Electronic Kits for EE student - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: pmg
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: May 13, 2011, 02:09:35 am
content: Hi. I'm looking for a decent electronics kit or set up to start experimenting with at home. I just started an electrical engineering program and I am motivated to learn as much as I can. I have worked with lab equipment in classes but I don't have my own. My interests are fairly widespread from circuit design to robotics. I live in the United States and I just don't want anything geared for kids.Thanks for any advice.

author: PeterG
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 13, 2011, 02:17:01 am
content: If your in Australia i would look at Jaycar.Regards

author: johnboxall
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 13, 2011, 02:29:58 am
content: Quote from: PeterG on May 13, 2011, 02:17:01 amYes, their "Short Circuits" series is ok, seems to be aimed at the very young however anyone can benefit from it. Book one isn't too bad, but I think there is some information 'lost in translation' in some of the circuit explanations. If you go that way, get a breadboard for making circuits instead of using the spring/pegboard system.The "Make: Electronics" book is also very good, not aimed at ten year olds. If you're in Australia you can get it locally here -http://bit.ly/m6TdNL

author: sacherjj
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 13, 2011, 05:57:09 pm
content: I think it is a great idea to build kits that are useful.Make a power supply. (Currently my project) A current limit on it helps not let out the special smoke. Gives you a chance to learn about transformers, rectification, filtering and linear regulators.Make an LC meter:http://www.aade.com/lcmeter.htmWith some of the add-ons suggested on the page, this is a darn handy meter.If you subscribe to Nuts and Volts digital, you can download PDFs of the entire issues from Jan 2004 to current. Many fun projects in there.

author: Trigger
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 14, 2011, 05:55:58 am
content: I actually learned more outside of classes by doing my own projects. I'd find out what micros the university is teaching with, get a dev kit, breadboard, and components and build something. Yes there will be a learning curve and your first projects will likely fail but learn from mistakes and keep building. Kits are good for learning soldering but you'll understand the circuits better if it's your own project you had to figure out.

author: Tony R
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 14, 2011, 02:05:08 pm
content: When i started my program at my university they gave us a part kit (for $50) This was specificity for a logic class.I would add, in addition to the list below, a resistor/capacitor assortment, some DIP switches, a jumper wire kit, some Op-Amps, Voltage Regulator, Potentiometers, diodes, NPN and PNP transistors. You may not need all of this, or all of what is in the list but it can get you a place to start looking. I find that Jameco has a better price compared to digikey, but you will pay more for shipping and you need to order more then $10 worth of stuff so they don't charge you a $5 charge.The numbers are listed as Jameco PN, MFG PN, Quantity20774 Bread Board 146252 74LS00 446287 74LS02 446316 74LS04 446341 74LS05 446375 74LS08 446404 74LS10 447466 74LS32 447790 74LS47 248004 74LS74 348039 74LS76 248071 74LS85 248098 74LS86 448119 74LS90 246480 74LS123 446607 74LS138 446703 74LS151 447001 74LS191 247386 74LS273 247407 74LS279 246851 74LS164 2764449 22V10 - ATMEL 3846639 16V8 - ATMEL 327422 555 2334984 7 SEGMENT DISPLAY 2333374 RED LEDS 8206501 YELLOW LEDS 8334465 BLUE LEDS 8