Best web interactives/apps for both learning and designing circuits

March 15, 2018 4:02 PM

I'm self-learning basic electronics (via books and videos) and I'd like to use a virtual circuit builder to both guide me through the basics (like maybe in tutorial form) and once I know more, the ability to model, when designing, say, basic arduino projects. Googling produces tons of options. Wondering if anyone has direct experience with tools as they've gone from beginner/novice to intermediate level knowledge?
posted by coffee and minarets to Technology (2 answers total)

This is the one I see most referenced and helped me quite a bit.
posted by jasondigitized at 6:58 PM on March 15, 2018

The best way to learn is to actually do. Try this 300-in-1 electronics kit. (it used to be sold/branded by radio shack, so you might find it cheaper on ebay) Since it uses standard components (resistors, capacitors, etc...which it comes with a ton of) you can supplement it with more parts, and since it has a nice pin-board, you can use it to design and test circuits before comitting to soldering them down...which makes it a useful tool even after you've graduated from beginner/intermediate level. The book of 300 projects it comes with is pretty good too. Did you get this book? (it does a really good job of explaining all the components and what they do down to the electron level (and up to logic gates and whatnot) and also has a bunch of good projects)...you can also find it much cheaper if you look around.
posted by sexyrobot at 11:59 PM on March 15, 2018