Daleks, however, probably would be a frustrating project for someone new to electronics.
Electronics projects are a great way to learn about the hardware part of computing. Obviously electronics involves electricity. But it also includes circuits, voltage, and resistance, all components used to build computer hardware. Electronics projects are also a great way for beginners to not only be consumers of electronics but, more importantly, to be able to build, change, and fix computers. You don’t have to become a computer repair expert to benefit.
Where can you get started with electronics projects for beginners? Here are a number of online resources to help you find projects, tutorials, parts, and online communities to help.
Electronics Projects for Beginners
Instructables: Electronic Projects For Beginners
Written by a thirteen year old, this article links to a number of small projects geared towards people new to electronics. Projects include a solar iPhone charger, how to solder, a solar cockroach, and a water powered calculator.
http://www.instructables.com/id/Electronic-Projects-For-Beginners/
http://www.instructables.com/id/Beginners-Electronics-Projects/
Five Beginner Projects that Work on the First Attempt
Links to videos showing simple projects, including a clap on clap off switch.
http://www.buildcircuit.com/5-beginners-projects-that-work-in-the-first-attempt/
Simple Electronics Projects for Beginners
Articles with reader comments for a number of projects, including a water level indicator, FM radio transmitter, and infrared motion detector.
http://www.circuitstoday.com/simple-electronics-projects-and-circuits
Electronics Projects for Dummies
No one who reads this magazine is a dummy, but this Dummies website has a great step-by-step set of tutorials for a coin toss circuit that also teaches the process of designing and building electronics projects.
http://www.dummies.com/how-to/consumer-electronics/electronics/Electronics-Projects.html
Makezine Electronics Projects
While most of their projects are not for beginners, this is a great site to browse to get excited about what you might do once you finish a few electronics projects for beginners. There are some really neat projects on this site.
http://makezine.com/category/electronics/
Radio Shack Beginner Electronics Projects
Really an overview article with some ideas on what they offer people who want to get started with electronics projects, for example, Engineer Mini Notebooks which sound interesting.
http://techchannel.radioshack.com/beginner-electronics-projects-1831.html
Electronics Tutorials
Ben Heck Show: Back to Basics
Key skills like how not to fry your projects.
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwO8CTSLTkijrSW6DIFsQxcvjRo5fZ-y5
How to Solder
The ability to solder, using heat to fuse two soft metals, is a key skill for electronics projects.
https://learn.sparkfun.com/tutorials/how-to-solder—through-hole-soldering/all
Spark Fun Tutorials
https://learn.sparkfun.com/tutorials
Parts for Electronics Projects
Element 14
Sponsor of the Ben Heck show that features electronics projects, as well as an online community where you can get help with your projects.
http://www.element14.com/community/welcome
Adafruit
Focus on Arduino, Raspberry Pi, and Beagle Board parts and projects, with lots of tutorials.
https://www.adafruit.com/
Spark Fun
Minibread
Octoparts
A search engine to find electronic parts from many different vendors.
http://www.octopart.com/
Online Communities
Element 14
An active community built around their electronics parts business and the Ben Heck YouTube show they sponsor.
http://www.element14.com/community/welcome
