Electronics trainer kits

[nbritton]

I'm searching for a kick ass electronics trainer kit. Budget is $400. I'm also interested in jellybean component kits. I'm just getting re-started in electronics so I need everything.

Edit: I did play around with electronics when I was a teenager and also aced circuit analysis back in college, so I'm not starting from the very beginning level, but I haven't played with electronics for 10 years.

[nbritton]

What do you guys think of littleBits? On the surface this kit seems cool, but on closer examination it seems like you wouldn't learn anything about the underlying  electronics theory because they already did that engineering for you.

[ez24]

What do you guys think of littleBits? On the surface this kit seems cool, but on closer examination it seems like you wouldn't learn anything about the underlying  electronics theory because they already did that engineering for you.

I would take this out --> "interested in jellybean".  This is not a good thing to say on this forum and I think this will turn off people because this is an advance forum.

It might help if you state your like of digital or analog. 

Do you have any test equipment?  Some learner proto kits include a power supply and function generator.  Like this one

http://www.amazon.com/Global-Specialties-PB-503-Digital-Workstation/dp/B005S3SC0E/ref=sr_1_2?s=industrial&ie=UTF8&qid=1442777675&sr=1-2&keywords=protoboard

(it does not look like this includes components)

If you look at the manual they offer a "course" of learning with this.  I assume you have to register to use the course.  They offer a lot of stuff and you need to look around here

http://www.globalspecialties.com/

This company has been around a long time and I do not think you can lose with them.

People are going to tell you to

1. define a goal
2. start with the min components and equipment to get started  (not my advice)

Arduino suppliers have many kits.

Be sure to go through these posts to get some good docs:

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/beginners/electronics-primers-course-material-and-books/

There other forums that might be better to ask this question.

And if you buy such a "kit" please let us know.

[Aodhan145]

Go on farnell and spend your money wisely. I spent £100 on just components. I don't have that many but its enough for prototyping a lot designs. Best thing I have ever done.
The arduino kits are what got me started the only thing I really still use out of them is the breadboards. Try and find one of these kits http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/OVER-1500-PCS-ELECTRONIC-COMPONENTS-LED-TRANSISTORS-CAPACITORS-BREADBOARD-LOT-/161090437793?hash=item2581bd02a1 They are cheap and the components are shitty quality but they are great for prototyping simple designs as you get such a wide variety of values for a small amount of money.

[ez24]

Read this:

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/beginners/from-no-parts-to-decent-stockpile-best-approach/msg734584/#msg734584

I wished it was there when I started, lots of good advice from some very smart people.  Worth printing out no matter which way you go.

[ez24]

Besides eBay there is Amazon for example

http://www.amazon.com/Make-MSUMP1-Ultimate-Microcontroller-Pack/dp/B00Q0HEFUS/ref=sr_1_7?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1442784148&sr=1-7&keywords=electronic+components

They also have component kits besides learner kits

and

Aliexpress

Besides Make check out Adafruit     https://www.adafruit.com/

Buying from these companies supports the community.  I have a feeling I am missing one?

[alexanderbrevig]

I was just about to link to that thread @ez24! A ton of good advice which has helped at least one (me) so far

When I did my research I stumbled upon this http://www.ebay.com/itm/Analog-Digital-Trainers-Global-Specialties-PB-505-/221861853049?hash=item33a7ff3779 from some video on YouTube from a school where they used those boards. Do you have a multimeter and an oscilloscope from 10 years ago?

[ez24]

I was just about to link to that thread @ez24! A ton of good advice which has helped at least one (me) so far

Made a request that subject be a sticky  (the only way I know)

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/chat/sticky-request-and-secret-section/

[German_EE]

1) Start off with one of those 0,1 inch breadboards, aim for something reasonably sized because your projects may get larger later.

2) Purchase a bulk pack of resistors in all of the E24 values and a bulk pack of capacitors in all values from (say) 1pF to 100uF. Ebay is one source for these but you may find them on Amazon or (even better) a local components shop.

3) Also buy 50 x 2N3904, 50 x 2N3906, 10 x 555 Timer IC and 10 x NE5532 Op amps. Maybe add 50 x 1N4001 diodes as well, any other semiconductors can be purchased as needed, for example LEDs.

This should give you a great start in electronics but there is some other stuff that you can do to help things along:

4) Keep an eye out for stuff thrown out as trash. An old TV set can be a source for some useful components but an old radio will be better.

5) If you have a Fablab or a Maker Space in your area then head along and say hello, there's always one or two electronics geeks hanging out.

6) Try your local Ham radio club, hopefully they will make you welcome.

If you want some links to websites that have lots of circuit ideas then let me know.