Electronics Part Guide

The following may help you navigate the most common electronics parts we use from the lab supply.

Microcontrollers

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Description: Raspberry Pi Pico microcontroller, 3.3V logic, 1.8–5.5V input power, uses RP2040 chip
Part Number: 1005

The Raspberry Pi Pico is a new low-cost microcontroller board from the Raspberry Pi Foundation which we will be using for the course. It supports programming in CircuitPython, MicroPython, and C++. Please note this device uses 3.3V logic (not 5V) so not all Arduino circuit examples are compatible. More details: Raspberry Pi Pico datasheet


Description: USB cable, A to micro B, 6’ length
Location: SHELF-D-4
Part Number: 1980

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Description: Arduino Uno R3, with A–B USB cable, Elegoo brand, ATmega328P
Part Number: 1000

The Arduino UNO has been a workhorse for physical computing teaching for years. More details: Arduino Language Reference, Arduino Uno circuit diagram, Arduino Uno Hole Dimensions Drawing


Breadboarding and Wiring

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Description: solderless breadboard, small, 170 points, 4.5” x 3.5”, peelable adhesive backing
Location: SHELF-E-7
Part Number: 2108

This small breadboard is sometimes useful for mounting an individual sensor circuit. The grid has 17 rows with no power busses.


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Description: solderless breadboard, medium, 400 points, 3.3” x 2.1” x 0.3”, peelable adhesive backing
Location: Wiring 4
Part Number: 2106

This medium breadboard is a convenient size for a Pico plus a small external circuit. The main grid has 30 rows, the Pico uses 20.


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Description: solderless breadboard, large, 830 points, 36V @ 2A, for wires 26–21AWG, 6.5” x 2.2” x 0.3”, phosphor bronze contacts with nickel finish, peelable adhesive backing
Location: Wiring 4
Part Number: 2104

N.B. in some versions of this large breadboard the power busses have a break in the center.


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Description: jumper cable, male-male, 7” length
Location: Wiring 5
Part Number: 2102


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Description: power supply, 5V 3A output, 120V input, switching, 5.5mm center-positive barrel jack output
Part Number: 1395

This power supply is useful for powering small gearmotors or large hobby servos. N.B. the barrel jacks have oversize holes and don’t mate reliably to adapters (part 788); a quick fix is to slightly bend the adapter pin off center.


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Description: barrel jack, female, 5.5mm larger diameter x 2.1mm center pin diameter, screw terminal
Location: B3-R4-C4
Part Number: 788

Barrel jack to screw terminal adapter intended for connecting the 5V power supply to wire leads.


Sensors and Switches

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Description: optical proximity sensor, reflective, infrared, NPN phototransistor, LTH 1550-01
Location: B11-R4-C6
Part Number: 237

This active sensor emits invisible infrared light and detects when a nearby object reflects it back in the phototransistor sensor. It requires two external resistors to operate. The response time is fast, this can be used for non-contact motion sensing in conjunction with a slotted disc.


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Description: lever switch, SPDT (single-pole double-throw), rated 100mA @ 125V
Location: B12-R3-C6
Part Number: 350


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Description: accelerometer, 3-axis, analog out, ADXL335
Location: B12-R4-C7
Part Number: 368


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Description: photoresistor, mini photocell, CdS, light resistance 10–20kΩ, dark resistance ~1MΩ, GL5528
Location: B11-R6-C1
Part Number: 260

This sensor has resistance which decreases in bright light. The response time is relatively slow, it is intended for light-level measurement, not motion sensing.


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Description: ultrasonic ranger, ~2m range, HC-SR04
Location: B15-R6-C1
Part Number: 572

This active sensor emits inaudible ultrasonic sound pulses and detects the returned echoes.


Motor and Power Drivers

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Description: motor driver, H-bridge, dual driver, 1.2A continous (2A peak) per channel, 2.7–10.8V, DRV8833
Location: B14-R3-C4
Part Number: 482

This driver can control two small motors bidirectionally using a pair of PWM and direction signals for each motor.


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Description: transistor, compatible with 3.3V logic, switch 62A at 30V, IRLB8721PbF
Location: B9-R6-C7
Part Number: 8721

This is a MOSFET power transistor which can switch large currents using a logic-level control input. This particular part has a gate threshold low enough to work from 3.3V logic like the Raspberry Pi Pico. Typically these operate as high-speed ON/OFF switches with variable output produced using PWM.


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Description: transistor, Darlington array, 50V, 500mA per pin, NPN, 18-DIP, ULN2803
Location: B9-R7-C1
Part Number: 2803


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Description: diode, rectifier, 400V @ 1A, silicon, 1N4004
Location: B8-R7-C1
Part Number: 4004

Typical rectifier diode used as flyback diode in transistor driver circuits to absorb inductive voltages.


Resistors

The lab stocks carbon-composition resistors with 1/4 Watt rating and 5% tolerance in a wide range of values.

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Description: resistor, 270Ω, 5% tolerance
Location: B8-R2-C2
Part Number: 19


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Description: resistor, 5.6kΩ (5,600Ω), 5% tolerance
Location: B8-R3-C6
Part Number: 43


Misc. Components

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Description: laser diode, draws dot, 5mW, 5V, 650nm (red)
Location: B3-R3-C3
Part Number: 778

Laser diode, 5 milliwatt, 5 Volt, 650 nm (red). Draws a visible dot. Intended for long-distance through-beam sensing or laser show displays.


Other Resources

Page generated on 2021-11-04.