5 ms·

Ask HN: Books to read on electricity

8 points by nikmobi 10y ago

Hi HN, I spend a lot of time playing with circuits, MCU's, etc, but still feel like I lack the most basic fundamentals on how electricity works in general. Can anyone recommend any books that wouldn't be unreadable for someone without an EE or physics degree?

greenyoda 10y ago
Some suggestions were posted here a few days ago: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=12264359 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=12264359
- nikmobi 10y ago
  Thanks a lot for the link! That thread seems a bit more geared towards design and high level projects. To clarify, I've worked on a enough projects (hobby and professionally) to be able to get the job done (calculating resistance when needed etc), but want to gain a lower level understandings of electricity itself. E.g. alternating current/negative voltages still seems really odd to me, which tells me I'm lacking fundamental knowledge. Hopefully this clarifies what I'm asking for, and thanks again for the link!
  - greenyoda 10y ago
    Some of the articles on Wikipedia are pretty good sources of fundamental knowledge. For example, here's their article on alternating current: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alternating_current https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alternating_current
  - lovelearning 10y ago
    I think these 2 favorites of mine will help you: - Tony Kuphaldt's books: http://www.allaboutcircuits.com/textbook/ http://www.allaboutcircuits.com/textbook/ and related forum http://forum.allaboutcircuits.com/ http://forum.allaboutcircuits.com/ - "Practical Electronics for Inventors" by Paul Scherz Both books start at explain-like-I'm-5 level and build up the narrative from there. The forum too is a great resource; lots of questions and good answers on fundamentals just like yours.
    - nikmobi 10y ago
      I will check these out! Thanks a lot I really appreciate it.
yetanotheracc 10y ago
Edward Purcell, Electricity and Magnetism, it is a standard lower division undergraduate textbook. The only prerequisites are basic calculus and some mechanics.
irremediable 10y ago
I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Stan Gibilisco's Teach Yourself Electricity and Electronics. It got me into electronics as a curious teenager, and helped get me through the EE part of my undergrad degree.

8 points by nikmobi 10y ago

greenyoda 10y ago

Some suggestions were posted here a few days ago: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=12264359 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=12264359

nikmobi 10y ago
Thanks a lot for the link! That thread seems a bit more geared towards design and high level projects. To clarify, I've worked on a enough projects (hobby and professionally) to be able to get the job done (calculating resistance when needed etc), but want to gain a lower level understandings of electricity itself. E.g. alternating current/negative voltages still seems really odd to me, which tells me I'm lacking fundamental knowledge. Hopefully this clarifies what I'm asking for, and thanks again for the link!
- greenyoda 10y ago
  Some of the articles on Wikipedia are pretty good sources of fundamental knowledge. For example, here's their article on alternating current: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alternating_current https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alternating_current
- lovelearning 10y ago
  I think these 2 favorites of mine will help you: - Tony Kuphaldt's books: http://www.allaboutcircuits.com/textbook/ http://www.allaboutcircuits.com/textbook/ and related forum http://forum.allaboutcircuits.com/ http://forum.allaboutcircuits.com/ - "Practical Electronics for Inventors" by Paul Scherz Both books start at explain-like-I'm-5 level and build up the narrative from there. The forum too is a great resource; lots of questions and good answers on fundamentals just like yours.
  - nikmobi 10y ago
    I will check these out! Thanks a lot I really appreciate it.

yetanotheracc 10y ago

Edward Purcell, Electricity and Magnetism, it is a standard lower division undergraduate textbook. The only prerequisites are basic calculus and some mechanics.

irremediable 10y ago

I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Stan Gibilisco's Teach Yourself Electricity and Electronics. It got me into electronics as a curious teenager, and helped get me through the EE part of my undergrad degree.