Learning electronics 101

[MicroRotors]

Hi Guys,

I have 2 sons 19 - 17 that want to learn electronics and wondering if there is any good freeware shareware or possibly something that can be purchased for them to learn with. While I can show them the basics, they tend not to want to really listen to a parent sometimes and it makes it difficult sometimes. Typical teens!!!!! :( Are there any good entry level web sites out there?

Thanks
Bill

[AndyOne]

Why not try with some actual hardware, it's the best way to learn.

Andy.

[dusty IV]

Isn't that a shame. The HS schools have almost dropped everything technical. Wood shop, drafting basic electronics etc. They claim lack of money but then turn around and build a 5 Mil sport stadium and pay the Coaches 2x what the average teacher makes. Rant here.

Try the books from Radio shack. Very cheap, simple and basic analog stuff. Digital and programming are a whole new subject. Maybe a local JC has basic text books that are understandable ? I doubt it though. Our government schools suck.

Good luck.

[MicroRotors]

Isn't that a shame. The HS schools have almost dropped everything technical. Wood shop, drafting basic electronics etc. They claim lack of money but then turn around and build a 5 Mil sport stadium and pay the Coaches 2x what the average teacher makes. Rant here.

Good luck.


Yup, Thats were I learned it also.

[Chippie]

I'm afraid you ae going to be bombarded with everyone's own ideas and opinions...so here's mine

Books are fine, good for referring to when the knowledge is lacking or non-existant..besides that, knowledge retention is poor when just reading from a book

Nothing beats practical experience, this is where most knowledge is gained and retention is high in comparison..

I started off when I was a boy, taking things apart to see what was in there, beleive me it got me in more trouble than I care to remember....40 years on,
I'm still learning, the hill just gets steeper...as technology moves faster...

Stick with your boys, they will love it, and you will love teaching them and learning with them too..:)

[Mr.RC-CAM]

Hands on practical experience is very useful. So, build some kits. Even if the gadget cost more and does less than a store bought solution. Try stuff from a place like this: http://www.ramseyelectronics.com/

FWIW, I started with building from magazine plans and kits. Long before I fully understood what all the little shiny parts did. So, I learned a lot along the way. In High School I had a very good electronics teacher that taught mil-standard soldering (and he was a critical judge of our work!).

Being able to solder well, and identify components, is a good start. Frankly, most of the new EE's (Electrical Engrs) that I have worked with over the years could not do that well at all. Some not at all. So, this will put your boys ahead of the curve. :)

RC-CAM

[Comatose]

In my opinion the one thing you should really avoid is the radio shack "3 million in one" style kits. They're very heavy on "paint by numbers" which will yield something that flashes a couple LEDs like they're supposed to, but very light on anything that would be useful in terms of circuit synthesis. Or at least they were ten years ago.

If they have any programming experience (on computer or whatever) then basic stamps are a good place to start. IMHO its a lot harder to visualize what a large circuit made from flip-flops and 555 timers is doing than reading/writing code.

[Malc C]

I started the same way as Chippie, ripping things apart and then trying to work out why it never worked when I put it back together :) - ah fond memories of connecting a 100mw loudspeaker to 15 volt AC from a triang train controller !!

I then spent 4 years as an apprentice with British Aerospace (as it was then) and learnt to solder to MOD standards.. my party piece is that I worked on part of the fuel valve assembly of the first Arriane rocket :) - At this time I was about the same age as Bills sons and applied my knowledge to build sound to light boxes etc from magazines.

One of the best ways would be to purchase some of the kits and get them to build it and then use reference material to work out how it works. Or try checking your local community centre to see if there are any clubs in the locality, some concentrate on robotics, but then thats not too bad afterall :)

[thanhTran]

It's up to their interests I guess. I started with electric when I was in 6th grade (1985-1986) I even went to a night class where they taught adult career in fixing radio/Tv. No one was taking me into that interests. There was an old man fixing radio next to my house where I stood behind him for hours looking at what he was doing. When I grew up, the interest was stil there but it translated more into computer and digital world. One of my uncles wanted me to teach his two boys electronics, but they just liked to have me complete building something for them rather than building one by themself. I got their interests in building a wireless FM transmitter and infrared remote switch but they were not interested in building them. They thought having the gaget was cool but not building it :). Kids' interests seem come and go quickly ;)

Thanh

[lazy-b]

Actual Building kits and learning how circuits work.......will make learing electronics much fun......my father use to buy those HEATHKIT kits, He lets me build it....my father just do the supervision, this is where I learn my soldering skill....those old days Most Electronics equipment is Do-It-YourSelf....I have 2 1/2 Digital HeathKit Multimeter, design from a discrete component.....have even assembled my own APPLE II computer....from a bare board and Discrete ICs.....Due to technology advance, its cheaper to Buy a ready-made equipment.

How about let them Enroll in some Technical School, this way, they learn the basic of Electronics like Reading those Resistor Color coding.... "Bad Boys Rape Our Young Girls But Violetta Give Willingly".....I bet you all guys remember this phrase......my Father enroll me to those Technical School during School summer Vacation.

After Learning from Technical School....most of my relative lets me fixed their TV and Radio....and I make some Money from it.....its Much Faster learning from a Experience People, their actual experience can not learn it from a school.

[himeros]

Did someone say Fleming Valve? I started by taking apart almost everything electrical, and still have fun today checking out what makes things tick. Get some books from your local library on basic circuits. D. C. and A. C. circuits, how coils, batteries, resistors, transistors, etc work. Then if they are still interested, build some simple circuits. Hands on is great to learn how to do things. Good luck on the electronics instead of girls.

Himeros :)

[rajul]

Bill, get a snap-circuit kit with a student guide book. You can get more details here http://www.snapcircuits.net/ Hope this helps

[rajul]

Here are some more snap-circuit links http://www.elenco.com/ Carl's electronics probably offers the best prices www.ElectronicKits.com

[Haoleman]

Just cruising this forum and found this thread interesting. As an electronics engineer wannabe when I was in HS, I found the most useful books were under the amateur radio heading. You can't beat "The Radio Amateur's Handbook" It covers all the basics and did have many basic building projects in it. Heavy on theory too which the basics of this are essential to knowing how to build something electronically. If you know any Ham Radio operator in your area, give them a shout. Most are more than happy to assist young'ns as it beats the other path to the "dark side" :D

[Ron van Sommeren]

Discussiongroup:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/electronics_101/

Vriendelijke groeten ;) Ron