Welcome to Electronics in
Meccano On-Line!
Electronics in Meccano is a four-page magazine which I published quarterly from 1998 to 2001 to encourage Meccano modellers to use electronics in their models. This website is the on-line version of the magazine and it includes all of the published articles, plus several other features such as Interactive Wizards and datasheets.
The circuits described in the articles range from simple wiring, such as reversing switches for motors, through to more complex circuits for controlling lamps and motors.
In all the articles, I have tried to place the emphasis on the use and construction of the circuits, rather than explaining in detail exactly how they work. Of course, in some cases it essential to learn some of the technical terms and do some simple math's, but this is kept to a minimum by the provision of examples of the most likely situations you will come across.
As in the printed version of Electronics in Meccano, the contents of this web-site are split into sections. There are also some special sections which exploit the interactive nature of the Web...
All about... |
Each of these short articles gives the essential details you need to know about a particular component. For example, All about resistors tells you about Ohm's Law and how to identify resistors by their colour code |
Model Study | This section shows how electronics has been used in a Meccano model |
Practical Matters | Find out how to build circuits with articles on soldering, breadboard, stripboard etc. |
What's That? | Answers to all those niggling questions! |
Component Calculator Wizards | Get the wizard to do the
awkward math's for you! Each wizard calculates the
components you require for a circuit by asking you simple
questions. Because VBScript and Dynamic HTML is used, you will need Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 or above to use this section |
The EiM Index | Find what you're looking for quickly with the on-line index |
At the end of each issue there is a Shopping List giving details of the parts needed to build the circuits. Prices and order codes given are taken from the Maplin catalogue, the best place in the UK for the electronics hobbyist to obtain components.
Some tips to get you started
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The Issues tab gives the contents of each issue of Electronics in Meccano. You can click on a purple arrow to go directly to the article you are interested in. |
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When you need to print out a copy of an issue, you will find there is a Printer Page which includes the most important diagrams from the issue you are reading on one sheet of paper. This page is accessed by clicking the Printer Page tab at the bottom of the menu. |
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The index lets you find what you are looking for quickly. All articles under the section headings described above are shown in bold type, and technical terms are included as well, shown in italic type. You can click on the Index tab at any time. |
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You can keep all the wizards on your computer for quick reference by downloading all the files needed in one go using wizards.zip on the Wizards menu. |
If you have any comments or suggestions about Electronics in Meccano or the website, please e-mail me at timsurtell@eleinmec.freeserve.co.uk or fill out the on-line form. Details of the printed edition can be obtained by clicking here.
Tim Surtell
July 2001
About the website...
For anyone into HTML, here's how I produced this website:
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Electronics in
Meccano is edited by Tim Surtell.
Electronics in Meccano On-Line is designed and edited by
Tim Surtell.
No responsibility is taken by the editor or individual authors for damage, loss, or injury caused as a result of constructing and/or using the circuits described in Electronics in Meccano and Electronics in Meccano On-Line.
© 1998 - 2001 Tim Surtell
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