At 07:23 AM 1/28/2007, Lindy wrote: >This is a serious question. How do you "understand" how a circuit works >and how do you create with your imagination a new one? > I have been in the same boat. My brother is an electrical engineer, and I'm a chemist. He is 3 years older than me, and sibling rivalry kept our expertise areas separated. I've spent 30 years trying to learn electronics after I "grew up", but will never match his knowledge. Some suggestions: 1. Analog electronics is based on "equivalent circuits", or simple models as to how each component works. To understand analog circuits, you must first completely master the theory of passive circuits (DC and AC circuits involving only resistors, capacitors and inductors). This includes Ohm's law, Kirchoff's laws, etc. Then you must accumulate knowledge of the key equivalent circuits for more complex devices (diodes, transistors, etc.). With these equations and models you can analyze most simple analog circuits. 2. Digital electronics is much easier for someone like you to get into, as the states are logic-based, and programming is an extension of logic. I don't think you would have much trouble picking up simple digital circuit analysis. 3. Parts of electronics that involve electromagnetics (RF, radio, magnetism, etc.) are difficult to understand without special courses and considerable mathematics and experience. 4. Good books for learning analog electronics are 1) a college first year EE text obtained locally; 2) Malvino's books on semiconductors and digital electronics; 3) The Art of Electronics after you have mastered the others. 5. Opamps are easy to learn analog electronic devices, so long as you stay from the performance envelope. 6. You should also obtain some test equipment (oscilloscope, multimeter, frequency generator) and do some breadboarding experiments on simple electronic circuits. A good way to start is to measurement the response to different inputs, and try to validate the device specifications. 7. To understand the basics, you will need a solid grasp of algebra and trigonometry. To understand AC circuits fully, you will need elementary calculus (derivative and integral). To understand E & M, you will need multivariate calculus (at least Gauss' theorem). There are workarounds (e.g., lines of force) to some of this, but it will leave you still searching for answers. Math is next to impossible to pick up outside of a school environment. In summary, if you're not young anymore, concentrate your learning on passive circuit analysis, opamps and digital electronics. That will keep you occupied for a couple of decades anyway. ================================================================ Robert A. LaBudde, PhD, PAS, Dpl. ACAFS e-mail: ral@lcfltd.com Least Cost Formulations, Ltd. URL: http://lcfltd.com/ 824 Timberlake Drive Tel: 757-467-0954 Virginia Beach, VA 23464-3239 Fax: 757-467-2947 "Vere scire est per causas scire" ================================================================ -- http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive View/change your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist