1. http://EngineeringDegrees101.com (Good site on starting a career in Engineering)
2. http://www.OnlineEngineeringDegree.com (You can look into an online Engineering Degree)

Websites that will help you learn just about everything in electronics for FREE:

1. http://electronics.wisc-online.com (super great! site)
2. Nice launch site with clear categories back to wisc-online.com
3. Electronics Demonstrations (java applet) VERY NICE!!!
4. http://www.allaboutcircuits.com (has good points and bad but I like it)
5. Other nice tutorials I like starting at Triacs and SCRs page.
6. A few nice tutorials on semiconductor devices like diods, BJTs, SCRs and Triacs.
7. United States Navy Electricity & Electronics Training Series – NEETS

 Finding parts and datasheets:

1. Find datasheets & vendors ( FindChips.com )
2. Find datasheets & vendors ( OctoPart.com )
3. Find datasheets & vendors ( DataSheets360.com )
4. Find datasheets ( DatasheetCatalog.com )
5. Find datasheets (AllDatasheet.com )
6. The SMD code book (marsport.org.uk)
7. How to Read a Datasheet (Sparkfun.com)
8. Identifying Electronic Components (uchobby.com)
9. EIA capacitor code chart (EngineeringLab.com)

TIP: Older capacitors starting with a decimal are in microfarads (.1Z = 104 = .1uF)

Start your EE Lab

1. How To Set Up An Electronics Lab : (EEVBlog.com)
2. How to equip your lab yourself : (Ladyada.net)
3. : Build your own starter kit (Basic, Better, Best) (Ladyada.net)
4. Starter kit-Basic : Jameco.com Electronics Toolkit ~$99 (jameco.com)
5. Starter kit-Better : Ladyada’s Electronics Toolkit ~$100 (adafruit.com)
6. If you can affort a better solder station ~$95 (adafruit.com)
7. A reall nice desolder tool if you keep it clean ~$28 (elexp.com)
8. Power Supply-Basic : 2 Amp Multi Fixed Outputs ~$17 (circuitspecialists.com)
9. Power Supply-Better : 0-2A; 0-18VDC ~$49 (circuitspecialists.com)
10. Power Supply-Best : 0-3A; 0-30V Large LCD ~$198 (circuitspecialists.com)
11. Multimeter-Basic : Extech EX330 $59 (jameco.com)
12. Multimeter-Better : Fluke 17B $100 out of China and not a true RMS meter. (dealextreme.com)
13. Multimeter-Best : Fluke 87-V $326 (Martin’s Amazon Store) but (I got mine on eBay ~$190 new)
14. Logic analyzer-Basic : USB type – Open Logic Sniffer $45 (dangerousprototypes.com)
15. Logic analyzer-Better : USB type – Saleae Logic – 8-Channel $150 (adafruit.com)
16. Logic analyzer-Best : USB type – Saleae Logic – 16-Channel $295 (adafruit.com)
17. Function Generator-Basic : 3MHz Instek SFG-1003 DDS $170 (tequipment.net)
18. Function Generator-Better : 5 MHz BK Precision 4011A $355 (jameco.com)
19. Function Generator-Best : 20MHz BK Precision 4040DDS: $700 (elexp.com)
20. Oscilloscope : Rigol DS1052E 50MHz which can be hacked to 100Mhz: ~$350 (tequipment.net)
    You can get the Rigol DS1052E 50MHz from USA distributer with free shipping, no tax for $345.
    You need to request for a reduced quote from “LIVE HELP” on the tequipment.net page.
    Tell them you could order it cheaper out of China for $345 with free shipping, no tax.
    You have to refer to this cheaper Dealextreme.com link which is shipped out of China. They should email you a quote number for a price match. They did for me!
21. Isolation Transformer – Just the right size for electronics labs: Part# 16PISL288 $85 300W (elexp.com)
22. Isolation Transformer – BIG: I ordered the hospital grade “Tripp Lite IS1000HG 1000W” Isolation Transformer. It was a bit spendy at $314 but my safety is worth it and I will be able to use my scope a lot easier being I can use the ground clip again and not two probes in (Ch1 – Ch2) mode which is a pain. NOTE: !!!You have to remove the grounding strap on the secondary coil before using these as tech bench isolation tranformers!!! Other models that are not hospital grade and/or low wattage that I considered were: Tripp Lite IS1000 1000W $264  Tripp Lite IS500 500W $171 Tripp Lite IS250 250W $110

General knowledge when getting started:

1. Learn about Multimeters (Ladyada.net)
2. Multimeter Counts, Accuracy, Resolution & Calibration (EEVBlog.com)
3. Pick the right Multimeter for you . (EEVBlog.com)
4. Johannes Bauer’s interactive multimeter graphing compare tool (FireFox only!).
5. ………Bauer’s meter compare tool HELP PAGE.
6. Soldering Tutorial Part 1 – Tools (EEVBlog.com)
7. Soldering Tutorial Part 2 (EEVBlog.com)
8. Soldering Tutorial Part 3 – SMD Surface mount devices (EEVBlog.com)
9. Dead Bug Prototype Soldering (EEVBlog.com)
10. How to Solder better and why nice video!!! (CuriousInventor.com)
11. How to Surface Mount Solder (CuriousInventor.com)
12. Learn to Solder better (Ladyada.net)
13. All about batteries (Ladyada.net)
14. Unregulated Power Supply Tutorial (Sparkfun.com)
15. How transformer-based AC/DC converters work (Ladyada.net)
16. How switching power supplies work (StephenHobley.com)
17. All about LEDs (Ladyada.net)
18. Saleae Logic8 and Logic16 Logic Analyzer Review (TheSignalPath.com)
19. Crystals and Ring Oscillators (TheSignalPath.com)
20. Op-Amps, PWM and Ignition Coils Tutorial (TheSignalPath.com)
21. Characterize Programmable Power Supply Review  (TheSignalPath.com)
22. Component Packages Totally Explained! (The Funkiester)
23. SMD Packages Explained! (The Funkiester)

Surface Mount Device solder tip: A good SMD solder tip is a “well” tip that holds solder via surface tension in a hole like “well” at the tip as you “drag solder” the tip over all the pins.  Use lots of flux and watch this video. You can get Hakko compatible tips in the US market for the Hakko 900M series and the new Hakko FX-888 solder stations from these links:
For a 3mm “well” get the HS-0530
For a 5mm “well” get the HS-0531

1. Dave’s opinion on Arduino plus he compares it to PICAXE (EEVBlog.com)
2. Arduino vs. Basic Stamp (TodBot.com)
3. AVR vs. PIC (Ladyada.net)
4. Arduino Official Home Page (arduino.cc)
5. Arduino Tutorial (Ladyada.net)
6. Arduino Tutorial (Sparkfun.com)
7. Using Sensors with Arduino (Ladyada.net)
8. Interfacing 3.3V sensor to a 5V micro (Sparkfun.com)
9. Arduino Hacks Tips, tricks, techniques (Ladyada.net)
10. Step by step Getting Started with AVRs (Ladyada.net)
11. Beginning Embedded Electronics (Sparkfun.com)
12. Micro Annoyances (Ladyada.net)
13. Breadboard your own Arduino using Atmega8: Part 1 , Part 2 , Part 3 (Protostack.com)
14. Making a custom Arduino board (ToddFun.com)
15. Breadboard Standalone Arduino ATMega328 (instructables.com)
16. Using Character LCDs with Arduino (Ladyada.net)
17. AVR programmer introduction 1 – 4 (HackaDay.co)

1. Roomba dissection video and using its H-bridge motor control circuit.
2. DC Motor Control Using an H-Bridg ( letsmakerobots.com )
3. H-Bridges: Theory and Practice
4. Stepper Motor Driver + Arduino: bildr.org

1. Video on using Photo Resist Pre-Sensitized PCBs (Makezine.com)
2. Photo-etching PCB using ink-jet printer . (YouTube.com)
3. Printed Circuit Board links including DIY and order-out (Ladyada.net)
4. Make your own PCB – Printed Circuit Boards (Getlofi.com)
5. Order supplies to DIY PCBs (CircuitSpecialists.com)
6. How to get free samples from Manufacturers (Ladyada.net)

Useful software downloads:

1. Free PCB design software: EAGLE
2. Free PCB design software: DesignSpark
3. Free PCB desing software: KiCAD (how to get and use it at teholabs.com)
4. Circuit prototyping design tool – Fritzing.org
5. Virtual breadboard
6. This is a nice logic circuit simulator and is good for learning and prototyping virtually. Watch the flash tutorial when you get time and download the free version to play with.

1. NerdKits.com makes some very good tutorials .
2. Protostack.com makes some very good tutorials .
3. Seven segment display explained
4. ITP Physical Computing tutorial list
5. Spartfun tutorial list

1. Oscilloscope: Testing an Analog Oscilloscope (MUST SEE!)
2. Oscilloscope: Bench based Digital Storage Oscilloscope Tutorial
3. Oscilloscope: PC based Digital Storage Oscilloscope Comparison
4. Capacitor Tutorial part 1 (Electrolytic, Tantalum, and Plastic Film)
5. Capacitor Tutorial part 2 (Ceramics and impedance)
6. Capacitor Tutorial part 3 (Exploding Capacitors)
7. Logic Analyzer Tutorial part 1
8. Logic Analyzer Tutorial part 2
9. Decibels (dB’s) for Engineers – A Tutorial
10. Anti Static Bag Myth and general knowledge on anti static issues.
11. Linear and LDO regulators and switch mode power supply tutorial – A Tutorial
12. Build a DC-DC switch mode power supply converter – A Tutorial
13. Oscilloscope Trigger Holdoff – A Tutorial
14. Battery Capacity – A Tutorial
15. AA alkaline battery capacity measurement – A Tutorial
16. Lithium Ion/Polymer Battery Charging Tutorial – A Tutorial

1. Oscilloscope: Rigol DS1052E <$500 US
2. Oscilloscope: Agilent 2000x Infiniivision ~$1200 US starting model
3. Oscilloscope: Agilent 3000x Infiniivision ~$3000 US starting model
4. Function Generator: Instek 3mhz GFG-8219A ~$300 US (starts at 2:45 minutes)
5. Power Supply: Jaycar powertech mp3086 ~$150 US
6. Power Supply: BK Precision 1697 (Programmable) ~$350 US
7. Power Supply: HP E3610A bench power supply ~$100 – $200 US on ebay
8. MCU programmer: Microchip PICkit2 (starts at 6:50 minutes)
9. MCU programmer: Microchip PICkit3
10. Multimeter: Cheap Chinese multimeters and why they suck ~$20 to ~$90 US
11. Multimeter: Pocket variety ~$30 US (starts at 7:20 minutes)
12. Multimeter: Reviews under $55 and PDF chart
13. Multimeter: Reviews under $100 part1 & part2 (EEVBlog.com)
14. Multimeter: Meterman 37XR ~$140 US
15. Multimeter: Fluke 117 ~$170 US
16. Multimeter: Fluke 233 ~$300 US
17. Multimeter: Fluke 87-V part 1 ~$380 US (starts at 7:50 minutes)
18. Multimeter: Fluke 87-V part 2
19. Multimeter: Fluke 28 Series II part 1 ~$430 US
20. Multimeter: Fluke 28 Series II part 2
21. Multimeter: Fluke 189/289 part 1 ~$450 US
22. Multimeter: Fluke 189/289 part 2
23. Multimeter: Agilent U1272A ~$370 US
24. Multimeter: Agilent U1253A OLED ~$450 US
25. Multimeter: Gossen Metrawatt Xtra ~$500 US You can buy the Metrawatt Xtra in the USA { here }.
26. LCR meter: Extech 380193 ~$210 US
27. LCR meter: BK Precision 879B ~$300 US
28. Hot Air Rework: Atten 858D ~$82 US

1. Electricity and how to create and use it (very good)
2. What is a watt and how to calculate electrical usage and costs (Watts = volts * amps)
3. Alternating current and how and why its used in your home
4. Magnetism and its use and durability for recorded media.
5. All about Batteries (fuzzy, hard to watch, but very good information)
6. Binary counting in digital electronics
7. Vacuum tubes to transistors to micro processors
8. Older video on vacuum tubes to transistors.
9. Explain house wires (ground, black and white)
10. Canada power company load balancing and delivery