I am a programmer myself. I venture into PIC when I
decided to create my own door bell. I think the first
step in being better in electronics is determining
what you want to do. It did help me when I knew
assembly language for the x86. I always consider
myself low level programmer..... Anyway this is how I
approach electronics. 

Read and re-read electronics , basic until you can
remember most or ALL of the basic stuff. Why? All the
advance stuff is based on the fundamentals. Take a
look at PWM. It has vector and wave theory it in. Most
of the stuff requires mere application of basic
fundamentals. It isn't too diff when you can *apply*
the basics into it. 

The fun part of the advance stuff is the application
of the basics. I will read more electronics after
learning more maths. The branch of maths that you will
need is Calculus, trigonometry , matrix , number
theory and etc. If you truly want to calculate all the
magic values then you need maths.... Maths is the key
for more advance projects. Do not worry about maths
you just need proper guidance. I have some books for
maths if you really want to do your homework :)

Once again, basics rules. Maximum power and Maximum
voltage transfer is all based on fundamentals. Just
run through the Ohm law and you see why. Take your
time in understanding it. No point to continue when
the basics are not fully understood. 

Once you have a better understanding on basic
electronics take up hobbist circuit and read through
it. Apply what you know and do it frequently. You will
get it.


Regards,
John Chung







--- Lindy Mayfield <lindy.mayfield@ssf.sas.com> 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've been a programmer most of my life.  But since I
> was a teenager I've been reading electronics books,
> ones like Forrest Mimms and others, and I've always
> been fascinated with electronics.  
> 
> As a programmer I need to understand how the
> computer works, to some extent, but to create a
> program I need to know the basics like what the
> verbs are, how to control the flow, input/output,
> etc.  And then after a while and with practice I can
> do more and more complex programs.
> 
> Well, I've read many books many times on electronics
> and I think I understand what the components do, but
> I just cannot figure out how to truly understand
> circuits.
> 
> How do you do it?  At first I tried to imagine water
> flowing from the power supply through the wires and
> components going from + to - but that didn't get me
> very far.
> 
> I loved Pic because it was mostly programming, but I
> always got thrown by _how_ the components of a
> circuit board were put together.  I do admit I lack
> some of the math that is necessary to get the
> correct values of components, but I think that can
> come after I understand.
> 
> Why can't I "get" it?  I'm not stupid, just I don't
> think I'm looking at things the correct way.
> 
> I've been on the Piclist for at least 3 or more
> years now so it's not like I'm not trying.
> 
> Any helpful advice for people like me I will take to
> heart.
> 
> Kind regards,
> Lindy
> 
> -- 
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> View/change your membership options at
> http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist
> 



 
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