Looking for a book about circuit design - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: thehay95
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: September 01, 2018, 06:20:15 pm
content: Hello!I'm a newbie and looking for a good circuit design book. One that would start with the basics preferably.My objective is to, hopefully, learn how to design a power supply for example but more importantly understand what's going on in a given circuit.I have general knowledge of how circuits work (from Kirchhoff law to Thevenin/Norton theorem, diodes, rectifiers)My math is average: I did cal1, cal2 and cal3.I have limited knowledge in BJT's and FET's and would also like to learn more about those and effectively use them in circuit design.What would you recommend ?Thanks

author: Old Printer
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 02, 2018, 03:03:07 am
content: I love books, but there is a ton of information on the web. The Art of Electronics is a large text and would serve you well. There is a related lab book, Learning The Art of Electronics. Together they are electronics, soup to nuts. Also try YouTube, there is an overwhelming amount of instruction there. In particular lookup the Kahn Academy. That will get you started, at the head of the Beginners forum is a sticky on this sort of question. Welcome to the EEV blog.

author: rstofer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 02, 2018, 02:24:59 pm
content: I get a lot of information from datasheets and application notes."I want to learn electronic design" is a very broad question. What kind of electronics? RF, uC, Ham Radio, Audio, <whatever else is around>? You have enough math and your elementary theory is probably adequate. Things get a little more complicated when talking about feedback (Laplace Transforms) or signals (Fourier Analysis) but these are just extensions to the math you have.I would think you would just pick a single topic and hit up Google. And don't overlook datasheets for example circuits.My design books are 45 years old so I don't think I'll mention them. And, yes, I still have them. I open the cover and laugh at the price. $7 was expensive back in the early '70s."The Art of Electronics" and "Learning The Art of Electronics" should help.

author: tpowell1830
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 02, 2018, 04:15:49 pm
content: Since you mention the KTN rules, I assume you have some cursory knowledge of electronics. However, there are books that start at this level and then build such as AoE and it's lab book. I have no way of knowing whether you are strictly interested in theory or you just want to dabble and create some basic electronic circuits and tinker with them.The basics only change if there are fundamental reasons for changing and old books (40 years old) and new books have the same basic info. Search online for fundamentals of electronics and you will get tons of info. By adding the search term "books", you will find many books.Forest Mims III books on basic electronics. He has written many books on the subject and many articles. A search will find a multitude. His style is easy and straightforward.Encyclopedia of Electronic Components, Volumes 1, 2 and 3. These books describe basic electronic components with a very cursory suggestion as to how/where to use them,Understanding Basic Electronics by Walter Banzhaf is a very cursory view of electronics and covers very elementary concepts.Grob's Basic Electronics is a book for someone who is interested in becoming a technician. The goal is to show the student fundamentals in the the perspective of a technician.Video series: Kahn Academyhttps://www.khanacademy.org/science/ap-physics-1/ap-circuits-topic/current-ap/v/circuits-part-1CodeNMore: This series is VERY basic and will get more complex as the series ends.MIT OpenCourseWare 6.002, Circuits and Electronics. This is a series of videos covering basic engineering electronics (a lot of math).As you can see, I have done a few searches on the web and found these in just a few minutes; you can do the same.Hope this helps...

author: Kirkhaan
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 03, 2018, 08:14:00 am
content: I'm always in favor of these kind of compendium's with practical advice:https://www.elektor.com/the-circuit-designers-companion-3rd-edition#attachments_downloads

author: Mario87
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 03, 2018, 08:17:33 am
content: Quote from: Old Printer on September 02, 2018, 03:03:07 am+1 for these 2 books!

author: ferdieCX
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 03, 2018, 08:29:21 am
content: If you want to seriously learn electronics, look in the internet for:Electronic Devices and Circuits - Millman and HalkiasIt is from the early 70s, but the basics have not changed.