Simple circuits - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: Itsdigiornos
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: June 11, 2021, 12:08:20 pm
content: Hello i was wondering if there was somewhere where i could find simple circuits and their use from voltage divider to a dc-dc buck converter. im looking to get more familiar with real circuits that get used. Thanks

author: sigma_xi
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: June 11, 2021, 05:25:12 pm
content: I'd start with "The Art of Electronics" (Horowitz & Hill) or something similar (like the German book "Halbleiter-Schaltungstechnik by Tietze & Schenk). From there you can progress and search for specific literature/examples on each topic.

author: MathWizard
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 11, 2021, 11:20:27 pm
content: 1 place is in old service manuals, like for Tektronix or Heathkit equipment like old DMM's, oscilloscopes, etc. They usually have a chapter called Theory of operation, or Circuit Description, and I'm just starting to really appreciate how useful they can be. The stuff from the 1960's for instance, was still mostly made with discrete transistors.https://www.manualslib.com/brand/tektronix/https://www.vintage-radio.info/heathkit/Have a look at page 24, my project for today is to calculate some resistor values to make that 3 transistor comparator/amplifier work.https://bama.edebris.com/download/tek/7a22(2)/tek-7a22.pdf

author: ocset
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 12, 2021, 12:00:41 am
content: here is my free SMPS course with loads of LTspice circuit examples, including bucks etchttps://drive.google.com/file/d/0B7aRNbu3Fes4TU92Mkw3YlA3ams/view?usp=sharingLTspice is a free download.Building ccts and scoping them is the best way to get up to speed...but it takes too long, and so LTspice can do a lot for you here.

author: rstofer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 12, 2021, 12:54:05 am
content: Anything by Forrest Mims but especially "Getting Started In Electronics"https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0945053282There's a sticky at the top of the forum re: educational materials

author: JustMeHere
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 12, 2021, 03:09:08 am
content: I usually find the best example circuits in datasheets and application notes.

author: rdl
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 12, 2021, 06:22:10 am
content: "Make: Electronics"https://www.amazon.com/Make-Electronics-Learning-Through-Discovery/dp/1680450263/I don't have it, but I borrowed a copy for a few days and what I saw looked pretty good. The recommendation to use only batteries and nothing over 9 volts I didn't really agree with, but that's a small nitpick."The Art of Electronics" is very good, but expensive and somewhat advanced. You can download a sample chapter here if you want to try before you buy.http://artofelectronics.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/AoE3_chapter9.pdfMy first book was "Getting Started In Electronics". I think it was popular mostly because back in the eighties and nineties you could buy it at Radio Shack for just a few dollars and it was good for a basic introduction.

author: Doctorandus_P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 12, 2021, 01:22:01 pm
content: I had a short peek at that Make-Electronics-Learning-Through-Discovery book and there are some things I like about it. It's a total beginners book, and it encourages to experiment, for example by cutting relays open to look what's inside of them and how they work.What I do not like however is that they completely ignore drawing proper schematics. They show a lot of pictures of breadboards and how to put wires on them, but they completely ignore how the electronics circuits work. When they use a 555, pins are drawn in order they are on the IC, with no labels to their function. This is just a horrible way to draw schematics, and in that, this book learns bad habits that you have to un-learn later.In my opinion a circuit shouls start with a description and a proper drawn schematic (according to function) and then further in an article an example of how to build it on a bread can give additional information. A lot of the articles in that book start with a breadboard layout. Yuch!

author: ocset
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 12, 2021, 01:49:27 pm
content: The Babani book range also has some good ones on simple circuits....and they are cheap.Simple and written with extraordinary clarity.The Babani book on PIC micros gave me a big leg up for starting off in microcontrollers.

author: Terry Bites
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 14, 2021, 03:03:43 pm
content: have look at thishttps://predictabledesigns.com/introduction-to-basic-electronic-circuits/