Electronics free for all (within reason). We're a group interested in exploring and playing around with circuits, microprocessors, electric motors, sensors, etc. All experience levels and interests are welcome. Come along and make something that beeps, twitches, lights up, or makes coffee.

Notes from initial meeting

Ben, Alan, Chris, Adam, Christina, Colin, Andrew, Caroline Gordon, Kirsty, Ben & Robb came along. This is what maybe the way forward.

Schedule will be:

FIRST TUESDAY OF EVERY MONTH: “Project Meet”

3RD TUESDAY EVERY MONTH: INFORMAL “Optional” WORKSHOP

First Initial Workshop: Extractor Fan + how to take something apart without killing you MEET 6.30 TUESDAY 20th MARCH

'What is Needed?:'

Fans

Snips

Soldering iron

Safety Goggles

or Bread board - Ben will put the actual Maplin part number here soon.

[Easier to make wire yourself than buy ready cut ones]

Andrew will bring wire

Then Two Parallel Project Strands: STARTING 6.30PM TUESDAY 3RD APRIL

Session 1. 'Crystal Radio' »» Session 2. 'amplifier?' »»> Session 3. 'A.M. Transmitter' ? »»> A.M. Receiver that can receive morse code »»> ?

Andrew will look into what components for crystal radio are required and report back on multimeter options.

THE ABOVE WILL RUN IN PARALLEL (I.E. ALSO STARTING 6.30PM TUESDAY 3RD APRIL )WITH

Session 1. 'micro-controller output from crystal radio?' > Session 2: ? > maybe something involving flashguns from 200 cameras at some point ? > 'sparkly shiny noisy things' (that are solar powered ?)

'Suppliers ? What do I need and where should I get it?'

Check out the Equipment Recommendation page.

Maplins okay for most things

Alan likes “Rapid Electronics” - minimum order and shipping costs details on Equipment Recommendation page.

Taits Electronics www.Taits-electronics.co.uk

RS Electronics http://rswww.com/

Maybe we could open a trade account with one or more of the above?

Joint Pay-pal works well as a way to ship Arduino boards circa £14 each

'Electronic Knitters Wish List'

We should make a wishlist of what people are keen to learn about or do and generate activities. This can then be used to fill in gaps in the schedule above.

- Make a cheap projector from cheap lightbulbs

- DIY video projectors

- nocturnal solar powered robot workshop / harvesting energy

- bicycle light generated by an alternative to a dynamo

- Build your own “Myth TV” / PVR [http://www.mythtv.org/]

- LED Poi (an led reactive toy) E.g. [http://www.poipoi.info/shop/index.php?rn=333&action=show_detail]

(please add to this list - maybe put your name to your ideas too feel free to sort out the formatting too! )