We may earn an affiliate commission when you visit our partners.

Basic electronics for Arduino Makers

Dr. Peter Dalmaris

4.6

Based on 2,052 ratings

, see reviews

Dr. Peter Dalmaris

Are you an Arduino maker, able to make things by following how-to guides and are confident with writing or modifying sketches, yet you are not so confident about things like calculating transistor currents, voltage drops and using capacitors as filters?

You are not alone. I have been teaching Arduino and Raspberry Pi topics for years. During this time I have realized that while these platforms are great for helping you to start tinkering with electronics, you will not be able to truly enjoy their power until you have understood basic electronics.

This is what this course is about. It is about helping you achieve a better level of understanding of the basic electronics principles and components that are commonly used in making on platforms like the Arduino and the Raspberry Pi.

I have designed this course for anyone with a basic understanding of electronics, who has already spent time tinkering with Arduinos.

By the end of this course, you will have learned how to use commonly used components found in Arduino projects. You will also have learned how to do the relevant measurements and calculations to help you select appropriate components for your projects.

To complete this course, you will need a few cheap and common components and tools: resistors, capacitors, transistors, LED, diodes, and batteries. You will also need a multimeter, a small breadboard and jumper wires. All of these are probably things that you already have.

Enroll now

Or start a personal plan

And upskill with Udemy

What's inside

Learning objectives

Understand the concepts of voltage, resistance and current
Use ohm's law to calculate voltage, current and resistance
Use kirchhoff's laws to calculate voltage and current
Understand the meaning of and calculate energy and power
Use resistors in various configurations, like in voltage dividers and voltage ladders
Read the value of a resistor from its package
Use pull-up and pull-down resistors
Understand the use of capacitors
Use capacitors as energy stores and filters
Calculate the rc time constant of a capacitor

Understand diodes
Measure the voltage drop of a diode
Understand how to use rectifier and zener diodes
Protect a circuit from reverse polarity
Understand how to use a transistor to control low and high power loads
Calculate the currents and base resistor for a bipolar transistor
Use the correct voltage regulator for any circuit
Show more
Show less

Understand the concepts of voltage, resistance and current
Use ohm's law to calculate voltage, current and resistance
Use kirchhoff's laws to calculate voltage and current
Understand the meaning of and calculate energy and power
Use resistors in various configurations, like in voltage dividers and voltage ladders
Read the value of a resistor from its package
Use pull-up and pull-down resistors
Understand the use of capacitors
Use capacitors as energy stores and filters
Calculate the rc time constant of a capacitor
Understand diodes
Measure the voltage drop of a diode
Understand how to use rectifier and zener diodes
Protect a circuit from reverse polarity
Understand how to use a transistor to control low and high power loads
Calculate the currents and base resistor for a bipolar transistor
Use the correct voltage regulator for any circuit
Show more
Show less

Syllabus

An introduction to this course

Study guide

For a list of parts and tools that I use in this course please see https://techexplorations.com/parts/befam-parts/

The questions in this quiz will test your understanding of Ohm's Law

These questions will test your understanding of power and energy.

These questions will help you practice your resistor value reading skills.

Can you determine if a given resistor can be safely used under the specified current requirements in the following questions?

These questions will exercise you in calculating voltage divider outputs.

Using the 10% rule, calculate the appropriate resistors in the voltage divider for the following problem.

The questions in this quiz will help you practice solving current divider problems.

These questions will help you practice your basic capacitor skills.

These questions are about capacitors connected in parallel.

These questions will help you practice your knowledge of the RC time constant.

These questions will help you practice your understanding of the diode voltage drop concept.

This problem will help you consolidate your working knowledge of the Zener diode.

These questions will help you practice calculating the correct resistor for an LED.

Practice simple transistor circuits with these problems.

These problems will help you practice using the LM317 in your circuits.

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Explores foundational electronics principles that are used in the Arduino and Raspberry Pi, building a strong base

Focuses on the hands-on application of the concepts by providing real-world examples and problems

Taught by an experienced instructor who has been teaching Arduino and Raspberry Pi topics for years

Covers all the fundamental concepts of basic electronics that are required to understand the inner workings of Arduino and Raspberry Pi projects

Teaches how to use commonly used components like resistors, capacitors, transistors, and diodes in electronic circuits

Requires only a few inexpensive components and tools to follow along, making it accessible to most learners

Save this course

Create your own learning path. Save this course to your list so you can find it easily later.

Save

Reviews summary

Basic electronics for arduino makers overview

According to learners, this course is a solid introduction to basic electronics specifically tailored for Arduino makers who want to move beyond following tutorials. Students highlight the course's clear explanations of fundamental concepts like Ohm's and Kirchhoff's laws, as well as essential components like resistors, capacitors, diodes, and transistors. The practical, hands-on approach with simple experiments is frequently praised as helpful for understanding the 'why' behind circuit design. While generally well-received, some reviews suggest it's best suited for those with some prior hands-on tinkering experience, rather than absolute beginners with no electronics background. The course provides a strong foundation for understanding common Arduino projects.

Best for those with some prior tinkering experience.

"I think this course is great if you've played with Arduino but lack the electronics theory."

"If you're a complete beginner with zero electronics background, you might find it challenging."

"It assumes you're already familiar with basic maker practices, which is helpful."

"Perfect for hobbyists moving from kits to custom circuits."

Instructor explains concepts effectively.

"The instructor explains everything very clearly and is easy to listen to."

"I found the instructor's teaching style engaging and easy to follow."

"He does a good job of breaking down potentially difficult topics."

"The explanations are thorough without being overly technical."

Well-structured and easy to follow.

"The course structure is logical and builds upon previous lessons effectively."

"The pace felt just right for understanding fundamental concepts."

"I found the modules to be well-organized and easy to navigate."

"The step-by-step approach makes complex topics manageable."

Includes practical experiments to reinforce learning.

"The experiments using basic components helped solidify my understanding of the concepts."

"I appreciated the practical examples and how they relate directly to real circuits."

"Doing the experiments alongside the lectures made learning much more effective."

"The hands-on part was crucial for me to see how the theory applies in practice."

Fundamental concepts and components are explained well.

"Ohm's law and Kirchhoff's laws were explained very clearly, making them easy to grasp."

"I finally understand how transistors work as switches and amplifiers thanks to this course."

"The explanations of resistors and capacitors were very straightforward and helpful."

"The course covers the core concepts and components needed for basic circuits effectively."

Helps Arduino/Raspberry Pi makers understand basics.

"This course really helped me understand the basic electronics behind my Arduino projects."

"It's perfect for makers like me who know how to wire things up but not why they work."

"I finally understand why certain components are used in typical maker circuits."

"The course bridges the gap between following instructions and understanding the electronics involved."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Basic electronics for Arduino Makers with these activities:

Ohm's Law Refresher

Show steps

Review the basics of Ohm's Law, which is essential for understanding electrical circuits.

Browse courses on Ohm's Law

Show steps

Recall the formula for Ohm's Law: V = IR
Understand the relationship between voltage, current, and resistance.
Practice solving simple Ohm's Law problems.

Organize Course Materials

Show steps

Consolidate and organize notes, assignments, quizzes, and exams to enhance your understanding of the course material.

Show steps

Gather all course materials, including notes, assignments, quizzes, and exams.
Create a system for organizing the materials, such as using folders or a notebook.
Review the materials regularly to reinforce your knowledge.

Study Group Discussion

Show steps

Engage in peer discussions to clarify concepts, solve problems, and deepen your understanding of the course material.

Show steps

Form a study group with other students taking the course.
Meet regularly to discuss course topics, work through problems together, and quiz each other.

Three other activities

Expand to see all activities and additional details

Show all six activities

Voltage Divider Practice

Show steps

Solve practice problems on voltage dividers to reinforce your understanding of voltage and resistance calculations.

Browse courses on Resistors

Show steps

Set up a simple voltage divider circuit with resistors of known values.
Measure the voltage across the resistors and calculate the output voltage.
Compare your measured values to the theoretical values calculated using Ohm's Law.
Repeat the experiment with different resistor values to further solidify your understanding.

Transistor Circuit Tutorial

Show steps

Follow online tutorials that demonstrate how to build and analyze simple transistor circuits, such as amplifiers and switches.

Browse courses on Transistors

Show steps

Find a beginner-friendly tutorial on transistor circuits.
Gather the necessary components and build the circuit according to the instructions.
Test the circuit and observe its behavior.
Analyze the circuit using the concepts learned in the tutorial, such as transistor biasing and gain.

Arduino Project

Show steps

Design and build an Arduino project that utilizes the concepts learned in the course, such as a simple temperature sensor or LED display.

Browse courses on Arduino

Show steps

Brainstorm project ideas that align with your interests and the course material.
Design the circuit and write the Arduino code.
Build and test the project, making necessary adjustments along the way.
Document your project, including a description, schematic, and code.

Career center

Learners who complete Basic electronics for Arduino Makers will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Electrical Engineer

An Electrical Engineer may use the knowledge gained in this course to design circuits that meet specific electrical requirements.

See salaries and explore the career path for Electrical Engineer

Electronics Engineer

An Electronics Engineer may use the knowledge gained in this course to design and develop electronic devices and systems, utilizing the principles of electronics.

See salaries and explore the career path for Electronics Engineer

Hardware Engineer

A Hardware Engineer may use the knowledge gained in this course to design and develop the physical components of electronic devices and systems.

See salaries and explore the career path for Hardware Engineer

Embedded Systems Engineer

An Embedded Systems Engineer may use the knowledge gained in this course to design and develop computer systems that are embedded in electronic devices.

See salaries and explore the career path for Embedded Systems Engineer

Robotics Engineer

A Robotics Engineer may use the knowledge gained in this course to design and develop robots that can perform various tasks.

See salaries and explore the career path for Robotics Engineer

Automation Engineer

An Automation Engineer may use the knowledge gained in this course to design and develop automated systems that can perform tasks with minimal human intervention.

See salaries and explore the career path for Automation Engineer

Mechatronics Engineer

A Mechatronics Engineer may use the knowledge gained in this course to design and develop systems that integrate mechanical, electrical, and computer engineering principles.

See salaries and explore the career path for Mechatronics Engineer

Automotive Engineer

An Automotive Engineer may use the knowledge gained in this course to design and develop the electrical and electronic systems used in automobiles.

See salaries and explore the career path for Automotive Engineer

Aerospace Engineer

An Aerospace Engineer may use the knowledge gained in this course to design and develop the electrical and electronic systems used in aircraft and spacecraft.

See salaries and explore the career path for Aerospace Engineer

Biomedical Engineer

A Biomedical Engineer may use the knowledge gained in this course to design and develop medical devices and systems.

See salaries and explore the career path for Biomedical Engineer

Computer Engineer

A Computer Engineer may use the knowledge gained in this course to design and develop computer systems, including hardware and software.

See salaries and explore the career path for Computer Engineer

Software Engineer

A Software Engineer may use the knowledge gained in this course to develop software that interacts with electronic hardware.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Engineer

Data Scientist

A Data Scientist may use the knowledge gained in this course to analyze data generated by electronic devices and systems.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Scientist

Technical Writer

A Technical Writer may use the knowledge gained in this course to write documentation for electronic devices and systems.

See salaries and explore the career path for Technical Writer

Science Teacher

A Science Teacher may use the knowledge gained in this course to teach students about the principles of electronics.

See salaries and explore the career path for Science Teacher

Reading list

We've selected nine books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Basic electronics for Arduino Makers.

The Art of Electronics: The x Chapters

Save

Classic textbook on electronics. It covers a wide range of topics, including basic electronics, analog circuits, and digital circuits. It valuable reference for anyone who wants to learn more about electronics.

The Art of Electronics: The x Chapters

Hardcover

$$$

Practical Electronics for Inventors, Fourth Edition

Save

Comprehensive guide to electronics for hobbyists and makers. It covers a wide range of topics, including basic electronics, digital electronics, and microcontrollers. It also includes many helpful tips and tricks for working with electronic components.

Basic electronics for Arduino Makers

What's inside

Learning objectives

Syllabus

Traffic lights

Save this course

Reviews summary

Basic electronics for arduino makers overview

Activities

Career center

Reading list

Share

Similar courses