A Geek Girl's Guide to Electronics and the Internet of Things
1. Edition November 2020
464 Pages, Softcover
Wiley & Sons Ltd
ISBN:
978-1-119-68368-1
John Wiley & Sons
Further versions
A straightforward demystification of electronics and the Internet of Things
A Geek Girl's Guide to Electronics and the Internet of Things breaks down and simplifies electronics and the Internet of Things for the layperson. Written by a leading technical school instructor with a talent for bringing complex topics to everyday people, this book provides concrete examples and practical advice for anyone interested in building, repairing, or studying electronics and functional Internet of Things (IoT) devices.
A Geek Girl's Guide to Electronics and the Internet of Things explores a wide range of topics including, among others:
* Ohm's and Watt's Law
* Series and Parallel Circuits
* Diodes, transistors, capacitors and relays
* Motors and Pulse with Modulation
* Using light to control electricity
* Photovoltaic Cells and Transducers
* Enhancing circuits with Arduino
* Connecting circuits to networks
The distinguished author's website includes videos to help you build and enhance projects, along with deeper information to enrich your learning. Additionally, the book goes beyond theory and teaches readers how circuit components become IoT devices and provide the data that drive our modern world. The combination of hands-on activities and solid pedagogy ensures long-lasting retention of the material for everyone.
Introduction xxiii
Part I IoT and Electricity Basics 1
Chapter 1 IoT and Electronics 3
IoT in a Nutshell 4
Parts of an IoT System 4
Devices 4
Sensors 5
Circuits, Software, and Microprocessors 6
Communication 7
Levels 7
Protocols and Standards 7
Data Analytics and Management 8
The User Experience 8
Challenges in Implementing IoT 9
IoT into the Future 9
Chapter 2 Electricity: Its Good and Bad Behavior 11
Try This: Creating Some Static 11
Levitate a Styrofoam Plate 12
Bend Water 12
Creating Light with Static 12
Magically Move a Styrofoam Ball 13
Electricity at an Atomic Level 14
Conductors and Insulators 15
Characteristics of Electricity 17
Current 18
Voltage 18
Resistance 19
Induction and Conduction 19
Try This: Creating a Simple Breadboard Circuit 21
Light-Emitting Diodes 28
Jumper Wires 28
Building the Circuit 29
The Basic Circuit 31
Ohm's Law 31
Resistor Values and Voltage Dividers 32
Opens and Shorts 35
Circuit Protection Devices 36
Fuses 36
Circuit Breakers 37
Bigger is Not Better 38
Chapter 3 Symbols and Diagrams 39
Types of Diagrams 39
Schematic Symbols 41
So Many Switches! 43
Drawing Your Circuit 48
Try This: Adding a Switch and Creating a Schematic 48
Chapter 4 Introduction to the Arduino Uno 53
What is Arduino? 53
The Arduino Board 54
Analog vs. Digital 60
The Arduino IDE 62
Try This: Creating a Simple Arduino-Controlled Circuit 65
What Went Wrong? 69
What Does the Code Mean? 69
Setup 70
Void 71
Try This: Changing Pins 71
Try This: Creating Arduino Running Lights 72
Try This: Adding a Switch to Your Circuit 74
Try This: Using the Serial Monitor 78
Chapter 5 Dim the Lights 83
Using a Multimeter 84
Try This: Repurposing a Power Supply 86
Measuring Voltage, Current, and Resistance 88
Measuring Voltage 89
Measuring Current 89
Measuring Resistance 90
Continuity 90
Try This: Dimming the Lights 91
Try This: Measuring Circuit Values 93
Using Arduino to Measure Electricity 95
Try This: Using an Arduino Voltmeter 95
Try This: Using an Arduino Ohmmeter 100
Try This: Using an Arduino Ammeter 102
Try This: Using an Arduino Continuity Tester 107
Try This: Building a Dimmable Arduino Camp Light 109
Soldering, Perfboards, and Shrink Tubing 115
Soldering 115
Perfboards 117
Shrink Tubing 118
Chapter 6 Feel the Power 121
Watt's Law and the Power Wheel 121
Datasheets 122
The Power Wheel 123
Watts and Horsepower 123
Horsepower 124
Efficiency 124
Battery Power 124
The Other Resistor Value 125
Wattmeters 126
Wattmeter 126
Power Distribution 127
Try This: Using an Arduino Wattmeter 128
Setting Up the LCD Screen 129
Component Connections 130
The Test Sketch 132
Troubleshooting 132
Building the Wattmeter 133
Building the Wattmeter 133
Building the Test Circuit 134
Configuring the LCD 135
Programming the Meter 138
Chapter 7 Series and Parallel Circuits 143
Series, Parallel, and Complex Circuits 143
Try This: Testing Series and Parallel Configurations 144
Calculating Values in Series and in Parallel 147
Current 147
Voltage 148
Resistance 149
Power 149
Resistance of a Conductor 150
Sources in Series and Parallel 152
Sources in Series 152
Sources in Parallel 152
Aiding and Opposing Sources 153
Try This: Calculating Circuit Values 155
Calculating the Series Circuit 155
What Went Wrong 156
Calculating the Parallel Circuit 156
What Size Resistor is Needed? 156
Calculating the Complex Circuit 157
Part II Using Common Components 161
Chapter 8 Diodes: The One-Way Street Sign 163
Try This: Creating a Simple Polarity Tester 163
Determining Polarity Tester Maximum Voltage 165
Determining Resistor Needs 166
Typical LED Voltages 167
Putting It on a Perfbord 167
LED Features 168
The Inner Workings of Diodes 169
Determining Anode and Cathode 171
Types of Diodes 172
Diode Uses 172
Try This: Using a Seven-Segment LED 175
Seven-Segment LED 176
Bar LED 181
Chapter 9 Transistors 187
Try This: Using a Transistor as an Amplifier 187
The Purpose of Transistors 192
Types of Transistors 192
Distinguishing Transistor Types 193
Determining Transistor Connections 193
Bipolar Junction Transistors 193
Field Effect Transistors 194
Try This: Using a Transistor as a Switch 196
Verifying the Data 196
Building the Circuit 198
Troubleshooting 200
Chapter 10 Capacitors 201
A Quick Look at Capacitors 201
Try This: Creating a Time Delay Circuit 205
Capacitor Uses 209
Try This: Creating an Astable Multivibrator 210
Try This: Using Capacitors in Series and Parallel 213
Capacitors in Parallel 214
Capacitors in Series 215
Chapter 11 The Magic of Magnetism 217
The Electricity/Magnetism Relationship 218
Magnetism 218
Magnetism's Relationship with Electricity 220
Try This: Building an Electromagnet 221
Magnetism in Circuits 223
Motors and Generators 224
Inductors 225
Doorbells 227
Relays 229
Parts of a Relay 230
Try This: Building a Relay Oscillator 231
Connecting the Coil 231
Connecting the Controlled Circuit 233
Try This: Setting Up an Emergency Lighting System 234
Connecting the Mains Circuit 236
Connecting the Backup Circuit 237
Chapter is Electricity's Changing Forms 239
Try This: Creating a Water Alarm 239
Common Transducers 243
Speakers and Microphones 243
Light 245
Light-Controlled Devices 245
Light Output Devices 247
Laser Light 250
Other Transducers 251
Try This: Creating a Night-Light Circuit 252
Try This: Creating an Arduino Laser Security System 255
Building the Circuit 255
How the Voltage Divider Works 260
Other Considerations 262
Chapter 13 Integrated Circuits and Digital Logic 263
Integrated Circuits 263
Try This: Creating an Astable Multivibrator 265
Determining Circuit Timing 266
Examining the IC 267
Building the Circuit 268
Operational Amplifiers 272
Digital Logic 272
Logic Chip Construction 273
The Binary Number System 274
Logic Gates 275
Try This: Exploring AND and OR Gates 277
The AND Gate 278
The OR Gate 280
Logic Probes and Oscilloscopes 281
Part III More Please 285
Chapter 14 Pulse Width Modulation 287
Pulse Width Modulation Explained 287
Try This: Using a PWM LED Dimmer 289
PWM vs. Potentiometer 290
Building the Circuit 291
Observing the Changing Duty Cycle 295
Try This: Using a PWM Motor Control 295
Try This: Trying PWM and an Arduino 299
Chapter 15 Sources of Electricity 307
Chemical Reactions 307
Simple Experiment: Making a Voltaic Cell 308
Types of Batteries 309
Try This: Making a Thermocouple 311
Light 312
Try This: Displaying PV Output on an Arduino 315
Friction 323
Magnetism 324
Pressure 326
Wrapping It Up 326
Chapter 16 Transformers and Power Distribution 327
What is a Transformer? 327
Phase Relationships 330
Power and Turns Ratio 331
Transformer Losses 332
Taps, Autotransformers, and Variacs 334
Try This: Verifying Transformer Output 335
Alternating Current Values 342
Power Distribution Using Transformers 343
Chapter 17 Inverters and Rectifiers 345
Inverters vs. Rectifiers and Their Uses 345
Inverters and PV Systems 346
Other Inverter Uses 347
Rectifier Uses 348
Construction of Inverters 349
Try This: Filtering a Circuit 350
Setting Up the Circuit 351
Filtering the Circuit 353
Construction of Rectifiers 355
Single-Phase vs. Three-Phase Power 357
Try This: Building a Small Variable Power Supply 357
Chapter 18 Radio Waves and Tuned Circuits 363
Radio Waves 363
Try This: Building a Radio Receiver 364
Making Waves 369
Transmitting Radio Waves 369
Receiving Radio Waves 370
AM vs. FM 371
Try This: Building an Arduino FM Radio 371
The Shield 372
The Libraries 373
Verifying the Radio Works 375
Adding Station Tuning 377
Tuned Circuits 381
Part IV Putting the I in IoT 385
Chapter 19 Connecting Your Circuits to the Cloud 387
The Arduino IoT Cloud 387
Try This: Setting Up Your Device 389
Try This: Using Things, Properties, and Widgets 391
Chapter 20 Just for Fun 405
Electronic Fabrics and Wearables 405
Try This: Lighting Up a Teddy Bear 408
Paper Circuits 413
Try This: Creating a Conductive Paint Circuit 414
Try This: Creating a Copper Tape Circuit 416
Try This: Building Squishy Circuits 418
Chapter 21 What's Next? 423
The World is Your Oyster 423
Recommended Reading and Resources 424
Words of Encouragement 425
Index 427
Part I IoT and Electricity Basics 1
Chapter 1 IoT and Electronics 3
IoT in a Nutshell 4
Parts of an IoT System 4
Devices 4
Sensors 5
Circuits, Software, and Microprocessors 6
Communication 7
Levels 7
Protocols and Standards 7
Data Analytics and Management 8
The User Experience 8
Challenges in Implementing IoT 9
IoT into the Future 9
Chapter 2 Electricity: Its Good and Bad Behavior 11
Try This: Creating Some Static 11
Levitate a Styrofoam Plate 12
Bend Water 12
Creating Light with Static 12
Magically Move a Styrofoam Ball 13
Electricity at an Atomic Level 14
Conductors and Insulators 15
Characteristics of Electricity 17
Current 18
Voltage 18
Resistance 19
Induction and Conduction 19
Try This: Creating a Simple Breadboard Circuit 21
Light-Emitting Diodes 28
Jumper Wires 28
Building the Circuit 29
The Basic Circuit 31
Ohm's Law 31
Resistor Values and Voltage Dividers 32
Opens and Shorts 35
Circuit Protection Devices 36
Fuses 36
Circuit Breakers 37
Bigger is Not Better 38
Chapter 3 Symbols and Diagrams 39
Types of Diagrams 39
Schematic Symbols 41
So Many Switches! 43
Drawing Your Circuit 48
Try This: Adding a Switch and Creating a Schematic 48
Chapter 4 Introduction to the Arduino Uno 53
What is Arduino? 53
The Arduino Board 54
Analog vs. Digital 60
The Arduino IDE 62
Try This: Creating a Simple Arduino-Controlled Circuit 65
What Went Wrong? 69
What Does the Code Mean? 69
Setup 70
Void 71
Try This: Changing Pins 71
Try This: Creating Arduino Running Lights 72
Try This: Adding a Switch to Your Circuit 74
Try This: Using the Serial Monitor 78
Chapter 5 Dim the Lights 83
Using a Multimeter 84
Try This: Repurposing a Power Supply 86
Measuring Voltage, Current, and Resistance 88
Measuring Voltage 89
Measuring Current 89
Measuring Resistance 90
Continuity 90
Try This: Dimming the Lights 91
Try This: Measuring Circuit Values 93
Using Arduino to Measure Electricity 95
Try This: Using an Arduino Voltmeter 95
Try This: Using an Arduino Ohmmeter 100
Try This: Using an Arduino Ammeter 102
Try This: Using an Arduino Continuity Tester 107
Try This: Building a Dimmable Arduino Camp Light 109
Soldering, Perfboards, and Shrink Tubing 115
Soldering 115
Perfboards 117
Shrink Tubing 118
Chapter 6 Feel the Power 121
Watt's Law and the Power Wheel 121
Datasheets 122
The Power Wheel 123
Watts and Horsepower 123
Horsepower 124
Efficiency 124
Battery Power 124
The Other Resistor Value 125
Wattmeters 126
Wattmeter 126
Power Distribution 127
Try This: Using an Arduino Wattmeter 128
Setting Up the LCD Screen 129
Component Connections 130
The Test Sketch 132
Troubleshooting 132
Building the Wattmeter 133
Building the Wattmeter 133
Building the Test Circuit 134
Configuring the LCD 135
Programming the Meter 138
Chapter 7 Series and Parallel Circuits 143
Series, Parallel, and Complex Circuits 143
Try This: Testing Series and Parallel Configurations 144
Calculating Values in Series and in Parallel 147
Current 147
Voltage 148
Resistance 149
Power 149
Resistance of a Conductor 150
Sources in Series and Parallel 152
Sources in Series 152
Sources in Parallel 152
Aiding and Opposing Sources 153
Try This: Calculating Circuit Values 155
Calculating the Series Circuit 155
What Went Wrong 156
Calculating the Parallel Circuit 156
What Size Resistor is Needed? 156
Calculating the Complex Circuit 157
Part II Using Common Components 161
Chapter 8 Diodes: The One-Way Street Sign 163
Try This: Creating a Simple Polarity Tester 163
Determining Polarity Tester Maximum Voltage 165
Determining Resistor Needs 166
Typical LED Voltages 167
Putting It on a Perfbord 167
LED Features 168
The Inner Workings of Diodes 169
Determining Anode and Cathode 171
Types of Diodes 172
Diode Uses 172
Try This: Using a Seven-Segment LED 175
Seven-Segment LED 176
Bar LED 181
Chapter 9 Transistors 187
Try This: Using a Transistor as an Amplifier 187
The Purpose of Transistors 192
Types of Transistors 192
Distinguishing Transistor Types 193
Determining Transistor Connections 193
Bipolar Junction Transistors 193
Field Effect Transistors 194
Try This: Using a Transistor as a Switch 196
Verifying the Data 196
Building the Circuit 198
Troubleshooting 200
Chapter 10 Capacitors 201
A Quick Look at Capacitors 201
Try This: Creating a Time Delay Circuit 205
Capacitor Uses 209
Try This: Creating an Astable Multivibrator 210
Try This: Using Capacitors in Series and Parallel 213
Capacitors in Parallel 214
Capacitors in Series 215
Chapter 11 The Magic of Magnetism 217
The Electricity/Magnetism Relationship 218
Magnetism 218
Magnetism's Relationship with Electricity 220
Try This: Building an Electromagnet 221
Magnetism in Circuits 223
Motors and Generators 224
Inductors 225
Doorbells 227
Relays 229
Parts of a Relay 230
Try This: Building a Relay Oscillator 231
Connecting the Coil 231
Connecting the Controlled Circuit 233
Try This: Setting Up an Emergency Lighting System 234
Connecting the Mains Circuit 236
Connecting the Backup Circuit 237
Chapter is Electricity's Changing Forms 239
Try This: Creating a Water Alarm 239
Common Transducers 243
Speakers and Microphones 243
Light 245
Light-Controlled Devices 245
Light Output Devices 247
Laser Light 250
Other Transducers 251
Try This: Creating a Night-Light Circuit 252
Try This: Creating an Arduino Laser Security System 255
Building the Circuit 255
How the Voltage Divider Works 260
Other Considerations 262
Chapter 13 Integrated Circuits and Digital Logic 263
Integrated Circuits 263
Try This: Creating an Astable Multivibrator 265
Determining Circuit Timing 266
Examining the IC 267
Building the Circuit 268
Operational Amplifiers 272
Digital Logic 272
Logic Chip Construction 273
The Binary Number System 274
Logic Gates 275
Try This: Exploring AND and OR Gates 277
The AND Gate 278
The OR Gate 280
Logic Probes and Oscilloscopes 281
Part III More Please 285
Chapter 14 Pulse Width Modulation 287
Pulse Width Modulation Explained 287
Try This: Using a PWM LED Dimmer 289
PWM vs. Potentiometer 290
Building the Circuit 291
Observing the Changing Duty Cycle 295
Try This: Using a PWM Motor Control 295
Try This: Trying PWM and an Arduino 299
Chapter 15 Sources of Electricity 307
Chemical Reactions 307
Simple Experiment: Making a Voltaic Cell 308
Types of Batteries 309
Try This: Making a Thermocouple 311
Light 312
Try This: Displaying PV Output on an Arduino 315
Friction 323
Magnetism 324
Pressure 326
Wrapping It Up 326
Chapter 16 Transformers and Power Distribution 327
What is a Transformer? 327
Phase Relationships 330
Power and Turns Ratio 331
Transformer Losses 332
Taps, Autotransformers, and Variacs 334
Try This: Verifying Transformer Output 335
Alternating Current Values 342
Power Distribution Using Transformers 343
Chapter 17 Inverters and Rectifiers 345
Inverters vs. Rectifiers and Their Uses 345
Inverters and PV Systems 346
Other Inverter Uses 347
Rectifier Uses 348
Construction of Inverters 349
Try This: Filtering a Circuit 350
Setting Up the Circuit 351
Filtering the Circuit 353
Construction of Rectifiers 355
Single-Phase vs. Three-Phase Power 357
Try This: Building a Small Variable Power Supply 357
Chapter 18 Radio Waves and Tuned Circuits 363
Radio Waves 363
Try This: Building a Radio Receiver 364
Making Waves 369
Transmitting Radio Waves 369
Receiving Radio Waves 370
AM vs. FM 371
Try This: Building an Arduino FM Radio 371
The Shield 372
The Libraries 373
Verifying the Radio Works 375
Adding Station Tuning 377
Tuned Circuits 381
Part IV Putting the I in IoT 385
Chapter 19 Connecting Your Circuits to the Cloud 387
The Arduino IoT Cloud 387
Try This: Setting Up Your Device 389
Try This: Using Things, Properties, and Widgets 391
Chapter 20 Just for Fun 405
Electronic Fabrics and Wearables 405
Try This: Lighting Up a Teddy Bear 408
Paper Circuits 413
Try This: Creating a Conductive Paint Circuit 414
Try This: Creating a Copper Tape Circuit 416
Try This: Building Squishy Circuits 418
Chapter 21 What's Next? 423
The World is Your Oyster 423
Recommended Reading and Resources 424
Words of Encouragement 425
Index 427
Audrey O'Shea is a professional educator. Her fascination with how things work began as a child and in high school she found herself as the only girl in what would now be called the electronics club. After a successful career in information technology, she turned to teaching and has taught courses in computer technology, electrical theory and practice for energy workers, general electronics, and other related fields. She holds a variety of computer industry certifications and is a member of the Phi-Kappa-Phi honor society, and active in helping young women prepare for STEM careers.
