Shocks McTool
New Member
Hello,
I’m interested in taking up electronics as a hobby, something I’ve been wanting to do for years now, and would like to get some recommendations on some good places to start. I finally have time, and space to devote to working on some projects.
I’m interested in getting good reading material, especially material that will help teach me what the symbols on schematics are, will break down what every part is called and what it does, and will aide in teaching me proper procedures and what NOT to do wrong. There’s so much I don’t know, so I guess I just want to be able to read up on everything I can at first.
Now, if there are any books that will cover everything that a beginner would need to know, including some small projects, that would be great. If there’s a website that will provide enough material to help, that’s good too. I have been looking on the web a bit, and found some sites (including this forum) that seem helpful, but I think I’m at the point where I need some advice from those with more experience.
Also, I’m interested in finding some very small and simple projects to work on that would be great for a beginner. Eventually, I would like to move onto projects like tone boxes and tube amplifiers for musical instruments, but I know I have a lot to learn first – believe me, I do not have any delusions of building 100 watt amplifiers right away, I know I have too much to learn first. I just don’t know if there’s any small projects that will help me learn as well as lead me into these areas in the future. Again, I need the advice from others to let me know what areas I need to work on first before even considering the bigger projects.
I’m thinking that I’ll need more than a soldering iron, so if anyone knows of a website that will detail a very good and complete list of tools needed, please let me know. I’m not looking for the ultimate $500,000.00 workshop, but I’m sure some of you have come across some items that have just made your life so much easier. I've found plenty of sites where I could buy all the tools I probably need, I just don't know what tools I WILL need. Right now, I have only a few items, but I do have the funds to purchase a really complete set of tools for a beginner. Any items to help test out what I may be working on would be good too - I know, I could be opening a can of worms with this loaded question, but I just don’t know what tools I will need.
Lastly, Software. I’m wondering if there’s any software available that will help in learning about electronics and creating projects / circuits. I read thru some of the posts here, and I found this - https://www.new-wave-concepts.com/products.html from New Wave Concepts, they have several types of programs available. It looks like “Bright Spark” would be a good place to start, but I am willing and able to go for the “Circuit Wizard” if that will provide the same learning tools and more. If there’s other software available, would love to know about it, and which software some of you would consider the best to work with so as to help me learn as much as possible.
Ok, sorry this message is long, so here’s a short list of what I’m looking for:
1) Names of some good books for a beginner in electronics.
2) Very simple starter electronics projects for the beginner.
3) A list of what tools and testing equipment would make a good set for a beginner.
4) Software that would be good for the beginner to learn from.
Thanks in advance to anyone who can help me out with some of these questions.
-Shocks :shock:
I’m interested in taking up electronics as a hobby, something I’ve been wanting to do for years now, and would like to get some recommendations on some good places to start. I finally have time, and space to devote to working on some projects.
I’m interested in getting good reading material, especially material that will help teach me what the symbols on schematics are, will break down what every part is called and what it does, and will aide in teaching me proper procedures and what NOT to do wrong. There’s so much I don’t know, so I guess I just want to be able to read up on everything I can at first.
Now, if there are any books that will cover everything that a beginner would need to know, including some small projects, that would be great. If there’s a website that will provide enough material to help, that’s good too. I have been looking on the web a bit, and found some sites (including this forum) that seem helpful, but I think I’m at the point where I need some advice from those with more experience.
Also, I’m interested in finding some very small and simple projects to work on that would be great for a beginner. Eventually, I would like to move onto projects like tone boxes and tube amplifiers for musical instruments, but I know I have a lot to learn first – believe me, I do not have any delusions of building 100 watt amplifiers right away, I know I have too much to learn first. I just don’t know if there’s any small projects that will help me learn as well as lead me into these areas in the future. Again, I need the advice from others to let me know what areas I need to work on first before even considering the bigger projects.
I’m thinking that I’ll need more than a soldering iron, so if anyone knows of a website that will detail a very good and complete list of tools needed, please let me know. I’m not looking for the ultimate $500,000.00 workshop, but I’m sure some of you have come across some items that have just made your life so much easier. I've found plenty of sites where I could buy all the tools I probably need, I just don't know what tools I WILL need. Right now, I have only a few items, but I do have the funds to purchase a really complete set of tools for a beginner. Any items to help test out what I may be working on would be good too - I know, I could be opening a can of worms with this loaded question, but I just don’t know what tools I will need.
Lastly, Software. I’m wondering if there’s any software available that will help in learning about electronics and creating projects / circuits. I read thru some of the posts here, and I found this - https://www.new-wave-concepts.com/products.html from New Wave Concepts, they have several types of programs available. It looks like “Bright Spark” would be a good place to start, but I am willing and able to go for the “Circuit Wizard” if that will provide the same learning tools and more. If there’s other software available, would love to know about it, and which software some of you would consider the best to work with so as to help me learn as much as possible.
Ok, sorry this message is long, so here’s a short list of what I’m looking for:
1) Names of some good books for a beginner in electronics.
2) Very simple starter electronics projects for the beginner.
3) A list of what tools and testing equipment would make a good set for a beginner.
4) Software that would be good for the beginner to learn from.
Thanks in advance to anyone who can help me out with some of these questions.
-Shocks :shock: