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Practical Electronics for Inventors 2/E
THE BOOK THAT MAKES ELECTRONICS MAKE SENSE This intuitive, applications-driven guide to electronics for hobbyists, engineers, and students doesn't overload readers with technical detail. Instead, it tells you-and shows you-what basic and advanced electronics parts and components do, and how they work. Chock-full of illustrations, Practical Electronics for Inventors offers over 750 hand-drawn images that provide clear, detailed instructions that can help turn theoretical ideas into real-life inventions and gadgets. CRYSTAL CLEAR AND COMPREHENSIVE Covering the entire field of electronics, from basics through analog and digital, AC and DC, integrated circuits (ICs), semiconductors, stepper motors and servos, LCD displays, and various input/output devices, this guide even includes a full chapter on the latest microcontrollers. A favorite memory-jogger for working electronics engineers, Practical Electronics for Inventors is also the ideal manual for those just getting started in circuit design. If you want to succeed in turning your ideas into workable electronic gadgets and inventions, is THE book. Starting with a light review of electronics history, physics, and math, the book provides an easy-to-understand overview of all major electronic elements, Basic passive components o Resistors, capacitors, inductors, transformers o Discrete passive circuits o Current-limiting networks, voltage dividers, filter circuits, attenuators o Discrete active devices o Diodes, transistors, thrysistors o Microcontrollers o Rectifiers, amplifiers, modulators, mixers, voltage regulators ENTHUSIASTIC READERS HELPED US MAKE THIS BOOK EVEN BETTER This revised, improved, and completely updated second edition reflects suggestions offered by the loyal hobbyists and inventors who made the first edition a bestseller. Reader-suggested improvements in this guide
952 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 1998
668 people are currently reading
2,764 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
Currently reading
September 5, 2010The first half of the book is theory. Full of excellent illustrations. The part on capacitors and magnets was the most informing piece on the subject I've read. The second half is practical reference.
January 26, 2013
A great guide - loved the library copy & bought one to keep on my shelf for electronics projects as they come up.
September 22, 2016
Just started reading this and already I am impressed. It presents the material assuming the reader has no electronic background but yet does it in an accessible and non-arrogant manner. That is not to say it isn't complex, it is just well organized and written to help bring you through it step by step.
Even the examples questions have the answers right there to check your mastery. I am grateful for that.
If you don't have a background in electronics (as I do not), then I recommend this book before tackling that timeless tome called "The Art of Electronics".
Even the examples questions have the answers right there to check your mastery. I am grateful for that.
If you don't have a background in electronics (as I do not), then I recommend this book before tackling that timeless tome called "The Art of Electronics".
December 19, 2017
Who writes a book labeled "Practical Electronics for Inventors" and starts it out with two and fifty pages of theory full of "scary math?" I have a BS in Math so it's not that scary it's also not that useful in practice as the author recognizes by showing you "tricks" so that you can avoid it.
I finally gave up after about 300 pages. It still hadn't gotten to any practical examples.
I finally gave up after about 300 pages. It still hadn't gotten to any practical examples.
November 19, 2011
Very small amount of mathematical mistakes in the theory section. Other than that, it's a great reference book to theory and practical information.
February 11, 2025
I think it covers a lot and gives a great background and knowledge about theories, equations and components. Gives a good starting point to deepen your broader thinking.
Read
May 15, 2022Half of this book is not hands-on or practical. It's way bogged down with theory and math. Nearly every diagram is mislabeled or has a typo. Lots of good info in here but you need to work for it. Not for complete beginners.
April 11, 2019
I can't believe I ate the whole thing.
Kindle edition sucks. Get the full book so you can leaf through it, look through the diagrams, and keep bookmarks to refer back to.
Kindle edition sucks. Get the full book so you can leaf through it, look through the diagrams, and keep bookmarks to refer back to.
May 15, 2023
I perhaps expected a little bit more. As this was often presented as a go-to book for electronics, my expectations were very high.
While the title says "Practical", I did not actually find it that much practical. Specifically, the first 250 pages of the book is a pure theory - to be fair, the book is very open about it, warns the reader in the beginning and says that the passage is an optional recommended reading. However, even in the "practical" passage, I often got the feeling that I'm mostly reading through a list of components and their technical specifications. Often these descriptions are very lengthy and detailed to the extend that I'd expect to find in a datasheet. Without a doubt, the text in the book is much more readable than a datasheet, but I was still missing some sense of motivation as I would normally not go to read a datasheet anyway until I really need to use that component. Maybe this book serves more as a reference that can be useful when you need some guidance once you work on a specific project - however in the days of internet, I find it more convenient to search guidance on the internet. I was hoping to get some foundational understanding so that I know what to later search for and was slightly disappointed in that regard. I feel there are several other more concise books that teach the basic concepts without going into unnecessary details that can be learned later when necessary.
On the other hand, there are definitely positive things to say about this book. It is written in a very clearly structured way, the language is very nice, friendly and easy to understand. The technical diagrams are very neat and clear. I like that most of the "practical" and potentially useful areas are covered and it doesn't go into many "exotic" and less common areas of electronics!
While the title says "Practical", I did not actually find it that much practical. Specifically, the first 250 pages of the book is a pure theory - to be fair, the book is very open about it, warns the reader in the beginning and says that the passage is an optional recommended reading. However, even in the "practical" passage, I often got the feeling that I'm mostly reading through a list of components and their technical specifications. Often these descriptions are very lengthy and detailed to the extend that I'd expect to find in a datasheet. Without a doubt, the text in the book is much more readable than a datasheet, but I was still missing some sense of motivation as I would normally not go to read a datasheet anyway until I really need to use that component. Maybe this book serves more as a reference that can be useful when you need some guidance once you work on a specific project - however in the days of internet, I find it more convenient to search guidance on the internet. I was hoping to get some foundational understanding so that I know what to later search for and was slightly disappointed in that regard. I feel there are several other more concise books that teach the basic concepts without going into unnecessary details that can be learned later when necessary.
On the other hand, there are definitely positive things to say about this book. It is written in a very clearly structured way, the language is very nice, friendly and easy to understand. The technical diagrams are very neat and clear. I like that most of the "practical" and potentially useful areas are covered and it doesn't go into many "exotic" and less common areas of electronics!
September 8, 2023
I keep this book in arms reach in my workshop and continue to use it as a reference. It also has very articulate and comprehensive graphs and pictures for subjects that need visual explanations. Great all around book on electronics design and electrical engineering!
December 23, 2023
The book opened my eyes a bit, it reads very smooth.
I didn’t know the math, but that was not a problem.
I kind of skipped everything except the facts, and diagrams.
Front to back, unlike students, because I’m naw and self taught.
I didn’t know the math, but that was not a problem.
I kind of skipped everything except the facts, and diagrams.
Front to back, unlike students, because I’m naw and self taught.
April 19, 2019
That's perhaps one of the very best books that I've ever read on electronics. It helped me a lot gaining a basic and hands-on knowledge on Analog and Digital Electronics :).
February 1, 2021
i want read
Want to read
March 27, 20242024-03-27: Recommended by random coworker.
January 4, 2025
The most important book on practical electronics for the non-electrical engineer.
March 11, 2025
An excellent reference.
Contains all the information you need
Contains all the information you need
June 9, 2024
This book is very well written. The delivery of communicating ideas leaves no assumption unattended. It is also very comprehensive because of it's thorough approach to details. This is a must-read for all electronics students and enthusiasts.
It not only serves practical use and as a reference material but it delivers a good foundation of mathematics. For those that want to dive deeper into mathematics, they can pick up a good book on Calculus and Fourier Analysis. But my, my, my! What a really good book. It deserves 5-stars.
In order to gain intuition, I recommend a first reading on all topics to get the lay of the land. Then a second reading to fiddle around with circuits and the mathematical concepts that deliver practical responses from the circuits. Then use the book as a reference to come back to when you need to jog your memory or get ideas for a needed circuit.
This is a good book to couple with "The Art of Electronics". But start with this book first. Complete a first and second reading of all the topics, fiddle with the math and the circuit ideas by using an online simulator like EveryCircuit or using your workbench. Then after gaining the intuition, go to "The Art of Electronics" for more ideas.
It not only serves practical use and as a reference material but it delivers a good foundation of mathematics. For those that want to dive deeper into mathematics, they can pick up a good book on Calculus and Fourier Analysis. But my, my, my! What a really good book. It deserves 5-stars.
In order to gain intuition, I recommend a first reading on all topics to get the lay of the land. Then a second reading to fiddle around with circuits and the mathematical concepts that deliver practical responses from the circuits. Then use the book as a reference to come back to when you need to jog your memory or get ideas for a needed circuit.
This is a good book to couple with "The Art of Electronics". But start with this book first. Complete a first and second reading of all the topics, fiddle with the math and the circuit ideas by using an online simulator like EveryCircuit or using your workbench. Then after gaining the intuition, go to "The Art of Electronics" for more ideas.
January 18, 2012
Veeeery thick book. Really just a textbook on electronics. It would take me a year to read this thing. Probably too much info, unless you are an ultra-serious hobbyist.
March 22, 2011
wait
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Shelved as 'partiallyread'
December 20, 2011Copy-paste FTW!
September 6, 2012
buku elektronika terbaik
waktu jaman kuliah
#versi saya loh
waktu jaman kuliah
#versi saya loh
May 28, 2013
An easy introduction to electronics components. I was able to find a hardbound copy at the county library, which rocks.
September 2, 2013
Excellent and invaluable reference in understanding the physical, chemical, and mathematical concepts underlying practical electronic components and devices.
July 4, 2014
As the title suggests, this is a great practical resource when developing projects whether you are an inventor, engineer or hobbyist.
November 3, 2016
good
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 4, 2014
Not a book I felt like reading from cover to cover but a valuable reference for someone like me that has a basic grounding in electronics that does not match his enthusiasm.
August 24, 2014
What a fantastic and informative book. I am so glad I bought this. I will say, however, like many text books, it's not appropriate for kindle.
Read
October 18, 2014I think that the book is good for study.it is easy to read.
July 16, 2015
Mehhh...
March 8, 2016
Reference book for Electronics.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
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