New guy - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: Issus
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: October 13, 2014, 06:14:44 pm
content: Like the title says, I'm very new to the world of electronics. I always wanted to learn to build my own gizmos, and I have a bit of spare time coming up, now is as good a moment as any.I have no experience in building anything electrical (I have wired my garden for automatic watering, and hanged a few lamps on the walls, but thats about it), so the first thing I have done is dive into the literature available in this forum. I am reading the basic electronics book from the "Talking electronics" site, and I also have an Arduino starter kit, which I have just started tinkering with.My intention is to gain a good knowledge about electronics in general, but my main goal is to be able to build electronic devices that I may need at some point with my studies (I am studying geology, and there's a lot to do if you have a good understanding of electronics). For example, I'm desperatly dying to put up a few seismographs close to my house, since from time to time, I could swear I feel tremors. Something like this was talked about in the EEVBlog video (number 61, the crystal oscillator drift).As I have said, I have no experience, and I'm looking for a good way to get started. I dont have alot space to store things, so what I build to learn, I may need to scrap. The ideal situation would be for me to build things I can later put to use, like for instance Power Supplies.Also, I'm a hands on sort of person, so I learn best when I actually apply what I learn.So, all in all, what would be the best way to start of? Should I get a kit to build my first power supply? Or maybe start of simple with a blinking LED ligh with the Arduino kit (done that, still struggling with the programming)I do hope I'm not being to general. I have tried to specify my goals, I just need that push to start of, that one project that is simply enough for a begginer, yet explains a whole lot about how electronics work, and give a good basic knoledge to build on.Hope I didnt bore you all to much!

author: Mr. OBrien
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: October 13, 2014, 06:44:24 pm
content: It might be funner to do a project that has some kind of gratification. Maybe a small audio amp using a TDA1517P and a simple 12 volt regulated ps to power it. Tap into something you enjoy doing. If gardening is something you enjoy, I recall once on the EEVblog their was an alarm kit for letting you know when the soil was dry in a flower pot.Any problems around the house you can solve with a project?

author: Issus
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: October 13, 2014, 07:06:23 pm
content: At the moment I can't think of anything that needs fixing in the house. I am building an RC Tall ship, but thats a long term project and theres little to do there. I don't know what I could tap into, except the seismographs, but thats pretty advanced stuff I recon. I guess I should think about a bit more before posting...I just wanted something to get going and get the general feel.Edit: I suppose that I would like to be able to build sensors (CO2, SO2,) at some point, as well building a VES (Vertical Electronic Sounding), but I thought that I might be able to work out how to build my own circuits once I got sufficient practice and experience (I mena, theres nothing like practice...got me thought statistical maths in college!)