One of the common hobbies of amateurs and professionals in the field of electronics is the design and manufacture of various homemade products for the home. Electronic homemade products do not require large material and financial costs and can be performed at home, since work with electronics is, for the most part, “clean”. The only exception is the manufacture of various body parts and other mechanical components.
Useful electronic homemade products can be used in all areas of everyday life, from the kitchen to the garage, where many are engaged in improving and repairing car electronic devices.
Homemade products in the kitchen
Kitchen electronics crafts can be a complement to existing accessories and fixtures. Industrial and homemade electric kebab makers are very popular among apartment residents.
Another common example of kitchen homemade products made by a home electrician is timers and automatic switching on of lights above work surfaces, and electric ignition of gas burners.
Important! Changing the design of some household appliances, especially gas appliances, can cause “misunderstanding and rejection” by regulatory organizations. In addition, it requires great care and attention.
Electronics in the car
Homemade devices for cars are most widely used among owners of domestic brands of vehicles, which differ minimum quantity additional functions. The following schemes are in wide demand:
- Sound indicators for turns and handbrake;
- Operating mode indicator battery and a generator.
More experienced radio amateurs are equipping their cars with parking sensors, electronic window drives, and automatic light sensors to control low beam headlights.
Homemade crafts for beginners
Most novice radio amateurs are engaged in the manufacture of structures that do not require high qualifications. Simple proven designs can serve long time and not only for the sake of benefit, but also as a reminder of the technical “growing up” from a beginner radio amateur to a professional.
For inexperienced amateurs, many manufacturers produce ready-made kits for design, which contain printed circuit board and a set of elements. Such sets allow you to practice the following skills:
- Reading schematic and wiring diagrams;
- Correct soldering;
- Setup and adjustment using a ready-made method.
Very common among sets electronic watch various options execution and degree of complexity.
As an area of application of knowledge and experience, radio amateurs can design electronic toys using simpler circuits or modifying industrial designs to suit their wishes and capabilities.
Interesting ideas for crafts can be seen in the examples of making radio-electronic crafts from worn-out computer parts.
Home workshop
To independently design radio-electronic devices, you need a certain minimum of tools, devices and measuring instruments :
- Soldering iron;
- Side cutters;
- Tweezers;
- Screwdriver set;
- Pliers;
- Multifunctional tester (avometer).
Just a note. When planning to do electronics yourself, you should not immediately take on complex designs and purchase an expensive tool.
Most radio amateurs began their journey by using a simple 220V 25-40W soldering iron, and the most popular Soviet tester, the Ts-20, was used in the home laboratory. All this is enough for practicing with electricity, acquiring the necessary skills and experience.
There is no point in buying an expensive radio for a novice radio amateur. soldering station, if you do not have the necessary experience with a conventional soldering iron. Moreover, the possibility of using the station will not appear soon, but only after sometimes quite a long time.
There is also no need for professional measuring equipment. The only serious device that even a novice amateur may need is an oscilloscope. For those who already understand electronics, an oscilloscope is one of the most sought-after measurement tools.
Inexpensive digital devices made in China can be successfully used as an avometer. Having rich functionality, they have high measurement accuracy, ease of use and, importantly, have a built-in module for measuring transistor parameters.
When talking about a DIY home workshop, one cannot fail to mention the materials used for soldering. This is solder and flux. The most common solder is POS-60 alloy, which has a low melting point and provides high soldering reliability. Most solders used for soldering all kinds of devices are analogues of the mentioned alloy and can be successfully replaced with it.
Ordinary rosin is used as a flux for soldering, but for ease of use it is better to use its solution in ethyl alcohol. Rosin-based fluxes do not require removal from installation after use, since they are chemically neutral under most operating conditions, and the thin film of rosin formed after evaporation of the solvent (alcohol) exhibits good protective properties.
Important! When soldering electronic components, active fluxes should never be used. This is especially true for soldering acid (zinc chloride solution), since even under normal conditions such flux has a destructive effect on thin copper printed conductors.
To service heavily oxidized terminals, it is better to use active acid-free flux LTI-120, which does not require rinsing.
It is very convenient to work using solder that contains flux. The solder is made in the form of a thin tube, inside of which there is rosin.
For mounting elements, breadboards made of double-sided foil fiberglass, which are produced in a wide range, are well suited.
Security measures
Working with electricity is associated with risks to health and even life, especially if the electronics are designed with your own hands with mains power. Homemade electrical devices should not use transformerless power from a household network AC. As a last resort, such devices should be configured by connecting them to the network through an isolation transformer with a transformation ratio equal to unity. The voltage at its output will correspond to the network voltage, but at the same time reliable galvanic isolation will be ensured.
For those just starting to take their first steps into electronics, it is important to start somewhere. Well, we invite you to familiarize yourself with ideas that may come in handy in the future and at the same time give you an idea of how something should be done. What to choose if you want to make simple ones with your own hands? Here are options that can be used in everyday life.
Simple power regulator for smooth switching of lamps
This type of device has found wide application. The simplest is a regular diode, which is connected in series with the load. Such regulation can be used to extend the life of an incandescent lamp, as well as to prevent overheating of the soldering iron. They can also be used to change power over a wide range of values. First, there will be the simplest DIY electronic crafts. You can see the diagrams here.
How to protect yourself from mains voltage fluctuations
This device turns off the load if the mains voltage is outside the permissible limits. As a rule, a deviation of up to 10% from the norm is considered normal. But due to the peculiarities of the energy supply system in our country, such limits are not always observed. So, the voltage can be 1.5 times higher, or much lower than necessary. The result is often unpleasant - the equipment fails. Therefore, there is a need for a device that will turn off the load before something has time to burn out. But when creating such a homemade product, you need to be careful, since the work will be carried out with considerable stress.
How to make a safety transformer
Transformerless power supplies are often used in various electronic designs. Typically, such devices have low power, and to avoid electrical injury, they are placed in an insulating plastic case. But sometimes they need to be configured, and then the security is broken. To avoid possible injury, use an isolating safety transformer. It will also be useful when repairing such devices. Structurally, they consist of two identical windings, each of which is designed for the network. As a rule, the power of transformers of this type ranges from 60-100 W; these are the optimal parameters for setting up various electronics.
Simple emergency lighting source
What should you do if you need to ensure that some area remains illuminated in the event of a power outage? The answer to such challenges can be emergency lamp, made on the basis of the standard energy saving lamp, the power of which does not exceed 11 watts. So if it is necessary for the light to be somewhere in the corridor, utility room or at the workplace, this homemade product will come in handy. Usually, if there is voltage, they operate directly from the mains. When it disappears, the lamp begins to function on battery power. When the mains voltage is restored, the lamp will work and the battery will automatically charge. The best electronic DIY projects have been left for the end of the article.
Boost power regulator for soldering iron
In cases where it is necessary to solder massive parts or the mains voltage often drops, using a soldering iron becomes problematic. And a step-up power regulator can help out of this situation. In these cases, the load (i.e., the soldering iron) is powered using rectified mains voltage. The change is carried out using an electrolytic capacitor, the capacitance of which allows you to obtain a voltage greater than 1.41 network voltage. So, with a standard voltage value of 220 V, it will give 310 V. And if there is a drop, say, to 160 V, then it will turn out that 160 * 1.41 = 225.6 V, which will allow for optimal operation. But this is just an example. You have the opportunity to make a scheme that is suitable specifically for your conditions.
The simplest twilight switch (photo relay)
As new parts are created, fewer components are now needed to make a device. Thus, for a regular twilight switch, only 3 of them are needed. Moreover, due to the versatility of the design, multi-purpose use is possible: in apartment building; for lighting the porch or courtyard of a private home, or even a separate room. Pointing out the features of such a design as a twilight switch, it is also called a “photo relay”. You can find many implementation schemes that were made either by amateurs or industrialists. They have their own set of positive and negative properties. Negative properties are usually either the need for a constant voltage source or the complexity of the circuit itself. Also, when buying cheap and simple parts or entire sets, people often complain that they simply burn. The functionality of the scheme is based on three components:
- Photocell. It is usually understood as photoresistors, phototransistors and photodiodes.
- Comparator.
- Triac or relay.
When there is daylight, the resistance of the photocell is low and does not exceed the response threshold. But as soon as it gets dark, the structure will be turned on at that very moment.
Conclusion
Here are some interesting electronic crafts you can make with your own hands. The main thing in cases where something doesn’t work out is to keep trying, and then everything will work out. And after gaining experience, it will be possible to move on to more complex schemes.
Many people consider themselves far from physics. But even with minimal knowledge (even what you got at school is enough) you can do something interesting and, most importantly, special. We are talking about electronic homemade products with your own hands. Their assembly schemes are usually not complicated. Some simple options for beginner electronics engineers we will consider in this article.
House for a cat
Electronic homemade products are a flight of fancy combined with knowledge of electronics. So, for example, you can make an excellent house for a cat from an old computer monitor. To do this you just need to disassemble it. When the bottom and walls of the monitor are separated from the circuit boards, kinescope and all other parts, you just need to twist them back. To make the animal more comfortable, you need to make bedding inside.
Music box
Electronic homemade items very often serve as objects that bring joy to their owners. A striking example of this is the music box. Moreover, it does not just play music. It completely preserves space for storing small items.
To work you will need:
- the box itself;
- music module with transistor;
- speaker (suitable for a phone or player);
- switch (can be from a wall telephone);
- compartment for AAA batteries (for example, from children's toys or a flashlight).
The first step is to solder the 8050 transistor to the music module (the circuit is shown in the figure above). Next, conductors are soldered to connect the power supply and speaker. It is important to maintain correct polarity when applying power. The speaker and board are attached using glue. The resulting design should fit into the lid of the box.
After this, the switch is installed. A loop is made from the lace and placed over the stem. It is necessary for management. The second end of the lace is glued to the inside of the box. Its length is selected in such a way that the music module is triggered precisely at the moment the lid is fully opened.
The electronic module is hidden with a cut out piece of cardboard or fabric.
Electronic fishing rod
Electronic homemade circuits offer fishermen to make an electronic fishing rod. It runs on a AA battery. You can throw it to a depth of up to 5 meters. In this case, the operating time is up to 12 hours.
Electronic homemade products of this kind work on a multivibrator circuit. A piece of board 2x6 cm is enough, on which all the elements of the circuit will be attached. The relay is selected with a resistance of up to 2.4 ohms.
Home tattoo machine
Electronic homemade circuits in this case provide for the presence of an electric motor with a power of 12-18 W. As a rule, all such motors have a gear on the shaft. It is necessary to glue a medium-sized button with 4 holes to it (they must remain free).
Next, choose a suitable handle. It will be the body of the entire product and guide the needle. A mechanical pencil works well. To connect it to the motor, a bracket is made in the shape of the letter “G”. It can be made from the handle of a spoon (fork).
A needle is cut from a guitar string. Its length should be slightly longer than the pencil tube. It should be from the center of the motor to the tip of the tube. The needle must be boiled for 10 minutes.
We connect the handle and bracket using electrical tape. The long side of the staple runs along the handle. Fold the staple flush with the top end of the pencil. There shouldn't be any swaying. A motor with a button is attached to the smaller side of the bracket. We pass the handle through the pencil to the motor and insert it into the hole of the button. At the last stage, homemade electronic homemade products are connected to a power source.
Stationary lamp
For illuminating the workspace at the desk, homemade electronics offer many options. One of them involves the use of a fluorescent lamp and metal profile, which is used for fastening plasterboard sheets.
The profile has the shape of the letter “P” in cross-section. Thanks to this, it will serve not only as a holder, but also to direct (reflect) light from top to bottom.
The profile must be bent. To do this, two sides are cut. After bending, the edges are connected with self-tapping screws to add rigidity. The lamp has a switch. We make a hole in the profile for it. Next, the lamp is attached to the base. Its rectangular version will help increase the strength of the profile. To attach it to the table, screw a metal corner to one edge of the profile.
We do it for our loved ones
When you love, you always want to please your “other half.” And this desire intensifies on the eve of Valentine's Day. Electronic homemade products will help solve the problem of finding a gift. You can prepare a wonderful and amazing gift with your own hands. For example, an LED valentine.
It is assembled from ready-made elements included in special set. It can be ordered in the online store. The set includes the following parts: transistors (3 pcs.), resistors (6 pcs.), LEDs (18 pcs.), electrolytic capacitor (3 pcs.), printed circuit board.
Assembling the product is easy. To do this, you only need a soldering iron with low power, which is also used to assemble other electronic homemade products with your own hands. Assembly diagrams are included in the kit. They are guided during work. In this case, several points must be observed:
- When installing capacitors, it is necessary to take into account the polarity of the electrodes. The required electrode is marked on the body of the part.
- When installed, resistors must correspond to the specified ratings. They are marked on the body with a color code.
- Next, LEDs are installed.
- For mounting transistors there is a key in the form of a form on the case.
When working, it is important to solder parts quickly, avoiding overheating. The board will be powered by a 3 V battery. There are two wires from the board to the battery compartment, which, by the way, fits from any electronic toy. The battery compartment is attached to the bottom of the back of the board using glue. This will allow you to install the board in a vertical position.
Schemes of homemade measuring instruments
A device circuit developed on the basis of a classic multivibrator, but instead of load resistors, transistors with opposite main conductivity are included in the collector circuits of the multivibrator.
It's good if you have an oscilloscope in your laboratory. Well, if it is not there and it is not possible to buy it for one reason or another, do not be upset. In most cases, it can be successfully replaced by a logic probe, which allows you to monitor the logical levels of signals at the inputs and outputs of digital integrated circuits, determine the presence of pulses in the controlled circuit and reflect the received information visually (light-color or digital) or audio (tone signals of various frequencies ) forms. When setting up and repairing structures based on digital integrated circuits, it is not always so necessary to know the characteristics of pulses or the exact values of voltage levels. Therefore, logic probes make the setup process easier, even if you have an oscilloscope.
A huge selection of different pulse generator circuits is presented. Some of them generate a single pulse at the output, the duration of which does not depend on the duration of the triggering (input) pulse. Such generators are used for a wide variety of purposes: simulating input signals digital devices, when checking the performance of digital integrated circuits, the need to supply a certain number of pulses to some device with visual control of processes, etc. Others generate sawtooth and square pulses different frequency, duty cycle and amplitude
Repair of various components and devices of low-frequency electronic equipment and technology can be significantly simplified if you use a function generator as an assistant, which makes it possible to study the amplitude-frequency characteristics of any low-frequency device, transient processes and nonlinear characteristics of any analog devices, and also has the ability to generate rectangular pulses forms and simplification of the process of setting up digital circuits.
When setting up digital devices, you definitely need one more device - a pulse generator. An industrial generator is a rather expensive device and is rarely on sale, but its analogue, although not as accurate and stable, can be assembled from available radio elements at home
However, creating a sound generator that produces a sinusoidal signal is not easy and quite painstaking, especially in terms of setup. The fact is that any generator contains at least two elements: an amplifier and a frequency-dependent circuit that determines the oscillation frequency. It is usually connected between the output and input of the amplifier, creating a positive feedback(POS). In the case of an RF generator, everything is simple - just an amplifier with one transistor and an oscillating circuit that determines the frequency. For the audio frequency range, it is difficult to wind a coil, and its quality factor is low. Therefore, in the audio frequency range, RC elements are used - resistors and capacitors. They filter the fundamental harmonics quite poorly, and therefore the sine wave signal turns out to be distorted, for example, limited by peaks. To eliminate distortion, amplitude stabilization circuits are used to maintain a low level of the generated signal when the distortion is not yet noticeable. It is the creation of a good stabilizing circuit that does not distort the sinusoidal signal that causes the main difficulties.
Often, after assembling the structure, the radio amateur sees that the device does not work. Humans do not have sense organs that allow them to see. electric current, electromagnetic field or processes occurring in electronic circuits. Radio measuring instruments - the eyes and ears of a radio amateur - help to do this.
Therefore, we need some means of testing and checking telephones and loudspeakers, audio amplifiers, and various sound recording and sound reproducing devices. Such a remedy is amateur radio circuits audio frequency signal generators, or, more simply, a sound generator. Traditionally, it produces a continuous sine wave whose frequency and amplitude can be varied. This allows you to check everything ULF cascades, find faults, determine the gain, take amplitude-frequency characteristics (AFC) and much more.
Considered a simple homemade amateur radio attachment that turns your multimeter into universal device checking zener diodes and dinistors. PCB drawings available
Many electrical appliances You can repair or make new ones yourself. For this home, there will always be something that can be converted to perform new functions: an old electronic watch, a children's car, an out-of-use computer and much more. Useful crafts You can always repair or redo it. It is better to have a workshop with tools for work.
Equipped master's home workshop
power unit
Homemade electronic devices require different voltages. In particular, soldering requires a regulated power supply. This opportunity can be provided by the LM-317 microcircuit, which is a voltage stabilizer.
Regulated power supply circuit
Devices based on this circuit allow you to change the output voltage within 1.2-30 V using a variable resistor P1. The permissible current is 1.5 A, the power of the device depends on the choice of transformer.
The voltmeter is adjusted using trimming resistor P2. To do this, set the current to 1 mA at a circuit output voltage of 30 V.
The greater the difference between the input and output signals, the more power is allocated to the microcircuit. To reduce heat, it requires a radiator with a cooler.
A homemade board with an LM-317 chip is placed in a case - a computer power supply. A voltmeter and clamps for the output wires are installed on the front PCB panel.
Simple auto tester
A sampler for cars and other purposes should always be on hand at home, in the garage or on the go. The figure below shows a homemade diagram that allows you to check electrical circuits with a resistance of up to 10 kOhm and a voltage of 6-15 V.
Two indication circuits are connected in series to the battery and in parallel to each other. The first consists of resistor R1 and LED HL1, which lights up when checking the voltage. At the same time, the battery is recharged.
Circuit and design: a) homemade circuit, which allows you to check electrical circuits with a resistance of up to 10 kOhm and the presence of a voltage of 6-15 V; b) homemade design of a test probe
When a circuit is tested, current flows from the battery through circuit HL2, R2. At the same time, the HL2 LED lights up. Its brightness will be greater, the lower the circuit resistance.
Like all homemade products, the design of the probe can be done in different ways, for example, place it in a transparent plastic case that you can easily glue together with your own hands.
Such devices are indispensable when repairing an electrical network or household appliance at home. Crafts can be more complex and have additional functions.
Electric devices for heat treatment of meat products without the use of fuel are made for a small number of portions and can be used at home or in the country. To prepare shish kebab using an electric kebab maker, there is no need to spend expensive watch relaxing, standing on the street near the barbecue.
In specialized stores you can choose any device, but price decides a lot. If you have skills in handling electricity, it will be much cheaper to make an electric kebab maker with your own hands.
The structures are made in horizontal or vertical design. The power of the device usually does not exceed 1.5 kW. The meat is heated using a spiral with a tungsten or nichrome thread. All metal parts are made of stainless steel.
Typical devices are vertical heaters in the center and skewers with product around. They are attached from above. It is advisable to make skewers in the form of spirals, from which the meat does not slide down during the cooking process.
Vertical type of electric kebab maker
To make high-quality barbecue with your own hands, the skewers should be placed as close as possible to the heater, but so that the product does not touch the spiral. When placed at a distance, the meat will not fry, but will dry out.
Pieces of product no larger than 40 mm in size are placed on a skewer, which is placed vertically around the heater. Then the electricity is turned on and the coil is heated.
The heater is based on a heat-resistant ceramic tube on which a spiral is wound. Fastening at the bottom is done using a special cartridge.
In the round base there are special cups for collecting fat and a frame that serves to hold the skewers vertically.
Cups are made of stainless steel. They have cross-shaped protrusions at the bottom, which are inserted into the slots in the base. Inside they have devices for attaching skewers. Fixing the cup on both sides allows them to hold the skewers vertically.
The connection must be strong and at the same time easy to disassemble for cleaning. You can make a common removable tray for all skewers.
The cross-section of the supply wire is selected to match the power of the heater (2.5 or 4 mm2). At home or in the country there should be a 16 A socket for it.
Timer for watering plants
Devices with are used for drip irrigation area from the container at a certain time. They can be connected to valves with any capacity.
Often branded devices do not provide the required reliability. Then an old wall clock comes to the rescue, which is in working order, but is no longer used at home. Small magnets are attached to the ends of the minute and hour hands, and there are 3 reed switches on the dial.
Timer circuit for watering plants, which uses a wall clock
As soon as the hour hand reaches the number 7, and the minute hand reaches 12, which corresponds to the time of 7 o'clock, the reed switches SA1 and SA3 are triggered and the signal opens the solenoid valve. After 2 hours, the arrows will move to 9 and 12, and current will flow through the contacts of the reed switches SA1 and SA2 to close the valve.
The diagram shows a “rain sensor”, which in wet weather closes transistor VT1 and the valve remains constantly closed. Manual control of the solenoid valve is also provided via buttons S1 and S2.
The clock can be set to any time the valve is turned on.
Car with remote control
Homemade radio-controlled models captivate not only children, but also adults. They can be used for playing at home or for real competitions in the yard. To assemble it yourself, you will need a chassis with wheels, an electric motor and a housing.
There is a large assortment on sale, but first of all you need to decide which machine is best to make. The control panel can be wired or radio controlled.
When choosing parts, you should pay attention to their quality. The plastic should be free of nicks, inclusions and other mechanical defects. The wheels are sold with the chassis and should turn easily. Grip on the surface is better provided by rubber. Plastic wheels are much worse in this regard.
For a beginner, it is better to take an electric motor, which is cheaper and easier to maintain than an internal combustion engine. You can choose any body or make it according to your own sketch.
The motor, battery and radio unit with antenna are installed on the chassis of the mini-car. If you purchase a kit with components, assembly instructions are included.
After installing the parts, the operation of the motor is adjusted. The housing is installed on the chassis after everything is working.
You can assemble mini-copies at home as follows:
- the car is assembled carefully and through joint efforts;
- the materials of the model parts may differ from the original;
- small and insignificant details can be omitted.
The model can be made without focusing on a specific car brand. Much depends on finances and availability of free time. Assembling a mini-car at home with a child has great educational value.
The work on assembling the car model is carried out according to plan. Some parts need to be purchased, but you can use old toys.
The power of the motor must match the weight of the device. Fresh batteries or accumulator are used for power supply.
If you use a special car designer, crafts can be very diverse. Assembly sequence:
- the frame is assembled first;
- the motor is attached and adjusted;
- the power supply is installed;
- fixed;
- wheels are installed and adjusted.
Types of radio-controlled car models
Many DIY tricks are revealed in this video.
Electronic homemade products can make life more comfortable and save a lot of money. In addition, you can find a use for old electrical appliances so that they do not gather dust in the pantry without a purpose. Useful DIY crafts are often better than factory-made products.