What and were is the best place for a noobie Like me to learn the basics about electronics?

As I stated in the question I am totally new at all this, I am mechanically capable of tons of stuff , for example my mechanic has never seen my car :), I have always been a wonderer what if , I come up with these ideas and nothing Mainly cause I have no idea were to start, so I am seeking Guidance in every aspect of electronics and I am also willing to start from the beginning.

Comments

[Smokedasphalt]

Here - > www.allaboutcircuits.com/
And their forums are very helpful too! forum.allaboutcircuits.com/

[Jayefuu]

+1 I like allaboutcircuits :)

[frollard]

+2

I also like "Bowdens Hobby Circuits"
He doesn't explain the theory, but he does explain how each circuit works step by step.

[Smokedasphalt]

That's exactly why I didn't recommend Bowden's page. His circuits are a bit intimidating if you are a beginner!

[frollard]

tis true - I couldn't for the life of me explain why the circuits I learned on his site that I breadboarded worked, but they did :D

[naic98]

Simplest, got Radio Shack and get circuit books by Forrest Mimms and 100 in 1 etc "plug board" kits, the parts are connected physically to a cardboard backer and connected together with jumper wires. WHEN you are ready to move on move onto to classic theory author Boylstead

[zombiefire]

instructables.com

[harry88]

you could watch some videos on youtube by kipkay that could help

[whitebakecase]

confucius stated:

I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.

best way is to dig in, get your hands fluxy and try things yourself, for example by building some of the basic projects on this very site!

[.Unknown.]

I remember that someone told me that once, and I took their advice....half a year later, I was capable of soldering together circuits, printing my own boards, improvising, and so on, but it was not until another half year that I was able to get to the theory and actually understand it all. I am wondering if whether to follow the guys advice was good or not...

[whitebakecase]

maplins kits are also well documented and good experience, I occasionally turn to the velleman range of kits if theres something i need to build and i cant be bothered to design the electronics of it, its usually fairly easy to adapt these kits to your own requirements, but you will of course need basic tools, solder, an iron, cutters, etc

[ahlexys]

NORWICH TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL.
where the grades are low and the kids are high.

[crouton976]

A great book that breaks down all things electronics into laymn's terms is "Getting Started In Electronics" by Forrest M. Mimms III. Many people I know, and many authors of tech blogs that I follow say that it was this book that got them started in electronics. I can tell you from reading my own copy that it is extremely easy to follow. check out a preview here:

http://mightyohm.com/blog/2008/12/the-greatest-electronics-book-ever-written/

-Creighton

[andrew101]

myself i started small with a simple 10 project kit, it used springs to connect wires to make 10 basic curcits. it teaches you the basics of what the components do, and leaves you to make your own curcits. and after that i got a 200 in one kit. same idea only more complex.

[kevinhannan]

 Go to college, it's structured, supported and you are with other people like yourself, plus you get recognition (quals) for your learning. Use the 'net, for extra stuff. Good luck, you will have fun!  ;-)

[abhishek727]

 That's what I like about the edu sys in US and other west countries. In our system we choose main subjects after 10th. Say you choose biology or math as your main subject. Then in general you'll have math + physics + chemistry + english + optional subject be it biology drawing fine arts, physical edu, economics, computer science, hindi, german, french .....
Now, if you chose biology as your main subject and say computers as your optional then you didn't study math at +2. This means that you are cursed that you'll never be able to study engg in your life at any college.
And then there are very few colleges providing night time coursed.

You see the flaw.

[linc5885]

College is a great Idea and the more I look into these things the more it seems like an idea, Maybe some night class's or something, lol Hijack away I guess But I think it works on the pro and non pro stuff I think.

[caledonian]

Yeah, look into what your local colleges have for night school. I'd send you a couple of textbooks, but (a) your local library should have some books, and (b) there's no replacement for hands-on experience soldering, breadboards, using a multimeter and oscilloscope, in a place with a proper electronics lab.

That said, remember those old radio shack type spring-board sets, and heath kits. Intended for kids, but they should still teach some of the fundamentals, and be fun to tinker with.

[kevinhannan]

 I'm sorry in advance - I'm going to hijack this thread - I'm getting very frustrated with the admin guys at 'ibles...

How is it that it takes many hours, even days, to get your question displayed - and other people's questions from earlier are displayed before mine - but yet I can give a comment or reply immediately? How is it that Q's get vetted, and lost, and eventually displayed but replies are immediate and not vetted. It seems to me there's a bit of common sense needed here.

Sorry again for hijacking the thread.

[orksecurity]

Possible answer: Make sure your question is more than five words long, or it'll get routed to a human for sanity-checking and delayed as a result.

[cardinalflyer]

You could also try the electronics kits at radio shack. Lots of parts, different kits to play with different circuits.
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3811029
or
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3814337
or
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2117994

Electronics is a broad field.

[jeffrey_om]

(removed by author or community request)

[linc5885]

THank you Jeffrey_om, I will be heading out this weekend to look for some books Any suggestions? Your English is fine I got what you were trying to say it all good !, I'll always be happy for any advice you would be willing to give. I'm right now doing a computer Build and will have that as my first instructable. The next progect will need help But Ill contact you when it's time if your okay with that.