Anyone know where I can learn how to make basic circuits? Aswell as where I can buy the required equipment.
Well your going to need the obivious things would be a soldering iron, and reel of solder and what ever componants you'll need, also if you've never used a soldering iron theres tons of tutorails around, inculding video ones. As for buying your bits maplin's is always a good place, not too pricey other wise just look around for some online shops
Unfortunately, Maplin doesn't have any branches in Western Australia Dick Smith would be the equivalent, I think. Best thing to learn is to buy one of those "100 circuits in a box" kits, they should allow you to experiment; I'm not sure how good they are at describing why and how the circuit works though? Another option is to see if your local college runs electronics classes. There are also loads of books which will introduce you to electronics.
Thanks, and yeah, I have experience with soldering iron, I had a nice scar on my arm for a few years - in year 5, we were doing some electrical *stuff, some kid bumped into me, soldering iron went straight onto me arm, it melted a couple layers of skin. Not sure if Dick Smith's is open tomorrow. If it is, I'll go and have a look, if not I'll just wait until Monday.
I did the palm of my hand a few years ago, boy that hurt and took ages to heal. I knocked it of the stand and caught it by the wrong end. try here http://www.electronics-lab.com/forum/index.php
To make a circuit board you need a blank copper curcuit board, etching solution, sharpie, plastic container that can fit the curcuit, and rubbing alcohol. 1) Use the sharpie to draw your curcuit design on the board 2) Fill the plastic container with the solution 3) Place board in solution and wait about 15 minutes or so, while moveing the curcuit around with a stick or something(im pretty sure you move it, its been a while) 4) Pull out the curcuit with pliers/tweezers/etc... 5) Run it under cold water 6) Use rubbing alcohol to remove marker' 7) Now you have a curcuit board Hope that helped. -CollinstheClown
for learning its probably best just to use protoboard. I got some with my last order, saves a LOT of time from soldering on stripboard
