Books and Parts - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: RissViss
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 24, 2019, 08:52:41 pm
content: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/1449333893/?coliid=IRILH46CS2JUQ&colid=H1XYHHZ08IDU&psc=0#customerReviewshttps://www.amazon.ca/dp/B06XGH7T9L/?coliid=I1XJMAGR94HDCO&colid=H1XYHHZ08IDU&psc=0https://www.amazon.ca/dp/1680450263/?coliid=I17WVP4CIMLGXC&colid=H1XYHHZ08IDU&psc=0Just wondering if this would be a good start of books and parts, to help get a basic understanding of electronics?If you need more info just ask.

author: RissViss
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 24, 2019, 09:41:12 pm
content: current skill level is a 1 out of 10 and 1 being the lowest.My expectation is to learn the basic of circuits, gave Arduino a try and that is more programing then learning the basic building block of electronics. What resistors do, 555 timers, what are the basic building blocks of a circuits. What part does what when using in this way or another.Right now I am building a power supply, I have a post on that going to finish it up this weekend.Then purchased a bunch of cheap kits on ebay solder all these parts and you get this, got them for solder practice for the most part.Looking at building up some knowledge on electronics make some mistakes and learn to fix them, then learn to modify them or combine different bits of info into something else.I am at the bottom of the skill tree, would like to work my way up to about level 4 - 6 over about as many years.

author: Shock
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 24, 2019, 11:44:20 pm
content: There is a good introductory video course in electronics here:https://www.thegreatcourses.com/courses/understanding-modern-electronics.htmlIt seems they have a free trial at the moment for the streaming version. Not sure of how much you get access to but worth a look at. This video below gives you an idea of the content.David Cutcher (forum member) also is doing avideo course on Udemyaimed at beginners and looking for beta testers. So you could sign up for that as well, it's free.

author: RomDump
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 25, 2019, 12:17:44 am
content: Quote from: RissViss on May 24, 2019, 08:52:41 pmI don't know what type of learner you are but if you are visual learner, Lynda has a series of courses:Electronics Foundations: FundamentalsElectronics Foundations: Basic CircuitsElectronics Foundations: Semiconductor DevicesI also don't know where in Canada you are, but the Libraries of most major Canadian cities offer free access to Lynda from home as an E-Resource, (so it is free with a Library Card).I think the content is quite good and it mimics a first year introduction to electronics college course.

author: rstofer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 25, 2019, 01:22:16 am
content: In a similar thread, "Getting Started in Electronics" by Forrest Mims came up. So, I bought the book and have skimmed through it. It's a really good place to start.https://www.amazon.com/Getting-Started-Electronics-Forrest-Mims/dp/0945053282I don't know about the exchange rate but the Canadian price seemed absurd."The Art of Electronics" (the textbook) and "Learning the Art of Electronics" (the lab manual) come up all the time. I have both but I haven't spent much time with them. In general, they didn't grab my interest. Probably because my degrees are in EE and my interests are somewhat specialized. Others highly recommend these books.Any of the other Forrest Mims books would also be interesting for a beginner.

author: rstofer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 25, 2019, 01:26:49 am
content: And maybe subscribe to "Nuts and Volts" magazine. They have interesting projects from time to time.https://www.nutsvolts.com/

author: RomDump
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 25, 2019, 01:35:34 am
content: Quote from: rstofer on May 25, 2019, 01:22:16 amI find we are really getting shafted with Canadian prices in everything.

author: RissViss
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 26, 2019, 08:30:11 pm
content: Thanks for the replies, and info.My style of learning is make something break it, fix it, then put two of the things I learned together and see what I get.Learning from lectures on web sites, is not my thing. Get a book dog ear the corners, put pieces of paper in as bookmarks, write comments on the pages, that is how I like to learn. I would prefer to learn from someone in person one on one, but that is way more money then I have. Would also like to start downloading info sheets on the parts and get to understand what they can tell me.Once I have learned something would like to do like the Great Scott videos and put them on perf board and get better at soldering, and even use KiCad to learn how that works, in case there is a need to get boards made in china.I know there is a lot of other websites and I am thankful for the suggestions, but for now just looking for info on the three things I posted, are they a good purchase? If not then exploring other books or websites will have to be done.Just wondering if the books are well written and can up my knowledge of electronic. As for the box of parts, just wondering if there is a good selection of parts to get started with, like the fact that it is in one box ( do not have much room to store things so hording parts will never be a problem). The tester in the box I have on and with another unit, I can start to mod it and upload and download new programs to it, if it brakes then there is the fun of trying to fix it.Is there a parts list guide someplace to download and then make sure that all the parts will be there to get started with.Thanks ever one for you info and input, it is all helpful.

author: RomDump
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 26, 2019, 11:57:10 pm
content: Quote from: RissViss on May 26, 2019, 08:30:11 pmThe books you mention in the original post appear to have a parts list for their experiments listed in the book, (you can just email the author to get the parts list). The amazon parts box also has a list of parts of the their kit. Just see if there is a match between the two.Here is the first 35 pages of the book to get contact informationMake: Electronics 2nd Ed.Parts list of the Amazon kitSome of the Transistors probably won't be used in the book because they are geared to the Asian electronics market. There is also no jelly bean IC's in the kit, no prototyping breadboard, and no wires.You could probably put a cheaper and better kit together if you make a list of what you need and buy from E-bay or Aliexpress, (in Canada fromdipmicro) or for better quality Digikey.The Sourcehas a few grab bags of parts you can order and pickup in the store.You didn't say where in Canada you are so I am assuming you are just going to mail order everything.Hopes this helps.UPDATE: The Author has a list of recommend parts suppliers on hiswebsite. You can just match the kit lists

author: RissViss
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 27, 2019, 04:36:17 am
content: Thanks for the info.I live in Winnipeg MB we have one electronics shop (Tip Top electronics) most of the time you have to call they order wait for it to get there. Better to get things from digikey even with shipping my last shipment from digikey was way cheaper then going there. Winnipeg for the most part does not have the selection that Toronto has. Toronto on kijji has a long list of oscilloscopes to choose from no need to purchase something like the hantek 6022 that I have. would rather have a decent 20mhz analog scope a my first scope. Very hard to find one used and when you do they want 100 for it or more.I have two prototyping breadboards and the wires from my Arduino kit. (this is the kithttps://www.amazon.ca/Project-Complete-Ultimate-TUTORIAL-Mega2560/dp/B01EWNUUUA/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=arduino+kit&qid=1558930846&s=gateway&sr=8-2the other proto board is from a smaller add on kit. Did not like Arduino more programing then learning electronic. Would rather learn electronics, then go back to the Arduino, and just learn the programing.May have to put a list together and go to digikey and see what the cost will be, compared to kits, where you get more then what you need in one thing and nothing in another.One of the sites had a pdf of the list of parts in the kits, will print out and compare, see how much digikey wants or parts on aliexpress.Thanks for all the help.