Try different resistor and capacitor values and see what happens. Can you detect any patterns? How can a small piezo buzzer be used with the Trick Switch? Figure 1-5. Trick Switch circuit schematic.

In developing new products, electronics designers are always improving designs by adding features and functions that excite the customer. The Trick Switch device you built can be improved by adding an LED indicator. This LED indicates when the Trick Switch timing cycle is done. Figure 1-3 shows you where to add a green LED to the Trick Switch on… Continue reading Trick Switch with On/Off Indicators

When you press the pushbutton switch on this device, the LED turns on. The capacitor will begin storing electrical energy from the +5VDC power supply circuit of the Arduino. Releasing the pushbutton switch cuts off the flow of electricity from the source, but the energy stored in the capacitor keeps the Arduino running for a… Continue reading Let’s Build a Trick Switch

TECH NOTE You can create your own electrical circuits and test them using diagrams with an online simulator called Circuit Lab.

Resistor-Capacitor Timing Basics In electronics, sometimes we want to keep a device on for a certain amount of time even when an electrical switch is turned off. Ordinary pushbuttons used to turn electronic devices on and off can easily be operated by a timed delay switch. How awesome would it be to create such a device… Continue reading Introduction