Modular Electronics Learning project

Copyright © 2016 - 2025, Tony R. Kuphaldt

The Modular Electronics Learning (ModEL) project represents the culmination of over two decades of professional instruction in the field of industrial electricity and electronics. It is substantially different from earlier publications such as Lessons In Electric Circuits in multiple ways.

First, the tutorials seek to explain as much as possible about electric and electronic circuits from first principles such as physical Conservation Laws. Second, each complete module contains multiple tutorials approaching the topic from different perspectives and levels of complexity (e.g. Introduction, Case Tutorial, Simplified Tutorial, Full Tutorial). The Tutorial chapters strive to apply fundamental concepts and problem-solving strategies at every opportunity so that readers emerge with a strong conceptual foundation. Third, some modules additionally contain Historical References and/or Animations chapters providing further exposition and context. Fourth, each modules contains question sets, projects, and experiments in order to be a comprehensive learning tool. These application questions specifically address qualitative, quantitative, and diagnostic modes of thought in order to encourage well-rounded development of the reader's understanding. Finally, these modules showcase the use of computer-based simulation tools, especially SPICE and text-based computer programming languages such as C, C++, and Python, as an aid to exploration of circuits and their underlying principles.

Similar to the Socratic Electronics project, these learning modules are expressly designed to be used within an instructional modality that is both ``inverted'' (students learning independently through reading prior to meeting with the instructor) and ``Socratic'' (the instructor challenging students to reason through all concepts and problems via dialogue). Appendices contained in each and every module outline problem-solving strategies and the instructional philosophy informing the design and application of the modules.

These documents and all related files are copyrighted works, but licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Public License. A copy of this license is found in the last Appendix of every learning module. Alternatively, you may visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ or send a letter to Creative Commons: 171 Second Street, Suite 300, San Francisco, California, 94105, USA. The terms and conditions of this license allow for free copying, distribution, and/or modification of all licensed works by the general public.

Live courses

The following courses based on ModEL learning modules are designed for use at Lewis-Clark State College in Lewiston, Idaho. They are designed to fit in a sequence of four semesters, each semester being 15 weeks in length. Total semester-credit count is less than 60 credits, allowing room for general education and/or elective courses. Theory courses are calculated on the basis of 1 contact hour per week, per semester-credit. Experiment courses are calculated on the basis of 3 contact hours per week, per semester-credit. Project courses are calculated on the basis of 2 contact hours per week, per semester-credit.

Here is a calendar for the active semester at LC State College, as a web page: Calendar (HTML). Here is the same calendar, as a comma-separated variable file viewable and editable in a spreadsheet: Calendar (CSV).

Here is a daily schedule for Monday-Friday EET program classes at LC State College, as a PDF document: Daily Schedule (PDF).

Second-semester practice Comprehensive exam similar in scope to entrance exams given by employers of electronics technicians. Students completing the IETTI-105 (semester 2 projects) course take different versions of this same exam in order to assess their knowledge and skill gained over the first year of studies in Electronics. Being a practice exam, all answers are provided in the last pages of this PDF document.

Third-semester practice Comprehensive exam covering topics from IETTI-101, IETTI-104, and IETTI-220 Theory courses.

Fourth-semester practice Comprehensive exam covering topics from IETTI-101, IETTI-104, IETTI-220, and IETTI-223 Theory courses.

Markdown guide showing how to use the Markdown markup language to write text documents, along with an image linked within that document. Markdown is highly recommended as a format for writing technical journals.

The following courses based on ModEL learning modules are designed for use at Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories for assemblers and other non-technical employees.

Section title index

A hyperlinked listing all the sections in every module may be viewed or downloaded here: List of Section Titles

This list may be helpful in searching for a particular topic among all the modules hosted on this site.

Topical learning modules

Start at the top, and work your way down. Modules in the same row may be completed in any order. Ideally, you should complete each whole row before proceeding down to the next row. Any module titles appearing in italic font are either incomplete (if hyperlinked) or are not yet created (if inaccessible).

Within each module, try to define all the terms and answer all the questions listed in the Introduction chapter after reading the Tutorial chapter(s).

Mathematics Fundamentals

Electrical Fundamentals

Network Analysis

Magnetic and Electric Fields

Sensors and Actuators

AC Fundamentals

Electric Power Systems

Semiconductor Fundamentals

Vacuum Device Fundamentals

Switching Circuits

Amplification

Communication

Programmable Systems

Measurement and control systems

Career-related information

Career Guide

Teaching-related information

A ``slideshow'' style document describing inverted (flipped) instruction and its advantages over lecture-based instruction: Inverted Instruction for Technical Subjects

A ``slideshow'' style document describing mastery assessment of learning, presented to fellow faculty at Bellingham Technical College in 2013 during an in-service professional development event: Mastery Testing

A document outlining my philosophy of technical education as well as detailed tips on how to design a strong technical curriculum: Principles of Robust Technical Education

Software applications

SPICE version 2G6 is a legacy, ``freeware'' program used to analyze DC and AC circuits. Using SPICE is similar to writing a computer program. The first step is to create a plain-text file containing instructions for SPICE to follow, and then you invoke the SPICE program to process that plain-text file. SPICE then generates readable output with an analysis of the circuit, either in plain-text form of in a format suitable to graphic display using other software applications. While this may seem primitive in comparison to ``WYSIWYG'' style circuit analysis programs where you draw a picture of the circuit to be analyzed, using SPICE to analyze simple circuits is far from complicated, and becoming familiar with writing SPICE code is an excellent introduction to text-based computer programming, which any serious student of electronics needs to learn anyway.

Here is SPICE2G6 compiled for Microsoft Windows XP, to be run in the command-line window (cmd). This is a precompiled set of executables and dynamically-linked libraries: spice-2g6-winxp.zip

Here is SPICE2G6 for the Linux operating system. After unpacking this ``tar'' source code archive file, you will need to compile it to create an executable: spice2g6.tar

A more modern version of SPICE is NGSPICE, the particular version hosted here is version 26. This is a derivative project based on SPICE version 3, copyright (1996) by the Regents of the University of California under a modified BSD license. A user's manual complete with all copyright notices and licenses is avaiable here: Ngspice version 31 manual (PDF)

Here is NGSPICE version 31 compiled for Microsoft Windows. It comes with an interactive terminal and graphic display. Simply extract all files contained in the ``zip'' archive: ngspice-31.zip. NGSPICE also supports legacy ``batch'' mode operation as well, where you invoke NGSPICE at the command prompt (cmd) and receive text output.

Here is NGSPICE version 26 for the Linux operating system. After unpacking the source code archive file, you will need to compile it to create an executable: ngspice-26.tar.

Here is a simple terminal-based program called TSHOOT useful for practicing circuit troubleshooting. After unpacking the source code archive file, you will need to compile it to create an executable: tshoot_2v0.tar. This program runs well under Microsoft's ``Windows Subsystem for Linux'' (WSL), and natively under Apple OS X or Linux. Instructions on setting up WSL for a Microsoft Windows operating system may be found on Microsoft's website. Instructions on how to set up TSHOOT may be found here. Schematic diagrams for each of the simulated circuits may be downloaded here in PDF form:

• Circuit 000 -- Simple one-resistor circuit with DC voltage source
• Circuit 001 -- Three-resistor voltage divider with DC voltage source
• Circuit 002 -- Three-resistor current divider with DC current source
• Circuit 003 -- Four-wire resistive sensor with DC current source
• Circuit 004 -- Two-load loaded voltage divider with DC voltage source
• Circuit 005 -- Adjustable Wheatstone bridge with DC voltage source
• Circuit 006 -- 4-20 mA loop-powered transmitter circuit
• Circuit 007 -- 4-20 mA externally-powered transmitter circuit
• Circuit 008 -- Relay-controlled motor circuit
• Circuit 009 -- Combination logic controlled motor circuit
• Circuit 010 -- Passive band-pass filter circuit

PCB layouts

Listed below are printed circuit board layout files (some with PDF-format schematic diagrams) useful for student projects and general labwork. All PCB files are source files created using the gEDA Project's ``PCB'' circuit board editing software unless otherwise noted, from which you may export Gerber files for your own board production.

• Circuit breaker for miniature power grid system using a latching electromechanical relay -- PCB layout -- Schematic PDF
• Overcurrent relay/interruptor PCB for battery-based demonstration power grid system with definite-time overcurrent protection and MOSFET current interruption, created on KiCad version 6 and re-saved in KiCad version 7 -- KiCad project file -- KiCad schematic file -- KiCad PCB file
• Fuse holder (for six AGC-style glass cartridge fuses) -- PCB layout
• SMA board (two SMA-style RF connectors with small prototyping area) -- PCB layout
• EPROM experiment board ``half-project'' (for 27C256 EPROM) -- PCB layout
• LED-based oscilloscope ``half-project'' (serves to emulate a cathode-ray tube driven by two analog voltage signals, with vertical amplification and horizontal sweep circuitry left for students to design and build in the prototyping areas) -- PCB layout -- Schematic PDF
• Serial telemetry board ``half-project'' (uses a Texas Instruments MSP430G2553 microcontroller and an ICL3232 UART serial transceiver to send and/or receive serial data via a 9-pin D-subminiature connector) -- PCB layout
• Four-octave ``mallet-organ'' music synthesizer uses 74HC163 counters, 74HC05 open-drain inverters, MCP600x opamps, and a single crystal oscillator IC to generate four octaves of chromatic tones with accurate (A4 = 440 Hz) pitch and polyphonic playing capability, as well as attack/sustain/decay envelope control with remote foot-switch control ; mallets made of brass-wire cloth over foam pipe insulation at the end of 1/4-inch stainless steel tubes 12 inches long, accepting of standard banana-plug patch cables -- Tone/ASR PCB layout -- Filter/mixer PCB layout -- Schematic diagram -- C program for calculating frequency divider and filter parameters -- Photo of tone/ASR and filter/mixer double-PCB assembly -- Photo of prototype instrument on stand with early prototype version of mallets -- Photo of prototype instrument underside -- Close-up photo of prototype instrument underside -- Full view of mallet construction -- Close-up of mallet head

Student projects

Any robust technical education curriculum should provide opportunities for students to build realistic projects. The following pages show examples of completed student projects as well as future project ideas.

Future project ideas

Completed projects

Source files

This is the ``archive'' file for the Modular Electronics Learning project, in ``tar'' format which is a popular archival format on Unix-based operating systems: model.tar

Download this file to your computer, place it in a directory suitable for storing all the source files of this project, and then run the following command to extract all the individual files from this archive:

tar xvf model.tar

Every single file that is part of this project is covered by the Creative Commons ``Attribution'' license, which gives you freedom to pick specific files and incorporate them into your own project(s) if desired. All you must do is attribute original authorship of these files to myself.

An alternative to downloading this (very large!) archive file is to simply download individual source files for specific learning modules. Most of the files for this project are hosted in one directory, which means, for example, all you need to do to download the source LaTeX code for the text and formatting of the Series-Parallel Circuits learning module (mod_seriesparallel) is to replace the URL in your web browser ending in mod_seriesparallel.pdf with mod_seriesparallel.latex.