Introduction to microcontrollers and electronics

 

Basic Electronics

 

Electricity is the movement of electrons. Electrons create charge, which we can harness to do work. Your light-bulb, your stereo, your phone, etc., are all harnessing the movement of the electrons in order to do work. They all operate using the same basic power source: the movement of electrons.

There are three basic principles to electricity

• Voltage is the difference in charge between two points. (The pressure)
• Current is the rate at which charge is flowing.  (Flow)
• Resistance is a material’s tendency to resist the flow of charge (current).

 

Basic Electrical Components

Battery - converts chemical energy into electricity

Resistors - Resists the flow of electricity

Capacitors - Stores electrons in an electric field

Inductors - Stores electrons in a magnetic field

Diodes - Only allows electrons to flow in one direction

 

Ohm's Law

 

Using Ohm's law to check the max current in the circuit.

LED specs: -2V and 20mA or 0.02A Max

 

Building the Circuit

 

 

Resistors in parallel and series

 

 

Using a microcontroller

Using a microcontroller to control an LED

 

Using a microcontroller to control a speaker

 

 

Connecting the 8x8 LED matrix

https://learn.adafruit.com/animating-multiple-led-backpacks/wiring