Actions
Forum Thread Details
  • Replies 50 replies
  • Subscribers 531 subscribers
  • Views 3566 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Related

What was your first electronics project?

dougw

What was your very first electronics project?

Why did you take it on?

I think my first successful, non school-related electronics project was an electronic doorbell that would randomly play one of a whole (fixed) suite of sound effects and melodies or jingles.

After brief use as a doorbell, it eventually got used as toy, but "someone" couldn't stand the kids playing it non-stop, so it got tossed out....Disappointed

I built the project because I thought it was such a cool chip, (I still think it was cool) but it was many years ago and I can no longer recall the chip I used or find something that seems similar.

Parents

  • The first 'project' I can remember was based on a selenium cell that I bought from the local electronics shop - a bit like Proops apparently, but a different name. I had an idea for a variable speed DC motor that came with a Meccano set. The selenium cell would not drive the motor by itself so I added a couple of transistors (germanium) and away it went! By shading it with my hand it sped up and slowed down! This was magic to me, seeing as how I was only about 12.

    One night I left it all connected up and on top of a chest of drawers when I went to bed and turned the light off. The next morning my Mum came in to get me up and to pull the curtains back. As she pulled the curtains back the daylight started the motor, which buzzed very loudly on the almost hollow chest of drawers, I had never seen her so scared, she ran from the room and stayed away for a minute or two while I got up and switched it off. I never thought about the fact that she was not technical, didn't know what a transistor was, and had never heard a chest of drawers vibrating so loudly!

    I got a good telling-off, but it was worth it! Now retired, I have enjoyed a great life in electronics without scaring my superiors!

Reply

  • The first 'project' I can remember was based on a selenium cell that I bought from the local electronics shop - a bit like Proops apparently, but a different name. I had an idea for a variable speed DC motor that came with a Meccano set. The selenium cell would not drive the motor by itself so I added a couple of transistors (germanium) and away it went! By shading it with my hand it sped up and slowed down! This was magic to me, seeing as how I was only about 12.

    One night I left it all connected up and on top of a chest of drawers when I went to bed and turned the light off. The next morning my Mum came in to get me up and to pull the curtains back. As she pulled the curtains back the daylight started the motor, which buzzed very loudly on the almost hollow chest of drawers, I had never seen her so scared, she ran from the room and stayed away for a minute or two while I got up and switched it off. I never thought about the fact that she was not technical, didn't know what a transistor was, and had never heard a chest of drawers vibrating so loudly!

    I got a good telling-off, but it was worth it! Now retired, I have enjoyed a great life in electronics without scaring my superiors!

Children
No Data