darlington array question

hello all... Im sort of new to electronics with a very knowledge. I can read schematics and assemble basic circuits.. Im just now truly learning transistors, I have a fair understanding of resistors and was just taught a lesson in leds in my first post here.. I like to reuse scavenged electronics from old broken things I find.. I recently found a darlington array chip and after searching the net for a datasheet, I learned that it is essentially just 7 transistors in on piece... Being a newbie and wanting to learn as much as I can I was hoping someone might be able to suggest some newbie project I can do to help me understand how to use this and learn how to identify the need for it in future projects of my own..

 

Its uln2003a.. I googled a datasheet and it said its a 7 pair darlington array... im not quite up to speed on transistors and am looking for a simple project to understand the use of this.

 

Did you want a project to enable you to use the ULN2003 or did you want a break down of what a Darlington is?
A typical use of the arrays is to transition from TTL to say higher current 24vdc operating devices.
Or stepper motor driver etc.
Max.

 

I have a problem learning from technical explanations and ive read the datasheet and other explanations on the web.. The only way I can learn is from hands-on doing.. So what I really want is a small basic project using one so I can learn from it as I build it... I just don't want to burn it up not knowing how to use it.. I don't care if its lighting up leds, I just want to learn how it works by using it.. Ive read something like it multiplies voltage or something.. maybe something where I can meter the output to understand how it does that..

 

You could just use a switch on the input side that sets the input from a 5vdc supply and place a LED with a series resistor using say a 12vdc supply and switch the LED on/off on the related output.
http://digital-diy.com/general-electronics/101-tip-uln2003-high-power-driver.html
This shows a Micro but you would substitute that with a simple on/off switches and LEDs with suitable resistor on each darlington..
Max.

 

thank you sir.. Like I said ive never been able to learn by theory.. I can learn quickly and retain information, However I have to learn by hands-on and have things explained in dummy terms..