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Electronics Begininer...  Where do I start?

e14 Contributor

Hi everyone.  Electronics is something I'm interested in but have no clue where to begin learning.  Do I go get one of those old radio shack kits and start doing the little projects they have?  I'm pretty amazed at the things on here and would like to at least start learning some basics.  Thanks for the help.

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  • in reply to e14 Contributor

    Hi Brian, I am an Electrical Engineer and I think the best way for you to get started is to get yourself an arduino. Programming is simple and alot of projects Ben Heck does can be recreated with this microcontroller. Another simple way is to take apart old computers or printers and such, with these old parts you can test things out on a breadboard. On the breadboard see what happens when you put a capacitor instead of a resistor, or add a potentiometer. Lastly, you should learn as much programming and technical terms as possible. Hope this Helps.

  • in reply to e14 Contributor

    Brian Knoll wrote:

     

    I'm so new I don't know what I don't know. I'm really on step zero, so I'm wide open to all possibilities. I'm just fascinated watching the Ben Heck show on YouTube and would love to be able to understand some of the projects he's doing.

     

    Sent from my iPhone

    Paul's question "what do you want to do?" is very appropriate.  Digital logic and digital circuits are very straightforward, because logic gates are unidirectional so it's easy to see the flow through a circuit.  There's a nice "if this, then that" basis to the reasoning.  In analog circuits, everything happens at once and you are put in the position of solving multiple equations with multiple unknowns simultaneously.  This means you need a solid background in algebra, and sometimes calculus.  With digital, you just need logical thinking.  Some people say you "just need to know how to count... to two" image

     

    I just picked up a used copy of Clive "Max" Maxfield's Bebop to the Boolean Boogie -- an Unconventional Guide to Electronics.  From a quick skim, it looks like a very nice way to get started with digital logic and circuits, including understanding electronics at a very basic level.  There are lots of pictures and few equations.  I got my 2nd edition (2003) copy for US$4 plus another $4 shipping.