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Easy Electronics
This is the simplest, quickest, least technical, most affordable introduction to basic electronics. No tools are necessary--not even a screwdriver. Easy Electronics should satisfy anyone who has felt frustrated by entry-level books that are not as clear and simple as they are supposed to be.
Brilliantly clear graphics will take you step by step through 12 basic projects, none of which should take more than half an hour. Using alligator clips to connect components, you see and hear immediate results. The hands-on approach is fun and intriguing, especially for family members exploring the projects together.
The 12 experiments will introduce you to switches, resistors, capacitors, transistors, phototransistors, LEDs, audio transducers, and a silicon chip. You'll even learn how to read schematics by comparing them with the circuits that you build.
No prior knowledge is required, and no math is involved. You learn by seeing, hearing, and touching. By the end of Experiment 12, you may be eager to move on to a more detailed book. Easy Electronics will function perfectly as a prequel to the same author's bestseller, Electronics .
All the components listed in the book are inexpensive and readily available from online sellers. A very affordable kit has been developed in conjunction with the book to eliminate the chore of shopping for separate parts. A QR code inside the book will take you to the vendor's web site.
Concepts
Brilliantly clear graphics will take you step by step through 12 basic projects, none of which should take more than half an hour. Using alligator clips to connect components, you see and hear immediate results. The hands-on approach is fun and intriguing, especially for family members exploring the projects together.
The 12 experiments will introduce you to switches, resistors, capacitors, transistors, phototransistors, LEDs, audio transducers, and a silicon chip. You'll even learn how to read schematics by comparing them with the circuits that you build.
No prior knowledge is required, and no math is involved. You learn by seeing, hearing, and touching. By the end of Experiment 12, you may be eager to move on to a more detailed book. Easy Electronics will function perfectly as a prequel to the same author's bestseller, Electronics .
All the components listed in the book are inexpensive and readily available from online sellers. A very affordable kit has been developed in conjunction with the book to eliminate the chore of shopping for separate parts. A QR code inside the book will take you to the vendor's web site.
Concepts
- GenresTechnology
56 pages, Paperback
Published December 26, 2017
About the author
Charles Platt
172 books59 followersFrom wikipedia:
Charles Platt (born in London, England, 1945) is the author of 41 fiction and nonfiction books, including science-fiction novels such as The Silicon Man and Protektor (published in paperback by Avon Books). He has also written non-fiction, particularly on the subjects of computer technology and cryonics, as well as teaching and working in these fields. Platt relocated from England to the United States in 1970 and is a naturalized U. S. citizen.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
See:
Charles Platt, born 1869
Charles Platt (born in London, England, 1945) is the author of 41 fiction and nonfiction books, including science-fiction novels such as The Silicon Man and Protektor (published in paperback by Avon Books). He has also written non-fiction, particularly on the subjects of computer technology and cryonics, as well as teaching and working in these fields. Platt relocated from England to the United States in 1970 and is a naturalized U. S. citizen.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
See:
Charles Platt, born 1869
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
June 21, 2021
Make: Easy Electronics is a fun and educational book on electronics that ranges from simple concepts and components like batteries and resistance, to transistors, transducers, and 7555 timers (a type of timer, not 7,555 different timers). There are 12 different experiments, each explaining a different concept. Make: Easy Electronics is a helpful guidebook for ages 8-10, although for any age there likely will be a balance of new and old content to discover.
I enjoyed how each experiment had descriptions of what happened and ‘lessons learned,’ as well as a wide range of concepts. I found the lessons on resistor codes and the concepts of chips and breadboards particularly interesting because they provide a detailed discussion of computer circuitry. Make: Easy Electronics introduces a dozen or so concepts, each building in complexity on the prior. I learned how transistors have controllable conduciveness, how to read the lines on resistors, why capacitors are helpful, and how they provide power for short amounts of time. The instructions were clear and easy to follow, the diagrams were self-explanatory and the color-coded sections with advice all add to the helpful formatting of this well-designed guide to the basics of electronics. It's great to do with friends and it's also simple enough to follow and do the experiments without an adult.
Overall, I would recommend this book to a friend aged about 8 - 13 if they enjoyed creating things or wished to learn more about electronics. I would also advise parents that Make: Easy Electronics as a guide alone is helpful, though it would be most beneficial to have the parts kit at the same time as the book. I just received the book and had to get the parts separately – but if you get the book, you can get the kits to go with it, too, from a separate provider (we found ours on Amazon). You can still learn without the components, but it’d be easier to have them both together. It also would be a really fun way to stay connected to grandparents or friends during this unique pandemic we’re in: if both had a kit and book, you could build and experiment together online!
Reviewed by William G., 11, Mensa of Western Washington
I enjoyed how each experiment had descriptions of what happened and ‘lessons learned,’ as well as a wide range of concepts. I found the lessons on resistor codes and the concepts of chips and breadboards particularly interesting because they provide a detailed discussion of computer circuitry. Make: Easy Electronics introduces a dozen or so concepts, each building in complexity on the prior. I learned how transistors have controllable conduciveness, how to read the lines on resistors, why capacitors are helpful, and how they provide power for short amounts of time. The instructions were clear and easy to follow, the diagrams were self-explanatory and the color-coded sections with advice all add to the helpful formatting of this well-designed guide to the basics of electronics. It's great to do with friends and it's also simple enough to follow and do the experiments without an adult.
Overall, I would recommend this book to a friend aged about 8 - 13 if they enjoyed creating things or wished to learn more about electronics. I would also advise parents that Make: Easy Electronics as a guide alone is helpful, though it would be most beneficial to have the parts kit at the same time as the book. I just received the book and had to get the parts separately – but if you get the book, you can get the kits to go with it, too, from a separate provider (we found ours on Amazon). You can still learn without the components, but it’d be easier to have them both together. It also would be a really fun way to stay connected to grandparents or friends during this unique pandemic we’re in: if both had a kit and book, you could build and experiment together online!
Reviewed by William G., 11, Mensa of Western Washington
February 9, 2018
EN/CZ
Really introductory projects that are very easy to do and are clearly explained. I would imagine this book being great especially for older kids. The book focuses more on practice then theory. However, it does explain the main ideas, important concepts and internal workings of components while showing clear pictures of the circuits that are meant to be built. The succession of projects is great and follows from the simplest basic one to more and more complex ones, allowing for a steady learning curve. I only miss more exercises, sometimes there are ideas to try out, but in general the reader is guided all the way through.
CZ:
Skvělý úvod do elektroniky, kde se teorie vysvětlí jen do nejnutnější míry a místo toho se věnuje ukázkám základních obvodů, které si můžete složit z pár součástek. Myslím, že je to skvělá knížka zejména pro úvodní kroky do elektroniky a hraní si s ní. Místo toho, aby si dítě hrálo s nějakými učebními obvody, tak stačí pár krokodýlů, LEDek a baterek a může se učit s prakticky reálným obvodem. Příklady jsou dobře řazené, kdy od nejjednodušího obvodu se postupně přidávají nové nápady a obvody rostou ve složitosti.
Really introductory projects that are very easy to do and are clearly explained. I would imagine this book being great especially for older kids. The book focuses more on practice then theory. However, it does explain the main ideas, important concepts and internal workings of components while showing clear pictures of the circuits that are meant to be built. The succession of projects is great and follows from the simplest basic one to more and more complex ones, allowing for a steady learning curve. I only miss more exercises, sometimes there are ideas to try out, but in general the reader is guided all the way through.
CZ:
Skvělý úvod do elektroniky, kde se teorie vysvětlí jen do nejnutnější míry a místo toho se věnuje ukázkám základních obvodů, které si můžete složit z pár součástek. Myslím, že je to skvělá knížka zejména pro úvodní kroky do elektroniky a hraní si s ní. Místo toho, aby si dítě hrálo s nějakými učebními obvody, tak stačí pár krokodýlů, LEDek a baterek a může se učit s prakticky reálným obvodem. Příklady jsou dobře řazené, kdy od nejjednodušího obvodu se postupně přidávají nové nápady a obvody rostou ve složitosti.
October 4, 2023
Level one would be those electronics kits with the jeans snaps, Easy Electronics, would be level two. (Level three and four would be Platt's other books Make: Electronics and Make: More Electronics).
Who is this book for?
If you're trying to make the jump from e-learning/books/lectures, to breadboarding. Honestly, it didn't help me with the theory much either. But it did get you using the breadboard.
What's in the book?
This is the watered down version of Platt's other book "Make: Electronics", and has very large closeup pictures for the newbie audience. It has you doing basic circuits, like making a light bulb turn on, then adds a new component each project. Like add a switch. Make the double throw switch make two conditions. And then it adds more or introduces other components.
If you don't know how a transistor works, NPN, PNP, differences, these are covered.
If you read the book- what's a transducer, and what was the transducer Platt used?
Who is this book for?
If you're trying to make the jump from e-learning/books/lectures, to breadboarding. Honestly, it didn't help me with the theory much either. But it did get you using the breadboard.
What's in the book?
This is the watered down version of Platt's other book "Make: Electronics", and has very large closeup pictures for the newbie audience. It has you doing basic circuits, like making a light bulb turn on, then adds a new component each project. Like add a switch. Make the double throw switch make two conditions. And then it adds more or introduces other components.
If you don't know how a transistor works, NPN, PNP, differences, these are covered.
If you read the book- what's a transducer, and what was the transducer Platt used?
February 16, 2022
Short and sweet introduction.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews