Weekly updates

Weekly Update Emails #

Week #7: Sunday, 10/18/26 #

Now that you’re familiar with the basics of transistor circuits, we’re moving on to using transistors for bi-directional motor control in combination with your KB2040 microcontroller and a very important circuit called the H-bridge.

Things due in Week 7:

  • Bring your Project 2 work to class on Monday, Oct. 19. We’ll devote some class time in table groups to share what you have working and also to provide troubleshooting and finishing-up support. Canvas documentation for Project 2 is due on Monday night, 11:59pm.
  • If you have not completed Challenge #6 the KB2040 challenges, you should finish that this week and upload a video to Canvas. Ask an LA, instructor, or classmate for help if needed.

Learning goal for Week 7

  • Explain how an H-bridge motor controller works.

Labs this week

  • The main activity for lab this week is to wire and test a breadboard H-bridge circuit, which we will begin in class on Wednesday, 10/21 and which is the focus of Project 3 (a PCB design project).

Course website (andnowforelectronics.com) pages to study in Week 7:

Week #5: Sunday, 10/4/2026 #

Thanks for your hard work learning KiCad for Project 1. Looking forward to seeing you put those PCBs in action for later projects.

Course housekeeping:

  • In labs, one focus has been soldering pins onto your KB2040 microcontroller. Please have your pins soldered onto your KB2040 by class time on Wed., Oct. 7. Any Nolop staff member can help you with soldering any time Nolop is open; just ask!
  • In class on Wed., Oct. 7, you will need your KB2040 microcontroller, a laptop, and a data-sync cable that connects your KB2040 USB-C port with your laptop. We have a few extra USB-C data-sync cables, but if you have one of your own, please bring it. Make sure it can transfer data, not just power. Project 2 is now up on the Projects page

Labs in Week 5

  • Labs this week will focus on BJT and MOSFET circuits and planning for Project 2.

Things due in Week 5:

  • Now that you have motor hubs, the next step in preparing to use your motors securely is to create a simple motor bracket. Due Friday night, with details here.
  • See note about about needing a pin-soldered KB2040, laptop, and data cable for class time on Oct. 7

Learning goals for Week 5:

  • Explain how to use both BJT and MOSFET transistors to control high power with low power.
  • Build circuits incorporating motors.
  • Gain basic familiarity with microcontroller hardware.
  • Learn to set up the KB2040 microcontroller to run very simple Python code.

Course website (andnowforelectronics.com) pages to study in Week 5:

  • Low power/high power (transistors) (includes mini-lecture videos on BJT and MOSFET transistors)
  • Microcontrollers
  • KB2040 hardware

Suggested reading for Week 5:

  • Section 4.3 “Transistors” and Section 13.5 “Interfacing with Microcontrollers” in Practical Electronics for Inventors (Scherz & Monk) (available here from Tisch Library online)
  • Adafruit’s Guide to CircuitPython for KB2040: (https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-kb2040/circuitpython)

ME 30 Weekly Update #4: Sunday, 9/27/26 #

Hope you are staying dry this weekend! This week is a big transition week in ME 30. In Phase 1 of the course, we focused on fundamental circuits concepts, breadboarding skills, and introductory PCB design. In class on Monday, I’ll talk about the physical construction of printed circuit boards and how to order yours from OSH Park. Then I’ll provide time for KiCad questions and troubleshooting. We’ll also review for short quiz #2 (on voltage regulators and very basic capacitor ideas).

Starting on Wednesday, 9/30, we’ll move on to Phase 2 of the course, which introduces the components and circuits used to control motors.

Things due in Week 4:

  • Due on Canvas by Wed., 9/30, 11:59pm: Project 1 PCB. On the Project 1 Canvas assignment, you’ll see instructions to fill out a Project 1 reflection, upload photos showing multimeter readings, and upload screenshots of your KiCad schematic diagram, PCB layout, and order confirmation. OSH Park charges by the square inch, and you should be able to keep costs to about $10. However, if this cost is a hardship, please reach out to me or the ME department administrator Courtney Russo, and we will cover it, no questions asked.
  • Short quiz #2 in class on Wed., 9/30, on voltage regulator wiring and very basics of capacitors. If you understand the Project 1 circuit, you will be in good shape for Quiz #2.

Learning goals for Week 4:

  • Improve your skills at creating schematics and laying out PCBs on Kicad
  • Explain how to use transistors to control high power with low power.
  • Begin to build circuits incorporating motors.
  • Learn to solder (the focus of labs this week!)

Course website (andnowforelectronics.com) notes you should study in Week 4:

Suggested reading for Week 4:

  • “Section 4.3: Transistors” of Scherz & Monk textbook (available here from Tisch Library online)

Office hours:

  • These should really be called “times when we sit and wait for you to come do KiCad or build circuits with us.” Note that in addition to Kristen, Brandon, and Zosia’s office hours, TAs have office hours as well. http://andnowforelectronics.com/logistics/syllabus/

Week #3: Sunday, 9/20/26 #

This is the week that Project 1 work clicks into place, with the introduction of a (free!) circuit board design software called KiCad. We’ll use KiCad to translate your temporary breadboard circuits into permanent circuit boards. We ask that you have it installed on your computer by class time on Wednesday, 9/23. If you’re having trouble installing it, please reach out to an LA or instructor.

We’ll also further explore capacitors in class on MOnday.

Things due in Week 3:

  • Due Mon., 9/21, 11:59pm, as a photo upload to HW 1 on Canvas: Prototype breadboard for Project 1 - A photo of your 3.3V and 5V voltage regulators, with a multimeter showing voltages
  • Due Fri., 9/25, 11:59pm, as a photo and video upload to HW2 on Canvas: Motor Hub design - A removable hub for your DC motor that has a hole and groove, and doesn’t slip off the shaft when maximum torque is applied. Plan wisely - be aware that ~110 students are making this project, so plan ahead if you need to use specific machines

Learning goals for Week 3:

  • Deepen your understanding of voltage, current, resistance, and power, as they relate to your Project 1 Breadboard Power Supply circuit (featuring voltage regulators)
  • Build a capacitor charge/discharge circuit and choose resistance and capacitance values to increase its time constant
  • Take a breadboard prototype and turn it into a PCB design using KiCad software

Course website pages to study in Week 3:

  • Project 1 description
  • Motor hub description
  • Capacitors
  • Voltage regulation
  • PCB design
  • KiCad demo videos

Optional reading for Week 3:

From the Scherz & Monk textbook (available here from Tisch Library online):

  • Section 3.6 “Capacitors”
  • Section 7.2 “Constructing Circuits” (featuring info on printed circuit board design and construction)

Week #2: Sunday, 9/13/26 #

Course housekeeping:

  • Remember to bring your pink box to every class and lab session.
  • Check the Calendar page of the course website to see what we’re doing in class each day and what to study and do every week.
  • Labs begin this week in Nolop on Wednesday, Sep. 16. Labs are 1 hour. Bring your pink box.

Things due in Week 2:

  • Just the in-class activity “Exit Ticket” uploads to Canvas

Learning goals for Week 2:

  • Describe the difference between a voltage divider circuit and a voltage regulator circuit.
  • Deepen your understanding of voltage, current, resistance, and power, as they relate to voltage divider and voltage regulator circuits.
  • Measure voltage, current, resistance, and continuity with a multimeter.

What to read and study in Week 2:

  • Website notes on concepts: Resistors, Series vs. parallel, Voltage regulation, Capacitors (includes mini-lecture video)
  • Website notes on skills: Multimeters, Demo video of building a voltage regulator
  • Website description of Project 1 and motor hub HW
  • Resistors section (3.5) of Scherz & Monk textbook (which is optional, and available here from Tisch Library online)
  • Office hours

Office hours:

  • Office hours should really be called “times when we sit and wait for you to come build circuits with us”
  • Kristen’s office hours this week are Fri. 2-4pm in Nolop
  • Brandon’s office hours are whenever he’s in Nolop, M-F, 9a-5p
  • There are TA office hours as well - check the website link above

Week 1: Tuesday, 9/8/26 #

We are excited to start ME 30 with you! Welcome to the course. We’ll send an organizational email to the ME 30 class every Sunday evening. But this first week, we’re doing it on Tuesday.

Course website:

The course website is http://andnowforelectronics.com/. It serves as the required text for the course. It includes:

  1. The syllabus, which lists office hour info
  2. The calendar of topics, suggested readings, and project work due for each class meeting
  3. Notes and brief videos on key topics
  4. Kit component list and data sheets for all components

Electronics kit:

You’ll receive your electronics kit in the first class on 9/9. Bring it back for EVERY class and lab. You’ll return it at the end of the semester.

Things due in Week 1:

Your first Canvas deliverable: Upload a video introducing yourself and demonstrating your LED-pushbutton circuit from Class #1.

Learning goals for Week 1:

  • Build a working circuit prototype on a breadboard
  • Explain how current flows from a wall outlet through a simple circuit
  • Start to make sense of voltage, current, resistance, and power, as they relate to a simple LED circuit

Labs:

No required labs this first week. They will begin on Wednesday, 9/16. However, there will be drop-in help sessions in NOLOP during Week 1. See below.

Where to get hands-on help if Class #1 is a bit overwhelming:

ME 30 Learning Assistants will be standing by in NOLOP during the following times in the first week of class. Drop in to get help building the Class #1 circuit or figuring out what all the components are in your kit.

  • Wed., 9/9, 3:00-8:30pm
  • Thu., 9/10, 3:00-8:30pm
  • Fri., 9/11, 10am-12pm, 2:30-4:30pm

Resources for your learning for Week 1:

In ME 30 we’re aiming to provide a menu of resources to support your electronics learning. We hope you’ll explore and use what works best for you. Some of you may start with the videos we’ve embedded in the website pages; some of you may start by reading a textbook section; some of you may focus on the written website notes; and others may start with broad questions in office hours. Let us know if you’d like help developing a strategy for navigating the different options.

For Week 1, these are the resources we’re suggesting:

NOTE: Many of the website notes pages include mini-lecture videos.