eevBLAB #10 - Why Learn Basic Electronics?

A reddit user asks what is the point in learning basic electronics these days when you can do everything with off the shelf modules and boards like Arduinos and the like.
They make it super easy to build stuff, so why does anyone need any knowledge of basic electronics any more?

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[greatscottlab]

There is only one thing to say: I agree with that.

[technodaz]

Because knowing why you just blew up your new toy is important before you do exactly the same thing second time around :P

[Thesignalpath]

I wholeheartedly agree with you Dave. As you said, absolutely nothing wrong with picking up an Arduino and programming it, it is just not electronics.

[raydeenk]

I'm not into electronics but it certainly can be a good thing to know. Long story short: My brother-in-law years ago got a CD ROM drive for Christmas (back when it was the new tech) and hooked it up to his stereo system and then freaked out when the output was only in mono. He was crushed (he and his dad are audiophiles). Turns out a stereo model was another $150 or so. His dad, who does know electronics, took a look at the audio interface and realized that all that was needed was to de-solder two wires and swap them, and then re-solder. Instant stereo. The difference between a mono and stereo CD drive was a buck fifty and two swapped wires. Talk about a scam.

[billyrubin]

Seems like more people need some electronics-fundamentals than you thought!? Isn't that reason enough to make more fundamental-videos again, Dave? I would watch them... and need them:)

[techwizpc]

As a programmer I agree that arduinos and raspberry pies only make you a programmer, not a legit electronics guy.

[GeorgeGraves]

There are about dozen different ways to answer this question.  I'm afraid Dave's version might alienate some software/maker/beginner folks. ("You kids are just USING electronics! That's LAME! Now....get off my lawn!")

EE's *do* use building blocks in the their design.  All the time - almost any design of any reasonably complexity will have a recycled section of it's design.  But you need to understand electronics to know the limits of those building block. Adafruit, sparkfun, and the like are glad to sell you a chip and a board on it.  But unlike software  - circuits have real limits that can bite you in the butt. 

And that's just the start.  If you stay inside a digital world of break out boards, Pi hats, and arduino sheilds, you'll be more-or-less safe. If you want to do that - have at it!  No problem!  Venture out of that - and you're in real trouble.

When you want to interface with the outside world, then you can forget about the safe cocoon of 5 volt logic, SPI and the tutorials.  Want to transmit a signal 100 feet?  Well, you're going to have a bad time at burning man. voltage drops and reflections are going to become something you'll wish you knew about.

Why should you learn electronics?  Cause it's freaking awesome.  Also, it's endless.  You'll never learn it all.  Even Dave will admit that he knows a fraction of what there is to learn.  So if you love learning, electronics will never be "boring" that's for sure.

[EdEditz]

It's just so much fun to do. There's something magical about sitting over your own etched circuit board, soldering on the parts and then seeing it spring to life. Just awesome! :)

[allluckyseven]

I think the point is that _someone_ has got to make the arduinos, teensies, and even the iphones or android phones of tomorrow.
Do you want to build stuff yourself? Then you have to learn your basic electronics. If you just want to put together something that _someone else_ built, then maybe you don't need. But you'll have to pay someone else to fix the thing if for any reason it stops working. Or throw it away and buy another one.

[dmottern]

Great video.  I'm a child of the 1960's - the HeathKit era!  So I still love this stuff and have worked in it for 40 years!

[TrancorWD]

As a 2-3 year old newbie in this realm and having started on arduino, it becomes restrictive REALLY quickly. Like you said, what if you want to do something you can't just get a module to do for you? Learning the basics opened up sooo many more avenues for me. Totally agree with you Dave!

[dismayer]

Yup.
The same kind of question would be:
I am confused what is the point in learning how to play guitar, when you can switch on the radio, MP3 or whatever, and listen to it?

[gerglmuff]

mechanical engineer reporting ... basic electronics is an important part of every single day at work for me. far more important than fluids or even dynamics. basic analog circuits is one of the most important things i ever learned.

[raindogred]

more than half the things people use arduino's for these days could be done with 555s and a couple transistors anyways. Arduino was meant to be a learning tool for electronics newbs but It makes you wonder if its missing the mark, when people ask these types of questions...

[Tangobaldy]

Dave could have answered the question in 15 seconds but he is an awesome lecturer so by the end of the video the answer is ringing in my head. Thanks Dave.

[serenatyvfr]

Love the Chanel Dave I am 47 and retired due to ill health and I am loving spending the time learning the basics electronics I've learned how to build my own power supplies and enjoying every minute of it so I agree with you wholeheartedly

[astrogirlusa]

My son and I just finished watching this video and we both agree with Dave!  :)

[DavidWatts]

I think the off the shelf, or straight from ebay, parts are where a lot of young hobbyists get started. Instant results with development boards is a big draw, it is certainly where I started. I struggle with mathematics, so it wasn't the easiest point to start from, but it was a natural progression for me to start playing on the breadboard, designing my own circuits and making my own custom boards. I hope that this is the case for most people.

I still do use off the shelf parts, development boards and 'modules', but I couple it with my own hard won electronics experience and the desire to progress that development into a custom circuit. I have learned more from failing that succeeding, so my journey pretty much reflects what Dave is saying.

[RaccoonEatingCacti]

This has been a valuable bit of encouragement because I literally JUST got back into tinkering with electronics and tried building a working astable multivibrator circuit with the 555 timer and failed horribly. This has reminded me that it's not just the "end", but the "means" through which we solve everyday electronic problems. Thanks for all the helpful videos.

[mathieusan]

I'm a mechanical engineer and found learning electronics so useful, especially that I developed hobby interests in making different integrated projects, requiring all mechanical, electronic and software skills. I designed and made a few boards that are actually working, and there was some debugging to do. Learning is fun, and it helps making things more functional, more valuable, and at the end more innovative. What's the fun when you're not learning even the basics things :) Great video!