Electronic beginner set! Is it worth it? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: John Karror
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: July 25, 2018, 01:13:34 pm
content: Hello,I am a beginner! I am doing an internship right now, and I had to deal with physics detectors and such. Long story short, I loved the detectors! From their physics and their electronics, to their mathematical mappings.I can grasp physics and mathematics, but I don't know electronics. This stimulated me to learn electronics in the summer. I am going to buy the following from amazon. Is this all I need? Is this too much in your opinion?Hantek DSO5072Phttps://www.amazon.com/dp/B00RJPXB6Y/?coliid=I2YCGKQHIAXTW2&colid=39A6UAZD25ODG&psc=0&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_itElectronics componentsThis one:https://www.amazon.com/dp/B073TKQNL3/?coliid=I1YK017HIG0LQK&colid=39A6UAZD25ODG&psc=0&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_itOr This:https://www.ebay.com/itm/ELECTRONIC-COMPONENTS-2000-PCS-KIT-FOR-BEGINNERS-STUDENTS-GCSE-ESENTIALS/151417641781?_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIM.MBE%26ao%3D2%26asc%3D52885%26meid%3D6e63764c5fe3446384d4d39d7c618856%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D5%26rkt%3D12%26mehot%3Dpp%26sd%3D113078541491%26itm%3D151417641781&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851breadboardhttps://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MG5IPUX/?coliid=ITX2ILA6EPXDD&colid=39A6UAZD25ODG&psc=0&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_itDIY function generator (I can't afford expensive ones)https://www.amazon.com/dp/B078V3WQ3B/?coliid=I2TDI99A3ZQBWK&colid=39A6UAZD25ODG&psc=0&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it-- NOTE: I already have cheap Chinese soldering iron and a multimeter, owned them from 5 years ago -- I think they serve their purpose and no need for knew ones.-----------------------Academic Background: Physicist, mathematics, Programing, I studied electronics in the university (Resistors, capacitors, diodes, transistors mosfets) + some electronic theory(I didn't know how to make the url pretty. Sorry for that!)

author: 128ITSH
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 25, 2018, 02:55:07 pm
content: Both of the components kits look good for learning and small projects, I just want to note that if you want to build something which will be reliable and last long (for example home automation projects), buy components from reliable sources like element14, digikey, mouser etc.Another thing to consider is microcontrollers (or MCU's, uC).These are chips that can be programmed from your PC - If you like hardware level proggraming (i.e. messing with bits) go for AVR or PIC, if you like high level proggraming with lots of libraries go for arduino (which is actually based on an AVR)

author: Pirateguy
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 25, 2018, 05:35:13 pm
content: i highly recommend getting into microcontrollers and i would go for arduino cuz of the wide use it gets by hobbyistshas yielded a massive ton of tutorials, libraries etc. for a newbie to draw on and it is not that hard to frankensteinsome preexisting code together for your own purposes.and the cheap chinese clones can be had off ebay for very low prices and are perfectly adequate for experimenting and prototyping.also i agree with the above:for prototyping and screwing around get your parts cheap as u can off ebay or amazon,but for permanent applications of any kind get branded parts from a reputable seller.

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 25, 2018, 06:20:16 pm
content: Microcontrollers are a good idea, but there is certainly value to learning the basics first. You won't get very far with a microcontroller if you don't know how to design the power supply, the importance of bypass capacitors, pullup resistors, level shifters, etc. That said, a lot of the Arduino kits do include a selection of other bits and some instruction on some of these topics.

author: Pirateguy
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 25, 2018, 06:52:36 pm
content: good point.and i must admit i did a good bit of screwing around with analogue stuff before i got into arduinos.put it on you bucket list though

author: DrMag
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 25, 2018, 09:58:41 pm
content: There's so much chicken and egg that goes into just starting to kit out your personal lab.One key thing you might consider adding to your list: A variable DC power supply.Which since you have a soldering iron, is actually a great first project!If you don't want to make one yourself you've got some options. An old computer power supply will give you +/- 12 V, +/- 5 V, and +3.3 V, which is a good collection of voltages to start from. This one seems to be pretty reasonable on Amazon, though I have no personal experience with this brand:https://www.amazon.com/Eventek-KPS305D-Adjustable-Switching-Regulated/dp/B071RNT1CD/For a kit, this is equivalent to the one I built early on in my starting with electronics, and it's worked pretty well:https://www.amazon.com/Elenco-Triple-Output-Power-Supply/dp/B0002DT0GUIt's always hard to say whether it's better to start with DC or AC, but you'll definitely need/want both very quickly!You might also consider adding a second multimeter--having two means you can measure voltage and current at the same time.

author: John Karror
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: July 26, 2018, 04:59:04 am
content: Thanks for the replies. I actually do have two arduinos. UNO and YUN. I felt that I rely a lot on per-built prototypes and not doing my own thing!I think for me the very basics are very important. I am going to start learning from the very very beginning, with one of the popular electronic textbooks from basic resistors to op-amps and ICs. And, maybe Ill do a project along the way. But my goal is to learn the basics very well.

author: Microcheap
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 26, 2018, 02:56:03 pm
content: If you are considering a Hantek scope, you should have a look at the models DSO4072C (70MHz BW) or DSO40102C (100MHz), that are newer than the dso5000 series and has a function generator integrated. For reference:https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Hantek-DSO4072C-2-Channel-70MHz-Digital-Oscilloscope-with-1-Channel-Arbitrary-Function-Waveform-Generator/32789551172.html