How to Learn Electronics: Start Here

In this video we explore the process of learning Electronics from the perspective of self-education. I share the tips and techniques I developed along my personal journey of learning Electronics.

Update: The first actual teaching video is up:

[guatagel]

One more thing: in the book "The Art of Unix Programming" there is a 3 rules set that say:
-Make it work
-Then make it right
-Then, and just then make it fast.

I changed this rules to work in electronics, and I have since my best results:
-Prototype and iterate versions as soon as possible and make it work
-Then make it precise/accurate
-Then, and just then make it efficient/cost effective/low energy.

[harishanganeshan]

I love how he's wearing a different shirt in each scene

[helifynoe]

At my first job attempt at the age of 17, I failed the test and was emotionally upset. But they hired me anyways. I was now repairing TV converters. Typically, other techs were repairing 20 a day, but I was repairing about 60. So I soon was promoted to the Quality Control department. I had gone to the machine shop and made a repair tool that sped repairs up dramatically. Plus they only had a channel 2 test signal, so you didn't really know if other channels of a unit to be repaired were actually working. Thus some techs got repaired units sent back to them by the final unit testers. So I took a converter and reversed the RF amps such that it now worked in reverse and converted channel 2 into any other test channels selected. Thus I could test all channels of a unit that was to be repaired. That sped things up as well. Later on I was promoted to engineering department and was responsible for all production line test equipment. My boss eventually quit the company and moved on to another company. He hired me, and gave me a 57% pay increase. I was now earning more than some of the engineers in the old company. Not bad for a grade 10 dropout who also failed a previous grade, and whose school teachers thought I was one step away from being mentally challenged. LOL

[paulc]

When I started to learn, it was my Grandfather who was a radio Amateur who taught me the joy of Electronics, later on I took and passed my Amateur Radio licence along with Morse code, followed by a TV repair shop, after I kept looking through the back door as the engineers fixing TV's, I remember the owner saying don't stand outside son, come in and learn something, that was me hooked for life, like a sponge soaking everything up, on leaving school 1970, he took me on as an apprentice happy days & a very Happy life, and I'm still learning at 68 years old, I like your video's very helpful & informative, so I'll hang around if you don't mind.

[edgeeffect]

Comparing really really slowly learning electronics in 1980-2010 compared to how much I've learned more recently, YouTube channels like this are an amazing source of what you could call "virtual mentorship".

[JulianStokesIt]

Great thoughts. I did the college route and got a degree in this stuff. But that was nearly 40 years ago and my life took a different path. Now the interest is re-awakening and your channel is helping me rediscover what I lost as well as learning new things... like how small surface mount components can be!

[LockDots]

Leo, I love you man. I've got my associates in electrical engineering and after some years in the field I decided to go back and get my bachelor's (which I'm still working on while working full time and raising a family.... apparently I hate free time). I'm so glad I found your channel. Not only is what you say spot on, it's so inspiring. Please never stop making videos or putting out content in one way or another.

[helifynoe]

Ah, the good old days. I was a self educated Technician. At one point I started my own business building assembled PCB test equipment. The first company that had a job for me, eventually liked my work so much that they hired me full time. They manufactured high voltage power supplies for neon signs. One time, at the Eatons Center in Toronto, Old Navy had a problem with their sign. Each letter had its own power supply, but when tuned on in the morning, the first power supply to turn on tripped the GFI circuit in the other power supplies. So I came up with an answer. I set it up such that the first power supplies 120 Vac was also connected to a relay. The relay when activated would provide 120 Vac to the the next letters power supply. Thus there was a time delay, which prevented any GFI tripping due to current surge being reduced dramatically. So with multiple relays added, the problem was solved. Another time, back at the factory, the floor manager was upset with me. She came into the front office and started to give me a hard time. After speaking with her, she said, "Don't give that kind of shit.". So I responded by saying, "Well what kind of shit do you want ?". Everyone in the front office started laughing.

[michaelwhite]

If you had time to create an instructional series on how to build each and every function block and then have circuits that you tie the function blocks together to make an overall circuit I would definitely buy that from you. Not only would I buy it for myself, I would also buy many many kits for the college that I work at. I would also want to teach your method of the construction of electronic circuits. Many colleges are now getting away from component level troubleshooting because local industry does not want it or require it any longer. When I teach PLC classes I tried to teach the student to learn how to read a paragraph put it into basic logic and then write it as a program. Once they do that they can easily read a program and understand everything about the machine. So I like your methods.

[shinjokagama]

You are right. I learn electronics much better when I change my shirt each time I learn a new topic.

[YouTubeRudy]

My journey started in the 8th grade learning Morse code in an amateur radio class. Later I took high school electronics. For Christmas, my parents bought me Radio Shack's 75-in-1 Electronic Kit and I was hooked. Back in the 1980s, I purchased a dozen or so electronic books from a mail-in book club (that went into collections since I couldn't afford these books at 16 years old). I remember building a "Librarian Disturber" and "TV Jammer". During my senior year in electronics (1982), the professor assembled a computer and I got to program on it. That started my software engineering career. Now going into my 60s, I want to get back to electronics as a hobby. Specifically to restore vintage audio equipment such as tape decks, boomboxes, turntables, etc. I still have that passion to do this. Aside from the equipment you suggested, I'm thinking of a in-circuit capactor checker and a thermal tester to add to my equipment. Any other suggestions for this kind of pursue? Great video btw, really good!

[simonlauer]

I am just getting starting in the world of electronics. I often see people suggest don’t overemphasise mathematics. I get it why, but for me it’s actually something I enjoy to some extent. Like you can derive how resistance ‚adds‘ up if connected in parallel

[MarkHopewell]

I can't speak for the US, but here in the UK this field of interest as a learning process, whether for preamble to formal study or just a super hobby, has been marginalised.

In my youth, apart from my Dad's workshop, the High St had Tandy and other independents selling components, books and so forth.

Now, we have nothing left like that in the UK. Perhaps HAM radio stalls at meet ups but on the whole no High St presence anymore - even Maplin gone.

All that's left is Ebay, Google, China and a lot of patience.


Thank you for your excellent inspirational presentation. However, one word that was missing from your list was "creativity". Having "time" is another missing word. Now that I no longer work in this area, I have never enjoyed electronics and designing systems as enjoyable as I do today. Once the drudgery of work is taken out the equation (sorry about the pun!), I find it much more fun and therapeutic pursuing this as a rewarding hobby these days.

[Pootycat]

A comment regarding "simple" vs "complicated" circuits. In the early 1970s, I worked as a service tech for home audio equipment. Later, I was a Radio/TV Engineer, " and repaired broadcast equipment. I was surprised at how SIMPLE the circuitry was, in the professional gear, as compared to that of the home-entertainment devices. I received the impression that the designers of the home equipment felt they had to "show off" their engineering skills, while those who designed the (expensive!) broadcast equipment, knew they had "made the grade, " and felt no need to prove it.

[wjuhzvz]

What's in the box labeled existential crisis?

[rogerw]

I wish I had a friend with this mind set, that's knowledgeable, I love your thought process and conclusions, I agree with them all. Appreciate all your time and dedication to sharing and passing on your passion. I hope to someday build a guitar pedal and tube anp and your videos have rekindled a spark. Much love to you sir!

[wheelersounds]

Great video! I'm happy to see your box of Existential Crises appears empty, or at least well-organized. And great shirts!

[tgirard]

Wow, this really helped a lot. I'm 59 years old and was in software most of my career. I'm just now getting started with electronics, something I've always wanted to learn. This video really helped me set some priorities and just keep me inspired to move forward. Now I just got to get through all your other videos. Thank you again

[Pootycat]

The big problem with schematics, is that the ones in service manuals rarely look anything like what you see in the textbooks. That's where block diagrams become very useful. They show you signal paths, so you can home in on a particular circuit right away, for troubleshooting, without trying to follow all those conductor "lines, " all over, to figure out what goes where.

[beejay]

Thank you so much for addressing the thousands of people who have gotten discouraged with electronics! You have strengthened my interest even more to learn more about it.