Friend new to electronics. Where should he start?

[x88x]

Like it says. I have a friend who is interested in learning about electronics, but he's having trouble getting started. He got this (http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3814337) from radioshack, which looks like it's pretty good hardware-wise, but apparently he had trouble with the book that came with it. I took a look at some of the first book, and it look like it does a pretty good job of explaining components/etc if all you want to do is build stuff in their book, but it doesn't explain how or why anything works, which I think is a lot of what he was looking for, and imo, is more important. Knowing how to put something together is fine and all, but if you want to improve on it or make something else yourself, you need to know how it works, not just how it fits together.

So, anyways, I was wondering if anyone might have any suggestions on any good books/guides/etc that would be helpful for him. I found Make's introductory book on electronics on adafruit, and from the preview that they have, it looks to be almost exactly what he's looking for. Does anyone have any experience with that book, or any ideas?

Make: Electronics
http://www.adafruit.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=40&products_id=203

Book 1 from the kit he got:
http://www.radioshack.com/graphics/uc/rsk/Support/ProductManuals/2800027_P1_PM_EN.pdf

[Zeroignite]

I'd recommend learning not from learning how to build complex circuits at first, but actually sitting down and learning from basic concepts. Be able to use Ohm's law and do analysis of voltage drops and currents across a circuit, then maybe start moving on to stuff like power supplies and logic gates. The best rescource I can reccomend for this is http://www.allaboutcircuits.com/, They also have a pretty great forum where any questions can be answered.

[x88x]

I'd recommend learning not from learning how to build complex circuits at first, but actually sitting down and learning from basic concepts.

Yeah, that's sorta what I was trying to say. Thanks for the website, that looks great! I'll pass it on.

[dr.walrus]

You got any simulation software? I used software called Crocodile Clips back about eight years ago when I was learning this stuff at school, so I looked it up and it still exists, and it's still free. It's a bit...childish... in sppearance, but it's really helpful and you can get lots of tutorial information

http://www.yenka.com/technology/

[SXRguyinMA]

that yenka stuff looks awesome! I'm going to dl it after work and try it out. thanks!

[Twigsoffury]

I'd tell him to set aside 50$ every two weeks and enroll in a Metro Tech Campus.


You can learn anything you want...For cheap from MTC's

http://www.metrotech.org/index.shtml

There the people who taught me automotive painting, metal fabrication and basic welding, large and small engine repair, basic carpentry and a couple other goodies.

My resumes are spammed with metro tech accreditations hahahha

Not sure if MTC exists outside of the southern united states, but theres always technical training centers somewhere. and the cost is always cheap

[Oneslowz28]

I taught my self on that same board. The 2 books that come with it are about as good as it gets. Forrest Mimms III is the father of modern electronics {co founder of Mems} and has written many beginner books.

[x88x]

Well, I've passed along the suggestions to him, we'll see what happens. @Oneslowz, I did look at the books a little, and it feels like (at least the first book) that it would be great as long as you only want to do the stuff in the books...or had another source to pull on.. ...of course, knowing this guy he may have not read any of the intro...he did mention not knowing how a breadboard works, and I distinctly remember seeing that explained in pretty good detail in the intro... /shrugs

[Oneslowz28]

What I would do would be to start out on the first book and then surf the web a little at sites like electro-tech and such and once he is comfy with the basics move on the the second book and when he is comfy there buy an arduino and go from there.