED as I alternately covered and uncovered it with my burnt thumb. >>


Later, I got some more toys like a motor (that I turned into a fan), and an annoying buzzer, and I had me some fun.

©2005 Limor Garcia | limilim@gmail.com