Digital Systems: Basic Electronics for the Working Technician
Morgan, Dr. Kay Rand
Synopsis "Digital Systems: Basic Electronics for the Working Technician"
Modern technicians need more than mechanical skills. Appliances, HVAC equipment, garage door openers, pumps, building controls, and light commercial systems increasingly depend on electronic control boards, sensors, relays, and digital logic. Digital Systems: Basic Electronics for the Working Technician provides a practical introduction to the electrical and digital concepts technicians need to measure circuits, interpret system behavior, and troubleshoot equipment confidently. Written in clear language for technician-level learners, the book emphasizes useful field knowledge without unnecessary advanced engineering theory. Organized as a complete fifteen-week, one-semester course, the textbook covers: • Electrical safety, voltage, current, resistance, power, AC, and DC • Digital multimeter operation and safe measurement practices • Open circuits, short circuits, and ground faults • Ohm’s law and series, parallel, and series-parallel circuits • Resistors, capacitors, diodes, LEDs, transistors, relays, and transformers • Schematics, breadboards, switches, and control wiring • Binary numbers, hexadecimal, logic gates, and truth tables • Sensors, timers, counters, displays, and driver circuits • Ladder diagrams and systematic troubleshooting • Hands-on laboratories, worked examples, review problems, and a capstone project Each major concept is introduced through plain-language explanations, technician-focused examples, fully worked solutions, and “Now You Try” exercises. Laboratory activities use low-voltage breadboard circuits and browser-based simulation so students can compare calculated, simulated, and measured results safely. The book also includes a technician glossary, reliable electronics and career resources, and information about electronics-related employment pathways in Upstate New York and New York State. Digital Systems is suitable for community college programs, technical schools, apprenticeship instruction, workforce development, industrial training, and independent learners preparing for careers in electronics, manufacturing, field service, automation, controls, HVAC service, building systems, and electromechanical maintenance.
