Trains.com

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Basic Electricity Tutorial Demand

2996 views
43 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Vail, AZ
  • 1,943 posts
Posted by Vail and Southwestern RR on Monday, December 4, 2006 3:28 PM
 claymore1977 wrote:

And the world gets a little bit smaller...

Which do you like better?

Tough call.  Probably here, it was too crowded out there even when I left in '92.  There's lots of good stuff out there, though.  In general, I'd have to say I prefer the winter weather here, too, and probably even the summer, you know, the dry heat thing!

Jeff But it's a dry heat!

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, December 5, 2006 1:26 PM
And I currently live 10 miles up from White Marsh off of I-95 in Bel Air..... small world.
  • Member since
    December 2006
  • From: Lancaster, PA
  • 512 posts
Posted by claymore1977 on Wednesday, December 6, 2006 8:31 AM

First half of Section 2 is up.  Covers ins and outs of series and parallel circuit configurations.  Next up:  playing Diodes and Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs).

As always, feedback warmly welcomed!

Dave Loman

My site: The Rusty Spike

"It's a penny for your thoughts, but you have to put your 2 cents in.... hey, someone's making a penny!"

  • Member since
    January 2006
  • From: Northeast OH
  • 2,268 posts
Posted by NeO6874 on Wednesday, December 6, 2006 9:23 AM

great new tutorial Approve [^]

 

I have a basic electronics understanding (I can read a schematic, and know the basic symbols), though I always attributed the circuit to "magic" - the books never really went into the how or why it worked beyond "well, you've got your <electronic component(s)> hooked up to this power source...".

 

I can't wait to see the more future installments 

-Dan

Builder of Bowser steam! Railimages Site

  • Member since
    December 2005
  • From: Hudson Highlands - NY
  • 37 posts
Posted by TomOnHudson on Wednesday, December 6, 2006 10:46 AM

First, thanks for putting this together; I'm really looking forward to going through it.

Now, a non-technical comment: I find the contrast of the black-on-gray color scheme a bit difficult to read. How about simply black-on-white?

 -tom 

  • Member since
    December 2006
  • From: Lancaster, PA
  • 512 posts
Posted by claymore1977 on Wednesday, December 6, 2006 11:04 AM

I had mixed emotions about the black on grey also, but then I couldn't decide if black on white images with a grey background would look alright... anyone else having eye strain with the black on grey?  If so, I have saved everything in photoshop so no worries.

 

Dave Loman

My site: The Rusty Spike

"It's a penny for your thoughts, but you have to put your 2 cents in.... hey, someone's making a penny!"

  • Member since
    October 2005
  • From: Nashua, NH
  • 430 posts
Posted by Cannoli on Wednesday, December 6, 2006 11:31 AM
 tstage wrote:

David,

Three words: GO FOR IT!!! Smile [:)]Thumbs Up [tup]  I've read and dug and scratched and clawed to understand what I know...and it STILL isn't all that much.

Personally, I enjoy tutorials.  I have three on my web site that I wrote myself and have included them all on the forum, at one time or another.

Most of the books and links that I have read on electricity and wiring usually start out okay.  But the author soon forgets the novices in his audience and quickly jumps by leaps and bounds into more sophisticated topics on the subject - making assumptions that you know more than you do.

So, David, to answer you question again - I would personally welcome a tutorial on basic electrical fundamentals whole-heartedly.  Since I'm a visual person, pictures and diagrams are a plus in my book.

David, this is just a suggestion.  Jon Grant has recently done a very nice step-by-step tutorial on weathering freight cars:

http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/962238/ShowPost.aspx

The one thing that I really like about Jon's approach is that it comes in "installments".  I think this method makes it easier on some folks who might feel overwhelmed about a particular topic...say, like electrical principles?  The installment method of a tutorial allows the reader to "ruminate" or digest the material in small doses, then move on at his or her's own pace.  Joe Fugate is very good at this approach with his tutorials.

Anyway, I hope that's a help...

Tom

BTW: Sign - Welcome [#welcome] to the forum!

I agree with Tom. I personally like very visual tutorials and although I have a bit of an understanding of electricy, at least within the realms of this hobby, I would certainly welcome the chance to learn more.

Modeling the fictional B&M Dowe, NH branch in the early 50's.

  • Member since
    September 2006
  • 170 posts
Posted by ft-fan on Wednesday, December 6, 2006 11:58 AM

David,

I'm looking forward to going over Section 2. Looks like I might learn something.

A couple points on the section 1: 1. The pictures for Example 1.5 are not showing up for me, don't know if I'm doing something wrong or if you have a link set up wrong. 2. It would be nice at the end of each section to have a link to both the previous section and the next section. Then, if I am working through I don't have to go back to the table of contents to go on. Each section should also have a link to the TOC  in case I want to go looking for something in particular. 3. I guess I am not a huge fan of the black text on gray background. Maybe you can do a gray border, and then have the body of the page be white with black text. That breaks the page up some so its not such a stark contrast.

I noticed that in your definitions at the top you did put how you would be referring to the different values in the equations. Thanks, I think that helps us Dunce [D)]'s.

Well, on to Section 2.

FT 

  • Member since
    February 2005
  • From: Vancouver Island, BC
  • 23,330 posts
Posted by selector on Wednesday, December 6, 2006 12:32 PM

As of 1030hrs PST, the several graphics only show a red X in a white box.  Is it just me?

Oops, just glanced up and saw that you know of this.  Must be a code issue.

I'll be patient. Smile [:)]

  • Member since
    December 2006
  • From: Lancaster, PA
  • 512 posts
Posted by claymore1977 on Wednesday, December 6, 2006 12:45 PM

Sorry 'bout that.  Was re-photoshopping all the imagery... probably why it went offline for a bit. 

Changes:

  • Images are back up and enhanced to cause less eye trauma.
  • Added Prev, TOC and Next buttons.

 

 

Dave Loman

My site: The Rusty Spike

"It's a penny for your thoughts, but you have to put your 2 cents in.... hey, someone's making a penny!"

  • Member since
    September 2006
  • 170 posts
Posted by ft-fan on Wednesday, December 6, 2006 12:51 PM

Wow, the images look great, with the white and shading around them they appear to jump off the page. Wow!! [wow] Nice touch. Like the buttons, too.

Still hoping to get to Section 2 this afternoon.

FT 

Moderator
  • Member since
    June 2003
  • From: Northeast OH
  • 17,240 posts
Posted by tstage on Wednesday, December 6, 2006 1:15 PM

David,

I haven't had a chance to look over Section 2 yet, but I LIKE the addition of the shaded schematic blocks.  Nice touch! Smile [:)]Thumbs Up [tup]

Tom 

https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling

Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.

  • Member since
    December 2006
  • From: Lancaster, PA
  • 512 posts
Posted by claymore1977 on Friday, December 8, 2006 1:40 PM

Okay folks, just finished up the last part of section 2 which covers diodes and LEDs.  As for what is next in line, I will leave that up to demand.  If there is a topic that hasn't been covered that you would like to see covered, please post it or email it to me!

Along those lines, thank you to all who have given me feed back, technical and non.  For those who are true novices at electrical work, how easy was this for you to understand?  Any and all comments/ideas for improvements are welcomed!  Thanks again

-Dave L

Dave Loman

My site: The Rusty Spike

"It's a penny for your thoughts, but you have to put your 2 cents in.... hey, someone's making a penny!"

  • Member since
    December 2006
  • From: Lancaster, PA
  • 512 posts
Basic Electricity Tutorial
Posted by claymore1977 on Monday, December 18, 2006 1:57 PM

Just want to say that many errors have been corrected and lots of abiguity resolved thanks to some reader feedback!  Most all of the graphics are reworked and a Legend and Equation Quick Reference have been added.

However, I am still needing a direction to go in for the next section.  Feedback welcomed as always!

Dave Loman

My site: The Rusty Spike

"It's a penny for your thoughts, but you have to put your 2 cents in.... hey, someone's making a penny!"

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Users Online

There are no community member online

Search the Community

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Model Railroader Newsletter See all
Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter and get model railroad news in your inbox!