The Practical Electronics for Inventors, Fourth Edition, 4th Edition is a fully-updated, no-nonsense guide to electronics. It cover anything that you need to develop and construct your own gadgets.
People often ask me about electronics, physics, and science, but I usually don’t like to answer directly. Instead, I prefer to hand them a book and say, “Read this!” If they come back after a week having read it—and maybe three other books—then it’s worth having a conversation. Otherwise, I don’t have time for losers.
For years, I had been searching for a book that could give my friends a strong start in understanding electronics. After reading the first few chapters, I realized this was the book that could do just that. This is not a book you simply sit down and read cover to cover. You can, of course, but I don’t recommend it. It’s best used as a reference handbook for amateurs—open it when you need it.
It’s a big book—nearly 1,000 pages—and well worth the price. The second chapter alone is colossal: almost 250 pages devoted to the theory of electronic circuits. That chapter alone justifies buying the book. It’s also the most difficult and theoretical section, but it’s worth the effort. Whether the math is easy or hard depends on your background. Some knowledge of basic calculus helps but isn’t strictly required. Complex numbers are essential in electronics, and the book explains them clearly and simply, with enough worked examples and exercises for a dedicated reader to learn practical applications without diving too deep into technicalities.
After Chapter 2 comes a large, highly practical chapter covering the basic components used in circuits everywhere. It includes many useful tables, diagrams, and sketches of nearly every imaginable variation of these components. Later chapters cover semiconductors, optoelectronics, sensors, digital electronics, microcontrollers, and more. Each chapter begins with an introduction to the topic and then explores the details in depth. The authors have clearly made a conscientious effort to keep things both practical and understandable.
I think this book is also excellent for teaching, even at the beginner or intermediate BSc level. One of the problems with Hungarian engineering and science education is that it’s far too theoretical. Universities teach the academic fundamentals and then expect students to bridge the gap to practical knowledge on their own. But science and technology didn’t evolve that way. People first observed phenomena in practice, built models from experience, and then created new things based on those models. I believe we should teach practice first and theory second. This book represents the practice.
It covers:
- Chapter 1. Introduction to Electronics
- Chapter 2. Theory
This chapter contains all the terms in basic form. This chapter contains; Theory of electronics, Current, Voltage, Resistance, Insulators, Conductors, Semiconductors, Heat and Power, Wire Gauges, Batteries, Ohm’s law, important laws and theorems, voltage and current sources, Resistors, Capacitors, Inductors, Filters, etc. - Chapter 3. Basic Electronic Circuit Components
This chapter contains in detail following terms; Wires, Cables and Connectors, Batteries, Switches, Relays. Details about Resistors, Capacitors, Inductors and Transformers. Fuses and Circuit breakers, etc. - Chapter 4. Semiconductors
This chapter contains; Semiconductor technology, Diodes, Transistors, Thyristors, Transient Voltage Suppressors, IC’s. - Chapter 5. Optoelectronics
This chapter contains; LED’s, Photoresistors, Photodiodes, Solar cells, Phototransistors, Photothyristors, Optoisolators and Optical Fiber. - Chapter 6. Sensors
This chapter contains all the details about; Temperature, Proximity and Touch, Movement, Force and Pressure, Chemical, Light, Radiation, Magnetism and Sound, GPS. - Chapter 7. Hands-on Electronics
This chapter contains details about; Safety, Constructing circuits, Instruments for electronics laboratory. - Chapter 8. Operational Amplifiers
It contains all the details about operational amplifiers and its applications. - Chapter 9. Filters
This chapter contains all the details about Filter design with example. - Chapter 10. Oscillators and Timers
It contains; 555 timer and all the types of oscillators. - Chapter 11. Voltage Regulators and Power Supplies
This chapter contains; Voltage Regulator IC’s, SMPS, Transformer, Rectifiers and Power Supply Construction. - Chapter 12. Digital Electronics
It contains; Logic Gates, Logic Families, Combinational Devices, Powering and Testing Logic IC’s, Sequential Logic, Counter IC’s, Shift Registers, Displays, Memory Devices and Analog – Digital Interfacing. - Chapter 13. Microcontrollers
It contains; basic of microcontrollers, Development boards, Arduino and Interfacing with microcontrollers. - Chapter 14. Programmable Logic
It contains; FPGA’s, Verilog, Modular design, Simulation, VHDL, etc. - Chapter 15. Motors
It contains details about; Stepper motor, DC motor, RC servos and how to operate these motors. - Chapter 16. Audio Electronics
This chapter contains; Microphones, Audio Amplifiers, Preamplifiers, Mixer circuits, Speakers, Crossover Networks. - Chapter 17. Modular Electronics
This chapter contains details about different prototypes boards and modules. - Appendix A. Power Distribution and Home Wiring
- Appendix B. Error Analysis
- Appendix C. Useful Facts and Formulas
Some extracts from the book:
