3 ms·

Ask HN: I want to learn electronics design. Where should I start

35 points by zyngaro 10y ago

Hi, I have a software background and I want to lear to design electronic systems (PCP, manufacturing technologies etc). Any ideas. Thanks

sprobertson 10y ago
One good project if you're familiar with Arduino is to build your own AVR based Arduino clone. Some thorough examples: * http://makezine.com/projects/make-36-boards/make-your-own-dmn-board-part-1-layout/ http://makezine.com/projects/make-36-boards/make-your-own-dm... * https://learn.sparkfun.com/tutorials/using-eagle-schematic https://learn.sparkfun.com/tutorials/using-eagle-schematic * https://learn.adafruit.com/boarduino-kits/overview https://learn.adafruit.com/boarduino-kits/overview It's also good to know the lower level concepts of directly programming an AVR: * http://hackaday.com/2010/10/23/avr-programming-introduction/ http://hackaday.com/2010/10/23/avr-programming-introduction/ * http://highlowtech.org/?p=1695 http://highlowtech.org/?p=1695
TempleOSV409 10y ago
I took digital design. We started with gates and used a simulator. We made flip flops and microcode to make a CPU. I took courses on the M6800. We learned about 74LS logic and fanout and karnal maps and wired-or. I took a course on computer architecture. Theres a harvard architecture. I got paid to program in VAX, 68000, 8086, 8051 PIC and AtmelAvr assembly language. I also know 6502, of course, and M6800. I got a master's in electrical engineering control systems. I am an expert on differential equations. I designed and did layout on a couple circuit boards at one job. I made a 300VA line regulator at one job.
Gibbon1 10y ago
There are a lot of tutorials on the sparkfun website. https://learn.sparkfun.com/start_a_project https://learn.sparkfun.com/start_a_project I find some of the articles on PCB Design magazine to be useful for PCB layout. http://design.iconnect007.com/ http://design.iconnect007.com/ Note that a lot of hobbyists use 'Eagle' which is free(ish) as in beer. Profession tools are $$$, though Altium offers http://circuitmaker.com/ http://circuitmaker.com/ (which I can not speak for).
- zyngaro 10y ago
  Thank you for this. I am looking for more advanced or expert oriented resources that go beyond the simple concepts of electronics.
  - HeyLaughingBoy 10y ago
    You should probably start by saying what you already know so we can tailor the responses. For example Basic: https://www.amazon.com/Getting-Started-Electronics-Forrest-Mims/dp/0945053282 https://www.amazon.com/Getting-Started-Electronics-Forrest-M... Intermediate (with a heavy RF slant): http://www.arrl.org/arrl-handbook-2015 http://www.arrl.org/arrl-handbook-2015 Advanced: https://www.amazon.com/High-Speed-Digital-Design-Handbook/dp/0133957241 https://www.amazon.com/High-Speed-Digital-Design-Handbook/dp... And then there are the various subcategories: low level precision analog, high power motors and switchgear, basic digital and microcontrollers, high speed processors, etc... you're asking a wide open question. Even Manufacturing is not a simple question to answer unless given some direction. You want to make a first PC board in your bathroom, or build complex electromechanical assemblies?
    - zyngaro 10y ago
      Thank you. To narrow down the scope. Something like the raspberry pi is what I have in mind. I want to lear for example how to read and understand a hardware board design.
      - asfarley 10y ago
        There's some demand for niche accessory boards for the RPi. Relatively easy to design, too - get a basic copy of Eagle or KiCAD. I don't know if any single tutorial is going to give you what you want. I'd just dive right in, figure out what you want to do with your board, select some parts at Digikey, and start designing. Google questions as they come up.
    - zyngaro 10y ago
      Great ressources thank you.
kevindeasis 10y ago
They also have some cool project ideas at instructables.com
childintime 10y ago
That's really what electronics magazines are for! Elektor still exists, but old issues can be even more valuable to get a feel for circuits. This resource should keep you occupied for some time: https://archive.org/details/radioelectronicsmagazine https://archive.org/details/radioelectronicsmagazine
jgamman 10y ago
find and hire an expert who you get on with to guide your self-study.
neverminder 10y ago
I found this an excellent resource, it literally starts from the basics of electricity - http://www.allaboutcircuits.com/ http://www.allaboutcircuits.com/

35 points by zyngaro 10y ago

Hi, I have a software background and I want to lear to design electronic systems (PCP, manufacturing technologies etc). Any ideas. Thanks

sprobertson 10y ago

One good project if you're familiar with Arduino is to build your own AVR based Arduino clone. Some thorough examples: * http://makezine.com/projects/make-36-boards/make-your-own-dmn-board-part-1-layout/ http://makezine.com/projects/make-36-boards/make-your-own-dm... * https://learn.sparkfun.com/tutorials/using-eagle-schematic https://learn.sparkfun.com/tutorials/using-eagle-schematic * https://learn.adafruit.com/boarduino-kits/overview https://learn.adafruit.com/boarduino-kits/overview It's also good to know the lower level concepts of directly programming an AVR: * http://hackaday.com/2010/10/23/avr-programming-introduction/ http://hackaday.com/2010/10/23/avr-programming-introduction/ * http://highlowtech.org/?p=1695 http://highlowtech.org/?p=1695

TempleOSV409 10y ago

I took digital design. We started with gates and used a simulator. We made flip flops and microcode to make a CPU. I took courses on the M6800. We learned about 74LS logic and fanout and karnal maps and wired-or. I took a course on computer architecture. Theres a harvard architecture. I got paid to program in VAX, 68000, 8086, 8051 PIC and AtmelAvr assembly language. I also know 6502, of course, and M6800. I got a master's in electrical engineering control systems. I am an expert on differential equations. I designed and did layout on a couple circuit boards at one job. I made a 300VA line regulator at one job.

Gibbon1 10y ago

There are a lot of tutorials on the sparkfun website. https://learn.sparkfun.com/start_a_project https://learn.sparkfun.com/start_a_project I find some of the articles on PCB Design magazine to be useful for PCB layout. http://design.iconnect007.com/ http://design.iconnect007.com/ Note that a lot of hobbyists use 'Eagle' which is free(ish) as in beer. Profession tools are $$$, though Altium offers http://circuitmaker.com/ http://circuitmaker.com/ (which I can not speak for).

zyngaro 10y ago
Thank you for this. I am looking for more advanced or expert oriented resources that go beyond the simple concepts of electronics.
- HeyLaughingBoy 10y ago
  You should probably start by saying what you already know so we can tailor the responses. For example Basic: https://www.amazon.com/Getting-Started-Electronics-Forrest-Mims/dp/0945053282 https://www.amazon.com/Getting-Started-Electronics-Forrest-M... Intermediate (with a heavy RF slant): http://www.arrl.org/arrl-handbook-2015 http://www.arrl.org/arrl-handbook-2015 Advanced: https://www.amazon.com/High-Speed-Digital-Design-Handbook/dp/0133957241 https://www.amazon.com/High-Speed-Digital-Design-Handbook/dp... And then there are the various subcategories: low level precision analog, high power motors and switchgear, basic digital and microcontrollers, high speed processors, etc... you're asking a wide open question. Even Manufacturing is not a simple question to answer unless given some direction. You want to make a first PC board in your bathroom, or build complex electromechanical assemblies?
  - zyngaro 10y ago
    Thank you. To narrow down the scope. Something like the raspberry pi is what I have in mind. I want to lear for example how to read and understand a hardware board design.
    - asfarley 10y ago
      There's some demand for niche accessory boards for the RPi. Relatively easy to design, too - get a basic copy of Eagle or KiCAD. I don't know if any single tutorial is going to give you what you want. I'd just dive right in, figure out what you want to do with your board, select some parts at Digikey, and start designing. Google questions as they come up.
  - zyngaro 10y ago
    Great ressources thank you.

kevindeasis 10y ago

They also have some cool project ideas at instructables.com

childintime 10y ago

That's really what electronics magazines are for! Elektor still exists, but old issues can be even more valuable to get a feel for circuits. This resource should keep you occupied for some time: https://archive.org/details/radioelectronicsmagazine https://archive.org/details/radioelectronicsmagazine

jgamman 10y ago

find and hire an expert who you get on with to guide your self-study.

neverminder 10y ago

I found this an excellent resource, it literally starts from the basics of electricity - http://www.allaboutcircuits.com/ http://www.allaboutcircuits.com/