Please recommend experiments book to teach me solid state

[VictoriaGuy]

First: Thanks to all of you for all the suggestions! (Keep 'em coming! ;-) )
Hopefully this thread will be useful to others, not just me.

sofaspud and Benb:Thanks for the comments on Scherz and also Platt. I've ordered a copy of the 'make' book by Platt.

About the ARRL books- Do the newer editions have a 'lab' section with experiments? My 90s and earlier ARRL handbooks have good (short) sections on the basics, then move on to construction projects.

On my bookshelf I found a copy of Meade's 'Foundations of Electronic Circuits and Devices' which definitely starts 'from scratch'. I'm going to look for the lab manual that accompanies that book, online - I'll report back.

A very thoughtful forum member helped me get an e-book version of Hill & Horowitz, so that is now on my 'bookshelf'. Thanks!

 

[sofaspud]

I'll throw in one more - Solid-State Electronics Theory With Experiments by MJ Sanfilipo. Amazon has used copies. A dozen or more sections covering different ss basics.
YMMV, but I would not call ARRL, Scherz, AofE, et. al. "experiments books" in the literal sense, though they could certainly be used as such. And may well be considered must-have titles for anyone interested in electronics.

There is also a thread of Recommended Books somewhere here on the forum. You might want to check it out also.

 

[sreten]

BTW, I'm not very interested in computer simulation stuff, though I know it is 'the
way to do it' nowadays. I want to see those 'real' meter readings and scope traces! ;-)

Hi,

Well it is your complete and utter loss if you take that attitude.

TinaTi will plot the FR of a circuit in milliseconds, that would
take you ages to plot, e.g. various simple tone control stages.

It also comes will a large set of tutorial examples, and a good
manual. And has wonderful things like impedance meters.
You can plot impedances versus frequency in milliseconds.

And a lot more besides, its very powerful, and relatively simple.

I've not remotely explored what it can do, but have found it
incredibly useful modelling some very obscure passive circuits.

I'm sure it does real time with scope traces, but I've never used it.

rgds, sreten.

The 1989 Horowitz and Hill Student Manual :
http://www.auburn.edu/academic/clas...les/The Art of Electronics SM DC Circuits.pdf

 

[VictoriaGuy]

The 1989 Horowitz and Hill Student Manual :
http://www.auburn.edu/academic/clas...les/The Art of Electronics SM DC Circuits.pdf

Thanks for the link to the Student Manual - links to the actual labs are at
Index of /academic/classes/phys/2300/fogle/pdf_files

Well it is your complete and utter loss if you take that attitude.

😀 I think I can deal with the disappointment.

I'm not completely opposed to simulations - I use PSUD and the similar ToneStack program from time to time. I've never found the way to tweak PSUD to accurately predict the PS dropping resistor values, etc. so find it necessary (and more satisfying) to check that stuff out with a well-stocked parts box and a soldering iron, and some meters.

I used to teach for a living, and there is a big difference in learning outcomes between:
a)'Let's do a chemistry experiment in the lab'
and
b)'Let's watch a movie of somebody doing that experiment'
and
c)'On your computer screen, click with your mouse to watch an animation of an experiment.'

But, OTOH, I wouldn't want to climb into a modern jet plane that had been designed without any simulation, flown by a pilot who also hadn't used a simulator. Everything has its place!

And, I'm not a serious hobbyist....

 

[VictoriaGuy]

BTW, I found (on abebooks) a copy of the Sanfilippo book and ordered it.
Thanks for that recommendation.
I also have the Meade lab manual on the way.
So, plenty to keep me occupied....

 

[sreten]

😀 I think I can deal with the disappointment.

Hi,

Fair enough, but there are a whole class of problems
that simulation is by far the best / only approach.

Tools are tools, it how you use them, for the job.

SPICE is universal, I think TinaTi is the simplest.

I don't think you remotely understand the power
of simulators. You can spend hours measuring
a simple stage that takes minutes in a simulator.

Its complete nonsense you must measure, its
very obvious when a sim is going to reflect
reality, you simply sim it, its just sensible.

rgds, sreten.

 

[VictoriaGuy]

You can spend hours measuring
a simple stage that takes minutes in a simulator.

Off-topic...
Perhaps it would take you 'minutes'...😀
Like saying"I can do that in a minute in Autocad; why use a pencil and a ruler"....😉

I looked at SPICE...very steep learning curve for me, and then I have to enter the whole circuit into SPICE before I even start....hours and hours of work...all this after 'finding the right tube model', equivalent resistance (and whatever) of inductors, etc. etc. etc..
It would take me many,many hours to get the job done when a resistance substitution box or a handful of components will get the job accomplished more quickly (for me)...
Like I said, I'm not 'serious'....

Perhaps once I digest all the books I'm getting, I'll change my attitude.😀

 

[counter culture]

Just install the simulator and download a few working sims, preferably but not necessarily similar to what you are interested in, and modify them bit by bit gaining understanding of the program and the circuit. This way the experience is relatively painless, unlike starting with a blank sheet and trying to get your first sim to give sensible results. If you make a mod that breaks things you can always revert.

One thing that's specifically not recommended is trying to design a circuit by throwing components at the simulator. The simulator should be confirming your prior expectations not the outcome of some random dice throw.