>>206751

http://www.lmgtfy.com/?q=getting+started+in+electronics

The first step in diy is learning to do it yourself.

become an electrical engineer

>>206751
Well the responses so far are pretty lame so let me see if I can do better. OP if you want to get started in dicking around with electronics. You need, a multi meter which is used to test continuity, voltage, and even some cheap ones test transistors. You will need a soldering iron. I'd get one at radio shack since just about every town has one and they also sell replacement tips, also pick up some desoldering braid, and some soldering flux. remember electronic soldering supplies are not the same as plumbing soldering supplies. You also will need some good screwdrivers and small pliers.You should probably pick one of the torx screwdrivers with multiple heads. thats the star shaped screwdriver. they're cheap at places like lowes. don't try and use a philips screwdriver to remove torx screws. I'd also go ahead and buy some wire strippers.

You also need a source of information on reading circuit diagrams. The internet is a pretty good place to find that shit. Its probably quicker to hit up some torrent sites and get some pdf's on topics like circuit analysis, electronic components,surface mount components, basic electronic skills, I'm sure you'll find plenty of information. there are also lots of good sites with free information. youtube has plenty of videos on teaching you how to solder, use a multi meter and what the components are. the components you will likely deal with initially if you learn by experimenting with broken electronics are capacitors, resistors, diodes, and transistors. learn what those are and how they work in a circuit. Aside from a well lit level surface to work on all you really need are some broken electronics to take apart and start fucking around with they're also a good source of cheap parts. Goodwill and the trash are good sources for those. I would recommend that you find a broken device that can be useful to you if you fix it since initially you will spend way more time learning about fixing the circuit then the device will be worth. Aside from that you just need a good sized level surface to work on with a good light source. Have fun and don't pay any attention to people who try to discourage your curiosity.

Building a 555 astable multivibrator is a good beginner project. Once it's done you can expand on it a lot of ways: Connect it to some MOSFETS to drive motors or lightbulbs, hook it to a binary counter chip, etc.

You'll want to learn microcontrollers (programmable computer chips) eventually, but wait until you understand how to use the basic components first. I see a lot of hobbyists buying arduinos to accomplish the same job a couple D-flip flops would do, or failing to understand something simple like how a TTL IO pin can't directly drive a 12v 1A light, or that switches need pull down resistors.

http://www.ebook3000.com/Make--Electronics--Learning-Through-Discovery_45673.html

>>206809
i have this book :)

>>206809
also handy?
the Engineers Mini-Notebook series from Mims, originally distributed by radioshack/tandy when they were more then just a cell-phone store with a box of resisters in the back.

Small books focused on specific project types, meant to help someone with basic knowledge do cool things.

Same boat as OP. Should I start with Mims or Make: Electronics? Also, I'm heading to the flea market soon. Are there any moderately easy broken electronics I can pick up there that are useful or resellable for a small profit?

Op here, thank you all for the tips, now I have something to get started and work with.

>>206772
>>206769


Thanks to you too, I hope both of you get hemorrhoids soon as is the only thing will motivate you to get your heads out of your respective asses, apart from surgery. Maybe is not too late.

>>206821
the Make:Electronics book looks like a good place to start if you have near-zero knowledge. The sequential-project format seems sensible to my flipping through.

And rather then worrying about trying to do electronic repairs just yet consider picking up some broken electronics on the cheap/free to tinker with.

Tear apart that old VCR and fiddle with a motor. Hook a read-head up to an amp and try to make a guitar pickup. Get lucky and find a unit with the VFD (those old fashioned displays that lit up green, had a large matrix for displaying things, but not LED) intact and making a neat output device.

Then when you feel competent you can start researching more about diagnostics and repair.
>or sell "steampunk" displays for more then the worth of an old VCR.
>i will forgive the use of the "steampunk" term as long as you dont glue watch-elements and gears all over it.
>gorram gears.. just hotglued everywhere.. ughghhgh

>>206844
to be fair, Getting Started In Electronics is the name of a rather good book about, well, getting started in electronics.

http://ocw.mit.edu/courses/electrical-engineering-and-computer-science/6-002-circuits-and-electronic
s-spring-2007/video-lectures/


if you want to learn basic introduction circuit analysis

>>206844

Hey motherfucker, why don't you put the slightest bit of effort into it first before you come here expecting us to spoon feed you everything? It really is the /diy/ way. You're in for a metric fuckton of failure in electronics if you can't even be bothered to do the slightest research on a topic before asking for help.

A better approach would have been:

"Hey /diy/, I spent five seconds of my precious time and did a google search about beginning electronics and found that people recommended the Make: electronics books and the Forrest Mims series. Do you prefer one over the other, and are there any other resources I could look at?"

Don't get pissy, we're just trying to imbue you with the /diy/ spirit, which doing some of your own fucking research is a part of.

>>206865

OP, here, I bet your parents are first grade cousins...

Oh by the way I did check google first, dimwit, as a matter of fact I've been doing it for a while, thank you, but you know, electronics is not learning how to carve pretty figures on wood with a dremel, change the oil &f filter to your geo metro or fix a power outlet, it's easy to get lost and make costly mistakes if you doesn't have a bit of orientation, that was what i asked.

>Don't get pissy, we're just trying to imbue you with the /diy/ spirit, which doing some of your own fucking research is a part of.

I don't but i have already saw /g/ going down thanks to idiots like you and would be a shame to see the same happening here.

Floyd - Electronic devices.
Any adition will do. If you read the whole book and do all the exercises you will know electronics.
You should also be able to design stuff like amplifiers built from discrete components etc.