Do you want to learn electronics, so that you can build your own gadgets?
There is a ton of resources on learning electronics – so where do you start?
And what do you actually need?
And in which order?
If you don’t know what you need to learn, you can easily waste a lot of time learning unnecessary things.
And if you skip some of the simple but crucial first steps, you’ll struggle with even the basic circuits for a long time.
If your goal is to be able to build your own ideas with electronics, then this checklist is for you.
Do you want this step-by-step checklist in PDF format to see the exact steps I recommend to learn electronics from scratch?Click here to download the checklist now >>
When you follow the checklist below, you will get up to speed fast – even if you have no experience from before.
While some of these steps might take you a weekend to tackle, others can be done in less than an hour – if you find the right teaching material.
Start by reading through all the steps all the way to the end to get an overview.
Next, decide what teaching material you will use to tackle each step.
Then start to learn electronics.
Step 1: Learn the Closed Loop
If you don’t know what is needed for a circuit to work, how can you build circuits?
The very first thing to learn is the closed loop.
It’s essential to make a circuit work.
After finishing this step you should know how to make a simple circuit work. And you should be able to fix one of the most common mistakes in a circuit – a missing connection.
This is simple, but necessary knowledge to have when learning electronics.
Step 2: Get a Basic Understanding of Voltage, Current and Resistance
Current flows, resistance resists, voltage pushes.
And they all affect each other.
This is important to know to learn electronics properly.
Understand how they work in a circuit and you will have this step nailed.
But, there’s no need to dive deep into Ohm’s law – this step can be learned through simple cartoons.
After finishing this step, you should be able to look at a very simple circuit and understand how the current flows and how the voltage is divided among the components.
Step 3: Learn Electronics By Building Circuits From Circuit Diagrams
No need to wait no more – you should start building circuits now. Not just because it’s fun, but also because this is what you want to learn to do well.
If you want to learn to swim, you have to practice swimming. It’s the same with electronics.
After finishing this step you should know how circuit diagrams work and how to use a breadboard to build circuits from them.
You can find free circuit diagrams for almost anything online – radios, MP3 players, garage openers – and now you’ll be in a position to build them!
Step 4: Get a Basic Understanding of These Components
The most common components you’ll see in the beginning when learning electronics are:
You can get a basic understanding of each of these quickly, as long as you have good learning materials.
But take note of that last statement “as long as you have good learning material” – because there is a lot of terrible learning material out there.
After completing this step you should know how these components work and what they do in a circuit.
You should be able to look at a simple circuit diagram and think:
“Aha, this circuit does this!”.
Step 5: Get Experience Using the Transistor as a Switch
The transistor is the most important single component in electronics.
In the previous step, you got an intro to how it works. Now it’s time to use it.
Build several different circuits where the transistor acts as a switch. Like the LDR circuit.
After completing this step you should know how to control things like motors, buzzers or lights with the transistor.
And you should know how you can use the transistor to sense things like temperature or light.
Step 6: Learn How To Solder
Prototypes built on a breadboard are easy and quick to build. But they don’t look good and the connections can easily fall out.
If you want to build gadgets that look good and last for a long time, you need to solder.
Soldering is fun, and it’s easy to learn.
After completing this step you should know how to make a good solder joint – so that you can create your own devices that look good and will last for a long time.
Step 7: Learn How Diodes and Capacitors Behave in a Circuit
At this point, you will have a good foundation of the basics, and you can build circuits.
But your efforts to learn electronics should not stop here.
Now it’s time to learn to see how more complicated circuits work.
After completing this step – if you see a circuit diagram with a resistor, a capacitor and a diode connected in some way – you should be able to see what will happen with the voltages and currents when you connect the battery so that you can understand what the circuit does.
Note: If you can also understand how the Astable Multivibrator works, then you’ve come a long way. But don’t worry too much about it, most explanations of this circuit are terrible.
Step 8: Build Circuits Using Integrated Circuits
Up until now, you’ve been using single components to build some fun and simple circuits. But you’re still limited to the very basic functions.
How can you add cool functionality to your projects, like sound, memory, intelligence and more?
Then you need to learn to use Integrated Circuits (ICs).
These circuits can look very complex and difficult, but it’s not that hard once you learn the right way to use them. And it will open up a whole new world for you!
After completing this step you should know the steps for using any integrated circuit.
Step 9: Design Your Own Circuit Board
At this point, you should have built quite a few circuits.
And you may find yourself a bit limited because some of the circuits you want to build require a lot of connections.
To learn electronics properly, you should definitely do this step.
Now is the time to learn how to create your own printed circuit board (PCB)!
Designing a printed circuit board is easier than you think. And producing a PCB has become so cheap that there is no reason to mess around with etching any more.
I’ve created a step-by-step tutorial that you can read online or download as a PDF called Make Your First Printed Circuit Board.
The tutorial takes you through all the steps. It shows you all the things you have to click on, to go from knowing nothing to having made you own printed circuit board.
And you don’t have to understand a circuit to build it. Feel free to find a cool circuit to build from anywhere on the web and design your own PCB for it.
After completing this step you should know how to design a PCB on a computer, and how to order cheap PCB prototypes of your design online.
Step 10: Learn To Use Microcontrollers In Your Projects
With integrated circuits and your own custom PCB design, you can do a lot.
But still, if you want to really be free to build whatever you want, you need to learn to use microcontrollers. It will really take your projects to the next level.
Learn to use a microcontroller, and you can create advanced functionality with a few lines of codes instead of using a huge circuit of components to do the same.
After finishing this step you should know how to use a microcontroller in a project, and you will know where to find information to learn more.
Do you want this step-by-step checklist in PDF format to see the exact steps I recommend to learn electronics from scratch?Click here to download the checklist now >>
Need Help With Any of the Steps?
With this checklist, you can learn electronics on your own. You are free to find your own learning material from anywhere you want.
You can find information in books, articles and courses to help you on your journey.
I recommend finding someone who has a teaching style that you enjoy – and avoid those that teach in ways you don’t enjoy.
I like to teach in simple and practical ways. I try to explain things as simple as possible so that even a child can understand it. As a matter of fact, I’ve also written Electronics For Kids – an electronics book for children.
If you enjoy my teaching style, you can learn all of these steps plus a lot more – and be part of a community full of enthusiastic electronics learners by joining my membership site Ohmify.
Scott Marshall says
I’ve paid for the course but I can not find access. Where am I to go for access to this course, will you be emailing a link to me?
admin says
Hey Scott,
You’re supposed to get an email automatically. Maybe it went into your spam folder, or maybe there’s an error in my system. Anyway, I’ve emailed you the access link directly now.
All the best,
Oyvind
Rodgers says
Hi it’s not downloading my checklist help please
Scott Marshall says
I got the email. thank you
mudadi says
i request for that email too mr scot
admin says
Mudadi,
Please use this link to send me your order details and I will resend your link:
https://www.build-electronic-circuits.com/contact/
Best,
Oyvind
Georgekid says
thank you very much!!!! this is very helpful!!!!
salim mulla says
thank you much’ this is very ”helpfull’
Ron Stradling says
I’m 80 years young. In 1954 I learned some electronics but quit cuz I really didn’t like the vacuum tubes and the BS that went with them. Recently started quest again cuz I wanted to build my own Ham set and learn how to repair it. But one must learn to crawl before he walks and runs. So I hope you work out. Ron S
admin says
Great to hear! Let me know if you have any questions along the way.
Best,
Oyvind
Student says
Now 5 years passed did you learned Sir.
Zulu says
Hi Oyvind,am very intrested with the way you teach but, am a Zambian and would like to lear more.
okoro stanley says
Hello mr yvind, I was trying to download the checklist you said it’s free but is reffering me to pay $7 to get it on my email. Olease help me out thanks
admin says
Hi Okoro,
The $7 product is a mini-course, it’s not the checklist.
Look for the email with topic “Here’s your checklist” and you’ll find the link for the checklist.
I’ll clean up the download process and make it easier soon.
Best,
Oyvind
Khashayar says
The Mini Course is so simple and great and also amazing!!!!!
Thanks
admin says
I’m glad you enjoyed it =)
Oyvind
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Prashanth says
I very hungry to learn about Basics of Electronics, because i want to develop the Robots, Home base Applicances, Transportaions, ETC, things in day to day life
So plze give me Detail Idea of the Electronics Practical plze plze plze plze plze plze plze plze
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Regards
pbd india Nasik
Praneeth says
Interesting Bro! You got any similar courses? Which are little advanced? If so please don’t hesitate to mail. Thanks btw :)
Godfrey says
i need $7 course how do i apply
Gafar says
Hello, how do i get access to your video tutorials and your books in nigeria
admin says
Hi Gafar,
Most of my books are ebooks, so you’ll get immediate access to download it after you’ve purchased them.
The free ebooks, just download and enjoy – no matter where in the world you are.
Best,
Oyvind
Danny says
I was in the struggle of where to start with electronics for a long time. I started with a Raspberry Pi, then moved on to buying simple components and building circuits from books, and then to buying simple Mircrochip PIC microcontrollers and programming them. Even with all this I never really understood what I was doing until I took MITS open course-ware “Circuits and Electronics 1: Basic Circuit Analysis “. Now I am starting to actually understand not just how to copy diagrams and read instructions but how to build things that I think of. I do not understand how you can have a checklist of how to learn electronics without including circuit analysis skills such as KVL, KCL and nodal analysis. These skills have been the biggest breakthrough in my pursuit to learning electronics.
admin says
That’s a very valid point. Thanks for your input!
Best,
Oyvind
shaban says
thats great want more on solar technology
Arbaz says
Dear Oyvind,
can you please explain how to interface the CT i.e current transformer to pic microcontroller?
how to convert voltage into current in c programming?
Thomas says
I tried to Subscribe to Sour Newsletter below, bur I Keep getting an Error message saying: Oops! It looks like there was an error: No email service provider integration has been set for this campaign
admin says
Oooops! But I fixed it now.
Aditya Kumar says
I have learn electronic
In hindhi my English is very showing
Bat I am a electrishin with house wiring
I read now electronics
Places halp us
Leonel Colina says
hi, i’m interested. is this course still going on?
I mean, would I still receive help? I just noticed the comments are from a couple of years ago
admin says
Yes, it’s an on-going course that you can start any time and receive help. You can sign up here: https://ohmify.com/join/
Best,
Oyvind
Mike says
Thank you so much for your help in this matter and I will be there at all time
aztronics says
many thanks for this creative steps .
John McAbelle says
very educative for the electronics enthusiasts
Garish says
Hey will I be able to make robots and drones after learning all this
admin says
After learning this you’ll have a really good base and you can easily go into making robots and drones.
Teslafan says
There used to be a cute PCB animation in place of the smiling boy. I really miss it. It is better than the smiling boy. It used to give the idea what a PCB is.
Sorry if I wasted your time.
Nwata Chukwudi says
I have really enjoyed this, thanks… I appreciate ur teaching…. I wen to learn how to build more components in big way
Dave says
If I subscribe to your website about how much time would I have to invest to work through the steps in your pdf?
admin says
Are you talking about the Ohmify subscription? That’s a lot more than just a pdf. There are hundreds of lessons ranging from beginner to advanced that you’ll get access to as an Ohmify member.
You invest as much time as you’re able to. Some invest a couple of hours per week, while others invest several hours per day. The more time you invest the quicker you progress of course.
But just to give you some kind of idea: If you invest at least half a day every week for three months, you’re going to see a lot of progress and you’re going to be at a much higher level than you’re currently at – no matter where you’re starting from.
Harini says
It’s much usefull to refferband know things go good and joyful learning
Inuwa muhammad adam says
Varry good
Prayer says
For the couples of years now i have being trying to settle down with what i love, in doing what i want. But some times i just find diffcuities and i don’t even know were to start but right now, with this site and the steps i know everything are gonna change for me. Thanks for the steps its really helpful.
admin says
Great! =)
Asif Hussaini says
I am interested in repairing power supplies. Can you help with that?
admin says
Sure! Here’s a place to start: https://www.build-electronic-circuits.com/learn-to-repair-electronics/
And if you want to learn electronics (and repairing) from scratch, check out Ohmify: https://ohmify.com/
Md Rabiul Islam says
Excellent post.
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