Electronics Begininer...  Where do I start?

Don Hersey wrote:

 

"Digital logic and digital circuits are very straightforward, because logic gates are unidirectional so it's easy to see the flow through a circuit."

 

With respect, this statement is sometimes true, sometimes not:

 

Combinational logic - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Sequential logic - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

It is possible to create a pseudo-random-number-generator out of a shift register that could never be simulated, presuming that our universe is limited in time and space.

Well, with pseudo-random at least it's repeating, and you can probe internal points and see what it's doing and observe the cause-effect relationship.  With analog, you can create a thermal true random voltage generator from a resistor, which will never repeat, and if you try to probe it the behavior changes because of probe capacitance: a "Heisenbug".

With digital, your challenge is to provide signal and power integrity and meet timing requirements so that you don't need to consider analog misbehavior.  Sometimes this is impossible -- e.g., with metastability -- but at least you're not faced with the classic analog problem:

An oscillator won't.  An amplifier will.

"Digital logic and digital circuits are very straightforward, because logic gates are unidirectional so it's easy to see the flow through a circuit."

With respect, this statement is sometimes true, sometimes not:

Combinational logic - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Sequential logic - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

It is possible to create a pseudo-random-number-generator out of a shift register that could never be simulated, presuming that our universe is limited in time and space.

If you want to gain some insight while keeping your expenses low, download LTSpice.  A good circuit to start off with would be 'op-amp relaxation oscillator' which you could google.

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"

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.

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

Hi Brian,

I agree with Don that it is important to start in the books to learn the basics. You can do the Radio Shack kits, have fun, and learn very little as they many times tell you what to do but don't explain why you are doing it. They are designed to entertain not educate. It is better to start with a book and as you go do experiments to verify that you have understand what you have learned in the book. If you are studying resistors, for example, it is important to hook up some resistors and measure the different effects that you get with respect to voltage and current. I have been happy with a book called: "Practical Electronics for Inventors, 3rd Edition" by Paul Scherz and Simon Monk. It has good basic electronics information combined with suggested circuits that can be tried out. Here is a very good web site with a basic electronics tutorial as well. The web site also incorporates good demonstration projects that compliment the material that is being taught.

http://www.electronics-tutorials.ws/

John

Let me state that I have an opinion on this which some others don't share.  Go easy on cookbooks and kits and go hard on studying  the theory so you can make your own stuff.

Books that introduce electronics.  ARRL manuals of yore had a fair amount of theory, but they decided to go pop, putting the difficult material in books.  "The Art of Electronics"  by Horowitz and Hill is a pretty good intro.

To make the most of your time you should study this stuff formally so you get a little college cred as you go.

I agree with Paul.  There is no preferred port of entry with electronics.  Best way to start is to follow your interests.

Brian,

Go to the Make Magazine website.

They have beginning electronic books and kits for a reasonable cost.

They also have a lot of articles with easy projects for you to learn with.

DAB

Hello Brian.

Welcome to the world of electronics. Is there a particular field you are interested in?

ie. Analogue, Digital, microcontrollers, single board computers.