Beginner looking to learn and looking for projects!

[Silman]

I am trying to get started in electronics and don't know how to begin. I have done some basic soldering and junk and made really basic stuff but i want to actually learn about electronics. I want to learn how a transistor amplifies current and how to design a circuit to do a task on my own. I want to do projects as a move along but the Make book on beginning electronics isn't what i am looking for, for one it is really expensive to get the pieces with it and second i also want the theory behind it not just the how to build. I hear The Art of Electronics is good but it is over 1000 pages and most of it is extremely bland! I just want a good couple hundred page book that will teach me all the basics of electronics as well as show me some neat projects to do. (also what should i buy after i master the basics?)

I also want to know how you guys got your workshops up and running. I see so many posts about people just casually saying that they took their dremmel to a sheet of plexiglass. I don't own any plexiglass and i sure as hell don't own a dremmel. I feel like there are SO many cool projects that i simply will never be able to build because it reuires a custom made wodden box, or this or that, what have you. How do most people on here think of that? Do you guys all have workshops will all these tools? How does a beginner go about not getting overwhelmed when a neat project calls for some custom made piece and thinks "well there goes that project! I will NEVER be able to make one of those! I dont have the machining experience or the tools!"?

My third question is what tools i will need to get into electronics. I have a soldering iron but i don't know what else i should get. The obvious tools are multimeter, wire cutters, wire strippers, etc. What are the best brands and where do i get these?

What do i do about components? Do you guys just have a place where you have all your components that you might need on hand and only order specific ones? For instance, should i order a bunch of transistors, capacitors, potentiometers, etc and just organize them so i have them to pull out when a project calls for it? Or should i do things on a project-by-project basis? Also how do you organize all your components? What are some good commercial organization bins and what techniques do you guys use? (preferably i want a drawer-type organization, not a bag type).

Also should i purchase and arduino? I am not new to programming (i know C, and Python) but is it the right time to purchase one as a beginner? I see all this talk about using a specific "shield" for a project and i get uncomfortable thinking that i can't do anything with just and arduino. Also i dont want to have to dismantle a project if it relies on a microcontroller but I really dont want to have to buy an arduino for each project i do! How do you reconcile this?


EDIT: I forgot to ask, what are some fun projects that aren't terrible overwhelming but not stupid-easy. I was thinking of doing somethijng fun with LEDs but it can be anything really! I am just looking for project ideas!
Sorry for so many questions but i am excited to get started

 

[bigdogguru]

Unfortunately, I'm a glutton for punishment and therefore tend to gravitate to the more "bland" texts as you put it.

However, while I personally do not own nor read any of the following texts, I have heard they are quite good for DIYs, hobbyist and beginners:

MAKE series:

Make: Electronics

Evil Genius Series:

Electronic Circuits for the Evil Genius 2/E

Evil Genius Search

Mims Series:

Electronic Formulas, Symbols & Circuits

Forrest M. Mims III Author Page



There are numerous texts available in each series, covering a wide range of topics and have a relatively low sticker price.

BigDog

 

[Silman]

Unfortunately, I'm a glutton for punishment and therefore tend to gravitate to the more "bland" texts as you put it.

However, while I personally do not own nor read any of the following texts, I have heard they are quite good for DIYs, hobbyist and beginners:

MAKE series:

Make: Electronics

Evil Genius Series:

Electronic Circuits for the Evil Genius 2/E

Evil Genius Search

Mims Series:

Electronic Formulas, Symbols & Circuits

Forrest M. Mims III Author Page



There are numerous texts available in each series, covering a wide range of topics and have a relatively low sticker price.

BigDog

Thanks for the reply! I dont mean to talk bad about the art of electronics, it is basically the bible for electronic engineers. I just find it hard going in as a beginner to understand.

I have been reading Mims introduction to electronics and am on page 50ish - wherever transistors start - and its starting to take a lot more brain power to understand, which is probably normal since transistors are ridiculously useful!

I want a book that will teach me the theory and math while also giving me projects to do. But if i cant find that i will glady just read a book on the theory and find projects, just finding the projects that are at the right level is kind of hard

 

[bigdogguru]

The Evil Genius series are packed with projects ranging from simple to moderate difficulty.


There are several online electronics tutorials which are quite good:

Bipolar Transistor Basics


Also some of the part supply houses geared towards the DIY offer various projects and tutorials:

Sparkfun Educational Department

Pololu Resources


And of course, there is always this forum, just browse the discussion threads and you will come across a project or two which sparks your interest.



BigDog

 

[Silman]

What are some good analog circuits for beginners? I was thinking before trying out digital circuits i should get analog down becuse analog was the basis for all digital electronics.

 

[bigdogguru]

You can certainly practice transistor oriented projects to go along with your studies.

All you would need is a handful of transistors, resistors and capacitors. And maybe a speaker, microphone and a few LEDs.

The following site has numerous links related to transistors and transistor projects:

Transistors


BigDog

 

[Silman]

by transistors do you mean transistor-based analog circuitry? (sorry, im really noobish)

 

[bigdogguru]

Yes, various amplifiers, transistor switches, load drivers, etc.


BigDog

 

[tpetar]

Best way for learning is to have someone near you or on "standby" for various questions what you will have in mind.

Stick together with EDABoard.com there is many electronics specialist, they will help You.

Take one good beginner book.

Buy good soldering station with good digital temp adjusting.
Buy vaccum pump for desoldering, set of pincete, good flux,....

Start with basic circuits like NE555 and LED flashers,....

Try to make PCB with toner transfer technique.

Must be patient and persistent.

If You get trouble and stuck in some project, wait tomorrows new day which will bring new look on trouble, and ask on EDABoard.

Buy one good big external or internal HD for electronics archive of projects, tutorials, catalogs,.... make good way for archiving documents like in folders... after when you needed you can find it fast and easy.

 

[godfreyl]

The Art of Electronics is good but it is over 1000 pages and most of it is extremely bland!

You don't have to read it all at once. I have a copy on the shelf next to me (about 25 years old - only 700 pages). It's a good reference. e.g. if I want to make a 4'th order Butterworth filter, I can look in the book to see how that's done. It's good to know the basics, but you don't have to remember all the details - that's what books are for. It's not important to have all the information you need inside your head - what is important is that you know where and how to find the information you need.

I see so many posts about people just casually saying that they took their dremmel to a sheet of plexiglass. I don't own any plexiglass and i sure as hell don't own a dremmel.

Me neither. So what? You don't need that stuff to build a circuit. Having all those tools and materials lets you build nice boxes, but that's box-building, not electronics.

I have a soldering iron but i don't know what else i should get. The obvious tools are multimeter, wire cutters, wire strippers, etc. What are the best brands and where do i get these?

Most important is a decent soldering iron and a multimeter that works. You don't need the best brand - just something that works. A wire cutter is nice, but you can always use a kitchen scissors or something.

Also should i purchase and arduino?

No!
Please don't turn into one of those people who thinks they have to use a microcontroller for everything.

Sorry, that's one of my pet peeves. I'm sick to death of answering questions from people who've built an MCU based project, but need help with something as simple as a resistive divider at the input because they don't even understand Ohm's law.

Half the time what they're trying to do could be achieved with a 555 chip or two transistors, but they don't realize that because they never learned any of the basics of electronics.

I forgot to ask, what are some fun projects that aren't terrible overwhelming but not stupid-easy.

The most fun I ever had was with a one transistor radio transmitter. "Police siren" sound effects are fun too - the sort you can make with a couple of NE555s or a NE556. Radio receivers and audio amplifiers are good too, or maybe radio control for models.

 

[Silman]

You don't have to read it all at once. I have a copy on the shelf next to me (about 25 years old - only 700 pages). It's a good reference. e.g. if I want to make a 4'th order Butterworth filter, I can look in the book to see how that's done. It's good to know the basics, but you don't have to remember all the details - that's what books are for. It's not important to have all the information you need inside your head - what is important is that you know where and how to find the information you need.


Me neither. So what? You don't need that stuff to build a circuit. Having all those tools and materials lets you build nice boxes, but that's box-building, not electronics.


Most important is a decent soldering iron and a multimeter that works. You don't need the best brand - just something that works. A wire cutter is nice, but you can always use a kitchen scissors or something.



No!
Please don't turn into one of those people who thinks they have to use a microcontroller for everything.

Sorry, that's one of my pet peeves. I'm sick to death of answering questions from people who've built an MCU based project, but need help with something as simple as a resistive divider at the input because they don't even understand Ohm's law.

Half the time what they're trying to do could be achieved with a 555 chip or two transistors, but they don't realize that because they never learned any of the basics of electronics.


The most fun I ever had was with a one transistor radio transmitter. "Police siren" sound effects are fun too - the sort you can make with a couple of NE555s or a NE556. Radio receivers and audio amplifiers are good too, or maybe radio control for models.

Thanks so much for the reply!

I figured that The Art Of Electronics was one of the best references out there (considering i have heard more than one person call it the "bible of electronics").

The reason i ask about the tools is because i feel like everyone has a garage full or stuff to make their electronics pretty and cool. I guess it really isn't important for the real part of building it: the soldering!

I will grab a multimeter for sure!

thats EXACTLY the kind of person i do NOT want to be! I know arduino's and other microprocessors are extremely usefull for some projects (like interfacting with computer software, etc) but the reason i asked about analog projects in one of my earlier posts and bigdogguru linked me to some transistor based analog projects: I really want to learn how to manipulate analog circuits before i start relying too heavily on digital components!

 

[bgpavan]

Thanks so much for the reply!

I figured that The Art Of Electronics was one of the best references out there (considering i have heard more than one person call it the "bible of electronics").

The reason i ask about the tools is because i feel like everyone has a garage full or stuff to make their electronics pretty and cool. I guess it really isn't important for the real part of building it: the soldering!

I will grab a multimeter for sure!

thats EXACTLY the kind of person i do NOT want to be! I know arduino's and other microprocessors are extremely usefull for some projects (like interfacting with computer software, etc) but the reason i asked about analog projects in one of my earlier posts and bigdogguru linked me to some transistor based analog projects: I really want to learn how to manipulate analog circuits before i start relying too heavily on digital components!

Hello ,

Best website is Electronics for you in this go go circuit lab you will find plenty of electronics circuits .Have a small power supply 12V /5V ,well you can construct one for yourself , have a breadboard , soldering gun and a multimeter .Start off ....


All the best

Regards,
Pavan

 

[godfreyl]

Here's a great collection of simple circuits: http://talkingelectronics.com/projects/200TrCcts/200TrCcts.html.

 

[tpetar]

Of course You should know that electronics is expensive sport in domain of hobbyst, and you should start with getting skills with easier projects, just as GodFreyl give in previous post.