(Part 3) Top products from r/diyelectronics

First of all props to you to introduce your son to electronics and ask to find a good method for him to learn it out of interest.

I remember having electronics kits which had a bunch of simple components connected by those metal spring terminals. They often came with booklets to go step by step through simple projects to gain some understanding.

Perhaps you could look at toy shops and see if they carry some educational electronics kits? I remember book shops also sold them though I'm not sure if they'd still.

I found this on Amazon, seems a bit different with magnets snapping together but looks like it goes step by step in explaining: https://www.amazon.com/Snap-Circuits-SC-300-Electronics-Discovery/dp/B0000683A4/. Looks a bit expensive but not sure if that's different in the US.

Oh boy I even found one of those kits with the spring terminals: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00000IUD2

Best of luck!

I like your setup. If you don’t have one already, Panavise makes some nice stuff. Like this:


PanaVise Model 201 "Junior" Miniature Vise https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000B61D22/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_986RDbYZT1M85


Also some version of the helping hands;”:

US $5.58 23％ Off | Helping Third Hand Tool Soldering Stand With 4X Welding Magnifying Glass led Adjustable 2 Alligator Clips 360 Degree Rotating
https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/Ea8dD8yg

And depending on what you end up doing, a hot air smd rework might be helpful to have. I initially got one to repair my arduino after blowing out a chip on it and have found it useful for heat shrink tubing and other projects that are repair work. Especially since nothing you buy nowadays comes as a through hole board. It’s all smd.


US $25.07 41％ Off | 700W 858D Hot Air Gun Desoldering Solder Rework SMD Station Set
https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/Bblg8Wyo

Congratulations on the wedding! I have actually just wrapped up the same project for my step-moms 50th birthday! I went a slightly different route, instead of a mouse, I used a keyboard. Instead of that done switch I used an Easy button. Instead of sparkbooth I used dslrPhotoBooth.
My plan is the same as your, press button trigger system.

I used a keyboard just like this:

I dont know the exact model. It was one I had lying around, it was also black. Point is the chip inside was small. Took the keyboard apart, grabbed a sharpie and on the top layer of the keyboard "circuit" traced from the space bar button back to the top, then moved to the bottom layer and did the same thing.

This is the button I used:
The global edition has some electronics in it, about half of you will throw away and the rest you will "modify". Basically, take it apart, take out the speaker, take out the batteries. The buttons are on the side of the selector in the middle, I soldered to one side with (two wires, then I cut the traces to the rest of the circuit (leaving the traces connecting the two buttons together).
I then soldered the two wires to the traces on the keyboard that matched the space bar.
I had to cut the traces, if you dont, you will be feeding +5v from the keyboard circuit back into the easy button circuit and you will get weird results.

When you put it all back together make sure you line up the button with the selector, that adds to the "button" feel so I left it in there. I was able to fit the keyboard PCB where the speaker was after I filed out some of the plastic for the battery compartment. Then I used my soldering iron to melt a hole/slot in the side and started to reassemble the button.

Software: Nothing fancy here, software is decent, does what I want/need. Is triggered off the space bar (if your software is triggered off a different button just trace that button from the keyboard, hopefully it can be triggered from the keyboard, the mouse might require the pointer to be on a certain spot.) Also there is a decent ipad app that will allow for people to see the photos and send them to themselves if they want that plus the print. I believe you can even to facebook uploads if you have setup a page for your wedding, I have only tested the email portion.

I know I didn't directly answer your question but I hope that it helps in some way.

I will post a picture tonight of the final thing. I thought I had one on my phone, guess not.

Just gonna straight copy this from a post awhile ago. These are things that I use consistently in my engineering labs. The ones with the will probably be good for you

These are parts I use consistently in my labs
Capacitor kit


Resistor kit


Jumper wires


Bread board(s)


Larger breadboard. Recommended for larger projects but I haven’t used it too much. Best for large IC circuits


*Multimeter. This has all the right features

Other things that can be useful:


•Wire strippers


•Pliers


•Electrical Tape


•Tackle Box or tool bag (to carry everything)


•Flat jumper wires

I have one of these Plano boxes and I really like it. There's a large area on top that fits tools (wire strippers, crimpers, tweezers, desoldering supplies, etc), and then three drawers. The two bottom drawers are double-depth, so they fit prototyping supplies like jumper wires, breadboards, etc very well.

I've since outgrown that box but bought a four-pack of these Plano 3700 boxes. Apparently that is a pretty standard size and other companies make holders and stuff for them if you end up with a ton of them.

For smaller components (SMD) these tiny little boxes are great. One of those boxes holds a whole reel of 5,000 0603-sized resistors. Some people also use small paper envelopes to hold their components.

Thanks for the reply! For reference I live in Canada so sadly, the prices are more by default. The WES51 looks good, I found it on amazon.ca for CAD$140. I'll either get that or something like a Hakko, it seems like they sell high quality soldering stations.

I had one of these: https://www.amazon.com/Maxitronix-75-in-One-Electronic-Project-Lab/dp/B00008BFZJ

Real easy to use, comes with a bunch of circuits to build, but leaves plenty open to exploration. Biggest thing is if you have a simple idea you can make it really fast and hassle free.

I just did this, I bought a siren, hooked up directly up to a power supply and plug the power supply into a smart outlet. Works fine. the only trick is to match up the voltage and current requirements of the siren with an appropriate power supply.

The siren was this: Honeywell Wave 2 siren
Takes 12 volts, 500 milliamp. Pretty sure I used this power supply (I've been buying a lot of power supplies lately) DC 12V 3A Power Adapter which was gross overkill (I would have been fine with a 1A) but it was handy, and I might hook up a flashing light too.

The siren does want to be hardwired, but I had a bunch of these power jack adapters so I put a female one on the siren so I could swap power supplies or add an extension easily.

I keep the majority of my individual components in a Plano 7592-01 tackle box. That gives me 4 trays that seal really well (so components don't change bins), plus the top has a larger area where I keep some arduino shields (in their boxes) along with a standard-sized breadboard. The lid also has a few storage spots. The dividers in the tray can be rearranged as well. I'd just look for one that has trays that seal really well so your parts don't shift around.

All of my larger stuff (in-progress projects, etc) go in a 2' L x 1_1/2' H x 1_1/2'W plastic bin.

I use the word Edison for incandescent lights too! Anyway, simple dimmers work great on those. Would this do? https://www.amazon.com/Lutron-TT-300H-WH-Electronics-Plug-Dimmer/dp/B0000BYEF6/ref=sr_1_3?s=lamps-light&ie=UTF8&qid=1497088085&sr=1-3&keywords=dimmer+switch

If I'm understanding you right you're saying the piggyback cable I linked and the 3.5mm connectors I linked and wore them together?
Yes you could do that.

Could also get the piggyback cable I linked and something like this:
Female RCA to Female 3.5mm

It's that simple.

The switch is a 3-way switch, and they would typically either use 30/60/90 watt or 50/100/150 watt bulbs. Probably the former in this case.

If you go with LED lights, they take only about 3 watts per string, and the switch will handle that easily.

You need a plug like this:

https://www.amazon.com/Leviton-102-WP-016-00102-0WP-Outlet-White/dp/B000H5WIR6

Cut off the current bulb, wire in that socket, and you'll be golden.

I've made a couple of NES portables in my life time. I would recommend using a Retron NES Clone system. Check out my article here: https://kamselectronics.com/2019/01/22/nes-portable-v2/ . The Retron Clone can be bought here: https://www.amazon.com/Hyperkin-RetroN-Console-Nintendo-Entertainment-System/dp/B000MFHH6I

If you have any questions let me know!

If you want to keep it permanently mounted, I would adapt influx's idea to a 120v signaling relay, that connects the wire between the tender and the battery. Plug it in, relay closes, tender gets connected. Unplug it, relay opens, tender can't pull juice.

Also, I don't know how many places you plan on charging your bike up but the Delran tenders have detachable cables. When I want to put it on the tender, I untuck the cable from the storage compartment, plug it in, and when I'm done, unplug and tuck again.

I assume you could use a reed switch setup (a magnet on the gate, the switch on the fence)... the same thing you see on doors and windows in security systems. The pushbutton in your wireless remote would be replaced with wires running to the reed switch. I'm making a lot of assumptions about how that remote works, but just an idea.

I agree with the above comment that the alarm will likely just trigger the dogs more. But since this is diyelectronics, I will throw you a bone (ha).

A microphone connected to a signal filter/amplifier then a comparator circuit, outputting to a ssr that activates your alarm. The details of the circuit obviously depends on the parts you get.

OR, this guy here may be easier, but a little less DIY.

In addition, i was planning to use this as a power supply https://www.aliexpress.com/item/NCH6100HV-High-Voltage-DC-Power-Supply-Module-For-Nixie-Tube-Glow-Tube-Magic-Eye/32697870152.html?spm=2114.01010208.3.108.vZwTcL&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_5_10065_10068_10000009_10084_10000025_10083_10000029_10080_10082_10081_10000028_10110_10111_10112_10060_10113_10062_10114_10056_503_10055_10054_10059_10099_501_10078_10079_10000022_10000012_10103_10073_10102_10000015_10096_10000018_10000019_10052_10053_10107_10050_10106_10051-501_503,searchweb201603_1,afswitch_5,single_sort_2_default&btsid=01248acb-17a1-4726-9719-91c4e298ac25 and this as a battery https://www.amazon.com/Energizer-L91BP-8-Ultimate-Lithium-Batteries/dp/B0000DC4EL/ref=sr_1_1_s_it?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1484880138&sr=1-1&keywords=lithium%2Baa%2Bbatteries&th=1

Not really worth it with prices for real multimeters starting from from literally $0 and decent ones under $20 (when on sale).

I used to put nails in boards when I was five and tie little trinkets in between them to make little circuits. I even tried plugging some into the wall.
when I was eight my grandpa bought me this www.radioshack.com/products/elenco-electronic-playground-130 I made a lot of the circuits too without really understanding much. when I was nine I tried making a dynamo for a science fair that didn't work because I didn't know the schematic symbol was just a symbol. my coil was literally a giant bent up piece of wire shaped like the schematic. I even got it to spin between a giant horse shoe magnet that my mom went through hell trying to find for me. it never worked.. My mom and dad had no idea how to help me so it was pretty frustrating. If I saw that contraption NOW I would say damn kid that's a nice model there! even though it was made of boards glue nails and wire , the concept was easy to see for the average person I think. It would have easily surpassed anything else the other kids made but I never took it to the science fair.
what I'm trying to say is he's just not old enough to really "get it" yet. thankfully he'll have some guidance from you. I used to rip apart nearly every piece of electronics we had and it really pissed off my parents. I shocked myself numerous times. even from an old TV once. that was fucking painful and my arm hurt for like a week.
when I was 15 I actually was able to take a electronics class and learn a few simple things from the teacher but the kids were distracting and I liked fucking around too so I would build me and my friends circuits real quick and then we would skip out or just melt solder.
I'm 34 now and starting to get back into it after I found some stuff in the attic. I've been looking around for breadboard and kits. your kid Might like this: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0002AHQWS/

when I was a kid my grandpa also bought me an erector set and an advanced student level chemistry set. He was the only one who seemed see my potential and would get me those things. My parents would just get mad if I set anything on fire. My parents were idiots...

side thought: I need to make my own customized bread board and was thinking of using something like the spring pegs in that radio shack kit. any ideas on what those things are called?