I like Tony Khuphaldt books. Simple but effective. The letter to radio engineer's son were super nice IMO (https://www.gutenberg.org/files/30688/30688-h/30688-h.htm)
don't forget googles and gloves
Ask HN: What are some good resources to learn how electricity works?
121–130 of 184 posts
Re: Ask HN: What are some good resources to learn how electricity works?
#122The ARRL Handbook for Radio Amateurs explains electricity and electronics for the beginner, and you might also get an interesting introduction to radio, too.
Many of the older editions are free on archive.org.
Re: Ask HN: What are some good resources to learn how electricity works?
#123I'm on the opposite side of this question. I've offered to explain motorcycle charging systems in terms anyone can understand. My thought is to use the water flow analogy. Voltage => pressure. Current => flow volume. Resistance => constrictions in the system (or things where the water does work.) Flow at one point in the system must match flow in other parts except for places where water can accumulate (battery => pr…
Bad starting can also be a result of physical resistance in the engine, especially as temperatures fall below the normal operating range. When engines get cold enough they put enormous load on the starter motor which has to draw more amperage to compensate.
I think it's very important to teach people that moving electric charges, represented by current, result in magnetic forces, and that these magnetic forces are what cause motors to turn. And an alternator or generator reverses the relation by spinning a magnetic field to generate current, which is why it charges a battery.
Re: Ask HN: What are some good resources to learn how electricity works?
#124I'm on the opposite side of this question. I've offered to explain motorcycle charging systems in terms anyone can understand. My thought is to use the water flow analogy. Voltage => pressure. Current => flow volume. Resistance => constrictions in the system (or things where the water does work.) Flow at one point in the system must match flow in other parts except for places where water can accumulate (battery => pr…
I've got quite a lot of experience teaching electricity at a high school level, and I'm also a (relatively) newly qualified motorcyclist with a lot to learn. Maybe we could be of use to each other? If you'd like to get in touch, my email is in my HN profile.
The pressure analogy is a really good one; the problem is a lot of people don't understand water pressure any better than they understand electricity.
Re: Ask HN: What are some good resources to learn how electricity works?
#125I studied mechanical engineering in college, but we had to take a single EE course that made my head spin. What helped me a lot was the "hydraulic analogy": https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydraulic_analogy
Still tricky to apply it to AC though.
Re: Ask HN: What are some good resources to learn how electricity works?
#126What worked for me was enrolling in Electronics 101 at my local community college.
Re: Ask HN: What are some good resources to learn how electricity works?
#127I recommend the book "Make: Electronics 2nd Edition"
I knew nothing before starting the book and knew enough by about halfway through to start pursuing my own projects.
Re: Ask HN: What are some good resources to learn how electricity works?
#128Is there a good game where you build circuits and simulate them to accomplish various tasks?
I'd love something like shenzhen io but with more emphasis on circuits than signals
Re: Ask HN: What are some good resources to learn how electricity works?
#129https://wiredthegame.com/ is a free video game that is designed to give an understanding of how electricity works. It's probably worth playing through.
Re: Ask HN: What are some good resources to learn how electricity works?
#130The Manga Guide to Electricity is great! Plenty of non trivial introductory textbook level material.
https://www.amazon.com/Manga-Guide-Electricity-Kazuhiro-Fuji...
The whole Manga Guide to X series is great.