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Home > Archive > Electrical Engineering > December 2007 > getting started
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| draeath 2007-12-10, 3:25 am |
| I would like to begin getting started with some minor electrical
engineering.
Right now, I don't have any tools besides pencil, paper, and
a good calculator - but when I start building things, does anyone
recommend any particular tools? I don't need the best, and would rather not
spend too much (this will be a hobby, at least at first) but I don't want
radio-shack level equipment 
I know the basics of soldering/desoldering (and indeed have done some SMD
work in training once) and have access to a cheap supplier of one-off
prototype boards (no layers, two-sided, solder/silk masking included,
drilling, etc)
Right now I'm going through the "Lessons in Electric Circuits" [1] to
give me a refresher (it's been several years since my high-school physics
and calculus classes, and a year or so from my Finite math class)
Do any of you recommend any other resources?
[1] - http://www.ibiblio.org/obp/electricCircuits/
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| Palindrome 2007-12-10, 3:25 am |
| draeath wrote:
> I would like to begin getting started with some minor electrical
> engineering.
>
> Right now, I don't have any tools besides pencil, paper, and
> a good calculator - but when I start building things, does anyone
> recommend any particular tools? I don't need the best, and would rather not
> spend too much (this will be a hobby, at least at first) but I don't want
> radio-shack level equipment
>
> I know the basics of soldering/desoldering (and indeed have done some SMD
> work in training once) and have access to a cheap supplier of one-off
> prototype boards (no layers, two-sided, solder/silk masking included,
> drilling, etc)
>
> Right now I'm going through the "Lessons in Electric Circuits" [1] to
> give me a refresher (it's been several years since my high-school physics
> and calculus classes, and a year or so from my Finite math class)
>
>
>
> Do any of you recommend any other resources?
>
Build kits. Most of the half-way competent electrical engineers (and
electronics engineers) that I know started off buying and assembling kits.
For tools, always buy the best you can afford - but with the best
discounts that you can get. Good tools will be something to hand your
grandchildren. Crappy tools will be something to prevent you having
grandchildren.. 
There is a difference between electrical engineering and electronics. If
a hammer is in your tool box - it's electrical engineering.
Always keep yourself two mistakes away from a fatal accident.
Never believe instrumentation that someone else has fitted...
--
Sue
| |
| Stuart 2007-12-10, 1:25 pm |
| In article <WU57j.55994$Hq5.40989@fe04.news.easynews.com>,
Palindrome <me9@privacy.net> wrote:
> There is a difference between electrical engineering and electronics. If
> a hammer is in your tool box - it's electrical engineering.
I have several toolboxes :-)
--
Stuart Winsor
From is valid but subject to change without notice if it gets spammed.
For Barn dances and folk evenings in the Coventry and Warwickshire area
See: http://www.barndance.org.uk
| |
| Salmon Egg 2007-12-10, 5:25 pm |
| On 12/9/07 11:09 PM, in article
DC57j.89753$Bk7.35677@fe01.news.easynews.com, "draeath"
<draeath.spamtrap@gmail.com> wrote:
> I would like to begin getting started with some minor electrical
> engineering.
>
> Right now, I don't have any tools besides pencil, paper, and
> a good calculator - but when I start building things, does anyone
> recommend any particular tools? I don't need the best, and would rather not
> spend too much (this will be a hobby, at least at first) but I don't want
> radio-shack level equipment
>
> I know the basics of soldering/desoldering (and indeed have done some SMD
> work in training once) and have access to a cheap supplier of one-off
> prototype boards (no layers, two-sided, solder/silk masking included,
> drilling, etc)
>
> Right now I'm going through the "Lessons in Electric Circuits" [1] to
> give me a refresher (it's been several years since my high-school physics
> and calculus classes, and a year or so from my Finite math class)
>
>
>
> Do any of you recommend any other resources?
>
>
> [1] - http://www.ibiblio.org/obp/electricCircuits/
I appreciate this link.
All and all, it looks like a good source of introductory material. In my
brief perusal, it looks good enough. I am sure that if I look, I will find
more picks to bone, but the only thing that caught my attention was the use
of vectors to describe complex numbers. Complex numbers are NOT vectors.
They do not obey the algebra of what is usually meant by vectors.
Unfortunately, when vectors confined to a plane are added and subtracted,
they do behave like complex numbers. For that reason, the term phasor has
been introduced to substitute for the erroneous term vector when complex
numbers are used.
This is likely to become a problem when you actually do get around to using
vectors and multiplying them using the two kinds of multiplication used for
vectors.
Getting to your inquiry, there is nothing particularly wrong with using
Radio Shack products. You might be able to find tools at a swap meet devoted
to amateur radio or computers. You could go to Ebay. Fry's is also a good
source of tools. You could also try looking up vendors in Nuts and Volts.
Unfortunately, there are few stores that cater to electronic hobbyists.
Bill
| |
|
| In article <4f4f20b2c2SW_NOSPAM@dsl.pipex.com>,
SW_NOSPAM@dsl.pipex.com says...
> In article <WU57j.55994$Hq5.40989@fe04.news.easynews.com>,
> Palindrome <me9@privacy.net> wrote:
Nonsense. My toolbox used to have a hammer in it, until I bought a
pneumatic nailer. ;-) ...still has lotsa screwdrivers though.
[color=darkred]
> I have several toolboxes :-)
Yep, one with solder, flux, and torches too. ;-)
--
Keith
| |
| Tim Perry 2007-12-11, 1:25 pm |
|
"draeath" <draeath.spamtrap@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:DC57j.89753$Bk7.35677@fe01.news.easynews.com...
> I would like to begin getting started with some minor electrical
> engineering.
>
> Right now, I don't have any tools besides pencil, paper, and
> a good calculator -
That's all an engineer needs.
>but when I start building things, does anyone
> recommend any particular tools?
Now you are talking technician, tradesman, craftsman.
>I don't need the best, and would rather not
> spend too much (this will be a hobby, at least at first) but I don't want
> radio-shack level equipment
The radio shack wire cutters are as good as any... well Greenlee cutters are
pretty nice to have too.
Go ahead and get an Xcelite basic kit. If you take care of it, it will last
forever (except for 'greenie' screwdrivers which dissapear at an astounding
rate.)
>
> I know the basics of soldering/desoldering (and indeed have done some SMD
> work in training once) and have access to a cheap supplier of one-off
> prototype boards (no layers, two-sided, solder/silk masking included,
> drilling, etc)
>
> Right now I'm going through the "Lessons in Electric Circuits" [1] to
> give me a refresher (it's been several years since my high-school physics
> and calculus classes, and a year or so from my Finite math class)
>
> Do any of you recommend any other resources?
>
yep: http://www.panavise.com/
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