DIY Learning electronics

[Shadowex3]

A while back I barely managed to kludge together an RS232<->TTL circuit to tweak a *tron monitor I had, and despite the hairpulling nosebleed inducing frustration I pretty much enjoyed myself... especially when it finally worked.

So I decided that along with a few other hobbies I had as a kid I'd pick electronics back up. I'm set for theory I think, pretty much everyone says that Forrest Mims' "Getting Started in Electronics" and the "Art of Electronics" are about as good as you get, it's just the practical side that I'm still looking at. I've seen a LOT of one-trick arduino kits with what's basically a bisquick recipe for baking something up, and the two that I've been most attracted to (and heard the most praise for so far) are the Nerdkit* and Make: Electronics (there's also a components pt2).

Are there any electronics TFPers that could weigh in on this, giving an appraisal of either of those or suggesting something similar that's good? I'm planning to learn a bit of both analog and digital electronics, digital for the microcontroller hacks and some analog because it'll come in handy in other areas.

*Ignore the $80 price, except for a handful of minor components and their PDF guide it's possible to build the entire thing for like $36.

[telekinetic]

I got and like the adafruit kit. It has a wide variety of components that were useful after I'd finished the tutorials for doing my own projects.

Starter Pack for Arduino (Includes Arduino Uno) [1.0] ID: 68 - $65.00 : Adafruit Industries, Unique & fun DIY electronics and kits

[freeload]

I went for the Teensy 2.0 board. It's sort of an arduino clone, but cheaper and with more memory. The reasons I went for something other than original Arduino boards is price - only $16 (frugal bastard) and the small size like Arduino Nano - not available at the time I bought in. For a total of $31 I got the Teensy 2.0 with header pins, breadboard, and the tutorial kit.

Teensy USB Development Board

A good reason for choosing Arduino is all the expansion shields. Just stak'em up, code a little and you've got a working prototype.

If money is tight, check out iStore, Make Innovation Easier - they are quite cheap and have a lot of parts, shields and some arduino "clones" (They aren't technically clones as the Arduino design is open source)

There's also a lot of parts to be found on eBay.

[Shadowex3]

I got and like the adafruit kit. It has a wide variety of components that were useful after I'd finished the tutorials for doing my own projects.

Starter Pack for Arduino (Includes Arduino Uno) [1.0] ID: 68 - $65.00 : Adafruit Industries, Unique & fun DIY electronics and kits

That looks like these guys. If Adafruit's tutorials are free unlike the Nerdkit tutorial then I can definitely see nabbing one of the ebay Duemilanove's and getting the best of both worlds for a better price, esp since I already have my own breadboard. How do you think it compares? It looks like it's mostly just an arduino with either a built-in breadboard or an external LCD.

[freeload]

Originally Posted by Shadowex3

That looks like these guys. If Adafruit's tutorials are free unlike the Nerdkit tutorial then I can definitely see nabbing one of the ebay Duemilanove's and getting the best of both worlds for a better price, esp since I already have my own breadboard. How do you think it compares? It looks like it's mostly just an arduino with either a built-in breadboard or an external LCD.

Just heard my credit card go "Ouch!".....

[LordEden]

This thread is relevant to my interests.

I have been thinking about learning basic soldering/wiring and taking a college class on it. I've taken basic electrical classes in HS, but nothing beyond that. I'm wondering which is best, DIY or college class?

[telekinetic]

Originally Posted by Shadowex3

That looks like these guys. If Adafruit's tutorials are free unlike the Nerdkit tutorial then I can definitely see nabbing one of the ebay Duemilanove's and getting the best of both worlds for a better price, esp since I already have my own breadboard. How do you think it compares? It looks like it's mostly just an arduino with either a built-in breadboard or an external LCD.

Arduino Tutorial - Learn electronics and microcontrollers using Arduino!

They provide a few tutorials to get you going. I bought from her mostly to support her great tutorials, not because it was cheapest. If I had to buy again, I'd probably buy from ebay or sparkfun.

[snowy]

While you're asking about more advanced stuff, Shadow, the thread title put me in mind of one of my favorite toys to play with when I babysit: Electronic Snap Circuits

[Shadowex3]

Originally Posted by telekinetic

Arduino Tutorial - Learn electronics and microcontrollers using Arduino!

They provide a few tutorials to get you going. I bought from her mostly to support her great tutorials, not because it was cheapest. If I had to buy again, I'd probably buy from ebay or sparkfun.

I think I can definitely get the best of both worlds here then because I just found

This Guy

 

This Guy

which is basically the same kit but includes the IR/LCD stuff and costs less with shipping. Ofc there's always the issue that one's a chinese bootleg but that's the way of the internets.

Does anyone have any analog experience to give an appraisal of Make's kit?

[flat5]

I would like to suggest two forums that I have found useful.

Electronic Circuits Projects Diagrams Free

All About Circuits Forum - Powered by vBulletin

[Shadowex3]

Thanks Flat, they'll probably come in handly as I start banging my head against various walls.

After a lot of checking on ebay I eventually found all the arduino kits being sold were bootlegs and had a host of issues so I just went with the adafruit starter kit. I'm going to hold off on the Make:Electronics kit until I see how this goes, maybe I'll wind up picking all of that up from working with the arduinos.

[flat5]

Enjoy your hobby!

I recommend this place for stocking basic parts and in general for what you need.
No minimum and very fair parts & shipping cost. I've used them four times. A part had a problem and they shipped me a new one. If everything is in stock your order will arrive in about seven days.

Futurlec, The Electronic Components and Semiconductor Superstore

Example:
http://www.futurlec.com/ValuePacks.shtml

[Shadowex3]

I actually live reasonably close to an honest to god surplus & parts shop, one of the real ones that looks like a mad scientist supply depot.

[freeload]

Originally Posted by flat5

Enjoy your hobby!

I recommend this place for stocking basic parts and in general for what you need.
No minimum and very fair parts & shipping cost. I've used them four times. A part had a problem and they shipped me a new one. If everything is in stock your order will arrive in about seven days.

Futurlec, The Electronic Components and Semiconductor Superstore

Example:
Value Packs

Thanks! I've been missing a good, cheap store for all the "small" parts

[flat5]

When I was a kid there were military electronics parts stores...depots maybe.
(Is that the word I'm looking for?)
Rows and rows of used electronics. Transmitters, receivers, rf parts.
I spent lots of time looking but had no money to buy. It was fun.