Table Of ContentPractical Electronics for Inventors
Third Edition
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Paul Scherz is a physicist/mechanical engineer who received his BS in Physics from the University
of Wisconsin. His area of interest in physics focuses on elementary particle interactions. Paul is an
inventor/hobbyist in electronics, an area he grew to appreciate through his experience at the
University’s Department of Nuclear Engineering and Engineering Physics and the Department of
Plasma Physics.
Dr. Simon Monk has a bachelor’s degree in Cybernetics and Computer Science and a PhD in
Software Engineering. Simon spent several years as an academic before he returned to industry,
cofounding the mobile software company Momote Ltd. Simon is now a full-time author and has
published a number of books in the McGraw-Hill Evil Genius series, as well as books on
programming the Arduino and Raspberry Pi. He has also published books on IOIO and .NET
Gadgeteer.
ABOUT THE TECHNICAL EDITORS
Michael Margolis has more than 40 years of experience developing and delivering hardware and
software solutions. He has worked at senior levels with Sony, Lucent/Bell Labs, and a number of
start-up companies. Michael is the author of two books, Arduino Cookbook and Make an Arduino-
Controlled Robot: Autonomous and Remote-Controlled Bots on Wheels.
Chris Fitzer is a solutions architect and technical manager, who received his PhD in Electrical and
Electronic Engineering from the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology
(UMIST) in 2003 and a first class honors degree (BSc) in 1999. Chris currently leads a global team,
developing and deploying Smart Grid technologies around the world. Previous positions have seen
him drive the European interests of the ZigBee Smart Energy (ZSE) profile and lead the development
of the world’s first certified Smart Energy In Premise Display (IPD) and prototype smart meter. He
has also authored or co-authored numerous technical journal papers within the field of Smarter
Grids.
Practical Electronics for Inventors
Third Edition
Paul Scherz
Simon Monk
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CONTENTS
Preface
Acknowledgments
CHAPTER 1 Introduction to Electronics
CHAPTER 2 Theory
2.1 Theory of Electronics
2.2 Electric Current
2.2.1 Currents in Perspective
2.3 Voltage
2.3.1 The Mechanisms of Voltage
2.3.2 Definition of Volt and Generalized Power Law
2.3.3 Combining Batteries
2.3.4 Other Voltage Sources
2.3.5 Water Analogies
2.4 A Microscopic View of Conduction (For Those Who Are Interested)
2.4.1 Applying a Voltage
2.5 Resistance, Resistivity, Conductivity
2.5.1 How the Shape of a Conductor Affects Resistance
2.5.2 Resistivity and Conductivity
2.6 Insulators, Conductors, and Semiconductors
2.7 Heat and Power
2.8 Thermal Heat Conduction and Thermal Resistance
2.8.1 Importance of Heat Production
2.9 Wire Gauges
2.10 Grounds
2.10.1 Earth Ground
2.10.2 Different Types of Ground Symbols
2.10.3 Loose Ends on Grounding
2.11 Electric Circuits
2.12 Ohm’s Law and Resistors
2.12.1 Resistor Power Ratings
2.12.2 Resistors in Parallel
2.12.3 Resistors in Series
2.12.4 Reducing a Complex Resistor Network
2.12.5 Multiple Voltage Dividers
2.13 Voltage and Current Sources
2.14 Measuring Voltage, Current, and Resistance
2.15 Combining Batteries
2.16 Open and Short Circuits
2.17 Kirchhoff’s Laws
2.18 Superposition Theorem
2.19 Thevenin’s and Norton’s Theorems
2.19.1 Thevenin’s Theorem
2.19.2 Norton’s Theorem
2.20 AC Circuits
2.20.1 Generating AC
2.20.2 Water Analogy of AC
2.20.3 Pulsating DC
2.20.4 Combining Sinusoidal Sources
2.20.5 AC Waveforms
2.20.6 Describing an AC Waveform
2.20.7 Frequency and Period
2.20.8 Phase
2.21 AC and Resistors, RMS Voltage, and Current
2.22 Mains Power
2.23 Capacitors
2.23.1 Determining Capacitance
2.23.2 Commercial Capacitors
2.23.3 Voltage Rating and Dielectric Breakdown
2.23.4 Maxwell’s Displacement Current
2.23.5 Charge-Based Model of Current Through a Capacitor
2.23.6 Capacitor Water Analogy
2.23.7 Energy in a Capacitor
2.23.8 RC Time Constant
2.23.9 Stray Capacitance
2.23.10 Capacitors in Parallel
2.23.11 Capacitors in Series
2.23.12 Alternating Current in a Capacitor
2.23.13 Capacitive Reactance
2.23.14 Capacitive Divider
2.23.15 Quality Factor
2.24 Inductors
2.24.1 Electromagnetism
2.24.2 Magnetic Fields and Their Influence
2.24.3 Self-Inductance
2.24.4 Inductors
2.24.5 Inductor Water Analogy
2.24.6 Inductor Equations
2.24.7 Energy Within an Inductor
2.24.8 Inductor Cores
2.24.9 Understanding the Inductor Equations
2.24.10 Energizing LR Circuit
2.24.11 Deenergizing LR Circuit
2.24.12 Voltage Spikes Due to Switching
2.24.13 Straight-Wire Inductance
2.24.14 Mutual Inductance and Magnetic Coupling
