Category Archives: Book

Learning the Art of Electronics: 2N.2.1 Differentiators | In The Lab With Jay Jay

Posted on by
Reply

You can support this channel: patreon.com/JohnElliotV

This post is part of my video blog and you can find more information about this video.

Silly Job Title: Surge Sage. I am the Surge Sage!

In this video we continue working through Learning the Art of Electronics. Today we build a differentiator with a resistor and capacitor and test it with a square wave and a sine wave.

We use the Rigol MSO5074 Mixed Signal Oscilloscope to investigate our signals and to generate our input waveforms.

We use the Multicomp Pro MP701033 Resistor Decade Box as our variable resistor.

We use the Kaisi S-160 45x30cm Repair Mat as our workspace.

Thanks very much for watching! And please remember to hit like and subscribe! :)

Following is a product I use picked at random from my collection which may appear in my videos. Clicking through on this to find and click on the green affiliate links before purchasing from eBay or AliExpress is a great way to support the channel at no cost to you. Thanks!

Sharp EL-546L Scientific CalculatorThis is an image of the product.notes

Let’s go shopping!

New Book Teardown #10: The Art of Electronics: The x-Chapters 2nd Edition (2026) | In The Lab

Posted on by
Reply

You can support this channel: patreon.com/JohnElliotV

This post is part of my video blog and you can find more information about this video.

Silly Job Title: Solder Soldier. I am the Solder Soldier!

In this video we have a look at what’s in The Art of Electronics: The x-Chapters 2nd Edition by Paul Horowitz and Winfield Hill. The book’s website is here: https://x.artofelectronics.net/

In the same family of books are The Art of Electronics 3rd Edition also by Paul Horowitz and Winfield Hill and Learning the Art of Electronics: A Hands-On Lab Course 2nd Edition by Thomas C. Hayes, David Abrams, and Paul Horowitz.

There were a few things that came up as we flipped through this venerable tome:

Thanks very much for watching! And please remember to hit like and subscribe! :)

p.s. today I added Electro-Optical to my spell check.

Following is a product I use picked at random from my collection which may appear in my videos. Clicking through on this to find and click on the green affiliate links before purchasing from eBay or AliExpress is a great way to support the channel at no cost to you. Thanks!

14500pa Cordless Hand Held VacuumThis is an image of the product.

Let’s go shopping!

Learning the Art of Electronics: Fig-2N.5 Constant Voltage Charge | In The Lab With Jay Jay

Posted on by
Reply

You can support this channel: patreon.com/JohnElliotV

This post is part of my video blog and you can find more information about this video.

Silly Job Title: Plugerinerer. I am the Plugerinerer!

In this video we continue working through Learning the Art of Electronics. Today we build the circuit from Fig-2N.5 which is a simple RC circuit that we charge with a voltage source.

Our charge and discharge curves for the 1000 µF capacitor looked like this:

The scope measurement of charging and discharging our capacitor

We use the Rigol MSO5074 Mixed Signal Oscilloscope to investigate our signal.

We use the Riden RD6006 Bench Power Supply to provide 10 V for testing.

We use the EEVblog BM2257 Digital Multimeter for continuity testing the switch we use on the breadboard.

We use the Kaisi S-160 45x30cm Repair Mat as our workspace.

Thanks very much for watching! And please remember to hit like and subscribe! :)

p.s. today I added Plugerinerer to my spell check.

Following is a product I use picked at random from my collection which may appear in my videos. Clicking through on this to find and click on the green affiliate links before purchasing from eBay or AliExpress is a great way to support the channel at no cost to you. Thanks!

Rigol PLA2216 Logic ProbeThis is an image of the product.notes

Let’s go shopping!

Mail Call #64: Loot from AliExpress & Amazon, ELP-U3 USB Camera, Spanners and More! | In The Lab

Posted on by
Reply

You can support this channel: patreon.com/JohnElliotV

This post is part of my video blog and you can find more information about this video.

Silly Job Title: Cable Commander. I am the Cable Commander!

In this video we take a look at what has arrived in the mail from AliExpress and Amazon:

Thanks very much for watching! And please remember to hit like and subscribe! :)

Following is a product I use picked at random from my collection which may appear in my videos. Clicking through on this to find and click on the green affiliate links before purchasing from eBay or AliExpress is a great way to support the channel at no cost to you. Thanks!

SUNSHINE Hard Brush SetThis is an image of the product.notes

Let’s go shopping!

Homework

Posted on by
Reply

This is a part of the homework feature of my blog, which is an ongoing conversation with my mate S.F.

Hey mate. Lovely to see you again, as always. Can’t wait to do it all again soon!

We spoke about Live on Brighton Beach by Fatboy Slim.

I mentioned I’ve been watching videos from Rabbi Simon Jacobson at Meaningful Life Center.

Band name: Healthy Advice for Living.

Band name: Threaten to Fall.

I mentioned about Speed Racer by the The Wachowskis.

You mentioned about the Safe Space in Katoomba.

I mentioned about Elle Cordova. She’s super creative and has made some great videos, particularly her Errorist series, starting here: Grammarian vs Errorist – a supervillain showdown. I’ve mentioned about her before.

I mentioned about Mindform which is a sort of self-improvement community I participate in. It’s run by Ryan Bush who has written a few books including Designing the Mind: The Principles of Psychitecture.

I mentioned about my bullet journal. It is now an instrumental part of my whole day and I can barely imagine how I used to live without it. I got myself one of the official bullet journals too, it’s great; well made and full of thoughtful and practical features.

I mentioned about this SMBC comic: your ethical system is nuts, man!

You mentioned about Information is Beautiful.

You mentioned about Alain de Botton on The Diary of a CEO: The Love Expert: The REAL Reason We’re Lonely, Loveless, Depressed – Alain De Botton, School Of Life.

We listened to Careless Whisper by George Michael.

I mentioned about Iron Sky which is a silly film but a bit of fun.

You mentioned about the Frame problem which is also taken up by Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy: The Frame Problem.

You suggested intermittent fasting.

Learning the Art of Electronics: Fig-2N.4 Constant Current Ramp | In The Lab With Jay Jay

Posted on by
Reply

You can support this channel: patreon.com/JohnElliotV

This post is part of my video blog and you can find more information about this video.

Silly Job Title: Circuit Breaker. I am the Circuit Breaker!

In this video we continue working through Learning the Art of Electronics. Today we build the circuit from Fig-2N.4 which is a manually switched constant current ramp.

The constant current sources we’re using are these: LT3092 Adjustable Precision Current Source Module, 200mA / 500mA Adjustable Constant Current Source Module, LED Driver.

The other constant current sources I have but that we aren’t using today are these: LT3092 Adjustable Constant Current Source Module 200mA Continuous Adjustable Constant Current Output, Sensor Drive Power Supply.

The box I put everything is the 82x52x35mm-Black box from here: 70/100mm DIY Electrical Enclosure Box Electronic Project Case White Black Grey Instrument Storage Junction Controller Box.

The spanners I mention that I purchased recently are these: 3mm Ultra-thin Open Box Dual-purpose Wrench Set 6-24mm Stainless Steel Spanner Metric Ratcheting Combination Wrench Kit with Bag (6-24mm 12pcs kit).

We use the Rigol MSO5074 Mixed Signal Oscilloscope to investigate Vout.

We use the METCAL PS-900 Soldering Station for soldering.

We use the AiXun H314 Hot Air Gun for heat shrink.

We use the MUIN Solder Fume Extractor to clear the air.

We use the Yizhan Digital Microscope for close ups.

We use two Riden RD6006 Bench Power Supplies to provide positive and negative power.

We use the EEVblog BM2257 Digital Multimeter for continuity testing.

We use the Brother P-Touch D210 Label Maker for labeling.

We use the nmsafety Nitrile Gloves for hand protection.

We use the ENGINEER PA-09 or PA-21 Crimping Tool for crimping.

We use the Hakko CHP 3C-SA Precision Tweezers for tweezering.

We use the Plato Model 170 Wire Cutter to cut, cut, cut.

We use the Kaisi S-160 45x30cm Repair Mat as our workspace.

Thanks very much for watching! And please remember to hit like and subscribe! :)

Following is a product I use picked at random from my collection which may appear in my videos. Clicking through on this to find and click on the green affiliate links before purchasing from eBay or AliExpress is a great way to support the channel at no cost to you. Thanks!

DTBD WrenchThis is an image of the product.

Let’s go shopping!

Learning the Art of Electronics: Constant Current BJT Circuit from AoE | In The Lab With Jay Jay

Posted on by
Reply

You can support this channel: patreon.com/JohnElliotV

This post is part of my video blog and you can find more information about this video.

Silly Job Title: Switch Sleuth. I am the Switch Sleuth!

In this video we continue working through Learning the Art of Electronics. Today we don’t do any course work, rather we do two exercises from the text, AoE ex 2.9 and 2.10 on page 86, and make a BJT-based current source as described in AoE Figure 2.32 on page 87.

These are the results I got as I varied the load resistance:

RL Ω VL V IL µA VBE V
1 0.06 0.0 -0.746
10 0.18 0.0 -0.745
100 1.21 0.0 -0.740
1k 5.41 0.0 -0.699
10k 7.54 4.9 1.145
100k 7.79 4.8 1.598
1M 7.88 4.9 1.637
10M 7.96 5.0 1.641

My notes are here:
John's notes for AoE ex-2.9
John's notes for AoE ex-2.10
John's notes for the circuit in AoE figure 2.32 A

We use the METCAL PS-900 Soldering Station for soldering.

We use the AiXun H314 Hot Air Gun for heat shrink.

We use the MUIN Solder Fume Extractor for fume extraction.

We use the Riden RD6006 Bench Power Supply for 10 V power input.

We use the EEVblog BM2257 Digital Multimeter to take measurements.

We use the Fluke 17B+ Digital Multimeter to take measurements.

We use the Peak Electronic Design Atlas DCA75 Pro Semiconductor Analyzer to check our NPN transistor pin out.

We use the Sharp EL-546L Scientific Calculator to crunch some numbers.

We use the ElectroCookie PCB Prototype Solderable Breadboard to build our circuits on.

We use the Multicomp Pro MP701033 Resistor Decade Box as a variable load resistor.

We use the Hakko CHP 3C-SA Precision Tweezers for tweezering.

We use the Plato Model 170 Wire Cutter to trim component leads.

We use the Kaisi S-160 45x30cm Repair Mat as our workspace.

Thanks very much for watching! And please remember to hit like and subscribe! :)

p.s. today I added AoE to my spell check.

Following is a product I use picked at random from my collection which may appear in my videos. Clicking through on this to find and click on the green affiliate links before purchasing from eBay or AliExpress is a great way to support the channel at no cost to you. Thanks!

Yum Cha Stainless Steel SpudgerThis is an image of the product.

Let’s go shopping!

Learning the Art of Electronics: Constant Current Reading from AoE and AoEx | In The Lab

Posted on by
Reply

You can support this channel: patreon.com/JohnElliotV

This post is part of my video blog and you can find more information about this video.

Silly Job Title: Connector Kingpin. I am the Connector Kingpin!

In this video we continue working through Learning the Art of Electronics. Today we don’t do any course work, rather we do selected readings about current sources found in the text.

Our reading from The Art of Electronics 3ed includes:

  • §2.2.6 pg 85-87 RE: resistor and BJT current sources
  • §4.2.5 pg 228-230 RE: op-amp current sources
  • §9.3.14 pg 620-623 RE: voltage-regulator current sources

And our reading from The Art of Electronics: The x Chapters includes:

  • §2x.2 pg 103-107 RE: Current-Source Problems and Fixes
  • §2x.3 pg 108-109 RE: The Cascode Configuration

Note that the 2nd edition of the x-Chapters is available for pre-order: The Art of Electronics: The x-Chapters 2.

When we continue next week we will do the various exercises we ran out of time to do today, and build some current sources, starting probably with a BJT version.

Thanks very much for watching! And please remember to hit like and subscribe! :)

p.s. today I added BJT and Cascode to my spell check.

Following is a product I use picked at random from my collection which may appear in my videos. Clicking through on this to find and click on the green affiliate links before purchasing from eBay or AliExpress is a great way to support the channel at no cost to you. Thanks!

Yum Cha 13-in-1 Multi-function Digital Display USB Voltage Current Power MeterThis is an image of the product.

Let’s go shopping!

Learning the Art of Electronics: Fig 2N.4 Constant Current Investigation | In The Lab With Jay Jay

Posted on by
Reply

You can support this channel on Patreon: patreon.com/JohnElliotV

This post is part of my video blog and you can find more information about this video.

Silly Job Title: Watt Wizard. I am the Watt Wizard!

In this video we continue working our way through Learning the Art of Electronics and continue 2N RC Circuits.

In this video we try to make a simple current source using only a transistor and a few resistors, for learning purposes. We don’t quite get the circuit running in the end, we will take another look at it soon.

In the back part of the video I take some time out to make some cables which I will use when we continue with this current source project in the near future.

The signal generator come current source which I mention in the video is this one: FNIRSI SG-002 Signal Generator.

We use the METCAL PS-900 Soldering Station for soldering.

We use the AiXun H314 Hot Air Gun to heat shrink.

We use the MUIN Solder Fume Extractor to clear the air.

We use the Tenma 72-10505 Bench Power Supply to provide power.

We use the Riden RD6006 Bench Power Supply to provide power.

We use the EEVblog BM2257 Digital Multimeter to measure voltage, current, and resistance.

We use the EEVblog BM036 Digital Multimeter to measure voltage.

We use the Fluke 17B+ Digital Multimeter to measure voltage, current, and resistance.

We use the UNI-T UT116A Digital Tweezers to measure resistance.

We use the Peak Electronic Design Atlas DCA75 Pro Semiconductor Analyzer to check the pin out of our 2N2222 NPN transistors.

We use the Multicomp Pro MP701033 Resistor Decade Box as our variable resistor.

We use the Hakko CHP 3C-SA Precision Tweezers for tweezering.

We use the Plato Model 170 Wire Cutter to trim component leads and cut heat shrink.

We use the Kaisi S-160 45x30cm Repair Mat as our workspace.

Thanks very much for watching! And please remember to hit like and subscribe! :)

p.s. today I added NPN to my spell check.

Following is a product I use picked at random from my collection which may appear in my videos. Clicking through on this to find and click on the green affiliate links before purchasing from eBay or AliExpress is a great way to support the channel at no cost to you. Thanks!

XIASONGXIN LIGHT DT3 USB Cable TesterThis is an image of the product.

Let’s go shopping!