Learning electronics

millwalll

Hi all,

Not sure if this is the best place to ask this question. I have been using computers for many years now and have very good understanding of hardware and software. At the moment I find myself having a lot of spare time and wish to try learn more about the circuit board and components that are on motherboards. I did do basic electronics at school so soldering a led on a board etc. I just wanted to find out if anyone can recommend a good book or any advice?

Thanks in advance..

Fifer

Sorry no-one has replied. I can't really recommend anything as my electronics training was more than 30 years ago and the text books I used were dull as ditchwater and will now be woefully out of date.

For books, there are always the Dummies Guides - I think they do one on electronics, but I'm not a big fan of the style or humour. I think there are a few good websites. Try googling for 'electronics', 'beginner' and 'guide' or 'course'.

Hammyman

The level you're wanting to learn you won't learn from a book. You really need to go on a course such as BTEC Electronic Engineering.

savemoney

I did a Btec (level II) and city & guilds at local college around 1984-1986, I also had to got a huge thick book on electronics and played with nano computers think thats what they were called. Its wont be relevant now I am afraid

Bikertov

savemoney wrote: »

I did a Btec (level II) and city & guilds at local college around 1984-1986, I also had to get a huge thick book on electronics and filled with nano computers think thats what they were called. Its wont be relevant now I am afraid

LOL savemoney - I did almost exactly the same at the same time as you !

Regretfully / luckily, the world has moved on from then, and things like the PC and mobile phone have been invented since then :huh:

savemoney

Those were the days, played on a early Mac and Apple IIe, home pc a commodore 64, vic20

Bikertov wrote: »

LOL savemoney - I did almost exactly the same at the same time as you !

Regretfully / luckily, the world has moved on from then, and things like the PC and mobile phone have been invented since then :huh:

Bikertov

savemoney wrote: »

Those were the days, played on a early Mac and Apple IIe, home pc a commodore 64, vic20

OMG - the Apple IIe - that brings back memories !

Learnt programming and computing on one of them during my apprenticeship (when there were still real ones about) and then went on to work on DEC PDP 8's with punched tape ... :rotfl:

paddyrg

How exciting! I did a lot of electronics back in school, but didn't follow it up at uni when it became all maths and physics! But how about an evening class at your local 6th form college? That will give you a bit of theory you can top up from books, but also give you hands on PCB /veroboard design, meet other interested parties, have people to ask questions of, etc.

Also look at the shelves in WHSmith, there are several electronics mags with build instructions and pcb layouts etc. Try blogs like hackedgadgets.com for ideas and to see what others are making, follow links to their sites, most amateur makers are very keen to share their ideas, knowledge and discoveries :-)

epninety

Not sure what level you want to learn at, analogue or digital, a proper understanding or just a working knowledge etc. It's difficult because it's such a vast subject.

For analogue electronics, 'The Art of Electronics' by Horowitz & Hill is the classic introductory text for university students. It sounds like it might be at quite high level, but many students will have almost no electronics knowledge at the start of their courses. Have a look at the preview on Amazon and see what you think.

Mainly aimed at radio, 'The ARRL Handbook for Radio Communication' can often be got cheaply second hand, but is a lot more practical than H&H. It's a big book, but you'll only be interested in about a third of it, unless you get into playing with radios.

googler

Find a library that keeps periodicals, and see if you can browse back issues of

Practical Wireless
Practical Electronics and the like.....

Look in the lending or reference sections for textbooks

Google the topic

Mr_Oink

Youtube is your friend :-) A starting point: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8Dq8blTmSA