Electronic Workbench

Before you get started, make sure your electronic workbench is properly set
up. The work area doesn’t need to be fancy and you could even build your
own electronic workbench.

Storage
Electronic components can be small and it’s a good idea to keep everything
organized. The most popular option is to use clear plastic storage boxes for
storing parts. In addition, you could use plastic storage bins that hang from a
rack or fit on a shelf.
Tools
Now that you have a good workspace set up, it’s time to stock it with the
proper tools and equipment. This isn’t a complete list but it does highlight
the most common items used in electronics.

Breadboard
Breadboards are an essential tool for prototyping and building temporary
circuits. These boards contain holes for inserting wire and components.
Because of their temporary nature, they allow you to create circuits without
soldering. The holes in a breadboard are connected in rows both horizontally
and vertically as shown below.
Digital Multimeter
A multimeter is a device that’s used to measure electric current (amps),
voltage (volts) and resistance (ohms). It’s a great for troubleshooting circuits
and is capable of measuring both AC and DC voltage. Check out this post for
more info on how to use a multimeter.
Battery Holders
A battery holder is a plastic case that holds batteries from 9V to AA. Some
holders are enclosed and may have an on/off switch built in.
Test Leads (Alligator Clips)
Test leads are great for connecting components together to test a circuit
without the need for soldering.

Wire Cutter
Wire cutters are essential for stripping stranded and solid copper wire.
Precision Screwdriver Set
Precision screwdrivers are also known as jeweler’s screwdrivers and usually
come as a set. The advantage of these over normal screwdrivers is the
precision tips of each driver. These are very handy when working with
electronics that contain tiny screws.

Helping 3rd Hand

When working with electronics, it seems you never have enough hands to
hold everything. This is where the helping hand (3rd hand) comes in. Great
for holding circuit boards or wire when soldering or tinning.
Heat Gun
A heat gun is used to shrink plastic tubing known as heat shrink to help
protect exposed wire. Heat shrink has been called the duct tape of electronics
and comes in handy in a wide variety of applications.

Jumper Wire
These wires are used with breadboard and development boards and are
generally 22-28 AWG solid core wire. Jumper wires can have male or female
ends depending on how they need to be used.
Soldering Iron
When it time to create a permanent circuit, you’ll want to solder the parts
together. To do this, a soldering iron is the tool you would use. Of course a
soldering iron isn’t any good unless you have solder to go with it. You can
choose leaded or lead-free solder in a few diameters.

Electronic Components
Now its time to talk about the different components that make your electronic
projects come to life. Below is a quick breakdown of the most common
components and functions they perform.

Switch
Switches can come in many forms such as pushbutton, rocker, momentary and
others. Their basic function is to interrupt electric current by turning a circuit
on or off.

Resistor
Resistors are used to resist the flow of current or to control the voltage in a
circuit. The amount of resistance that a resistor offers is measured in Ohms.
Most resistors have colored stripes on the outside and this code will tell you
it’s value of resistance. You can use a multimeter or Digikey’s resistor color
code calculator to determine the value of a resistor.
Variable Resistor (Potentiometer)
A variable resistor is also known as a potentiometer. These components can
be found in devices such as a light dimmer or volume control for a radio.
When you turn the shaft of a potentiometer the resistance changes in the
circuit.
Light-Dependent Resistor (LDR)
A light-dependent resistor is also a variable resistor but is controlled by the
light versus turning a knob. The resistance in the circuit changes with the
intensity of the light. These are often found in exterior lights that
automatically turn on at dusk and off at dawn.
Capacitor
Capacitors store electricity and then discharges it back into the circuit when
there is a drop in voltage. A capacitor is like a rechargeable battery and can
be charged and then discharged. The value is measured in F (Farad), nano
Farad (nF) or pico Farad (pF) range.
Diode
A diode allows electricity to flow in one direction and blocks it from flowing
the opposite way. The diode’s primary role is to route electricity from taking
an unwanted path within the circuit.
Light-Emitting Diode (LED)
A light-emitting diode is like a standard diode in the fact that electrical current
only flows in one direction. The main difference is an LED will emit light when
electricity flows through it. Inside an LED there is an anode and cathode.
Current always flows from the anode (+) to the cathode (-) and never in the
opposite direction. The longer leg of the LED is the positive (anode) side.

Transistor
Transistor are tiny switches that turn a current on or off when triggered by an
electric signal. In addition to being a switch, it can also be used to amplify
electronic signals. A transistor is similar to a relay except with no moving
parts.
Relay
A relay is an electrically operated switch that opens or closes when power is
applied. Inside a relay is an electromagnet which controls a mechanical
switch.
Integrated Circuit (IC)
An integrated circuit is a circuit that’s been reduced in size to fit inside a tiny
chip. This circuit contains electronic components like resistors and capacitors
but on a much smaller scale. Integrated circuits come in different variations
such as 555 timers, voltage regulators, microcontrollers and many more. Each
pin on an IC is unique in terms of it’s function.

What Is A Circuit?
Before you design an electronic project, you need to know what a circuit is
and how to create one properly.

An electronic circuit is a circular path of conductors by which electric current

can flow. A closed circuit is like a circle because it starts and ends at the same
point forming a complete loop. Furthermore, a closed circuit allows electricity
to flow from the (+) power to the (-) ground uninterrupted.

In contrast, if there is any break in the flow of electricity, this is known as an

open circuit. As shown below, a switch in a circuit can cause it to be open or
closed depending on it’s position.
All circuits need to have three basic elements. These elements are a voltage
source, conductive path and a load.

The voltage source, such as a battery, is needed in order to cause the current
to flow through the circuit. In addition, there needs to be a conductive path
that provides a route for the electricity to flow. Finally, a proper circuit needs a
load that consumes the power. The load in the above circuit is the light bulb.

Schematic Diagram
When working with circuits, you will often find something called a schematic
diagram. These diagrams use symbols to illustrate what electronic
components are used and where they’re placed in the circuit. These symbols
are graphic representations of the actual electronic components.
Below is an example of a schematic that depicts an LED circuit that is
controlled by a switch. It contains symbols for an LED, resistor, battery and a
switch. By following a schematic diagram, you are able to know which
components to use and where to put them. These schematics are extremely
helpful for beginners when first learning circuits.

Sc
hematic Diagram For LED Circuit
There are many types of electronic symbols and they vary slightly between
countries. Below are a few of the most commonly used electronic symbols in
the US.
How To Determine A Resistor Size
Resistors are commonly used in electronics projects and it’s important to know
which size to use. To find the resistor value, you need to know the voltage
and the amps for your LED and battery.

A standard LED generally needs a voltage of around 2V and a current of 20mA

or .02A to operate correctly. Next, you need to find out what voltage your
battery is. In this example, we will be using a 9V battery. In order to
determine the resistor size, we need to use a formula known as Ohm’s law as
shown below.

Ohm’s Law – Resistance (R) = Voltage (V) / Current (I)

 Resistance is measured in Ohms (Ω)
 Voltage is measured in volts (V)
 Current is measured in amps (A)

Using Ohm’s law, you need to subtract the LED voltage from the battery
voltage. This will give you a voltage of 7 which needs to be divided by .02
amps from the LED. This formula shows that you will need a 350 Ω resistor.
As a note, standard resistors don’t come in 350 Ω but are available in 330
Ω which will work fine.

Electronics Project #1
Now it’s time to combine everything you’ve learned and create a basic circuit.
This project is a great starter project for beginners. We will be using test leads
to create a temporary circuit without having to solder it together.

Parts Needed:
 9V Battery
 Battery Snap-on Connector
 Test Leads w/ Alligator Clips
 330 Ohm Resistor
 LED – Basic Red 5mm

Schematic Diagram
Project Steps
1. Attach the battery clip to the top of the 9V battery.
2. Red wire from the battery clip is connected to one alligator clip on the red
test lead.
3. The other end of the red test lead is connected to the long leg (+) of the
LED.
4. Connect one alligator clip from black test lead to the short leg (-) of the
LED.
5. The other end of the black test lead is clipped to one leg of the 330 Ω
resistor.
6. Clip one side of the other black test lead to the other leg of the 330 Ω
resistor.
7. The opposite end of the black test lead is connected to the black battery
wire.

IMPORTANT – Never connect an LED directly to a 9V battery without a

resistor in the circuit. Doing so with damage/destroy the LED. You can
however connect an LED to a 3V or smaller battery without a resistor.

How To Use A Breadboard

Another way to create and test a circuit is to build it on a breadboard. These
boards are essential for testing and prototyping circuits because no soldering
is needed. Components and wires are pushed into the holes to form a
temporary circuit. Because it’s not permanent, you can experiment and make
changes until the desired outcome is reached.
Below the holes of each row are metal clips that connect the holes to each
other. The middle rows run vertically as shown while the exterior columns are
connected horizontally. These exterior columns are called power rails and are
used to receive and provide power to the board.

Breadboards will need to have power supplied to them and this can be done
in a few ways. One of the easiest way is to plug the wires from a battery
holder into the power rails. This will supply voltage to the rail it’s plugged into
only.
To power both rails, you will need to use a jumper wire from the (+) and (-) to
the rail on the opposite side.

Electronics Project #2
Now we’re going to learn how to create a circuit on a breadboard. This circuit
is the exact same one we did earlier but we won’t be using the test leads.

Parts Needed:
 9V Battery
 Battery Snap-on Connector
 330 Ohm Resistor
 LED – Basic Red 5mm
 Breadboard- Half Size
Schematic Diagram
Project Steps
1. Attach the battery clip to the top of the 9V battery.
2. Place the red wire from the battery clip into F9 of the breadboard.
3. Insert the black wire from the battery clip into J21 of the breadboard.
4. Bend the legs of the 330 Ω resistor and place one leg into F21.
5. Place the other leg of the resistor into F15.
6. Insert the short leg of the LED into J15 and the long leg into J9.
The red arrows in the image below help to show how electricity is flowing in
this circuit. All components are connected to each other in a circle just like
when we used the test leads.
IMPORTANT – Never connect an LED directly to a 9V battery without a
resistor in the circuit. Doing so with damage/destroy the LED.
How To Solder
If you want to make your circuit permanent, you’ll need to solder it together.

What Is Soldering?
If you were to take apart any electronic device that contains a circuit board,
you’ll see the components are attached using soldering techniques. Soldering
is the process of joining two or more electronic parts together by melting
solder around the connection. Solder is a metal alloy and when it cools it
creates a strong electrical bond between the parts. Even though soldering can
create a permanent connection, it can also be reversed using a desoldering
tool as described below.

Soldering Tools
The good thing about learning how to solder is the fact that you don’t need a
lot to get started. Below we’ll outline the basic tools and materials you will
need for most of your soldering projects.
Soldering Iron
A soldering iron is a hand tool that plugs into a standard 120v AC outlet and
heats up in order to melt solder around electrical connections. This is one of
the most important tools used in soldering and it can come in a few variations
such as pen or gun form. For beginners, it’s recommended that you use the
pen style soldering iron in the 15W to 30W range. Most soldering irons have
interchangeable tips that can be used for different soldering applications. Be
very cautious when using any type of soldering iron because it can heat up to
896′ F which is extremely hot.

Soldering Station
A soldering station is a more advanced version of the basic standalone
soldering pen. If you are going to be doing a lot of soldering, these are great
to have as they offer more flexibility and control. The main benefit of a
soldering station is the ability to precisely adjust the temperature of the
soldering iron which is great for a range of projects. These stations can also
create a safer workspace as some include advanced temperature sensors, alert
settings and even password protection for safety.
Soldering Iron Tips
At the end of most soldering irons is an interchangeable part known as a
soldering tip. There are many variations of this tip and they come in a wide
variety of shapes and sizes. Each tip is used for a specific purpose and offers a
distinct advantage over another. The most common tips you will use in
electronics projects are the conical tip and the chisel tip.
Conical Tip – Used in precision electronics soldering because of the fine tip.
Because of its pointed end, it’s able to deliver heat to smaller areas without
affecting its surroundings.
Chisel Tip – This tip is well-suited to soldering wires or other larger
components because of its broad flat tip.

Image Credit – Sparkfun.com

Brass or Conventional Sponge
Using a sponge will help to keep the soldering iron tip clean by removing the
oxidation that forms. Tips with oxidation will tend to turn black and not accept
solder as it did when it was new. You could use a conventional wet sponge but
this tends to shorten the lifespan of the tip due to expansion and contraction.
Also, a wet sponge will drop the temperature of the tip temporarily when
wiped. A better alternative is to use a brass sponge as shown on the left.

Soldering Iron Stand

A soldering iron stand is very basic but very useful and handy to have. This
stand helps prevent the hot iron tip from coming in contact with flammable
materials or causing accidental injury to your hand. Most soldering stations
come with this built in and also include a sponge or brass sponge for cleaning
the tip.
Solder
Solder is a metal alloy material that is melted to create a permanent bond
between electrical parts. It comes in both lead and lead-free variations with
diameters of .032″ and .062″ being the most common. Inside the solder core is
a material known as flux which helps improve electrical contact and its
mechanical strength.

For electronics soldering, the most commonly used type is lead-free rosin core
solder. This type of solder is usually made up of a Tin/Copper alloy. You can
also use leaded 60/40 (60% tin, 40% lead) rosin core solder but it’s becoming
less popular due to health concerns. If you do use lead solder, make sure you
have proper ventilation and that you wash your hands after use.
When buying solder, make sure NOT to use acid core solder as this will
damage your circuits and components. Acid core solder is sold at home
improvement stores and is mainly used for plumbing and metal working.

As mentioned earlier, solder does come in a few different diameters. The

thicker diameter solder (.062″) is good for soldering larger joints more quickly
but it can make soldering smaller joints difficult. For this reason, it’s always a
good idea to have both sizes on hand for your different projects.

Helping Hand (Third Hand)

A helping hand is a device that has 2 or more alligator clips and sometimes a
magnifying glass/light attached. This clips will assist you by holding the items
you are trying to solder while you use the soldering iron and solder. A very
helpful tool to have in your makerspace.
Soldering Safety
Now that you know what tools and materials are required, it’s time to briefly
discuss ways of staying safe while soldering.

Soldering irons can reach temperatures of 800′ F so it’s very important to

know where your iron is at all times. We always recommend you use a
soldering iron stand to help prevent accidental burns or damage.
Make sure you are soldering in a well ventilated area. When solder is heated,
there are fumes released that are harmful to your eyes and lungs. It’s
recommended to use a fume extractor which is a fan with a charcoal filter that
absorbs the harmful solder smoke you can visit sites like Integrated Air
Systems for air filtration systems.
It’s always a good idea to wear protective eye wear in case of accidental
splashes of hot solder. Lastly, make sure to wash your hands when done
soldering especially if using lead solder.

Tinning The Tip

Before you can start soldering, you need to prep your soldering iron by
tinning the tip with solder. This process will help improve the heat transfer
from the iron to the item you’re soldering. Tinning will also help to protect the
tip and reduce wear.

Step 1: Begin by making sure the tip is attached to the iron and screwed
tightly in place.
Step 2: Turn on your soldering iron and let it heat up. If you have a soldering
station with an adjustable temp control, set it to 400′ C/ 752′ F.
Step 3: Wipe the tip of the soldering iron on a damp wet sponge to clean it.
Wait a few seconds to let the tip heat up again before proceeding to step 4.
Step 4: Hold the soldering iron in one hand and solder in the other. Touch the
solder to the tip of the iron and make sure the solder flows evenly around the
tip.

You should tin the tip of your iron before and after each soldering session to
extend its life. Eventually, every tip will wear out and will need replacing when
it becomes rough or pitted.

How To Solder
To better explain how to solder, we’re going to demonstrate it with a real
world application. In this example, we’re going to solder an LED to a circuit
board.

Step 1: Mount The Component – Begin by inserting the leads of the LED into
the holes of the circuit board. Flip the board over and bend the leads outward
at a 45′ angle. This will help the component make a better connection with the
copper pad and prevent it from falling out while soldering.
Step 2: Heat The Joint – Turn your soldering iron on and if it has an adjustable
heat control, set it to 400’C. At this point, touch the tip of the iron to the
copper pad and the resistor lead at the same time. You need to hold the
soldering iron in place for 3-4 seconds in order to heat the pad and the lead.

Step 3: Apply Solder To Joint – Continue holding the soldering iron on the
copper pad and the lead and touch your solder to the joint. IMPORTANT –
Don’t touch the solder directly to the tip of the iron. You want the joint to be
hot enough to melt the solder when it’s touched. If the joint is too cold, it will
form a bad connection.
Step 4: Snip The Leads – Remove the soldering iron and let the solder cool
down naturally. Don’t blow on the solder as this will cause a bad joint. Once
cool, you can snip the extra wire from leads.
A proper solder joint is smooth, shiny and looks like a volcano or cone shape.
You want just enough solder to cover the entire joint but not too much so it
becomes a ball or spills to a nearby lead or joint.

How To Solder Wires

Now it’s time to show you how to solder wires together. For this process, it’s
recommended to use helping hands or other type of clamp device.
Begin by removing the insulation from the ends of both wires you are
soldering together. If the wire is stranded, twist the strands together with your
fingers.

Make sure your soldering iron is fully heated and touch the tip to the end of
one of the wires. Hold it on the wire for 3-4 seconds.

Keep the iron in place and touch the solder to the wire until it’s fully coated.
Repeat this process on the other wire.

Hold the two tinned wires on top of each other and touch the soldering iron
to both wires. This process should melt the solder and coat both wires evenly.
Remove the soldering iron and wait a few seconds to let the soldered
connection cool and harden. Use heat shrink to cover the connection.

Desoldering
The good thing about using solder is the fact that it can be removed easily in
a technique known as desoldering. This comes in handy if you need to remove
a component or make a correction to your electronic circuit.

To desolder a joint, you will need solder wick which is also known
as desoldering braid.
Step 1 – Place a piece of the desoldering braid on top of the joint/solder you
want removed.
Step 2 – Heat your soldering iron and touch the tip to the top of the braid. This
will heat the solder below which will then be absorbed into the desoldering
braid. You can now remove the braid to see the solder has been extracted and
removed. Be careful touching the braid when you are heating it because it will
get hot.

Optional – If you have a lot of solder you want removed, you may want to use
a device called a solder sucker. This is a handheld mechanical vacuum that
sucks up hot solder with a press of a button.
To use, press the plunger down at the end of the solder sucker. Heat the joint
with your soldering iron and place the tip of the solder sucker over the hot
solder. Press the release button to suck up the liquid solder. In order to empty
the solder sucker, press down on the plunger.

https://www.makerspaces.com/basic-electronics/