I've been trying to build a device. I know basic electronics and I'm trying to learn electronics from scratch from the book 'Introductory Circuit Analysis' by Robert L. Boylestad. Is it worth studying this huge book just for the sake of building this device or should I take a short path?

 

hi hp,
Welcome to AAC.
Which type of Electronics is of interest?
E

 

Look at the top of this page and click on the Education tab.

 

I've been trying to build a device.

That's about as general as you can get.
What is the purpose of this "device"?
If we know that we can help narrow down what you need to learn.

 

I know basic electronics and I'm trying to learn electronics from scratch from the book 'Introductory Circuit Analysis' by Robert L. Boylestad. Is it worth studying this huge book just for the sake of building this device or should I take a short path?

That would be the slow way to build something. I think we took a term or two to get through that book.

 

That's about as general as you can get.
What is the purpose of this "device"?
If we know that we can help narrow down what you need to learn.

I'm trying to build a personal safety alarm which makes a loud noise, a bright flashes of light, location sharing and calling. I want to design my own PCB.

 

That would be the slow way to build something. I think we took a term or two to get through that book.

Thank you for the reply. So how do you think I should learn enough electronics to build a personal safety alarm which makes a loud noise, a bright flashes of light, location sharing and calling? I want to design my own PCB.

 

Thank you for the reply. So how do you think I should learn enough electronics to build a personal safety alarm which makes a loud noise, a bright flashes of light, location sharing and calling? I want to design my own PCB.

You need to learn to crawl before you can walk and run. Start with something simple.
For example, start with making something to give bright flashes of light.

 

To map out the circuit there is free Kicad, also used to product the board files neccesary for production by the likes of PCBway etc.

 

So how do you think I should learn enough electronics to build a personal safety alarm which makes a loud noise, a bright flashes of light, location sharing and calling?

Decide what is going to trigger the alarm, how you're going to make a loud noise and bright flashes of light. Location sharing and calling sound like they'll require more than just electronics. Like a smartphone with a cellular connection.

 

Thank you for the reply. So how do you think I should learn enough electronics to build a personal safety alarm which makes a loud noise, a bright flashes of light, location sharing and calling? I want to design my own PCB.

Get an Arduino learn to program it (hundreds of tutorials online). Then, using a breadboard and the internet, build your device piece by piece (reading switches, flashing LEDs, sounding piezos, connecting GPS and cellular modules) and keep playing with it till you're competent. Much better than a book.

Worry about a PCB later.

 

Get an Arduino learn to program it (hundreds of tutorials online). Then, using a breadboard and the internet, build your device piece by piece (reading switches, flashing LEDs, sounding piezos, connecting GPS and cellular modules) and keep playing with it till you're competent. Much better than a book.

Worry about a PCB later.

I've done all of these. I've used dev boards currently for the functionality so far. Everything's working. I now need to work with bare modules. I wanna move on to perf board version.

 

I've done all of these. I've used dev boards currently for the functionality so far. Everything's working. I now need to work with bare modules. I wanna move on to perf board version.

So, why do you think you need to read a book on circuit analysis to complete a perf board?

 

So, why do you think you need to read a book on circuit analysis to complete a perf board?

To work with capacitors, resistors, MOSFETS, diodes etc. I don't know how to put them together on a PCB.

 

hi hp,
A good stating point for simple projects are Bread Boards, ref link.
You can build small projects, without the need for soldering.
Do you have an old mobile phone charger, if yes it can be used as a power supply for the bread boards.

E
https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=bread+...OARD,aps,244&ref=nb_sb_ss_mvt-t11-ranker_4_11

 

One good way to learn is by doing. Get a solderless prototyping board, some resistors, capacitors, LEDs, a 555-timer IC, and a 5 V power adapter. Start by playing with LEDS and resistors and make an LED flash using the 555-timer.

A cost effective way to acquired all the components you need to get started is to buy a general purpose electronics kit that has all the above components. You might have to go to a second hand store to find a used 5 V power adapter at a low price.

Here is an example (except it doesn't show a 555-timer IC):
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Miuzei-Breadboard-Resistors-Electronic-Compatible/dp/B09WRBHS7B/

 

books on circuit analysis are not for starters. they deal with mathematical analysis. you want something simpler to start - something that explains what the parts are, see pictures of the parts and how they appear in schematics. such books typically have some 70-80% in project circuits. the rest explains things, before getting to actual circuits. then get some basic tools and parts and - have fun.

https://www.n5dux.com/ham/files/pdf/Electronics for Dummies.pdf

 

For the final circuit build using perf board, my goto is to use Veroboard, here is an example.

 

I've been trying to build a device. I know basic electronics and I'm trying to learn electronics from scratch from the book 'Introductory Circuit Analysis' by Robert L. Boylestad. Is it worth studying this huge book just for the sake of building this device or should I take a short path?

It depends on what you're trying to make and how important it is.

 

If it is for your own use, you can merely copy the circuits in the development boards. Not such a leap.