How Do I Get Started In Electronics?Back to "Music From Outer Space" Analog Synth Pages
Obtain Fundamental Electronics KnowledgeLearning about electronics is something that takes a bit of time, study, and committment. It is a rewarding hobby and can also be a rewarding and well-paying career. However it is not like fast food. You can't get it in two minutes no matter how much you may crave it. You need to read, study, and experiment (translation... spend time and effort) to get good at it. If you Google "electronic tutorials" you will find a wealth of on-line information, some free and some for a fee. There are people who sell CDs and DVDs with excellent computer training and there are books in your local library that can be rich resources to learn from. Start out with the basics, you'll be glad you did. If you use the library or on-line resources you only have to invest your time and if you find its not your cup of tea... well then nothing lost financially. If you purchase parts or books and then discover its not your cup of tea... sell the stuff on eBay (where, I am convinced, you could sell moldy personal athletic wear if you wanted to). Pick up a book about electronic principles from the library and read it. If it has self tests in it... even better. Search for the books I suggest below in your local library or on Amazon. The Forrest Mims books are paperback, reasonably priced, and excellent for beginners, the rest are priced like other college text books (pricey $$$). If you have a friend going to college ask them if they can borrow the hard cover or expensive books for you.
If these links are still alive you will find them useful and informative.
Just as in sports fundamentals are essential (dribbling, passing, making baskets) so in electronics. Fundamental skills include Ohm's law Google something like "ohms law", recognizing components and understanding what they do. A key fundamental skill you definitely need is how to read schematics the "Lingua franca" (or universal language) of electronics. There are thousands of books to help you learn this basic skill. Google something like "how do i read a schematic" to find links to great on-line resources. Find books in the library about it.
Learn From Electronics Lab KitsYou need to understand on a basic level; batteries, resistors, capacitors, transistors and ICs. A great way to do that is to get an electronics learning lab. These are reasonably priced specially designed kits that come with components and spring mounting clips that let you build and tear down electronic circuits quickly. They come with clear "step by step" directions for building several circuits and explain the electronic principles behind them. I highly recommend them if you are just starting out and want a jump start on learning about electronics.
These kits are differentiated by how many components they have and how many experiments they support. There are some example photos below. Yep, they look a little cheesy but EVERYONE starts here believe me. I would be willing to bet real money that Robert Moog himself had several of these when he was just starting out. You learn about circuits by following step by step instructions that lead you through connecting the components together by means of wires (included in the kit) that attach to spring clips which correspond to the component's leads. You learn about basic schematic symbols and schematic reading. You make sirens, radios, transmitters, LED blinkers... tons of stuff. The box will usually tell you which experiments it supports on the outside. Google for "maxitronix" to find these. Some examples:
This is a "Maxitronix 10 in 1"
This is a "Maxitronix 30 in 1"
This is a "Maxitronix 130 in 1" (You can build NASA with this one.)
Here is a site that sells them:
And another one...
And yet another one...
Radio Shack sells them too:
Electronic Test Equipment... The Tools Of The TradeBuilding electronic projects is fun and interesting but you should know what you are getting into before you buy a bunch of parts and get disappointed. Building something and knowing absolutely nothing about why or how it works can be a most frustrating experience when everything doesn't go just right (which is the usual case by the way). Armed with knowledge you simply walk through a logical series of troubleshooting steps and eventually find the problem and solve it. Radio Shack sells a lot of beginner project kits. You should try some of them and learn to solder before taking on an advanced project that requires you to build and troubleshoot a complex circuit. You would never go skiing on a black run without learning to ski first and you would certainly never try it without the proper equipment (skis for instance). So before you get into an advanced project be sure you have what you need to succeed. As you progress you will need to start buying (or getting access to at school) electronic instruments for testing and trouble shooting. To build the circuits you see on my synth-diy pages you need to have the following which can all be obtained at Radio Shack or a similar retail electronics store or on-line at Digi-Key. Also don't forget to hunt on eBay where you can find incredible deals on used equipment. Part and Equipment Suppliers
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