Produce Your Own Printed Circuit Board

By Tj Byers
Published on November 1, 1983
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The parts layout shows you were to put the descriptive pieces from the parts listed in the Image Gallery onto your printed circuit board.
The parts layout shows you were to put the descriptive pieces from the parts listed in the Image Gallery onto your printed circuit board.
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This schematic gives the layout for a simple circuit that monitors your AC (alternating current) power and alerts you if it's interrupted.
This schematic gives the layout for a simple circuit that monitors your AC (alternating current) power and alerts you if it's interrupted.
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To make the power-failure alarm, you'll need the parts from this list.
To make the power-failure alarm, you'll need the parts from this list.
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To make a printed circuit board, you'll need the Radio Shack kit, a drill and a circuit layout.
To make a printed circuit board, you'll need the Radio Shack kit, a drill and a circuit layout.
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Start by cleaning the protective coating from the copper side of the board.
Start by cleaning the protective coating from the copper side of the board.
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Then mark the circuit path with the special pen.
Then mark the circuit path with the special pen.
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Place the marked board in the etchant solution and agitate it frequently.
Place the marked board in the etchant solution and agitate it frequently.
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Clean off the board with water and follow with the cleansing mixture. Be sure to wipe off the ink left on the circuit path.
Clean off the board with water and follow with the cleansing mixture. Be sure to wipe off the ink left on the circuit path.

Though electronics can seem pretty complex to the
uninitiated, learning to use simple circuits (or to copy
more complicated ones) really isn’t difficult. Moreover,
that knowledge can help you save a tremendous amount of
time and money while allowing you to accomplish tasks that
might otherwise be impossible. That’s why you’ll find, in

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