Code.org Homework Assignment

February 2,2016

In this assignment we learned how to write code and make  could interact with each other.  We learned how to program the the avatar "Alex" from Minecraft to interact with her surroundings,  like shearing sheep or building a house.  We also learned how to use "if" statements in the Minecraft lab,  for when Alex were to come in contact with a certain object like lava she would put a stone in front of her. We also learned how to use degrees in creating patterns with Anna and Elsa from Frozen.  Although these activities were for kids they were very helpful in reinforcing the building blocks of developing code that we learned in class.

Music and Advanced Programming

For this lab, we were tasked with writing code for a circuit we mad with a small speaker to play a song. We downloaded the song off line into our library in the Arduino software. Then we added in some more code referencing the notes that we pulled from the internet. this part was only partially challenging for me because, it was hard for me to figure out what specific terms to use in the code to articulate what I was trying to express. But when completed the speaker play a short little song.

Driving Motors and Other Output Devices

January 14, 2016
For the first part of this lab we were tasked with using our Arduino board to light a Christmas light.in this lab I learned why a diode is used in this application. The diode is used to protect the relays from the back emf. I also learned that back emf is a large surge in current that rushes back from any device that has a metal coil inside and can damage unprotected components. We used a back emf suppressing diode, a Darlington transistor and our 5V power supply to light the bulb.



For the second part of this lab we used Darlington Transistor in a circuit powering a motor. in the part I learned that the Darlington transistor is much larger and can take much more than the small 2N3904 transistor. I also learned how the darlington differs from the smaller resistor in how to hook the resistor and motor up to the transistor.

For the final part of this labs we had to power the motor using our Arduino board. In this part of the lab I learned that unlike other motors, BDC motors do not require a controller to switch current in the motor windings. The small transistor from earlier in the lab isn't compatible with this so I had to use the Darlington Transistor. The code that was used to control the motor is the same ode that was use to  make the Christmas light blink.

Bi-Directional Motor Control

January 13,2016
In this lab we were first tasked with using a double-pole, double throw relay to get our motor to turn in two directions. I learned that the DPDT relay is switching the direction of current flow through the motor to get it to turn in either direction. We used a TIP102/120 transistor it must be able to handle the motor currents. I also learned that, in order to control the motor, you connect the ON/OFF pin to the motor, while connecting the direction pin to +9V that controls direction.

In another part of this lab, we were responsible for creating an Hbridge circuit. For this circuit we uses four transistors to guide the flow of electricity. Another thing that was learned , was that at one time two switches of the same side cannot be on at the same time or it will cause a short circuit. The purpose of an Hbridge is to prevent short circuiting between the switches on the same side. If the bridge is sufficiently powerful it will absorb that load and our batteries will simply drain quickly.





















For the last part of this lab we had to demonstrate the HBridge circuit controlling the motor using an Adruino board. In this part we had to hook up the adruino board with the bread boar that our circuit was on. The same line of code that was used to make a light blink on and off was then used to make the motor turn on and off.

Transistor Switcing

January 12, 2016
In this lab we learned how a transistor works like a relay to switch the flow of electricity. We used a breadboard, 150 ohm resistor, a 10K ohm resistor, a 330 ohm resistor, a 2N3904 transistor and a switch to create a current the lights the LED. In the following experiment we looked into fingertip switching. We just used the transistor, a resistor and some jumper wires to light the LED with our fingers. The bulb lit when it came in contact with our fingers because our fingers are conducting positive voltage to the base of the transistor. Although our skin has a high resistance as well as only a trickle of voltage reaching the transistor; the transistor still responds. throughout these experiments we used an Ammeter to measure how much current was running through each of the trials we set up

Switches and Relays

January 7, 2016
In this lab we learned about different types of switches and relays. We learned the difference between Single Pole Single Throw switches and Single Pole Double Throw switches and the many different combinations that these can occur in. I also learned how to read a schematic and display it on to a breadboard. at first this was challenging for me to get the hang of but I eventually got the hang of it and it became easy for me to understand. I also learned that a relay is controlled by a low voltage or small current and switches a larger voltage or higher current. in this lab we used a relay and a switch to build a relay driven LED. we were to build it so that when the button is pressed, the relay wil make the first LED go out and the second LED turn on. In the second activity we added a Capacitor  in a Relay Oscillator.

Using a Mulitmeter

 January 6, 2016
In this lab we learned about continuity, resistance and voltage measurement. First we tested the continuity on the PCB that we added components to in the first lab by using the probe leads to touch each of the pads on the back of the board. We then tested the voltage of a 9V battery by touching the positive and negative spots on the battery as well as testing the voltage of a wall outlet. In doing this I also learned the difference between Alternating Current(AC) and Direct Current(DC), and learned how each is used and where to find each current. For example AC comes out a wall outlet and is very strong, whereas DC is used for phones and is less powerful than AC. I also learned that the box on a laptop cable is what converts the energy that comes out of the wall from AC to DC for your computer. Lastly we tested resistance with a 1k ohm resistor and the resistance of a potentiometer.

Introduction to Using a BreadBoard

January 5, 2016
In this lab we were tasked with using a breadboard with an LED and a resistor with our 5V power supply to complete a circuit. I learned what the value of the colors on the resisters are and how to tell the difference between resisters. as well as what purpose the resisters have in a circuit. the importance of a resister is to absorb the extra power emitted by the power supply so that it doesn't blow up the LED.

Introduction to Soldering and Building & Testing a 5V Power Supply

January 5, 2016

In this first lab we were given a PCB and asked to solder ten components on to the board. Before the class I had try soldering a little, so I had a rough understanding of soldering before this class. However, I did learn that before soldering you should touch the iron to the board and the wire of the component for a few seconds to heat them up. Then take the solder and touch it to where the iron meets the board so that it ‘melts’ onto the board covering the entire, little copper pad. In constructing the 5V power supply we took and old cell phone charger and cut off the end that connected to the cell phone. From that we took the two wires that were inside the cable and soldered wires to the two wires inside identifying them as positive or negative. In this process I learned  how to use a Digital Multimeter.