********************************************************************** B.E.C. Networks Limited Electronic Calculator 1.5.1 - README ********************************************************************** DISCLAIMER: ----------- Electronic Calculator, accompanying support software and literature (known here in as the 'product') is provided 'as is', and is not guaranteed to be accurate or correct in any way. B.E.C. Networks accept no responsibility to the use of this product, or to the accuracy of any of the information provided by it. This product is not to be distributed in any way, without prior consent from B.E.C. Networks Limited. For more details on this, or product details: visit http://www.becnetworks.co.uk or email: sw@becnetworks.co.uk) (c) Copyright 2002 - B.E.C. Networks Limited - All Rights Reserved ********************************************************************** README ------ Installation and Files ---------------------- Electronic Calculator is provided by the following files: ELECCALC.EXE Main application executable BORLNDMM.DLL Support DLL file CC3250MT.DLL Support DLL file README.TXT This file All of these files can be put into the same directory, such as: C:\Program Files\B.E.C. Networks\Elec Calc or the .DLL files can be put into a common directory, which is included in the PATH. Then simply place a shortcut the ELECCALC.EXE either on your desktop or in your start folder, for easy access. See http://www.becnetworks.co.uk for more information. Using Electronic Calculator --------------------------- Electronic Calculator can be used to: - calculate resistor/capacitor colours and values - convert between resistors and capacitor units - calculator series & parallel connections for resistors & capacitors - work with ohms law - create data files (e.g. for resistor info or any textual information) - calculate LED resistor calculations - calculate frequency conversions - view schematic symbols General ------- All of the input fields within Electronic Calculator have a small button next to them, which allows the field to be cleared. Many of the calculations will provide answers based on input figures. Very often you will repeat these calculations with different figures. To quickly clear the fields for the next calculation, use this button (it basically saves you from highlighting the entire field and pressing [del]). The majority of the input/output fields and buttons have hints associated with them. If you hover the mouse over them, you will see an explanation of what it is used for. Resistors --------- Calculate colour band values: To calculate the resistance value of 3, 4 or 5 colour band resistors, use the "Resistor Bands" tab. Select the relevant colours for each of the bands, and the value will be given to you in ohms, K ohms and M ohms. If the 4th band is given, you will see the tolerance value of the resistor as a percentage, and as a real value, in ohms. If the 5th band colour is given, you will also get the temperature coefficient of the resistor. An image of a resistor will also be shown, representing the colours chosen. To find the colour bands for a particular value: If you are looking for a particular resistor (by resistance), and want to know what colour bands to look for, use the "Resistor Bands" tab. Click on the "Clear All" button in the "Resistor Value" section, then input the resistor you are looking for. This can either be in ohms, K ohms, or M ohms - ensure that you put the value in the correct field. Then click "Calculate Nearest Match". This will show you in the drop down boxes, and on the resistor image, the colour bands you should be looking for (note that this will show the three colour bands relevant for the nearest value - it will not consider the tolerance or temperature coefficient). Because not all resistor values are valid (e.g. it is not possible to represent a 10.298 ohm resistor using colour bands), the nearest colour bands are shown. If you then want to see the real resistor value of those colour bands, press the "Confirm Colour Bands" button. This will then show you the real value for those bands - the same as if you had picked them yourself from the drop down boxes. Creating resistor data sheets: Once resistor colour bands have been selected, it is possible to create a data sheet which contains the resistor value. This is useful if you are building up a list of resistors associated with a particular circuit. New values are then appended to the end of the file, or a new one is created. The information put into the file will look similar to this: Resistor: Bands - Red,Orange,Brown,Green,Blue - Value: 230 ohms (+/- 0.5 % or 1.15 ohms) Resistor: Bands - Violet,Yellow,Violet,No band,No band - Value: 740000000 ohms (+/- 20 % or 148000000 ohms) The tag shown above (Resistor) can be changed if you want. Do so in the "Save" section, then click on the "Save Values" to create/append the data file. If the file you chose already exists, you will be prompted to append to the file. Resistors in parallel: To calculate the real resistance of 2 resistors in parallel, or to find the resistor value required to lower a resistor (by wiring it in parallel), use the "Calculations" tab. Useful for finding the dropper resistor value for a resistor gone high. In the "Resistor Calculations in Parallel" section, there are 3 input fields. Any 2 values can be given, to calculate the third. Ensure that you use constant units (i.e. ohms, K ohms or M ohms) in all fields. Once 2 values have been entered press the "Calculate" button. Note: to calculate resistors in series, simply add the resistor values together. LED resistors: It is possible to calculate the dropper resistor required to wire in series with LED's. See the LED section later on for more details. Capacitors ---------- Calculate colour values for capacitors: If you are working out the value of a capacitor which uses colour legends, then this can be achieved in the same way, and using the same screen as for resistor colour bands. Do this in the "Resistor Bands" section. With capacitors, there are only 3 colours. Select these in the first 3 drop down boxes, and the capacitance value will be given in the ohms box - with the value shown in uF. Unit conversions: Electronic Calculator will convert between pF (pico farads), nF (nano farads), uF (micro farads) and mF (milli farads). To do this, use the "Capacitor Units & Values" tab. In the "Scale Comparisons" section, there are 4 fields. Put in the value of the capacitor you with to convert, in the correct field, and then click on "Calculate". The other 3 fields will show the converted values. You can then clear the fields by clicking on the small button by the input field (see the General section of this README for more information), or by clicking on "Clear Ticked Units". Note that this will clear all of the fields with corresponding ticks. Calculate capacitor values based on capacitor code: Some capacitors will use a number/letter code to represent its value (e.g. 104k). To calculate the value, use the "Capacitor Units & Values" tab. Select the numbers and letter on the capacitor from the drop down boxes in the "Capacitor Values" section. The capacitor value will then be shown in pF. To see what this value is in other units, click on "Scale Compare", and the value will be put into the "Scale Comparisons" fields above, showing you the value in all units (pF, nF, uF and mF). Capacitors in series: To calculate the real capacitance of 2 capacitors in series, or to find the capacitor value required to lower a capacitor (by wiring it in series), use the "Calculations" tab. In the "Capacitor Calculations in Series" section, there are 3 input fields. Any 2 values can be given, to calculate the third. Ensure that you use constant units (i.e. pF, nF, uF or mF) in all fields. Once 2 values have been entered, press the "Calculate" button. Note: to calculate capacitors in parallel, simply add the capacitor values together. Ohms Law -------- To calculate ohms law values (V=IR) in conjunction with W=IV, use the "Calculations" tab. In the "Power Calculations" section, there are four input fields. Any 2 values can be given to calculate the remaining 2. Ensure that correct units are used: Volts for voltage, amps for current, ohms for resistance and watts for watts Once 2 values have been input, click "Calculate" to find out the remaining 2. Frequencies ----------- To convert between megacycles, kilocycles and meters, use the "Frequencies" tab. In the "Conversions" section, there are 3 input fields. Any 2 value can be given to calculate the remaining 2. Once you have put in the value you wish to convert, click "Calculate" to convert to the remaining 2 values. LED dropper resistors --------------------- To calculate the resistor required to wire in series with an LED, based on the voltage and specification of the LED, use the "LED Resistors" tab. On this page, there are 3 input fields. All 3 are required to calculate the required resistor. Input all 3 values, ensuring the correct unit values: V source source voltage in volts V forward forward voltage of the LED in volts I forward forward current rating of the LED in mA Click on the "Calculate" button to work out the value of the required dropper resistor, in ohms. Schematics ---------- Electronic Calculator contains a number of pages of schematic symbols that can be viewed, from the "Schematics" tab. Select the relevant type of schematic image that you wish to view from those available, by clicking on the relevant button. Note that any number of them can be opened at the same time, as they are opened in separate windows. These can be left open, whilst you carry on working with the rest of Electronic Calculator. Custom images ------------- It is possible to open up an existing image within Electronic Calculator. This is useful if you have a current image such as a circuit schematic that you wish to keep referring to, but do not want to use an external viewer. Supported image formats are Bitmap (*.BMP), JPEG (*.JPG) and Windows Metafile (*.WMF). In the "Custom Image" tab, click the "Load Image" button, and select the image you wish to open. The image will appear in the window, with scroll bars if necessary. Memo text --------- It is possible to maintain text files within Electronic Calculator. This will allow you to provide similar functionality to the Windows utility NOTEPAD, but within Electronic Calculator. Select the "Memo Notes" tab. From here, you can open an existing text file, or begin writing and save the file. This facility is useful if you are maintaining resistor value data files (as described in the "Creating resistor data sheets" section above). You can open existing data files, and modify accordingly. This will support any standard ASCII file, regardless of the file extension. Note that if you have modified the file, you will be prompted that it is not saved when closing Electronic Calculator down. ********************************************************************** (c) Copyright 2002 - B.E.C. Networks Limited - All Rights Reserved **********************************************************************