franklinb
Newbie level 3
I've just decided to take up circuit design as a hobby, a nice complement to software programming/engineering.
I've figured quite a bit out, but right now I'm stumped. I'm using a 9v battery which is connected to a tiny PCB with 5 columns of solder. The outermost 2 have pins attached to them, but the pins attach to nothing. Then, the inner three are connected to a 5v regulator such that:
I use the two wires that come from the regulator to power the circuit. This layout seems odd to me, why might it be set up like that? It seems like it just eliminates my opportunity to ground anything.
I also have a few SN74HCT08N gates (AND). I've looked at the datasheet and it seems like I should connect two wires to the positive bus (two inputs) at the two upper-left two pins on the gate (the notch is facing upwards). Then the next one down should connect to the LED which should then connect to the negative bus.
However, as long as one input pin is connected (it's AND, so both should be required), it lights up. Not only on pin 3, but almost any other pin, but the LED's brightness varies depending on the pin.
Am I using too much voltage for the gate, or is there something big I'm not understanding?
Thanks!
I've figured quite a bit out, but right now I'm stumped. I'm using a 9v battery which is connected to a tiny PCB with 5 columns of solder. The outermost 2 have pins attached to them, but the pins attach to nothing. Then, the inner three are connected to a 5v regulator such that:
- The black wire from the battery connects to the middle pin on the regulator
- The red wire from the battery connects to the left wire on the regulator (front view)
- The regulator has a red wire protruding from the right pin
- The regulator has a black wire protruding from the middle pin
I use the two wires that come from the regulator to power the circuit. This layout seems odd to me, why might it be set up like that? It seems like it just eliminates my opportunity to ground anything.
I also have a few SN74HCT08N gates (AND). I've looked at the datasheet and it seems like I should connect two wires to the positive bus (two inputs) at the two upper-left two pins on the gate (the notch is facing upwards). Then the next one down should connect to the LED which should then connect to the negative bus.
However, as long as one input pin is connected (it's AND, so both should be required), it lights up. Not only on pin 3, but almost any other pin, but the LED's brightness varies depending on the pin.
Am I using too much voltage for the gate, or is there something big I'm not understanding?
Thanks!