Teach yourself electronics/understand electronic circuits

[Bushbaby]

I would really like learn more about how circuitry actually works rather than just following what should be in a circuit. Being so close now to full retirement I really want to get 'stuck in' to the vast number of projects and repairs that I am look forward to undertaking. Can anyone point me in the right direction at all?

Best Regards

Rob

[Nick]

Get a copy of "Art of Electronics". Great great book. If you really want to understand, read it - it's a standard text and the reviews tell you what you need to know.

It takes you through from the basics onward - 3rd edition was a long time coming but was eventually published in 2015. A large percentage of all the EEs in the world will have a copy...

The Art of Electronics - third Edition https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0521809266/r...VEbWKZCBV4

[Bushbaby]

Hi Nick
I've ordered the book. I really want to get to grips with the basics in electronics so that the questions that ask in future wont appear naive and perhaps stupid.

Many thanks

Rob

[Nick]

There are no stupid questions!

Mind you, here's one: why are you ordering from Amazon at 02:15. AM? 

Or, why am I replying at 03:30?

[Bushbaby]

Hi Nick
I think its called 'keenness' (it could also be insomnia too!)

Thanks again

Rob

[Ed_Dinning]

Hi Rob, a very good precursor to the Art of Electronics is "Electronic Circuits" by Tooley

Ed

[Craig]

Having used Art of Electronics Ed 2 for years I ended up in a weird cross purpose discussion on another forum. The other person was talking about JFETs being on a certain page, and I was saying that page was about MOSFETs.

Turns out the page in Ed 2 is MOSFETs and the same page in Ed 3 is JFETs!

Buy Ed 3...but you do not need The X Chapters ( https://x.artofelectronics.net/ ) which covers additional advanced material. It is excellent, but definitely not a starter document!

Another excellent one is IC Op-Amp Cookbook by Walt Jung (3rd Ed). Another standard text when you need an op-amp circuit to do a particular function.

And a recent purchase - a reprint of Audio/Radio Handbook, National Semiconductor. That one dates from 1980, so the specific devices are very dated, but the general principles and Appendices are splendid (power supply design using Schade's principles, and noise in RIAA magnetic pickup circuits). The classic nature of that Handbook has led to its reprint 40 years after its original issue.

There are many others, but those three will keep you out of mischief for quite a while!

Craig

[Amie]

Hi I'd agree with TAOE I'm still wading through it but it is beginner accessible.

When I started to get really interested in electronics about five years ago, Dad bought me a copy of the student manual for the "Art of Electronics" its a really worthwhile companion for the main book.

If you're interested in valve  circuitry, the Radiotron Designers Handbook is very comprehensive and also very big! Its available as a free download (25Mb) PDF.  http://www.tubebooks.org/  you are looking for RDH4.

Amie

[Mike Watterson]

Agree with all that Amie.
Also if I hadn't been lazy I'd have suggested The Art of Electronics and the Radiotron Designers Handbook.
I recommend a 10" (minimum) tablet with a decent screen for old Electronics texts. There are some other good ones inc ancient RSGB and ARRL books. But I'd have to look them up.
The Art of Electronics & RDH would keep anyone busy for the next year anyway!
I only had, sometimes dubious, articles in PW, PE, WW and Television in the 1960s and early 1970s till I left school and went to Poly then BBC. Next door neighbour's son had and interest and was an Amateur, though we only met a couple of times as I was maybe 6 or 7 years younger. Some years later his mum gave me all his old Practical Electronics. All the older UK electronics / radio mags are available now as downloads. A big tablet is the best way to consume:
https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Pra...ronics.htm
also these start at the beginning and are often better:
https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Wir...gazine.htm
https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Exp...reless.htm

Also
https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Pra...gazine.htm
https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Television_IPC.htm

See the top menus "Technical & Engineering" for books and "United Kingdom & International" for magazines

The PDFs are scans with an OCR layer so searches sort of work.

[Bushbaby]

Thanks all.
Wow - I've already downloaded some of the reference books and I'm truly fascinated to see old Practical Electronics mags as I haven't seen these for year!
It's making me feel like the time I started my Masters Degree at University of Hertfordshire over 20 years ago. I'm hoping that my old grey matter will stand up to this and thank goodness I don't have to write another dissertation!

Best Regards

Rob