I'm a software developer with a lot of Java, Javascript and web development experience looking to get started with a Beaglebone. I hope to eventually build a greenhouse control system with IoT interfacing for reporting and control. Unfortunately, I never quite understood the electronics portion of computers so I'd like to get a grasp on that before I begin interfacing with things like fans and other motors. I'm confident in my ability to write complex programs.
What would be a good series of components to start with to get a fundamental grasp of the electronics/wiring portion before jumping in to start my project? I'd like to learn the "Why?" behind things before proceeding with the "How?"
Purchase suggestions for newbie just getting started
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Please be positive and constructive with your questions and comments.
- timclymer
- Posts: 2
- Joined: Tue Jan 13, 2015 3:18 pm
- adafruit_support_mike
- Posts: 67454
- Joined: Thu Feb 11, 2010 2:51 pm
Re: Purchase suggestions for newbie just getting started
Electronics is an applied science, so the three most important skills are (in order):
- Building circuits
- Measuring signals
- Research
The information you'll find in books (even the best ones) deals with idealized models of real circuits. You read the books and learn the theory to get a head-start in understanding what the actual components do, but an hour of building and measuring will teach you more than a week of reading. Odds are good that the build-and-measure session will motivate your next week of reading, too.
A good place to start is with the book "Getting Started in Electronics": https://www.adafruit.com/products/517 . It hits just the right blance of theory and "here, build this" to help you pick up the first few layers of foundation knowledge.
After that, try "Practical Electronics for Inventors": https://www.adafruit.com/products/1261 . It tells you more about the components and theory you'll need as you design your own circuits.
WRT hardware, you'll want a breadboard, some jumper wires to make connections, a multimeter, and some components to play with. A decent soldering iron isn't absolutely necessary, but goes on the "strongly suggested" list.
Of course we have all sorts of stuff in the shop:
https://www.adafruit.com/products/443 - breadboard (large)
https://www.adafruit.com/products/239 - breadboard (normal)
https://www.adafruit.com/products/64 - breadboard (half size)
https://www.adafruit.com/products/136 - Ladyada's Toolkit
https://www.adafruit.com/product/184 - Adjustable breadboard power supply kit (a good first project)
You might also consider the Arduino Starter Pack: https://www.adafruit.com/products/68 . Working with a microcontroller (running code on the bare metal) gives you a much better understanding of signals and protocols than just including a library and having a kernel module do the work.
If you're willing to spend a bit, the Bitscope is an amazing value: https://www.adafruit.com/products/2053 . In electronics, your tools are your senses, and an oscilloscope is the go-to device for seeing what signals are really doing. A full-scale scope is a healthy investment though, and a software scope like the Bitscope is a really good starting point. It also works as a basic signal generator and logic analyzer, so it can carry you through to the point where you know you need more.
It's also a good idea to get used to searching Digikey and Mouser:
http://www.digikey.com/
http://www.mouser.com/
They're general hardware distributors, and will be your go-to sources for specific parts.
A community and resource network has huge value. We think pretty highly of the regulars here in the Adafruit forums, but see if you can find a hackerspace near you.
- Building circuits
- Measuring signals
- Research
The information you'll find in books (even the best ones) deals with idealized models of real circuits. You read the books and learn the theory to get a head-start in understanding what the actual components do, but an hour of building and measuring will teach you more than a week of reading. Odds are good that the build-and-measure session will motivate your next week of reading, too.
A good place to start is with the book "Getting Started in Electronics": https://www.adafruit.com/products/517 . It hits just the right blance of theory and "here, build this" to help you pick up the first few layers of foundation knowledge.
After that, try "Practical Electronics for Inventors": https://www.adafruit.com/products/1261 . It tells you more about the components and theory you'll need as you design your own circuits.
WRT hardware, you'll want a breadboard, some jumper wires to make connections, a multimeter, and some components to play with. A decent soldering iron isn't absolutely necessary, but goes on the "strongly suggested" list.
Of course we have all sorts of stuff in the shop:
https://www.adafruit.com/products/443 - breadboard (large)
https://www.adafruit.com/products/239 - breadboard (normal)
https://www.adafruit.com/products/64 - breadboard (half size)
https://www.adafruit.com/products/136 - Ladyada's Toolkit
https://www.adafruit.com/product/184 - Adjustable breadboard power supply kit (a good first project)
You might also consider the Arduino Starter Pack: https://www.adafruit.com/products/68 . Working with a microcontroller (running code on the bare metal) gives you a much better understanding of signals and protocols than just including a library and having a kernel module do the work.
If you're willing to spend a bit, the Bitscope is an amazing value: https://www.adafruit.com/products/2053 . In electronics, your tools are your senses, and an oscilloscope is the go-to device for seeing what signals are really doing. A full-scale scope is a healthy investment though, and a software scope like the Bitscope is a really good starting point. It also works as a basic signal generator and logic analyzer, so it can carry you through to the point where you know you need more.
It's also a good idea to get used to searching Digikey and Mouser:
http://www.digikey.com/
http://www.mouser.com/
They're general hardware distributors, and will be your go-to sources for specific parts.
A community and resource network has huge value. We think pretty highly of the regulars here in the Adafruit forums, but see if you can find a hackerspace near you.
- timclymer
- Posts: 2
- Joined: Tue Jan 13, 2015 3:18 pm
Re: Purchase suggestions for newbie just getting started
Thanks so much! This is exactly what I was looking for. I agree, reading is important but doing reinforces the lessons. This'll be a very good start. I appreciate you taking the time for a thoughtful and helpful reply.
Please be positive and constructive with your questions and comments.