Advice on Electronic Labs?

T

Trent L

Guest
Hello,

I took an electric circuit theory course in
college. That was several years ago, and I've had
an itch to revisit the topic. I recently bought
the book "Teach Yourself Electricity and
Electronics" by TAB. I'm now looking for a good
electronic kit to play around with.

Radio Shack had one that caught my eye:

http://www.radioshack.com/product.asp?catalog_name=CTLG&category_name=CTLG_006_001_003_000&product_id=28-280

Also, I noticed one from a company called Ramsey:

http://www.ramseyelectronics.com/cgi-bin/commerce.exe?preadd=action&key=PL300

Has anyone used either of these? The Ramsey one
promises "300 experiments". The Radio Shack one
has documentation written by Forrest Mimms, who
seems to be highly regarded.

Thanks for any advice!
 
Trent L <spacerook@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:<EPednZoq6pgOpdPcRVn-uQ@comcast.com>...
Hello,

I took an electric circuit theory course in
college. That was several years ago, and I've had
an itch to revisit the topic. I recently bought
the book "Teach Yourself Electricity and
Electronics" by TAB. I'm now looking for a good
electronic kit to play around with.

Radio Shack had one that caught my eye:

http://www.radioshack.com/product.asp?catalog_name=CTLG&category_name=CTLG_006_001_003_000&product_id=28-280

Also, I noticed one from a company called Ramsey:

http://www.ramseyelectronics.com/cgi-bin/commerce.exe?preadd=action&key=PL300

Has anyone used either of these? The Ramsey one
promises "300 experiments". The Radio Shack one
has documentation written by Forrest Mimms, who
seems to be highly regarded.

Thanks for any advice!
Click to expand...
I don't know about the Ramsey one, but the Radio Shack kit is high
regarded and has helped start countless thousands of beginners into a
career in electronics for over 25 years.

Dave :)
 
If you want to have a lot of help in electronics, from simple stuff to
more complex things, check out http://www.fncwired.com. I wish this was
around when I was learning and experimenting with electronics.

"Trent L" <spacerook@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:EPednZoq6pgOpdPcRVn-uQ@comcast.com...
Hello,

I took an electric circuit theory course in
college. That was several years ago, and I've had
an itch to revisit the topic. I recently bought
the book "Teach Yourself Electricity and
Electronics" by TAB. I'm now looking for a good
electronic kit to play around with.

Radio Shack had one that caught my eye:


http://www.radioshack.com/product.asp?catalog_name=CTLG&category_name=CTLG_006_001_003_000&product_id=28-280

Also, I noticed one from a company called Ramsey:


http://www.ramseyelectronics.com/cgi-bin/commerce.exe?preadd=action&key=PL300

Has anyone used either of these? The Ramsey one
promises "300 experiments". The Radio Shack one
has documentation written by Forrest Mimms, who
seems to be highly regarded.

Thanks for any advice!
Click to expand...
 
Brian wrote:
If you want to have a lot of help in electronics, from simple stuff to
more complex things, check out http://www.fncwired.com. I wish this was
around when I was learning and experimenting with electronics.
Click to expand...
Thanks, I bookmarked that and will check it out
sometime. I think I would like to start with
actual hardware, though. Much of my day is spent
in front of computers (I'm a software engineer),
and I'm trying to find hobbies that don't involve
staring at a screen. Of course, electric circuits
are still pretty geeky :)
 
David L. Jones wrote:
I don't know about the Ramsey one, but the Radio Shack kit is high
regarded and has helped start countless thousands of beginners into a
career in electronics for over 25 years.

Dave :)
Click to expand...
Thanks! I have no idea what Radio Shacks's
current reputation is among electrical hobbyists,
so I just wanted to see if anyone had harsh
objections. Sounds like the kit is a safe buy. I
can't wait to start playing!
 
I can appreciate where you are coming from, I also spend a lot of time at
a computer screen. The program that you see there, is not a circuit
simulator. You won't need to spend a lot of time in front of the computer
screen (if you don't want to).

As an example, let's say that you want a power supply to power some
circuits that you want to play with. Click on the power supply section, and
enter in the output voltage and current that you will need, and it will draw
the schematic (with all the component values that you will need to build
it). Click on Print, and you will have a hard copy of the schematic to work
from (with very little time spent an the computer). Buy the parts and put it
together. You now have a power supply that fits your needs. Want to know the
formulas that were used to compute all the component values (so you will
have a better understanding of what's going on), just click on "Formulas"
(after the schematic has been displayed).

"Trent L" <spacerook@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:FdmdnXhw25Y959LcRVn-jA@comcast.com...
Brian wrote:
If you want to have a lot of help in electronics, from simple stuff
to
more complex things, check out http://www.fncwired.com. I wish this
was
around when I was learning and experimenting with electronics.


Thanks, I bookmarked that and will check it out
sometime. I think I would like to start with
actual hardware, though. Much of my day is spent
in front of computers (I'm a software engineer),
and I'm trying to find hobbies that don't involve
staring at a screen. Of course, electric circuits
are still pretty geeky :)
Click to expand...
 
Trent L <spacerook@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:<FdmdnXtw25al5tLcRVn-jA@comcast.com>...
David L. Jones wrote:
I don't know about the Ramsey one, but the Radio Shack kit is high
regarded and has helped start countless thousands of beginners into a
career in electronics for over 25 years.

Dave :)

Thanks! I have no idea what Radio Shacks's
current reputation is among electrical hobbyists,
so I just wanted to see if anyone had harsh
objections. Sounds like the kit is a safe buy. I
can't wait to start playing!
Click to expand...
Their repution is mud, no hobbyist with any clue buys parts from Radio
Shack :->

But their xxx-in-1 kits are tops. Well, actually I haven't seen the
new crop of units, but I presume they wouldn't mess with the winning
formula they had.

These kits aren't the only way to learn of course, and they won't
teach you everything, but they make a great starting point.

Using software as recommended on another reply is a contentious issue.
In theory someone could learn a heck of a lot about electronics by
using the resources available on the net and using these learning
packages to simulate circuits and operate virtual CRO's etc without
owning a multimeter, cro or breadboard. But you simply can't beat
hooking stuff up, using a real meter and CRO, blowing stuff up,
building something wrong and then troubleshooting it etc. Over time
you'll find by far that a lot of your understanding will come from
troubleshooting a faulty circuit. If you build something and it works
first go, you haven't learnt much!

Regards
Dave :)
 
As an example, let's say that you want a power supply to power some
circuits that you want to play with. Click on the power supply section, and
enter in the output voltage and current that you will need, and it will draw
the schematic (with all the component values that you will need to build
it). Click on Print, and you will have a hard copy of the schematic to work
from (with very little time spent an the computer). Buy the parts and put it
together. You now have a power supply that fits your needs. Want to know the
formulas that were used to compute all the component values (so you will
have a better understanding of what's going on), just click on "Formulas"
(after the schematic has been displayed).
Click to expand...

How much one can learn by this way, the "click" and "learn"?
 
Computers can be a very powerful tool. They can be a big time saver, or
big time waster. Your choice.

"Marlboro" <ccon67@netscape.net> wrote in message
news:e3fd5378.0409210943.29b46f27@posting.google.com...
As an example, let's say that you want a power supply to power some
circuits that you want to play with. Click on the power supply
section, and
enter in the output voltage and current that you will need, and it
will draw
the schematic (with all the component values that you will need to
build
it). Click on Print, and you will have a hard copy of the schematic to
work
from (with very little time spent an the computer). Buy the parts and
put it
together. You now have a power supply that fits your needs. Want to
know the
formulas that were used to compute all the component values (so you
will
have a better understanding of what's going on), just click on
"Formulas"
(after the schematic has been displayed).


How much one can learn by this way, the "click" and "learn"?
Click to expand...
 
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