CHAOTIC CIRCUITS ARE EASY TO BUILD!

The chaotic circuits we are going to discuss are not complicated and require only a relatively few inexpensive components.  For people with a small amount of electronic experience, the construction of the chaotic circuits should be no problem. 

The only test equipment needed is a digital multimeter, a power supply for the operational amplifiers,  and a two-channel oscilloscope with X-Y display mode capability.  All (or at least the vast majority of) the circuits that will be discussed are “autonomous” meaning that a driving signal from a function generator is not needed.

It will be best to build the circuits on a solderless breadboard.  That makes it easy to correct wiring mistakes and to reuse the components.  Very little, if any, soldering will be required.

 

THE COMPONENTS ARE INEXPENSIVE AND READILY AVAILABLE

Most of the chaotic circuits we will discuss initially require only a few operational amplifiers, resistors, capacitors and small inductors.  Several circuits require an analog multiplier IC or a transistor. 

With the exception of the analog multiplier, each component generally costs well under a dollar.  An active electronic hobbiest likely will have most of the needed components on hand.  There are a number of sources on the internet where needed components can be obtained.  I usually buy my parts from either: 

Mouser Electronics  (www.mouser.com) 

or 

Digi-Key (www.digikey.com)

Both are highly reputable dealers with very complete inventories.