Thank you I like that idea. It seems like a good way to learn the relationship between voltage, current, and resistance through a real example rather than just reading about it.

Do it at first with two resistors in series ( a voltage divider). The reason is that resistors have a linear relationship between current and voltage. The results are predictable and can be predetermined by simple math.

An LED is non-linear and cannot be easily solved without some added information and math.
Take one baby step at a time.

NOTE: Never connect an LED to a voltage source without a resistor in series.

 

Can a simulator work in the real world though, I mean doesn't it calculate assuming all components in the circuit are perfect?

Yes, it can be very useful, even though it generally assumes perfect components, since the imperfections in real components at the low frequencies typical of many analog circuits will generally give simulated circuit operation close to what the real circuit does.
The sim result can be made closer to reality if such things as stray circuit capacitance, inductor series resistance, resistor tolerance, etc. are included in the sim.

A advantage of a simulator is that it allows you to optimize a circuit design, and often catches errors in your design before you build it with actual parts (it certainly has with many of the designs I've done ).
Finding a design error is generally a lot easier in the simulated circuit, as compared to the real one, since you can view may circuit voltages and currents simultaneously in a sim that is not possible with the instruments available to the typical experimenter.

 

Not that it matters, but you guys realize you're talking to a bot, right?

 

Not that it matters, but you guys realize you're talking to a bot, right?

That did cross my mind but benefit of the doubt an all that

 

Not that it matters, but you guys realize you're talking to a bot, right?

Is that a provable assertion?

 

Is that a provable assertion?

I say what I see. TIFWIW.

 

Not that it matters, but you guys realize you're talking to a bot, right?

Lol I get why you’d think that but nope, just someone trying to learn more about circuits and pick up tips from the community.

 

The photos tell me it's two different people....at least, this could be a scam account?

 

Can a simulator work in the real world though, I mean doesn't it calculate assuming all components in the circuit are perfect? I don't know never having used one and never will, I prefere to lay out a circuit on breadboard with real components and deal with the magic smoke where necessary, although so far that has evaded me. I find using a scope and dvm more exciting than the thought of a mere simulation.

That all depends on how good the device models are. My first exposure to a circuit simulator (PSPICE) was back in the DOS days when you had to type the circuit netlist manually and the waveform display was very crude. I came to the conclusion that the results were in the ballpark, but tended to be annoyingly far from measured results (but, again, usefully in the ball park). That was the attitude I had when I went to work for an ASIC design house, where I quickly discovered that results on the actual chip very often matched the simulations results to within a few millivolts. Upon reflection, this made sense. Even at that time, we were long past the days when prototyping an IC circuit on a breadboard was practical -- plus, IC circuits and discrete circuits simply don't behave the same in some key aspects (what they are sensitive to and what they aren't). So fabs spend a LOT of money developing highly accurate device models so that designers don't have to spend money on multiple fab runs in order to find out how the circuit will behave. In the discrete world, many IC models are behavioral and how good they are depends, again, on how much time, effort, and money has been spent on developing them.

 

The photos tell me it's two different people....at least, this could be a scam account?

The avatar has changed.
We have some members that change the avatar from time to time.

 

The avatar has changed.
We have some members that change the avatar from time to time.

Why would someone have two totally different pics of girls if there is only one new member...something isn't right here, but hey.....not my forum.

 

The avatar has changed.
We have some members that change the avatar from time to time.

I am generally very meticulous when it comes to welcoming new members. I do not need to be told that my account is brand new as well; I know that. But the moments this member appeared with a "chit-chat" thread instead of a question, and a female photo in a car seat!! I knew it is probably taken from some dating sites?? That is why I did NOT say a "welcome" to this member.
Besides, one can easily tell the account is new and the post is the first post, by hovering the mouse over the account, and usually, the first person who responds to such question opens with something like "welcome to AAC........." There is no need to start a thread just to say "I am new, welcome me"

 

Why would someone have two totally different pics of girls if there is only one new member...something isn't right here, but hey.....not my forum.

I've only seen the one pic. But people often use pictures that are not them. Sometimes it's a historical figure, such as Tesla (we've had several members that have used various pics of him), or sometimes just a pic they grabbed from some place online. There are people that want a pic of a person as an avatar, but they also don't want their personal picture to be publicly visible for one reason or another. We need to make moderation decisions based on demonstrated behavior, not implied and inferred intentions. If you believe the member is a bot, then you are free to ignore the thread and the member. You can also report it to the mod staff and let them decide if any action is warranted. Beyond that, let it go.

 

I am generally very meticulous when it comes to welcoming new members. I do not need to be told that my account is brand new as well; I know that. But the moments this member appeared with a "chit-chat" thread instead of a question, and a female photo in a car seat!! I knew it is probably taken from some dating sites?? That is why I did NOT say a "welcome" to this member.
Besides, one can easily tell the account is new and the post is the first post, by hovering the mouse over the account, and usually, the first person who responds to such question opens with something like "welcome to AAC........." There is no need to start a thread just to say "I am new, welcome me"

It doesn't matter whether there is a need or not, many people that join a forum do something similar. Also, remember that this may well be the very first forum that a person has ever joined. We have a very long thread in Off-Topic that is for that very purpose, but new members are unlikely to find that thread, so they start their own. The most common place for them to do so is General Electronics Chat, since that is the default forum. We generally move those threads over to Off-Topic at some point.

 

MOD NOTE: Enough with the discussion about whether this member is or is not a bot or a troll. Your option is to report the post and bring your concerns to the moderation team. They will decide what, if any, steps need to be taken. Beyond that, let it be. Ignore the thread or the member. Any future posts along these lines will be summarily deleted.

 

Good point.
The posted electronics info is of good value for those that are just looking anyway. No need to wonder if it is an actual person or not.

 

Since you want the basics and you want it to be entertaining start with something like this.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002AHQWS
You'll build circuits and see almost every component type in action.
If serious, then you make sure you can analyze and explain each circuit and why it works.
No need to worry about soldering or construction or buying sets of components, that comes later.
A kit like this from Lafayette Radio Electronics using springs as attachment points and wire jumpers led to a 48 year career as a design engineer.

 

What are some of the best beginner projects you recommend for learning fundamental concepts like voltage, current, resistance, and basic components?

Here is Fifty Five 555 circuits!
Also how to get into bread boarding

BTW, what province are you in?

 

Here is Fifty Five 555 circuits!
Also how to get into bread boarding

BTW, what province are you in?

Thanks for that, I’ll check out the 555 circuits seems like a good place to start.


I’ve been trying to get into breadboarding too, still getting used to how everything connects but it’s pretty fun so far.


I’m in Quebec by the way. How about you?

 

Here is 1-100 transistor circuits.
https://archive.org/details/1To100TransistorCircuits/page/n13/mode/2up

I'm in Manitoba!