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You are here: Home / Basic Electronics / Learn Electronics With These 10 Simple Steps

Learn Electronics With These 10 Simple Steps

August 16, 2020 By Øyvind Nydal Dahl 49 Comments

atari-punk-console.ohmify

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.

adobe-pdf-iconDo 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.

battery-bulb

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.

Ohms law cartoon

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.

learn electronics from circuit diagrams

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:

  • The resistor
  • The LED
  • The capacitor
  • The transistor

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.

Two transistors in a circuit

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.

solder-on-stripboard-2

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)!

Cartoon designing a 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.

Microcontroller circuit board

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.

adobe-pdf-iconDo 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.

Filed Under: Basic Electronics

Reader Interactions

Comments


  1. Scott Marshall says

    June 13, 2016

    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?

    Reply

    • admin says

      June 13, 2016

      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

      Reply

      • Rodgers says

        February 28, 2020

        Hi it’s not downloading my checklist help please

        Reply

  2. Scott Marshall says

    June 13, 2016

    I got the email. thank you

    Reply

    • mudadi says

      February 7, 2017

      i request for that email too mr scot

      Reply

      • admin says

        February 7, 2017

        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

        Reply

  3. Georgekid says

    October 12, 2016

    thank you very much!!!! this is very helpful!!!!

    Reply

  4. salim mulla says

    October 31, 2016

    thank you much’ this is very ”helpfull’

    Reply

  5. Ron Stradling says

    November 11, 2016

    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

    Reply

    • admin says

      November 14, 2016

      Great to hear! Let me know if you have any questions along the way.

      Best,
      Oyvind

      Reply

    • Student says

      December 13, 2021

      Now 5 years passed did you learned Sir.

      Reply

  6. Zulu says

    November 23, 2016

    Hi Oyvind,am very intrested with the way you teach but, am a Zambian and would like to lear more.

    Reply

  7. okoro stanley says

    December 27, 2016

    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

    Reply

    • admin says

      December 28, 2016

      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

      Reply

  8. Khashayar says

    January 7, 2017

    The Mini Course is so simple and great and also amazing!!!!!

    Thanks

    Reply

    • admin says

      January 9, 2017

      I’m glad you enjoyed it =)

      Oyvind

      Reply

  9. Abdoul says

    January 9, 2017

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    Reply

  10. Abdoul says

    January 9, 2017

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  11. Prashanth says

    January 31, 2017

    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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    Reply

  12. Praneeth says

    January 31, 2017

    Interesting Bro! You got any similar courses? Which are little advanced? If so please don’t hesitate to mail. Thanks btw :)

    Reply

  13. Godfrey says

    February 13, 2017

    i need $7 course how do i apply

    Reply

  14. Gafar says

    March 18, 2017

    Hello, how do i get access to your video tutorials and your books in nigeria

    Reply

    • admin says

      March 20, 2017

      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

      Reply

  15. Danny says

    March 30, 2017

    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.

    Reply

    • admin says

      April 7, 2017

      That’s a very valid point. Thanks for your input!
      Best,
      Oyvind

      Reply

  16. shaban says

    April 11, 2017

    thats great want more on solar technology

    Reply

  17. Arbaz says

    July 8, 2017

    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?

    Reply

  18. Thomas says

    July 24, 2017

    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

    Reply

    • admin says

      July 26, 2017

      Oooops! But I fixed it now.

      Reply

  19. Aditya Kumar says

    April 9, 2019

    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

    Reply

  20. Leonel Colina says

    May 13, 2019

    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

    Reply

    • admin says

      May 13, 2019

      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

      Reply

  21. Mike says

    October 7, 2019

    Thank you so much for your help in this matter and I will be there at all time

    Reply

  22. aztronics says

    March 9, 2020

    many thanks for this creative steps .

    Reply

  23. John McAbelle says

    April 25, 2020

    very educative for the electronics enthusiasts

    Reply

  24. Garish says

    July 6, 2020

    Hey will I be able to make robots and drones after learning all this

    Reply

    • admin says

      July 7, 2020

      After learning this you’ll have a really good base and you can easily go into making robots and drones.

      Reply

  25. Teslafan says

    September 12, 2020

    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.

    Reply

  26. Nwata Chukwudi says

    September 14, 2020

    I have really enjoyed this, thanks… I appreciate ur teaching…. I wen to learn how to build more components in big way

    Reply

  27. Dave says

    November 14, 2020

    If I subscribe to your website about how much time would I have to invest to work through the steps in your pdf?

    Reply

    • admin says

      November 16, 2020

      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.

      Reply

  28. Harini says

    March 17, 2021

    It’s much usefull to refferband know things go good and joyful learning

    Reply

  29. Inuwa muhammad adam says

    March 24, 2021

    Varry good

    Reply

  30. Prayer says

    May 14, 2021

    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.

    Reply

    • admin says

      May 14, 2021

      Great! =)

      Reply

  31. Asif Hussaini says

    June 20, 2021

    I am interested in repairing power supplies. Can you help with that?

    Reply

    • admin says

      June 24, 2021

      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/

      Reply

  32. Md Rabiul Islam says

    September 11, 2021

    Excellent post.

    Reply

  33. Kidedendmrng says

    November 30, 2021

    https://hydroxyaralen.com/ hydroxychloroquine for covid 19

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