Name of Research Topic

Intro/Background

• What's your research about? Put a quick summary here for others

Sources

• Guest blogger Aaron Dunlap www.ElectroidsCo.com
• Internet Link #2
• Book Source #1
• Book Source #2

Pre-warn the readers.

Since some of electronics week will deal with Electroids kits, you might want to let readers know before-hand that they should perhaps place an order early so they will have one on-hand, and also make sure they have the tools on-hand. Probably a limited number of people will do this, so the drawing promotion (see below) should encourage the remainder to place an order during the week itself.

You might tell them:

Electronics week will be all about DIY (if it's also about TV/video games/etc, mention that) and guest blogger Aaron Dunlap, founder of The Electroids Co, will be here to help even electronics-beginners get their feet wet with DIY projects. If this will be your first time, you might want to go out to a Radio Shack or hardware store and pick up a simple soldering iron, some solder, a multi-meter, some 22 or 26 gauge hookup wire, and some electrical tape. These are the staple products for any DIYer, and are always good to have on-hand.

Also, Aaron will be giving readers expert tips on how to "mod" the Electroids kits to make unique creations besides what the instructions tell you, so you might want to check out the site now and order some of the kits to get a feel for them and so you'll have them on-hand once Electronics week starts. Aaron recommends beginners be sure to pick up the Mini LED Flashlight kit, as it's the easiest and how he'll be demonstrating simple circuit design.

blah blah

Guest post ideas

Things I (Aaron) could post about.

1. Intro post? Re-tell the Electroids story for the millionth time?
2. Soldering tip: Buy a "Third Hand" tool. Makes soldering a jillion times easier.
3. Intro to circuits via Flashlight. For newbies, run through the basics of electrical circuits as demonstrated with a flashlight. Newbs might want to have the LED flashlight Electroids kit beforehand to try this out.
4. Electroids Kit walkthroughs? Just post photo guides for assembling the kits to spec? Might be kind of redundant, as buyers get online access to instructions.
5. Electroids kit "mods" 1. Double-capacity 9v USB charger (use 2 batteries instead of 1)
6. Electroids kit "mods" 2. Teeny 9v charger. Connect just the battery snap to the USB socket via the v-regulator, wrap it all tight with electrical tape. Ends up as a half-inch little black blob.
7. Electroids kit "mods" 3. Not-as-Mini LED Flashlight. Instead of using small coin batteries for the LED flashlight, use a 9v battery. It's bigger, but cheaper and will last longer.

Contest ideas

I'd like to do some kind of contest with Electroids Co to take place during electronics week.

• Drawing: Any person who enters "dethroner" as their referral ID when checking out is entered into a drawing. Drawing takes place on the Friday (last day). Winner(s) win an iPod shuffle.
• Best DIY: Commenters submit stories or ideas for a DIY hack/mod/project. Winners get free Electroids Co products.

Since the drawing contest would be running all week, could there be a static graphic somewhere so people will be able to see it once the post about it gets buried?