Electronics > Beginners

Where to find beginner projects

<< < (3/5) > >>

rstofer:
Everything that can possibly be done with an Arduino has been done and the project is on the Internet.

It's debatable whether these projects teach anything about electronics, and in my view they don't, because all the experimenter has to do is copy and paste.  But success is almost guaranteed if the project is copied correctly so that's really a good thing.  Success is good!

What it does require is C or C++ programming skills if the project is going beyond copy and paste.  That's not a bad thing because embedded programming and IoT are currently the 'shiny objects'.  Programming skills will be handy.

In any event, it's a worthwhile start and, as mentioned above, can provide a lot of motivation to explore in the analog end of the sandbox.

The problem with the conventional approach to teaching electronics is that it takes a couple of years of theory before things get interesting and it's hard to stay motivated.  Better to start by building things and learning along the way.

The good news is EEVblog, almost any question can be answered by somebody around here.

Wimberleytech:

--- Quote from: rstofer on February 11, 2019, 02:00:23 am ---Everything that can possibly be done with an Arduino has been done and the project is on the Internet.

It's debatable whether these projects teach anything about electronics, and in my view they don't, because all the experimenter has to do is copy and paste.  But success is almost guaranteed if the project is copied correctly so that's really a good thing.  Success is good!

What it does require is C or C++ programming skills if the project is going beyond copy and paste.  That's not a bad thing because embedded programming and IoT are currently the 'shiny objects'.  Programming skills will be handy.

In any event, it's a worthwhile start and, as mentioned above, can provide a lot of motivation to explore in the analog end of the sandbox.

The problem with the conventional approach to teaching electronics is that it takes a couple of years of theory before things get interesting and it's hard to stay motivated.  Better to start by building things and learning along the way.

The good news is EEVblog, almost any question can be answered by somebody around here.

--- End quote ---

Yup...there is nothing new under the sun.  But arduinos are fun.
Oh, my...I think I am a poet.
There is nothing more motivating than to do something (even if it is not original) and see it work in front of you.

I enjoyed every step of my formal education...well...I hated the motors lab...too damn scary...prolly dont even teach that any more.

nick_d:
The fundamental problem with starting from scratch in electronics is that it is quite a technical subject. Study pure maths for a couple of years so that you understand about solving differential equations, and then encounter an R/C circuit, and you will be quite well equipped to understand how it works. Similarly, complex analysis and AC.

However, it is seldom learned in that order. Indeed you probably have to play with R/C circuits or AC circuits a bit to motivate why you should learn that difficult maths in the first place.

So with this chicken and egg situation, the problem facing a beginner is where to start. You just have to jump in and try to build something. You won't get it fully the first try. But each project highlights your current weaknesses and helps you decide what to study or build next.

In response to OP's concrete question: if the course says build a 555 timer but only gives a bare circuit and no explanation then either (1) decide not to build a 555 timer and find another course or (2) decide to build a 555 timer and find additional resources on it.

cheers, Nick

rstofer:

--- Quote from: nick_d on February 11, 2019, 02:25:22 am ---The fundamental problem with starting from scratch in electronics is that it is quite a technical subject. Study pure maths for a couple of years so that you understand about solving differential equations, and then encounter an R/C circuit, and you will be quite well equipped to understand how it works. Similarly, complex analysis and AC.

--- End quote ---

I realize that I am as bad as anyone around here for harping on the math.  In a typical community college curriculum, you would have had Calc II and be taking Differential Equations concurrently when you hit your first circuits class.  Worse yet, there's a year long Pre-Calc course that will be required of all except the High School AP students.  Not so much required as a pre-requisite if the skills exist but required in the sense that you are unlikely to succeed in Calc I without the skills.  Calculus isn't hard, it's the Pre-Calc that will kill you.

And yet, I manage to play with electronics at some level with only Ohm's Law and perhaps Kirchhoff's Laws and a basic understanding of datasheets for op amps and transistors.  I'm not designing space going hardware and nothing I do will break new ground.  I just play with stuff.

Yes, I probably have the math skills and the school thing but, really, I don't use that stuff very often.  I like to play with Arduinos and, more probably, ARM processors.  I really like to design logic circuits so, more often than not, I'm  working with FPGAs.  But, even there, math isn't much of a requirement.

Find circuits that are interesting, build them and see how it works out.  If it fails, no problem, try again!  Or post the circuit and a description of the problem on EEVblog.

You can't do much with the hobby with NO math but a little Algebra (and darn little) along with Ohm's Law and you can go quite a long way.  Given resources like Khan Academy, the math thing is pretty easy to learn.  And they have an EE curriculum as well.

We just need to separate out the hobby part of electronics from the technician and engineering parts.

Arduinos are fun!  Robotics is interesting without necessarily requiring advanced skills.  Check out https://www.pololu.com/

alex.martinez:

--- Quote from: lieinking on February 10, 2019, 09:48:20 pm ---I've been sick so I'm not working. I decided to do this as a hobby and am learning mainly from allaboutcircuits.com. My problem is I can't find beginner projects easy enough for me. I've mad a simple circuit with an LED but the next simplest circuit I found is a flashing LED which uses a 555 timer. There's no explanation other than a schematic. Every other online project I see is more difficult. I'm looking for projects that walk you through holding your hand. Where Can I find the simplest projects with good guidance?

--- End quote ---

555 times are relatively easy if you understand how the IC works internally (and this why it is called 555 timer). Here you have an explanatory video about the 555 timer.

https://youtu.be/i0SNb__dkYI

As to where find detailed projects, I recommend you start with YouTube channels like GreatScott! or similar. The projects they feature are relatively easy and interesting while being well explained, conceptually that is.

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[#] Next page

[*] Previous page

There was an error while thanking
Thanking...
Go to full version
Powered by SMFPacks Advanced Attachments Uploader Mod