2026 <\/em>: We’ve split the page as it was getting long and a slow load. If you come across a link that redirects you to this page, just click the next part <\/a>and search there. <\/p>\n We cover:<\/p>\n For more information about our masterclasses in technology<\/a>, and schedule of events across North London, Hertfordshire, and Buckinghamshire, see our website.<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n Quick References<\/strong> Some examples:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n<\/hr>\n Quick overview:<\/p>\n Expansion Packs<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Replenishment of items can be made individually as needed from the list below:<\/strong><\/p>\n Advanced components and ICs<\/strong> can be selected based on particular projects:<\/p>\n Kit 2A – PCB Prototype Building Equipment<\/strong><\/p>\n Kit 2B – PCB Prototyping Supplies – \u00a340<\/strong><\/p>\n Kit 3 – Motor Components – \u00a380<\/strong><\/p>\n Kit 4 – Signal Analysis – \u00a332<\/strong><\/p>\n Kit 5 Equipment to build Prototype Assemblies<\/a><\/strong>, incl. Panel Mount, Enclosure, Wiring Harness – \u00a381<\/p>\n Computer Aided Design (CAD) and Manufacturing (CAM)<\/strong><\/p>\n Example circuit created with Kludge and annotated in MsPaint.<\/p><\/div><\/p>\n Items are grouped below by function and chosen based on capability and (low) cost. I have included links (UK based) where each item can be bought inexpensively, with the choice to accept longer delivery times for lower price. (Note: Since the COVID-19 pandemic, electronics component prices have risen 50% to 100% on many items. I show this by listing the lowest price at which an item had previously been sold, and current pricing. If the different is large, it is worth doing another search on both Ebay and Amazon, as there may be new sellers offering sharper pricing.)<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n <\/a> New SPI pin names, righting historical wrongs: COPI\/CIPO\/CS <\/a><\/p>\n Notes: <\/p>\n\n
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\n| Resistor color chart<\/a> | Battery power specs<\/a> | SPI pins<\/a> (controller\/peripheral) | LED forward voltages by colour<\/a> | 2N2222 Transistor Pinout<\/a> | Audio Jack TRS pinout<\/a> | LM7805 5V voltage regulator pinout<\/a> | UA741 Op-Amp pinout<\/a> | SN76477 complex sound effects generator pinout<\/a> | ULN2003A motor driver IC pinout<\/a> | Microcontroller comparison table<\/a> | Arduino Nano 30-pin pinout<\/a> | ATmega328P 28-pin pinout<\/a> | ATtiny85 & ATtiny84 8- and 14-pin pinouts<\/a> | 74595 shift register control<\/a> | Frequency to Pitch table<\/a> | How loud is X dB?<\/a> | Capacitor Numbering<\/a> |<\/p>\n
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What to Buy, When to Buy It<\/h4>\n
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<\/a>
\nThe Equipment List<\/h3>\n
\n0. Guidebooks<\/a>
\nA. Equipment (long term investment)<\/a>
\nB. Components & Supplies<\/a>
\nC. Power Supplies (Batteries, Holders, Converters) Fuses, & Heat Sinks<\/a>
\nD. Integrated Chips – Analog, Audio, and Digital Logic chips (incl. 555, LM386, 74xxx chips, ALU)<\/a>
\nE. Microcontrollers and FPGAs<\/a>
\nF. Sensors & Communications<\/a>
\nG. Motors, Machines, and Robotics<\/a>
\nH. Storage (Cases, Containers)<\/a>\n<\/ul>\n
\n0. Recommended References<\/h2>\n
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\n UART (Asynchronous Serial)
\n I2C<\/a>
\n SPI (4-wire, synchronous serial): my wiring convention: CLOCK=orange, LATCH=yellow, DATA=green (for shift registers). Arduino with Atmega328P MCU<\/a>, ATtiny85 (SPI in software)<\/a>, ATtiny has USI in hardware which can be tweaked to use SPI protocol<\/a> | SPI terminology – Controller \/ Peripheral. COPI\/CIPO. Chip Select CS. Note: Historical wrongs need to be righted. See here for the Sparkfun initiative to rename SPI pins COPI\/CIPO, CS Controller\/Peripheral, Chip Select<\/a> | Official Declaration<\/a> — no more master\/slave terminology in computing
\n| SPI comms – Excellent SPI bare metal tutorial (Steve Mansfield-Devine)<\/a>
\n| I2C comms – Excellent I2C bare metal tutorial (Steve Mansfield-Devine)<\/a><\/p>\n
\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/mathscitech.org\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/screenshot.2088-300x82.png\")
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Controller Out \/ Peripheral In, Chip Select<\/p><\/div> <\/p>\nA. Equipment<\/h2>\n
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\nHow to use a Multimeter (Sparkfun)<\/a><\/p>\n
\nWhat to look for: a) VDC down to 2V, b) R (resistance), c) ADC down to at least 20mA, d) VAC down to at least 20mA, e) F (capacitance), f) Audible Continuity check, g) diode test<\/a>, h) manual ranging 1<\/a><\/sup> with dials coloured so DC are all one color, and AC are another, i) power button (to make auto-shutoff not irritating), j) hFE<\/a> for transistor DC gain<\/a><\/p>\n\n
\nNote, some of these are 2xAAA batteries, and some are 1x9V battery. Look after receiving. Also, some of these have an annoying beep after each rotary knob turn.<\/p>\n\n