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1. A good Electronics text book. When I started out I used "Electronic Systems" by M.W. Brimicombe and it's adequate. I think I wrote a review on it in the books section of this forum. Other than that, "The Art of Electronics", although very old now, is still a bible of Electronics. It's expensive, but you might be able to get a good copy on Ebay.
2. Breadboard prototyping. Get yourself a small breadboard prototyping kit. This will allow you to build circuits explained in the electronics text book and verify the operation of it for yourself. This is where you'll learn the most about Electronics!
3. A simple multimeter. For verification purposes it doesn't need to be very accurate, but diode and transistor test functions are useful, so try to get on that supports those functions.
4. A variable D.C. power supply. I have a 32V dual PSU which is excellent because you can do split rails and stuff like that with it, but they are expensive so to start with if I were you I'd try to pick up a variable 12V PSU with perhaps 500mA to 1A current output.
5. If you can afford it, a very basic oscilloscope would be extremely useful. If you can't afford it, then an electronics simulation package is a good compromise for learning purposes.
I am new as well, and my approach has been to get masses of information. I have bought textbooks, subscribed to an electronic magazine, read online stuff and got a load of electronic suppliers catalogues to see what parts you can get.
I knew nothing when i began, and found the book 'electronics for dummies' useful. It certainly isnt a reference book, but it has good advice such as component identification/use, component shops, advice on buying equipment, other books to read, and includes some basic circuits to try as well as explaining the basic concepts of electronics.
I am using the textbook 'the art of electronics' by horowitz & hill as a reference book and can recomend this too.
what do you want to do with electronics?
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