Hello guys, im on a electric engineer major, but still taking physics and calc classes, and i want to start learning about electronics and start building but im not sure where to start.. not sure if i should get something like this: http://store.nutsvolts.com/product.php? ... 412&page=1 or get a book... soo let me know whats the best route for me to go thanks
Not sure if you guys have something like that kit.. or the parts separate please let me know if so.
New to electornics
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- stay@homeelectronics
- Posts: 14
- Joined: Wed Dec 30, 2009 9:18 am
Re: New to electornics
There are some good reviews of that kit at www.makershed.com under the "intro electronics" section.
I think a kit of parts and a beginner book are the best way to start learning. I have always liked to see some of these things working. Even if you are just lighting up an LED, it is nice to actually see what different resistor values do to the brightness of the LED.
It is also nice to be able to verify some of your calculations with the circuit reading. Getting an inexpensive meter to read voltage and current can be a big help.
I think a kit of parts and a beginner book are the best way to start learning. I have always liked to see some of these things working. Even if you are just lighting up an LED, it is nice to actually see what different resistor values do to the brightness of the LED.
It is also nice to be able to verify some of your calculations with the circuit reading. Getting an inexpensive meter to read voltage and current can be a big help.
- Franklin97355
- Posts: 23911
- Joined: Mon Apr 21, 2008 2:33 pm
Re: New to electornics
where do you plan to go with your career or are you just taking courses for the credits? Figure out what you want to do with the kit/parts and then find the hardware that will best support that end. What are your interests?
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- Posts: 127
- Joined: Mon Jan 04, 2010 4:09 pm
Re: New to electornics
well my interests are working with electronics build circuits and electronics systems to cotrol something... im working on a electic eng major right now, but still taking basics classes like calc and physicsfranklin97355 wrote:where do you plan to go with your career or are you just taking courses for the credits? Figure out what you want to do with the kit/parts and then find the hardware that will best support that end. What are your interests?
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Re: New to electornics
and i guess to start learning how to solder i can get something like this: http://www.makershed.com/ProductDetails ... Code=MKEL4
- Franklin97355
- Posts: 23911
- Joined: Mon Apr 21, 2008 2:33 pm
Re: New to electornics
http://www.adafruit.com/
http://www.ramseyelectronics.com/hk/default.asp?page=hk
http://www.vellemanusa.com/us/enu/produ ... ?id=523008
And many more places have kits and parts for building. If you are interested in microcontrollers try the arduino starter kit from Adafruit.com.
One thing you need to keep in mind and the point of my first post is that you need to have a project first BEFORE you go out and buy parts (horse before the cart sort of thing) to many people buy parts and then try to deceide what to make and then find out what they have isn't the best choice for what they want to do.
(I know I'm rambling, I can hear myself saying "What did he say"....Sorry)
http://www.ramseyelectronics.com/hk/default.asp?page=hk
http://www.vellemanusa.com/us/enu/produ ... ?id=523008
And many more places have kits and parts for building. If you are interested in microcontrollers try the arduino starter kit from Adafruit.com.
One thing you need to keep in mind and the point of my first post is that you need to have a project first BEFORE you go out and buy parts (horse before the cart sort of thing) to many people buy parts and then try to deceide what to make and then find out what they have isn't the best choice for what they want to do.
(I know I'm rambling, I can hear myself saying "What did he say"....Sorry)
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- Posts: 127
- Joined: Mon Jan 04, 2010 4:09 pm
Re: New to electornics
so i guess i should buy the one i posted originally to get a feeling on electronics and then move to something like this: http://www.adafruit.com/index.php?main_ ... ucts_id=68 so i can get a feeling on programing and then just start my own projects
- stay@homeelectronics
- Posts: 14
- Joined: Wed Dec 30, 2009 9:18 am
Re: New to electornics
I think the kits with some parts are a good starting point. It will give you some project ideas just to introduce you to the parts.
The arduino or similar kits will really let you take that introduction a long way.
The arduino or similar kits will really let you take that introduction a long way.
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- Posts: 127
- Joined: Mon Jan 04, 2010 4:09 pm
Re: New to electornics
is there anything i will learn from this kit: http://store.nutsvolts.com/product.php? ... 412&page=1 that i wont learn from this one: http://www.adafruit.com/index.php?main_ ... ucts_id=68 ???
- stay@homeelectronics
- Posts: 14
- Joined: Wed Dec 30, 2009 9:18 am
Re: New to electornics
I think the arduino kits are a great idea. I have been playing with an arduino for a couple of months now and I think it is definitely a good platform to learn on, both software and hardware. It will probably be more useful in the long run.
The nuts&volts kit looks like it may have a greater variety of part; however, you can always buy other parts individually when you want to experiment. The processor lets you do many more things with the parts!
And, just as a side note, I am an electrical engineer who has been in the field since the mid-90's. My background has been light on the software side so now I am using the arduino and interfacing it to my computer through the Python programming language. The arduino is definitely a good learning platform for many things!
The nuts&volts kit looks like it may have a greater variety of part; however, you can always buy other parts individually when you want to experiment. The processor lets you do many more things with the parts!
And, just as a side note, I am an electrical engineer who has been in the field since the mid-90's. My background has been light on the software side so now I am using the arduino and interfacing it to my computer through the Python programming language. The arduino is definitely a good learning platform for many things!
- henk
- Posts: 86
- Joined: Tue Nov 17, 2009 6:51 pm
Re: New to electornics
I have been looking for someone to help me get the python stuff to work on my MAC. Have been unsuccessful so far. I wonder if you would be kind enough to give me a hand and get me started?
We could do it off list if you so desire. Thanks.
We could do it off list if you so desire. Thanks.
- stay@homeelectronics
- Posts: 14
- Joined: Wed Dec 30, 2009 9:18 am
Re: New to electornics
I don't know how much help I can be on this. I have only been playing with Python for a couple of days now. Also, I am working on two Windows machines, XP and 7. The files came as windows executables so all I had to do was to press GO!
I struggled to put some extra modules in Python 3.1 so I just moved back to Python 2.6. The modules also came as windows executable files so they either work, as in 2.6, or didn't work, as in 3.1.
I haven't used a MAC in about 15 years. So, I am totally unfamiliar with the operating system.
You could try http://www.python-forum.org and post your questions there. I had limited success there with my question.
I struggled to put some extra modules in Python 3.1 so I just moved back to Python 2.6. The modules also came as windows executable files so they either work, as in 2.6, or didn't work, as in 3.1.
I haven't used a MAC in about 15 years. So, I am totally unfamiliar with the operating system.
You could try http://www.python-forum.org and post your questions there. I had limited success there with my question.
- henk
- Posts: 86
- Joined: Tue Nov 17, 2009 6:51 pm
Re: New to electornics
Thanks for your reply. I tried that forum before withe same limited success as you found . Maybe I should just keep on trying and see if I cannot get it to work. Thanks again.
Please be positive and constructive with your questions and comments.