Beginner electronics ebooks? (I'm introducing someone to the hobby)

[ivan747]

Hi guys,
I'm making a gift to someone special, my girlfriend, to get her started in electronics. She knows a *lot* of physics and basic electricity but when it comes to practical electronics she's a total noob. She's getting frustrated by it.

So I am making a component kit for her with the most used electronics components, a simple multitool, wire strippers, a breadboard and a basic multimeter, the kind you don't want to stick to the mains (my budget is tight). I may throw in an Arduino Pro mini 'cause she's studing mechatronics at college and that's what we use around there. Also she asked me about Arduino.

Now, I also need some sort of book, video lessons or text to complement this "starter pack". I was thinking of getting "Getting started in electronics" by Forrest Mims, but the book plus shipping quicklygets out of the budget. It would en up being US$25 delivered to my country. That's a dealbreaker.

The second option was a book I found at a store called Steren, basically a latin american Radioshack. They have a book very similar to Mims', almost a copy. It is US$5 but I'm not sure about it, I've found errors on a version I downloaded just to check it out.

So I am only missing a high quality text. I don't want to get it online, so I guess thebest option would be to find some sort of free text or viedo lessons, with a Creative Commons license or somthineg similar so I can print it out or burn it on a DVD without shame. Has anybody seen somehting like this?

Thanks guys
I'm open to any ideas and comments.
-Ed (not actually Ed )

[mtdoc]

Lots of good stuff HERE

[ivan747]

Hey you just gave me a good one:
http://cdn.makezine.com/make/shed/make_electronics_1.pdf

Excellent!
Update: well, I knew something was not right. That PDF is not the whole book, just a preview. The Kindle version at US$12.60 is within my reach, though. That's probably cheaper than printing an ebook. We'll see...

Update 2: forget the Arduino, I can't fit it on the budget. Anyways she's not in that level yet. Let's save that one for later.

Keep 'em coming!

I am also listening to suggestions on what I should actually include in the "starter pack". For the power supply I might use a DC power brick and etch a little adapter board to connect the barrel connector to a breadboard. Either that or a 9V battery with a clip.

[nanofrog]

Might want to give Practical Electronics for Inventors, First Edition a look (.pdf of entire book). Not the latest edition, but you can't beat free.

If you're interested in the newest revision (3rd edition), it goes for $26.01 at abebooks.com (here). $9.50 for shipping to the Dominican Republic (found shipping cost in the "Destination, Rates, and Speed" link, upper right). Comes out to $35.51 to your door.

For free online lessons, you could try the edx.org site, or a few others (not sure what would/wouldn't discourage her), so check carefully (i.e. 6.002x from MIT is a weed-out course, but highly useful IMHO).

Hope this helps. 

[mtdoc]

Hey you just gave me a good one:
http://cdn.makezine.com/make/shed/make_electronics_1.pdf

Excellent!
Update: well, I knew something was not right. That PDF is not the whole book, just a preview. The Kindle version at US$12.60 is within my reach, though. That's probably cheaper than printing an ebook. We'll see...

Did you check my link above?  From that link HERE is the page with the  pdf download for the entire Make Electronics book which I highly recommend.  Many others from that original link as well.

[vk3yedotcom]

This is a free book, downloadable in pdfs, that is highly recommended. 

Though it's more radio than general electronics.

Crystal Sets to Sideband

http://www.wa0itp.com/crystalsetsssb.html

[ivan747]

Hey you just gave me a good one:
http://cdn.makezine.com/make/shed/make_electronics_1.pdf

Excellent!
Update: well, I knew something was not right. That PDF is not the whole book, just a preview. The Kindle version at US$12.60 is within my reach, though. That's probably cheaper than printing an ebook. We'll see...

Did you check my link above?  From that link HERE is the page with the  pdf download for the entire Make Electronics book which I highly recommend.  Many others from that original link as well.

You were right, the link does give a full online book. The link with the PDF contains a sample though.
I think I will make a collection with these books you guys sugested as a supplement to the original $5 book I was planning to buy. To me it seems a very good option, as she gets lots of content focused on diferent things like general electronics, amateur radio and Arduino. THanks guys.

This afternoon I sorted out about 50% of the "starter pack". It's coming out real nicely. 85% of it comes from my own stock of components. Excellent!

[Kappes Buur]

Since she is just starting the journey of learning electronics, this might fit the bill

http://www.techideas.co.nz/