Classes/2010/VIS147A/Lab1

From Robert-Depot
Revision as of 21:01, 11 January 2010 by Rtwomey (talk | contribs) (Activities)

Jump to: navigation, search

Topics Covered

  • connectivity on the breadboard
  • positive and negative polarity on a power supply. positive and negative voltages.
  • cutting and stripping wired. how to use your wire clippers and your wire strippers.
  • how to use your multimeter to measure continuity, voltage differential.

Activities

Breadboard Setup and Voltage Supply:

  1. Distribute the kits. Please keep them in the lab, with the understanding that once you have paid for them with Judi you can take them home. (We will have the final price in next week, please bring a check addressed to the UC Regents).
  2. Connect the positive and negative rails running along the top and bottom of the breadboard. (Red wire for positive and black wire for negative). Use the connectivity setting on your multimeter to check the continuity on the positive and negative rails. (pic)
  3. Clip the end of the power adapter off, save enough wire with the plug to reattach it later in the semester (i.e. do not cut it off too close to the plug or you will not be able to reattach and solder it later)
  4. With the DC voltage setting on the multimeter, identify the positive and negative wires coming from the adapter. Is the wire labelled in any way? Tie a know in the positive wire, so that it is shorter (preventing a short), and so you know which is which.
  5. Using red and black alligator clips and short lengths of red and black wire, connect the positive and negative power from the supply to the breadboard.
  6. Check the current flow with a multimeter and bulb/resistor.

Familiarize yourself with your components:

  1. Using the reference chart at the beginning of Practical Electronics for Inventors, match items from your kit with the symbols in the chart below.

Supplies

  • wire clippers
  • wire strippers
  • 12V DC 500 mA power supply/AC Adapter. (do you have any of these at home? In case you burn one out, it may come in handy. check your old scanner, phone charger, etc., they are all labelled with voltage, current, polarity).
  • solderless breadboard
  • black and red hookup wire.

Symbol-matching Exercise