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Advice for someone that would like to take up electronics as a hobby

Krokonoster

Jun 22, 2012
3
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Jun 22, 2012
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Hi,
The last time I "touched" electronics was in college in 1992.

Having been a programmer for nearly 15 years, I'm spending an unhealthy amount of time fiddling with code and I started thinking about what I would like to take up as a hobby.

Always been interested in electronics and figured I'd really like to dig back into that.

Been thinking how I should get started. Sure there is these kits like Arduino that would be fun, but I really would like to start from scratch, learning and building stuff from scratch.

Got my hands on Make Electronics : Learning by Discovery (2009) which seems like that would be a great start, but figured I'd join this forum and ask for some opinions.

Cheers,
Krok
 

GreenGiant

Feb 9, 2012
842
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Feb 9, 2012
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starting from scratch is good but if you get something like an arduino you can run multiple experiments with the same thing, e.g. looking at voltage/current changes based on a fixed voltage input and resistors in series/parallel, you can use it as an easily set up clock (no 555 needed) for external logic systems, and for investigation of digital to analog/analog to digital conversions etc

its up to you, but with the ability to simulate a lot of the logic and digital/analog stuff it may be easier to learn with an arduino, though I really like working with discrete components as well

Green
 

Krokonoster

Jun 22, 2012
3
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Jun 22, 2012
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Thanks for the advice and thoughts.
I might just go that way, since while looking for the components and tools I need for the book I mentioned I found I would get the multi-meter nearly free if I take it along with the starter kit.
If you got a sec, check this out and let me know if it's a good starting point? (I'm still getting all the loose components required for the book. lol)
http://www.hobbytronics.co.za/p/395/hobbytronics-inventor-science-kit
 

Raven Luni

Oct 15, 2011
798
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Oct 15, 2011
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798
Greetings,

I went pretty much the same way - worked as a programmer for about the same length of time and decided to get back into an old childhood hobby. I cant be bothered with all that arduino stuff since I'm more into learning how things work from the most basic building blocks rather than having all these conveneint toys and accepting that something does work.

I spent some time reading over this site and making a few of the simple circuits (which I remembered from childhood and was getting reaquainted with) - its pretty good all round for all the basics: http://www.play-hookey.com/
 

KJ6EAD

Aug 13, 2011
1,114
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Aug 13, 2011
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1,114
Thanks for the advice and thoughts.
I might just go that way, since while looking for the components and tools I need for the book I mentioned I found I would get the multi-meter nearly free if I take it along with the starter kit.
If you got a sec, check this out and let me know if it's a good starting point? (I'm still getting all the loose components required for the book. lol)
http://www.hobbytronics.co.za/p/395/hobbytronics-inventor-science-kit

That's a little higher priced than I'd like for what's there (545 ZAR = 65 USD) and has a very limited selection of basic components. It's tailored to a prescribed set of experiments instead of being a good starter for all experiments. Do you have electronic surplus stores?
 

Krokonoster

Jun 22, 2012
3
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Jun 22, 2012
Messages
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That's a little higher priced than I'd like for what's there (545 ZAR = 65 USD) and has a very limited selection of basic components. It's tailored to a prescribed set of experiments instead of being a good starter for all experiments. Do you have electronic surplus stores?

Welcome to South Africa bro. Either you so poor have to steal sth if you want it, or you have money, but get forced to pay triple one pay abroad (Reason I normally order directly from China, but in this case I don't feel like waiting for months)

Maybe this is better, but I got no idea what is a good starting kit..... (hell, I feel so dumb)
http://www.netram.co.za/Electronics/Dev-Boards/Arduino.html
 

KJ6EAD

Aug 13, 2011
1,114
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Aug 13, 2011
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1,114
I see the problem. Taking resistors as a test case, even RS Electronics ZA has a limited selection of values. I often recommend a complete E12 set of resistors and Velleman makes a kit with 10 each of 61 values (K/RES-E12) which I'm able to get it in the US for $7 but in South Africa?

This company seems to be more hobbyist oriented than most and at least lists a broad selection of basic components.

http://www.communica.co.za/default.aspx
 
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