Can you recommend some good stores like http://www.goldmine-elec.com/ and http://www.sparkfun.com/ I'm looking for little motors, gears, metal rods, rubber rollers/grommets as well as electrical components.
posted by Charlie Lesoine on Dec 3, 2009 - 20 answers

I'd like to teach myself electronics with a focus on audio. I'm starting with this book. What should I do/read from there? [more inside]
posted by Charlie Lesoine on Nov 24, 2009 - 11 answers

I want to create a customized Settlers of Catan board. For the purposes of this question, it could also be a custom Monopoly board. I want the pieces ( cities / hotels ) to light up when they are placed on the board. I know I would put LED's in each piece, but besides that, I am not sure if or how I could power up the LED's. I am not an electrical engineer, but magnets, watch batteries or inductive charging sound good to me. Help me make an awesome electronic board game!
posted by jasondigitized on Sep 4, 2009 - 8 answers

Help me wire a wireless doorbell switch. [more inside]
posted by Big_B on Aug 12, 2009 - 5 answers

I need a new thermistor probe for this temperature controller. The manufacturer sells these for $37 shipped. Is there a less-expensive solution? [more inside]
posted by hsawtelle on Apr 8, 2009 - 6 answers

LazyHiveMind: What fun things can I do if I hook my Chumby up to a Furby? [more inside]
posted by rwhe on Feb 3, 2009 - 6 answers

I have a medium-sized run of printed circuit boards that'd be most cost-effective for me to silkscreen/photo-etch at home. I'm pretty sure I got that part covered... lots of tutorials available [1, 2, 3, etc]. It'd be a shame, though, to build this setup and then not use it again, so I'm wondering where are some great repositories for (all types of) PCB layouts? Added difficulty: Would like reasonable descriptions of "what they do" and how the boards are likely to be employed. [more inside]
posted by jjjjjjjijjjjjjj on Dec 30, 2008 - 7 answers

Is it possible to fix a power cord without replacing the plug? [more inside]
posted by backseatpilot on Dec 2, 2008 - 9 answers

Electronics/LED Folks: I bought a few cheap, poorly-assembled LED color-changing orb-things and I'm pretty sure they're the coolest objects I have ever owned. I cracked 'em open, and damned if I know what is going on in there, but it looks simple/cheap as all hell. Help me figure it out, I'll post a build-log/parts list somewhere, and in short-order we can all be ass-deep in home-made, disarmingly sublime mood-lighting. [more inside]
posted by jjjjjjjijjjjjjj on Nov 18, 2008 - 28 answers

What is this device that I found inside of a Williams Grand Prix electromechanical pinball machine from approximately 1976? [more inside]
posted by mmcg on Nov 8, 2008 - 18 answers

I have found someone who can build me a mobile phone out of a rotary dial telephone. But Sparkfun doesn't really have a one-stop shopping list. Help me decipher exactly what parts from this article i will need and also please recommend a good antenna I can use that will give me the best reception but also be cell-phone-tiny. [more inside]
posted by parmanparman on Sep 24, 2008 - 2 answers

1. I'd like to take on a portable-electronics-building project. 2. I have none of the required knowledge. 3. ...? [more inside]
posted by jinjo on Aug 8, 2008 - 3 answers

Help me diagnose repeated failure of my lighting dimmers. [more inside]
posted by jon1270 on Jun 26, 2008 - 20 answers

How can I build my own A/B/A+B speaker selector box? [more inside]
posted by harkin banks on Jun 17, 2008 - 10 answers

Help me build a simple intervalometer! [more inside]
posted by lord_yo on May 27, 2008 - 5 answers

I am trying to decide which to (learn) to use, The Arduino or The Make Controller Kit. Which should I choose as a first buy / entry level controller? [more inside]
posted by dylanSnow on May 18, 2008 - 8 answers

I built this mini guitar amp based on this circuit. But I used a 4 watt speaker rather than the 8 watts specified. What are the consequences of that change? [more inside]
posted by Grundlebug on Mar 17, 2008 - 8 answers

I'm looking for a simple, small and cheap way of measuring acceleration. Basically, I want to make a set of LEDs light up if they are accelerated significantly, becoming brighter the faster the acceleration happens. [more inside]
posted by Zarkonnen on Nov 13, 2007 - 13 answers

I'm going to embark on a stompbox-building adventure, and I'd like to know how much one can mess things up. [more inside]
posted by tmcw on Oct 21, 2007 - 13 answers

Homemade DVD server- Whats the best/easiest/cheapest way? [more inside]
posted by weiler63 on Jul 12, 2007 - 17 answers

Connecting internal TV speakers to audio system. Is is possible? How could I screw up? The TV is already open and some wires disconnected. [more inside]
posted by Dataphage on Jan 27, 2007 - 8 answers

I dropped my TV a few times, and now the color is messed up in a few spots. Is there anything to be done? [more inside]
posted by Afroblanco on Sep 23, 2006 - 6 answers

I want to learn how to make simple electronics, like LED controllers that I can hook up to a serial port. Can anyone recommend a book to get started with? [more inside] [more inside]
posted by krunk on Aug 29, 2004 - 13 answers