Hobby Electronics Basics software to hardware - help

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Subject Author Date
software to hardware - help Neo 10-31-05
Posted by Neo on October 31, 2005, 3:18 pm
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Folks, How difficult it is for a software guy to learn working with
hardware. I've been working on embedded systems for about 4 years. Worked on
various platforms like TI DSP, Morotola, Intel x86 etc. Having sound
knowledge of C, Assembly, DD, RTOS and other system level stuff. I want to
learn some basic skill on hardware side (like soldering etc.) to prototype
some very simple circuits. My main focus is on Firmware designing and RTOS.
Do I need to take up some course in basic electronics?

What are the essential tools that I need to buy in order to get started
playing with hardware?

Books for a beginner like me (who dont have any background in electronics)?

Some of you guy might have faced the same thing. It would be really helpful
for me to get advice and tips, and quickly get started.

Thanks and Regards,
-Neo



Posted by Noway2 on October 31, 2005, 5:47 am
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The answer depends on wether you take the blue pill or the red pill.
Sorry, but I couldn't resist with you using the name Neo.

>From you message, it sounds like you are interested in technician style
work, as you mention soldering and basic prototying. You may be able
to find some classes at a community or technical college that would
help you gain some hands on experience with the correct methods to use.
Also look for certification trainging that may be offered in your
area. Personally, I took a class in SMT rework and have been very
comfortable with soldering and desoldering ever since. While I am
certain that some may disagree with my suggestion I find that there
really is no substitute for learning from someone who knows how to
teach a subject properly.

If you are interested in learning electronics theory, which will go a
long ways towards your goal, I would recommend the book, The Art of
Electronics and the corresponding lab work book by Horowitz and Hill.
The book covers many of the fundemental aspects of analog and digital
electronics from a "this is how you use and apply it" perspective. The
book covers how to analyze circuits and components from a practical -
real work perspective. Armed with this book, I would suggest getting
some basic equipment, such as a bread board, digital multi meter and
power supply. You may wish to purchase some basic parts to perform the
experiements in the book, but these should be available from any online
electronics supplier, such as Digikey.

Good Luck and enjoy your trip down the rabbit hole!


Posted by Neo on November 7, 2005, 11:45 am
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> The answer depends on wether you take the blue pill or the red pill.
> Sorry, but I couldn't resist with you using the name Neo.
>
>>From you message, it sounds like you are interested in technician style
> work, as you mention soldering and basic prototying. You may be able
> to find some classes at a community or technical college that would
> help you gain some hands on experience with the correct methods to use.
> Also look for certification trainging that may be offered in your
> area. Personally, I took a class in SMT rework and have been very
> comfortable with soldering and desoldering ever since. While I am
> certain that some may disagree with my suggestion I find that there
> really is no substitute for learning from someone who knows how to
> teach a subject properly.
>
> If you are interested in learning electronics theory, which will go a
> long ways towards your goal, I would recommend the book, The Art of
> Electronics and the corresponding lab work book by Horowitz and Hill.
> The book covers many of the fundemental aspects of analog and digital
> electronics from a "this is how you use and apply it" perspective. The
> book covers how to analyze circuits and components from a practical -
> real work perspective. Armed with this book, I would suggest getting
> some basic equipment, such as a bread board, digital multi meter and
> power supply. You may wish to purchase some basic parts to perform the
> experiements in the book, but these should be available from any online
> electronics supplier, such as Digikey.
>
> Good Luck and enjoy your trip down the rabbit hole!

Thanks a lot.
A grabbed a copy of "The Art of Electronics" and basic tools - Multimeter,
Soldering Iron, cutting pliers, Breadboard, General purpose PCB, a variable
DC output adapter, 25-pin male D connector (for parallel port interfacing),
555 Timer IC, a bunch of LEDs, registors, capcitors and transistors etc.
from the local store. Its really exicting to play with these things. Things
are up and running... :-)

But I didn't found the Lab Workbook. Is it necessary to have a copy?

-Neo



Posted by Noway2 on November 7, 2005, 5:06 am
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I wouldn't say that it is necesary, however you might find it both
helpfull and enjoyable to have it.

The lab workbook does two things. One it provides a different
perspective on some of the critical concepts that can be somewhat
difficult to understand initially. Second it presents a number of
recommended realtively simple experiments to perform on a bench, which
in my opinion is the real value of the book.


Posted by Mel Wilson on October 31, 2005, 10:46 am
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> [ ... ] I want to
>learn some basic skill on hardware side (like soldering etc.) to prototype
>some very simple circuits. My main focus is on Firmware designing and RTOS.
>Do I need to take up some course in basic electronics?
>
>What are the essential tools that I need to buy in order to get started
>playing with hardware?

- a multimeter
- a logic probe
- as big a Wish Board (or equivalent brand) as you can stand
getting. This is one of those large socket/terminal
blocks that can accept DIP chips and component leads and
so on, for prototyping circuits.
- fine solid wire left by phone installers

A good, cheap electronic parts store in the neighbourhood
is an immense help.

>Books for a beginner like me (who dont have any background in electronics)?

Yes, mandatory. Other people than I will know what's
current. I used _Electronic Design with Off-the-shelf
Integrated Circuits_, but I got it remaindered. I bet it's
unfindable now. Obsolete, too.

Manufacturers sites on the world-wide web have the data
sheets you need, and there are lots of sample applications
in these.

I subscribed to Elektor and Electronic Musician for a few
years. I don't know if Electronic Musician pushes
do-it-yourself as much as they used to.

>Some of you guy might have faced the same thing. It would be really helpful
>for me to get advice and tips, and quickly get started.

I moved from big-iron software support to embedded
programming. The biggest change is that I can now afford to
own the computers I work on. Everything else is about the
same. An engineer who'd worked for Marconi was talking
lately about an early monster with about 128 words of data
memory. It sounded pretty much like an ATtiny28.

Mel.

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