Radio Shack?
Circuit board types, is there only one kind?
What Do I need to learn about Transitors Resistors, compasitors ect ect…?
What I need to know if I want to be serious about engineering electronics, or simply to modify an electronic component?

Thanks.

Radio Shack?
Circuit board types, is there only one kind?
What Do I need to learn about Transitors Resistors, compasitors ect ect…?
What I need to know if I want to be serious about engineering electronics, or simply to modify an electronic component?

Thanks.

I guess I am a little confused; for example, the pictures below:

http://www.regionalmfg.com/components/toroid-inductor-8.jpg

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Electronic_component_inductors.jpg

These are typical inductors/toroids… and there are many like them. Copper itself is a conductive material, so why is copper wire stripped before soldering it to a circuit? I dunno if I am totally missing something here…

Radio Shack?
Circuit board types, is there only one kind?
What Do I need to learn about Transitors Resistors, compasitors ect ect…?
What I need to know if I want to be serious about engineering electronics, or simply to modify an electronic component?

Thanks.

What materials are used for such a project? I understand the idea that regardless of quality manufacture, an OEM CPU heat-sink (in this case on an Intel BOXD945GCLF2 Atom 330 Intel 945GC Mini ITX Motherboard/CPU Combo) will not be a perfect flat surface. So the need to lap its surface is obvious to me.

However, would there be a reason to not lap the surface of a CPU? I have no idea. I have never lapped computer components and I do know that doing something that may seem innocent could destroy an electronic component (such as a static electricity discharge that cannot even be felt can damage an integrated circuit).

I feel that I will have to stick with the OEM CPU heat-sink as I have not found an aftermarket heat-sink for the Atom 330 processor. Given that the processor runs on such low power, it probably does not need much more than the OEM heat-sink.

On the other hand, the Northbridge is equipped with a heat-sink and fan from the factory. At the very least, I plan to lap that heat-sink and replace the fan with one of high quality and possibly a lower sound level.

So, am I making any big mistakes?

And, of course, what is a proper method for lapping surfaces in this application?
Coldsomewildpaddle: Thank you for clarifying the situation. What you say does make sense, especially as I do intend to run this bugger at stock speed and load. I just enjoy being a perfectionist.

However, what will others say? We shall see.

I tried to search the web for any circuit diagram and PCB layout for a hand-free microphone that works in AM (amplitude modulation) broadacast band, but I can't find any. I'm looking for that because I'm going to make an AM mike as a project to be passed this semester. I want a suggestion for websites of where I can find that. I'm also considering the electronic component to be used such as transisitors, capacitors,…etc.

I’m pretty new to electronics, but i know a but about it. I recently opened up my door bell transmitter (the thing that is outside that u press to make ur door bell ring). its wireless. inside i found the average array of ceramic capacitors and resistors. but there are 3 things i have trouble figuring out. There is somethin that is labeled as d1 (kinda like how resistor is labeled r1,r2,r2 and capacitor is c1,c2, etc.) im guessin this is a diode? not sure. it just makes sense to me. then, there is a blue round thing that kinda resembles an aluminum capacitor but its not. its located near a long metal bar. my guess is that this is the transmitter? and the bar is an antenna? no idea. and final thing is in the center of the circuit board. its like a black drop of some sort of material. its not like an electronic component. it looks like a drop of black glue thats hard and solid. on the underside u can see a bunch of circuits ending under it. my guess is that it connects them all, but that doesnt seem right. i honestly cant figure out wat it could be. sigh… well plz let me know wat all this stuff is. i really wanna build a similar contraption. thnx a lot guys

I'm talking about small quantities: less than 1000 mA.

When I say "in a circuit", I mean that I'm wondering how I can control how much amperage goes into an electronic component to make sure too much doesn't go in.

I'm interested in repairing burnt (fried) circuit of an electronic component. How do i detect the defected unit? I mean what to measure ?(using the multimeter).
[new edit]
Okay, let me elaborate my question,
Lets say, if i got a fried resistor, and i want to assume that i dont know whether it is damaged or not. So, how to determine that it was fried or not, by using a multimeter?

what is the easiest and cheapest way to have, say a light bulb on a simple DC circuit, switch off after 5 minutes. What electronic component does this?