101 projects kit update - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: FreeThinker
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 11, 2011, 03:24:27 pm
content: From my personnel point of view my start in electronics was the 101 electronics projects kit, I know Dave had one and I'm sure many others cut their teeth in the same way. What I am thinking is what is the new '101'?. The arduino may be a good start but (in my opinion) fails to draw the threads together and put together a series of projects with documentation and scope for experimentation. So does anyone know of a similar sort of kit to the 101 aimed at the total beginner and based on 'modern' technology if not what would you like to see in such a kit?

author: Psi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 11, 2011, 11:36:44 pm
content: I quite like the idea of using relays (in transparent cases) to introduce digital electronics.It's much easier to see whats going on and understand why the logic works when you can see moving parts.And there is some fun stuff you can build out of relays.Like combination locks for example, Ya have a relay for each valid key which latches 'on' and another relay triggered by all invalid keys which clears all latched relays.That way all valid keys must be pressed for all key relays to latch and complete the circuit but if any invalid keys are pressed it resets everything.ok, its not the best way to make a combination lock, but its fun and easy to see in action.

author: ivan747
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 12, 2011, 12:12:23 am
content: Sparkfun has an "Inventor's Kit". It introduces you to the Arduino and interfacing with sensors, and actuators. It includes cool stuff like photocells, servos, motors, a breadboard, the Arduino, a bunch of LED's, a temperature sensor and much more! Recently my team and I translated it's manual into spanish. It was fun and also now my name is out there.I have the Radio Shack Electronics Learning Lab. It is like a little console with pots, LED's a relay, a photocell, a speaker and other stuff, as well as a breadboard. It is powered by batteries, though. It includes a couple of books written by Forrest Mims, a well-known author on electronics.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 12, 2011, 12:29:11 am
content: Arduino has little to do with learning electronics at the basic "100 in One" level, it's a high level embedded controller, completely different ball game. The main advantage of embedded controllers is that they let you do cooler stuff with less effort, but you aren't really learning electronics by hooking up and programming Arduino's.No need for "modern" technology, if you want to learn electronics you still have to learn with all the basic components and building blocks.Although there are some newer devices like accelerometers that would probably be included these days.What made the 100-In-One kits so special, and what makes any electronics learning kit special is the documentation.Dave.

author: vk6zgo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 12, 2011, 02:40:15 am
content: What Dave said!VK6ZGO

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 12, 2011, 03:41:31 am
content: You guys must have had better 100-in-1 kits than the ones I had. I saved pocket money and wages for six months to Lay-Buy (those who don't know what lay-buy is can try googling it) a 150-in-1 springy connector electronics kit.The documentation was nothing more than a glue bind, paint by numbers set of connection diagrams with a one paragraph Janglish description and thankfully a circuit diagram.In itself that kitset taugh nothing, what it did do was inspire me to learn more, to find out how those designs came together. As a training tool the kit was a piece of garbage, yet it was enough inspiration to foster a life long hobby and career path. It was the reason I began buying magazines, chasing information from the library etc. I was later on given an smaller an very out of date English made kit with forks and pins and two whole germanium transistors. That kit was much better documented but as an eight year old I'd have given up on it due to its distinct lake of wow factor in comparison to the rubbish Asian one.I wouldn't be so ready to dismiss things like Arduino as nothing to do with electronics. Sure they are paint by numbers too, plug a shield in and blink the pre soldered LED. However anyone who becomes captivated by the thing cannot help but get into and learn electronics as they to achieve their own project ideas. The number of beginner questions here from users of Arduino and other platforms says I'm right.Those kits were always toys, for a lot they'll never be anything more but for others they are the inspiration towards expressing personal ability to create and design.I think it was Jeff Keyser who said recently a student in his third year of engineering with no skills in soldering has no place in the industry and I agree, however at a beginners discovery level it's different, why encumber a thirst for knowledge with solder skills or reams of cryptic tech data, all that stuff comes as the needs develops.I'm more likely to suggest Arduino to youngsters than as a start point than anything else. Kids today have better access to discover than we ever did and given the industry is predominantly SMD now,I'd suggest the springy clips kits of our youth are heading past their use by.

author: Keith
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: November 12, 2011, 05:09:58 am
content: I think Dave is correct on the documentation. Consider a small robotics kit that requires you to put together various circuits(analog and digital), work with motors, processors, programming, wireless control and so on. At the end is a fully functioning small bot that can perform basic functions and be a platform for future. Each module would teach an aspect of electronics. The documentation would explain in rigorous detail how each circuit works. There are tons of kits like that on the market today that act as our generation 101 projects; however, its the quality of the documentation that makes/breaks the real educational experience. I grew up with DC followed by AC RLC analysis, followed by semiconductors and so on. What I really wanted to do was learn how to build an amplifier. That was the motivation for going back to get the engineering degree. So now its 12:07 Friday into Saturday and i'm typing in this blog. Friday nights are not what they once wereI'm getting old....

author: sonicj
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 12, 2011, 05:58:50 am
content: Quote from: ivan747 on November 12, 2011, 12:12:23 amditto, but mine has a coaxial power jack & a arduino "permanently" mounted on it.-sj

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 12, 2011, 07:21:40 am
content: Quote from: Uncle Vernon on November 12, 2011, 03:41:31 amDon't get me wrong, I'm not dissing Arduino, if it gets people captivated by electronics and willing to learn more, then that's great. Any way you get interested in electronics is great, there is no "best way". I wish we had embedded micro kits when I was a kid, but we didn't, all you had were discrete component kits to play with and get captivated by.But fact is, you won't learn basic electronics with an Arduino, sooner or later you have to learn the component and building block basics, and thenwork your way back upto understanding a system level solution like the ArduinoDave.

author: westfw
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 12, 2011, 08:47:17 am
content: I dunno; I don't recall my "springy 101 project" kit having a lot of electronics theory in the documentation. It was mostly a list of "here's what these parts are called and here are some neat things you can build with them." Sort of more of an interest-builder than an actual education. Arduino might be pretty close if you consider the "modern" building blocks to be things like SPI, I2C, PWM, A2D, and binary numbers...

author: FreeThinker
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 12, 2011, 10:32:54 am
content: Well I've got to agree with all comments so far, most of all documentation. The 101 was poorly documented from a technical point of view being only at best a point to point wiring list with very little 'How it works' BUT it did encourage experimentation. The important thing is it was versatile and easy enough to work on (no soldering) to hold a child's interest and produce a usable end result. The problem with the arduino is it's level of hardware support to achieve any thing (pc, software, shields etc) and its poor documentation (unless you go on line and search) and its general lack of feel for the hardware. What I would like to see is a 'Workbench' type of kit with a work book of examples and experiments set at a easy pace but maintaining interest with each stage. The arduino is not the best in this situation and my thoughts (not very well formed) were along the lines of a breadboard/ breakout board driven by a pre programmed fpga containing the hardware for each stage with discrete components plugged in as required. May be over kill, but if preprinted overlay cards were employed with the circuit (say a 555 ) printed on it and the external components pushed through the overlay assembly should be quick and fairly error free while allowing experimentation with sizes of cap and resistor etc. I would buy one.

author: vk6zgo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 12, 2011, 11:59:17 pm
content: Well,I never had one of those "springy" kits.I started building stuff out of "Radio Television & Hobbies".The first was a "One Valve(Tube) Regen Radio" which never worked properly,then what was labelled "A Set for young DX-ers",which did work,& had "Shortwave"by using plug-in coils.This was never as good as I expected,but I at least got to listen to some grumpy old "Ham" on "80 metres"AM laying forth about how the then fairly new Morse free "Limited Licences" weren't "real amateurs" ( they were full theory,but no Morse).I then built my Mum a 5 Valve superhet mantel radio,& began my flirtation with making a RTV & H "5inch TV set"( The Project was obsolete,even then!)Many years later,I did get pictures out of it,but it was never finished.So,no kits,but the projects in "Radio Television & Hobbies" started me on the road to a career in Electronics.I really wanted to be a Auto Mechanic!A lot of stuff that used to be done with discrete components is now possible with Arduinos ,etc,but many times you have to interface with equipment where the designers did not envisage the use of such devices,& the interface presents problems that require a knowledge of Electronics.Of course,if all you do with your Arduino,PIC,or whatever is flash some LEDs,you probably don't need to know anything!VK6ZGO