Beginning electronics

Hi Hugh,

jw0752 has got you covered with a Where Do I Start guide. It is worth checking out that guide and the comments. Also worth bookmarking

that since it looks like it will evolve over time as John and others will contribute to it.

I'd agree with jw0752 that books are one of the best ways forward, they are cheap used (and often free if you can borrow some from a library).

Hi Hugh,

shabaz has mentioned a blog that I wrote a couple weeks ago. Here is the link:

I Want to Do Electronics! Where do I start?

If you check with your local library they should be able to come up with a copy of the book that I mentioned or you can go on line to the tutorial site. Also if you find a resource that works good for you please let us know.

John

Thanks John and Shabaz! I am currently reading The Idiot's Guide to Electronics 101. What are your thoughts on that book?

Hi Hugh,

I haven't seen this book but I checked it out on Amazon and it looked good and had pretty good reviews.  If you have it in your hands read it and if you have any questions just post them on the forum. It is the only place I know of where top rate engineers like Shabaz will take time to answer questions and make you feel good about having asked them.

John

HI Hugh,

I've been trying to dive into electronics myself the last couple years and it can be a struggle. I found it helps to think of a project you could do that will serve a need you have or maybe a gift for someone in the upcoming holiday season, but something that you will be interested in enough to finish. Choosing a project with an Arduino is often a good place to start. Once you have the idea, just start searching online for tutorials.

Forums like this one on the element14 Community are a great resource for when you get to the point of troubleshooting your project. Troubleshooting a project is one of the best ways to learn, I have found.

If you want some real world help, you could see if there is a local hackerspace or makerspace near you. Many hackerspaces require you to be 18 to be a member, but most of the ones I've visited have no problems with visitors stopping by to ask for help, especially if you stop by regularly.

Hope that helps!

~Karen

Hi Karen,

I think your suggestion is a very great one. If you have time it would be appreciated if you would add something similar to the comments on my blog

I Want to Do Electronics! Where do I start?

I am trying to use the blog as a reference for the new members looking for a way to get started in electronics.

John

theheckwithkaren wrote:

 

I found it helps to think of a project you could do that will serve a need you have or maybe a gift for someone in the upcoming holiday season, but something that you will be interested in enough to finish. Choosing a project with an Arduino is often a good place to start.

I totally agree with this statement. Choose a project that keeps your interest up and can be approached in small steps.

Turn your project into a series of small achievements rather than one large mountain.

Thank you all very much!

At the risk of sounding churlish, this is a broad endeavor.  You should consider getting the prerequisites formally, so as not to drop out of society.  A certain high-ranking member of this site has gone so far as to sequester himself and his wife in a compound in Wisconsin in pursuit of e- knowledge!  This, then is a clearly a Siren's call.  Step trepidatiously.