I want to start tinkering with electronics

[Nox-]

I would like start doing some electrical tinkering/engineering as a hobby. In particular, I want to be able to build my own FM radio transmitter (some time in the far future, most likely, I realize it is an advanced goal from where I am now). I don't have the money or time to enter any kind of college course.

What kind of textbooks can I grab that will give me at least an beginner-intermediate level of electrical engineering starting from the most basic of basics? Also, how much math should I know before starting to learn about EE? I know some basic calculus (derivatives, integrals), is this enough?

So far I have downloaded some e-textbooks on the subject:

1) Electrical Engineering 101, Darren Ashby
2) The Art of Electronics, Horowitz & Hill
3) Hambley Electrical Engineering Principles, Allan Hambley

Any feedback at all is appreciated.

 

[DragonPetter]

You should be able to do a lot with algebra and trigonometry. Your basic calculus will help you a lot to get through some of those textbooks, since they pretty much do not go much farther than the basics.

I know a lot of people say good things about The Art of Electronics but that might be a big leap if you didn't learn basic circuit theory.

I guess google circuit theory, there's a lot of good tutorials and websites for it.

Also, you might want to find a good resource on digital electronics since there's a lot of fun and useful projects with digital chips.

 

[berkeman]

I would like start doing some electrical tinkering/engineering as a hobby. In particular, I want to be able to build my own FM radio transmitter (some time in the far future, most likely, I realize it is an advanced goal from where I am now). I don't have the money or time to enter any kind of college course.

What kind of textbooks can I grab that will give me at least an beginner-intermediate level of electrical engineering starting from the most basic of basics? Also, how much math should I know before starting to learn about EE? I know some basic calculus (derivatives, integrals), is this enough?

So far I have downloaded some e-textbooks on the subject:

1) Electrical Engineering 101, Darren Ashby
2) The Art of Electronics, Horowitz & Hill
3) Hambley Electrical Engineering Principles, Allan Hambley

Any feedback at all is appreciated.

Let us know how Horowitz & Hill works out for you. I like the way it goes from very basic concepts to more intermediate concepts (but I had an EE background before I read it the first time).

BTW, how did you download an e-book of H&H? Is it for a Kindle or something? How much does the e-book cost?

 

[Nox-]

Let us know how Horowitz & Hill works out for you. I like the way it goes from very basic concepts to more intermediate concepts (but I had an EE background before I read it the first time).

BTW, how did you download an e-book of H&H? Is it for a Kindle or something? How much does the e-book cost?

I'm starting with Electrical Engineering 101, before I read Horowitz and Hill. EE 101 seems to do a very good job of introducing very basics concepts first, so that when I start on H&H I won't be totally lost.

I download the H&H ebook from << Illegal website name deleted by Moderator >> if I remember right. It came in a PDF, but didn't seem to want to transfer onto my kobo ereader. I'll probably try and find it at my community college library though - it's a lot nicer to read from a physical textbook rather than a screen.

 

[turbo]

How far back would you like to go, Nox? Some basic circuits with tubes can teach you a lot, and then you learn how to adapt them to solid-state. It can be instructive to learn how to transition from circuits controlled by varying voltage to circuits that are controlled by current-based inputs. Once you get to ICs, things get a bit more complex.

 

[berkeman]

I'm starting with Electrical Engineering 101, before I read Horowitz and Hill. EE 101 seems to do a very good job of introducing very basics concepts first, so that when I start on H&H I won't be totally lost.

I download the H&H ebook from << Illegal website name deleted by Moderator >> if I remember right. It came in a PDF, but didn't seem to want to transfer onto my kobo ereader. I'll probably try and find it at my community college library though - it's a lot nicer to read from a physical textbook rather than a screen.

We do not support copyright violations here on the PF. Downloading pirated PDF copies is illegal. Please do not bring up this type of behavior here on the PF again.

Check your PMs.

 

[vk6kro]

Here is a very good practical electronics site:

http://mysite.du.edu/~etuttle/electron/elecindx.htm

There is an introduction to it here:

https://www.physicsforums.com/showpost.php?p=1097411&postcount=1

 

[pantaz]

"Electronics 101", with videos -- http://www.101science.com/Radio.htm (I know the link says "Radio.htm", but it's the correct page.)

Another good "online book" is http://www.faqs.org/docs/electric/index.htm

And, a page of links: http://www.epanorama.net/links/basics.html