Some tips please about going through Art of Electronics

[rstofer]

I keep reading about this book.  I don't have my college textbooks so I was tempted to buy this one, but I'm somewhat old school and sometimes like to use a book rather than a ebook.  I can't decide if I should look for some old college textbooks.  Actually found the old 8085 one we used.

There are so many books out there it is hard to recommend anything.  In a lot of ways it depends on where you want to go.  AoE seems to be very approachable but so far I haven't seen the rigor of a college text but it's early and I have a long way to go with the book.  What it does have is a lot of practical circuits and comments about why things don't work.  For a hands-on approach, AoE and LTAoE seem to be a great way to go.  I need to spend more time with both of them.

"Electrical Engineering Principals and Applications" by Hambley is a lot more rigorous
http://www.roneducate.com/uploads/6/2/3/8/6238184/engr_1303_electrical_engineering_textbook_new.pdf

Page 219 is interesting...  as an example.  Actually, it looks a lot uglier than it is!

Back in the dark ages, the math was a problem.  Not only was it ugly, we didn't have tools to make it easier.  I was one of the fortunate ones, I had access to an IBM 1130 with the IBM Electronic Circuit Analysis Program (Hollerith card based predecessor to LTspice) and a drum plotter.  Bode' plots were kind of fun, actually!  Still, there was a lot of drudgery.  With the tools we have today, this stuff should be a cake walk.  Spend less time slipping the stick and more time thinking about the deeper meaning.

Engineers draw pictures as Step 1.  Drawing a graph is similarly important.  It's great when the machine will compute the points and you can sit back and reflect on the importance.

[rstofer]

Wow...is the slide rule really that quick? Impressive!

Absolutely, just slide the cursor to 'x' on the D scale and read e^x on the LL3 scale for 'x' in the range of 1..10  e³ is about 20.0
There are other scales for other ranges.  2 on D scale gives 1.22 on the LL2 scale: e^0.2 = 1.22.  I don't even have to move the slide, just the cursor.

True story, during WW II, the Alamogordo scientists would race the electric calculators with the slide rules.  They usually won!

The slide rule got us to the moon and it got us home

http://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2014/10/22/356937347/the-slide-rule-a-computing-device-that-put-a-man-on-the-moon
 

[eugenenine]

I keep reading about this book.  I don't have my college textbooks so I was tempted to buy this one, but I'm somewhat old school and sometimes like to use a book rather than a ebook.  I can't decide if I should look for some old college textbooks.  Actually found the old 8085 one we used.

There are so many books out there it is hard to recommend anything.  In a lot of ways it depends on where you want to go.  AoE seems to be very approachable but so far I haven't seen the rigor of a college text but it's early and I have a long way to go with the book.  What it does have is a lot of practical circuits and comments about why things don't work.  For a hands-on approach, AoE and LTAoE seem to be a great way to go.  I need to spend more time with both of them.

"Electrical Engineering Principals and Applications" by Hambley is a lot more rigorous
http://www.roneducate.com/uploads/6/2/3/8/6238184/engr_1303_electrical_engineering_textbook_new.pdf

Page 219 is interesting...  as an example.  Actually, it looks a lot uglier than it is!

Back in the dark ages, the math was a problem.  Not only was it ugly, we didn't have tools to make it easier.  I was one of the fortunate ones, I had access to an IBM 1130 with the IBM Electronic Circuit Analysis Program (Hollerith card based predecessor to LTspice) and a drum plotter.  Bode' plots were kind of fun, actually!  Still, there was a lot of drudgery.  With the tools we have today, this stuff should be a cake walk.  Spend less time slipping the stick and more time thinking about the deeper meaning.

Engineers draw pictures as Step 1.  Drawing a graph is similarly important.  It's great when the machine will compute the points and you can sit back and reflect on the importance.

I don't know exactly where I want to go, I seem to have major project ADHD

Maybe part of it is to just make sure I don't forget everything I learned 25 years ago

[JenniferG]

At the end of the preface to the first edition the authors write: "This book can be used.... with only a minimum mathematical prerequisite; namely some acquaintance with trigonometric and exponential functions, and preferably a bit of differential calculus.". I would also like to point out that Appendix A is called "Math Review" and even if it's not comprehensive enough to get you back on top of things, you at least get an idea about the concepts you need to refresh.

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

Thanks for this info. I think I'll use Kahn University videos to supplement Appendix A.

[JenniferG]

The really intimidating aspect of the Art of Electronics (and its beauty, at the same time) is its sheer bulk...   Two ways to approach it, I think: Either go slowly and methodically, and don't expect do be done in a few weeks. Or use it as a reference, or a "tutorial on whatever topic interests me right now"; i.e. don't go through the whole book systematically, but read individual sections when you are interested in them. A perfectly viable way to use the book, in my experience.

I'd love it if I could get through the pair of AoE books in a year, working on it each day.  Don't know if this is obtainable.  Again, I don't work.

[tggzzz]

The really intimidating aspect of the Art of Electronics (and its beauty, at the same time) is its sheer bulk...   Two ways to approach it, I think: Either go slowly and methodically, and don't expect do be done in a few weeks. Or use it as a reference, or a "tutorial on whatever topic interests me right now"; i.e. don't go through the whole book systematically, but read individual sections when you are interested in them. A perfectly viable way to use the book, in my experience.

I'd love it if I could get through the pair of AoE books in a year, working on it each day.  Don't know if this is obtainable.  Again, I don't work.

I would hope it is not possible - because I would hope some part has inspired you to go off and do something of your own

[eugenenine]

They look about the same size as college textbooks.  I think my first college textbook and lab manual was used for two trimesters (we had three a year) so about 2/3 a year.

If you really want a time goal like a year.  take the table of contents for each and work our a syllabus so you can keep somewhat on schedule.

Clear a place if you can (part of my problem now is no dedicated space) and set aside a consistent time each day to sit down and work through it.

[JenniferG]

The really intimidating aspect of the Art of Electronics (and its beauty, at the same time) is its sheer bulk...   Two ways to approach it, I think: Either go slowly and methodically, and don't expect do be done in a few weeks. Or use it as a reference, or a "tutorial on whatever topic interests me right now"; i.e. don't go through the whole book systematically, but read individual sections when you are interested in them. A perfectly viable way to use the book, in my experience.

I'd love it if I could get through the pair of AoE books in a year, working on it each day.  Don't know if this is obtainable.  Again, I don't work.

I would hope it is not possible - because I would hope some part has inspired you to go off and do something of your own

Well I was thinking I'd do my own stuff after I finished the book   Perhaps I might skip some sections I am not interested in at the time.   And read those sections later when the project I am currently working on calls for it.  On the other hand, I figure if I get through it all first, my mind might be more creative and let me create something unique with a hybrid of technologies.

[JenniferG]

They look about the same size as college textbooks.  I think my first college textbook and lab manual was used for two trimesters (we had three a year) so about 2/3 a year.

If you really want a time goal like a year.  take the table of contents for each and work our a syllabus so you can keep somewhat on schedule.

Clear a place if you can (part of my problem now is no dedicated space) and set aside a consistent time each day to sit down and work through it.

Thanks!  To be honest, right now since I don't have an electronics workbench, I am just gonna throw my scope, meters, power supplies, breadboards and laptop computer on my kitchen table   We never eat at the table anyways and I've done lots of crafts on it, at times, for extended periods of time, in the past.

[tggzzz]

The really intimidating aspect of the Art of Electronics (and its beauty, at the same time) is its sheer bulk...   Two ways to approach it, I think: Either go slowly and methodically, and don't expect do be done in a few weeks. Or use it as a reference, or a "tutorial on whatever topic interests me right now"; i.e. don't go through the whole book systematically, but read individual sections when you are interested in them. A perfectly viable way to use the book, in my experience.

I'd love it if I could get through the pair of AoE books in a year, working on it each day.  Don't know if this is obtainable.  Again, I don't work.

I would hope it is not possible - because I would hope some part has inspired you to go off and do something of your own

Well I was thinking I'd do my own stuff after I finished the book   Perhaps I might skip some sections I am not interested in at the time.   And read those sections later when the project I am currently working on calls for it.  On the other hand, I figure if I get through it all first, my mind might be more creative and let me create something unique with a hybrid of technologies.

My approach is to skim it quickly so that I have a clue what it contains, accepting that I'll be diverted down interesting alleys.

Then start doing something, and refer back to the relevant sections.

[eugenenine]

They look about the same size as college textbooks.  I think my first college textbook and lab manual was used for two trimesters (we had three a year) so about 2/3 a year.

If you really want a time goal like a year.  take the table of contents for each and work our a syllabus so you can keep somewhat on schedule.

Clear a place if you can (part of my problem now is no dedicated space) and set aside a consistent time each day to sit down and work through it.

Thanks!  To be honest, right now since I don't have an electronics workbench, I am just gonna throw my scope, meters, power supplies, breadboards and laptop computer on my kitchen table   We never eat at the table anyways and I've done lots of crafts on it, at times, for extended periods of time, in the past.

That makes a big difference.  I carry my tools down from my closet and start plugging it in and one of my kids needs the table for homework so I put it away before I can start anything.  I've been looking at portable bench ideas.  To be able to spend more time working on a project than the time setting up the tools and putting them away helps.

[ady.price]

At the end of the preface to the first edition the authors write: "This book can be used.... with only a minimum mathematical prerequisite; namely some acquaintance with trigonometric and exponential functions, and preferably a bit of differential calculus.". I would also like to point out that Appendix A is called "Math Review" and even if it's not comprehensive enough to get you back on top of things, you at least get an idea about the concepts you need to refresh.

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

Thanks for this info. I think I'll use Kahn University videos to supplement Appendix A.

There are a lot of calculus courses on coursera also. I liked the professor from Ohio State course(I think his courses are called Calculus one and Calculus two).

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

[mtdoc]

There are a lot of calculus courses on coursera also. I liked the professor from Ohio State course(I think his courses are called Calculus one and Calculus two).

Yeah that's a great calculus course - great visual aids.  It's called Mooculus!   I watched some of the lectures on Coursera but it has it's own website with links to all the lectures on youtube:

Mooculus

It also has a free textbook!

But, as great as it is - none of it is needed for The Art of Electronics!

[Brumby]

Wow...is the slide rule really that quick? Impressive!

Indeed.  The slide rule is actually closer to quantum computing than any calculator.

Set it up for a simple function and (within a given range) it gives you all the answers at the same time - you just have to pick the right one!

[ady.price]

There are a lot of calculus courses on coursera also. I liked the professor from Ohio State course(I think his courses are called Calculus one and Calculus two).

Yeah that's a great calculus course - great visual aids.  It's called Mooculus!   I watched some of the lectures on Coursera but it has it's own website with links to all the lectures on youtube:

Mooculus

It also has a free textbook!

But, as great as it is - none of it is needed for The Art of Electronics!

thanks for the link

[oldway]

Very interesting too, with tons of circuits, Encyclopedia of Electronic Circuits [Vol 1 of 6] - R. Graf (TAB, 1985)

[SingedFingers]

Very interesting too, with tons of circuits, Encyclopedia of Electronic Circuits [Vol 1 of 6] - R. Graf (TAB, 1985)

Available from archive.org:

https://archive.org/details/EncyclopediaOfElectronicCircuits

[rstofer]

In messing around with LTAoE, I see that most of the theory is developed right there.  AoE is used as a reference only.

It's no secret that I like the Digilent Analog Discovery for working the lab problems.  I decided to work through lab 2L.2 which is a frequency domain view of a low pass filter.  We know from the components (15k resistor, 0.01 ufd capacitor) that the 3dB corner frequency should be around 1061 Hz and the phase shift at the 3dB point should be -45 degrees.

So I tried it with the AD and got a 3dB point of 1139 Hz and -44.8 degrees.  There are component tolerances that account for the difference.

LTAoE discusses how to get the Bode' plot on a scope by using XY mode and a signal generator that outputs both sine and ramp as well as a trigger.  That method of sweeping will probably work (I didn't try it) but it implies a lot of capability on the part of the signal generator.  The better dual channel generators can do this with no problem.  At some lower price point, this simply isn't going to happen.

This idea of sweeping frequency and measuring amplitude and phase is what the Bode' plot is all about.  The Network feature of the Analog Discovery does a pretty nice job of producing the entire plot.

[mtdoc]

It's no secret that I like the Digilent Analog Discovery for working the lab problems.

I agree. The AD is excellent!

LTAoE discusses how to get the Bode' plot on a scope by using XY mode and a signal generator that outputs both sine and ramp as well as a trigger.  That method of sweeping will probably work (I didn't try it) but it implies a lot of capability on the part of the signal generator.  The better dual channel generators can do this with no problem.  At some lower price point, this simply isn't going to happen.

Not too difficult. Dave did a video on this:

[rstofer]

That's an interesting way to go about it!

[JenniferG]

Oh my, that scope is over 5 grand.  I'd never be able to afford one like that!  Wow!

[mtdoc]

Oh my, that scope is over 5 grand.  I'd never be able to afford one like that!  Wow!

Yes, Dave has a bad case of GAS - but has the advantage of getting most of his gear for free!

FWIW - the same thing could be done with an inexpensive used analog scope (like your Tek 2225) or inexpensive ($300-400) DSO.

Of course the $280 Analog Discovery will do Bode plots up to 10MHz without the fuss.

[rstofer]

One reason I come back to these RC circuits is that I remember having to take discrete measurements and plot the graphs by hand for a 1 unit lab course.  It was no big deal, really, but it was easier in the frequency domain than in the time domain.  Time marches on, get the readings quick!

The tools we have today take all of the grunt work out of learning.  Alas, it takes time to learn how to use the tools.

[iainwhite]

Oh my, that scope is over 5 grand.  I'd never be able to afford one like that!  Wow!

If you want a chance to win a Keysight scope during March, check out www.scopemonth.com
(ok, most of the prize ones are not the 5 grand version...)

[rstofer]

Oh my, that scope is over 5 grand.  I'd never be able to afford one like that!  Wow!

Then I suppose the $200,000 model is out of the question?  That's 6 times the cost of my first house (a long time ago)!

http://www.keysight.com/en/pcx-x205212/infiniium-z-series-oscilloscopes?nid=-32529.0&cc=US&lc=eng

At least it has 4 channels!

These scope prices vary all over the map.  That's one reason to drive a stake in the ground at a price point and work from there.  There is always something a little bit better for a bunch more money.