How to be a good circuit designer?
What is the shortest path, to know how to analyze circuits or to design them? Or either one will lead to the other?

 

Build stuff. There is no shortcut.

 

Build stuff. There is no shortcut.

No shortcuts! Indeed no shortcuts. I just want to see where should I put more focus on, since I purchased recently my first Oscilloscope and started learning the LTspice as well.

 

What oscilloscope did you get?

 

What oscilloscope did you get?

Rigol DS1052E

 

How to be a good circuit designer?

"Good" in what context? Do you want employment as an electrical engineer? Or do you just want to dabble with circuits as a hobby? There's a big difference.

In any case, you need to build, build, build. Build circuits, test them and observe their behavior, modify them to do other things or somehow change their behavior. Are the results what you expected? Why not? Force yourself to understand what you build, no matter how hard it is. Keep on building, continuously, and as you do so, study and learn the basics of DC and AC circuit analysis (and note, that does ***NOT*** stop at merely learning LTSpice!), the characteristics and behavior of common electronic components, all of the common operational amplifier circuit blocks. Read textbooks, data sheets, and the Application Notes offerings of the major semiconductor manufacturers to learn the right way to design circuits (as opposed to fooling around with stuff designed by some goofball on the Internet). Study, study, study!

What is the shortest path, to know how to analyze circuits or to design them?

Sorry, that question doesn't make much sense: you can't design a darned thing without knowing circuit analysis-- without it, all you can do is blindly fiddle.

 

how to analyze circuits or to design them?

Analog, digital, or both?

There is no shortcut. Becoming good takes time. Others will decide how good you are.

 

"Good" in what context? Do you want employment as an electrical engineer? Or do you just want to dabble with circuits as a hobby? There's a big difference.

In any case, you need to build, build, build. Build circuits, test them and observe their behavior, modify them to do other things or somehow change their behavior. Are the results what you expected? Why not? Force yourself to understand what you build, no matter how hard it is. Keep on building, continuously, and as you do so, study and learn the basics of DC and AC circuit analysis (and note, that does ***NOT*** stop at merely learning LTSpice!), the characteristics and behavior of common electronic components, all of the common operational amplifier circuit blocks. Read textbooks, data sheets, and the Application Notes offerings of the major semiconductor manufacturers to learn the right way to design circuits (as opposed to fooling around with stuff designed by some goofball on the Internet). Study, study, study!


Sorry, that question doesn't make much sense: you can't design a darned thing without knowing circuit analysis-- without it, all you can do is blindly fiddle.

Good enough to be employed as an electrical engineer and preferably good enough to build my own circuits, real circuits.

 

Analog, digital, or both?

Both

There is no shortcut. Becoming good takes time. Others will decide how good you are.

Very true!

 

You really should be more specific, but here is some advice. Always be analytical and simplify circuits by looking at the nodes. If you need to reverse engineer, get out a multimeter and check the continuity. Google part numbers to figure out what they are, and look for schematics. You need to first be able to design a good schematic. ALWAYS take into account non-idealities and test things first. Use higher rated components. Compare cost and performance. As others have said, try designing things yourself. Making things is a great way to learn how not to blow things up when it matters. These are just a few tips.

 

You really should be more specific, but here is some advice. Always be analytical and simplify circuits by looking at the nodes. If you need to reverse engineer, get out a multimeter and check the continuity. Google part numbers to figure out what they are, and look for schematics. You need to first be able to design a good schematic. ALWAYS take into account non-idealities and test things first. Use higher rated components. Compare cost and performance. As others have said, try designing things yourself. Making things is a great way to learn how not to blow things up when it matters. These are just a few tips.

Cool tips -live wire- thanks.

 

Anything in particular you have in mind?

 

Anything in particular you have in mind?

I just feel that I'm too ambitious with very humble knowledge about this field, therefore I want to listen to the experienced members' thoughts.

 

What is the shortest path

No shortcuts. Just shorts. Lots and lots of shorts.

 

No shortcuts. Just shorts. Lots and lots of shorts.

Yes. The shortest path is from power to ground and with minimal resistance.

 

No shortcuts. Just shorts. Lots and lots of shorts.

Right .... short it to make it

 

Judge a circuit not by it's series resistance, but by the quality of the components you are about to destroy, and the power you will apply to it.

 

Good enough to be employed as an electrical engineer and preferably good enough to build my own circuits, real circuits.

You should be able to build your own circuits long, LONG before you're ready for employment as an EE; I was doing it in my early teens (albeit with rather simple stuff).

But if you want to become an electrical engineer, you're going to have to go to school and earn a BSEE, at least; without the degree, you're not employable.

 

Agreed. Start off by building a crystal radio set. No power required.

 

Agreed. Start off by building a crystal radio set. No power required.

Sounds very interesting! Cool!