Electronics as a hobby

[Crackle]

I need a new hobby. Rather than wasting time on here I need to waste time on something else.

Electronics appeals because it's more or less a mystery to me. I mean I can cobble together bird tables from wood, strip engines (once, couldn't be arsed now) do a few other things but have absolutely no idea about electrical/electronic things and how to wield a multimeter.

I don't know where to start though. With a book, with a kit, build something, what? I'd like to build a stereo amp but I suspect I'll need to work up to that. I'm not so interested in things like the Raspberry pi, at least not yet, Id rather begin with understanding circuit diagrams and soldering components and stuff.

So where exactly should I start?

Also someone needs to challenge slomos bid for world domination.

 

[Drago]

You, Sir, should start with Amateur Radio! A few closet Hams on here, including me.

73's de Bern 2EOBGF.

 

[Crackle]

You, Sir, should start with Amateur Radio! A few closet Hams on here, including me.

73's de Bern 2EOBGF.

Might be a while before I build one of them.

 

[rich p]

Build yourself an electric chair and do us all a favour...

 

[FishFright]

As an aside post. Does anyone else remember the old printed Maplin catalogues filled with kits and circuit diagrams ?

 

[Kestevan]

Have a look at this site, it's a pretty good introduction for the absolute beginner.

https://www.build-electronic-circuits.com/electronics-for-beginners/

 

[rich p]

And can you pop down and stop my CD player remote switching on the telly, when you've mastered it.

 

[Pro Tour Punditry]

...have absolutely no idea about electrical/electronic things...So where exactly should I start?

Hams.

One oven. One slaughtered pig.

 

[rich p]

One oven. One slaughtered pig.

One slaughtered pig, perfectly describes Crax after a night on the milk stout.

 

[Crackle]

Build yourself an electric chair and do us all a favour...

A man of a weaker disposition would take that to heart.

 

[Cycleops]

Maybe you could work your way up to one of these:

 

[Crackle]

Have a look at this site, it's a pretty good introduction for the absolute beginner.

https://www.build-electronic-circuits.com/electronics-for-beginners/

I should admit that I did the first year of an electronics degree before switching to Mechanical: I retain nothing of it though other than the fascination of hitting all the switches on the oscilloscope.

 

[Crackle]

[QUOTE 4926334, member: 45"]Maplin is a good place to start. They used to do kits. I once made a little bug thing that would follow a torchlight.

Mind you I also tried to build a guitar effects pedal once. It didn't effect the guitar sound though, just picked up the radio.[/QUOTE]
I looked in Maplins, even found an amp kit but a lot of the kits aren't what I'd want to build, although one or two looked good.

 

[MarkF]

[QUOTE 4926334, member: 45"]Maplin is a good place to start. They used to do kits. I once made a little bug thing that would follow a torch.[/QUOTE]

Why would anybody buy/make such a thing? You need help.

 

[Dayvo]

Before working out the functions of a circuit board, start at the bottom and work up: