Progress

[SparkyCal]

Well folks. Thanks to you and my blind determination, I managed to build the circuit below. The red and green LEDs alternate being lit, each second.

I have provided pictures and a link to the schematic

https://www.build-electronic-circui...s/2018/08/[email protected]

 

[shrtrnd]

Good work. Good luck on your next project.

 

[bertus]

Hello,

Good work.
Perhaps the following book might give you some more ideas:
https://archive.org/details/TheGiantBookOfElectronicsProjects/mode/2up

Bertus

 

[SparkyCal]

Thank you

 

[Bluejets]

Good one.
Now make one flash longer than the other.

 

[SparkyCal]

I have not tried it, but I have a feeling that would involve changing the capacitor or resistor. Or maybe trying a variable resistor on one branch of the circuit.

 

[Bluejets]

Once again, good move, only if using a pot, think about what will happen if it is turned to one end in particular and how to avoid a problem.

 

[Harald Kapp]

In this article methods are shown how to:

1. Vary the frequency of the oscillator without varying the duty cycle (mark/space ratio).
2. Vary the duty cycle without varying the frequency.

Of course both techniques can be combined to yield a variable frequency/variable duty cycle oscillator.

 

[SparkyCal]

Thanks for the advice guys. My next adventure however, is to take a circuit that I successfully put together on a breadboard, and try to solder it on a normal board. Just to develop that skill.

 

[hevans1944]

@SparkyCal: no need to manufacture a "normal board" when you can buy pre-etched and drilled prototyping circuit boards consisting of parallel traces with holes drilled on a 0.1" spacing grid. These come in all sorts of sizes, some with gold-plated edge contact "fingers" for reliable connections to the external world. Not saying you shouldn't explore DIY etched circuit (printed circuit) boards, but if you learn the fundamentals of circuit board layout and design, there are Asian manufacturers who can make double-sided boards with plated-through holes really cheap. There are still a few American board shops still in business too, but proto-boards are very inexpensive and available off-the-shelf as an alternative. Going with surface mount devices (SMDs) is also the direction many "makers" are choosing. Parts are really inexpensive and very small, so special techniques are required to put everything together.

Welcome to EP and please keep us posted on your progress. Remember, always, to have FUN with electronics while you learn. Nice pictures!

 

[bertus]

Hello,

There are different ways to do the prototyping on PCB's.
You have the prototyping boards or the manhattan style prototyping.
I will attach some catalog pages for prototyping boards and for the manhattan style prototyping.

Bertus

 

[SparkyCal]

Thank-you. I had no idea thst there so many different types. There were several boards in electronic kits I purchased and I was just goi g to use those. They have round holes drilled in, with solder around the holes.

 

[Bluejets]

One common example here....

https://www.electronicspoint.com/fo...soldering-question.292691/reply?quote=1796280

 

[bertus]

Hello,

You can also have a lot of fun with the books from Forrest Mims:
https://archive.org/search.php?quer...type:"texts"&and[]=loans__status__status:"-1"

Bertus