How much do you need to know about electronics to create something interesting, or creatively modify something that already exists? If youâ d like to build an electronic device, but donâ t have much experience with electronics components, this hands-on workbench reference helps you find answers to technical questions quickly.

Filling the gap between a beginnerâ s primer and a formal textbook, Practical Electronics explores aspects of electronic components, techniques, and tools that you would typically learn on the job and from years of experience. Even if youâ ve worked with electronics or have a background in electronics theory, youâ re bound to find important information that you may not have encountered before.

Among the bookâ s many topics, youâ ll discover how to:

• Read and understand the datasheet for an electronic component
• Use uncommon but inexpensive tools to achieve more professional-looking results
• Select the appropriate analog and digital ICs for your project
• Select and assemble various types of connectors
• Do basic reverse engineering on a device in order to modify (hack) it
• Use open source tools for schematic capture and PCB layout
• Make smart choices when buying new or used test equipment

John M. Hughes is an embedded systems engineer with over 30 years of experience in electronics, embedded systems and software, aerospace systems, and scientific applications programming. He was responsible for the surface imaging software on the Phoenix Mars Lander and was part of the team that developed a novel synthetic heterodyne laser interferometer for calibrating the position control of the mirrors on the James Webb Space Telescope. Over the years he has worked on digital engine control systems for commercial and military aircraft, automated test systems, radio telescope data acquisition, 50+ gigapixel imaging systems, and realtime adaptive optics controls for astronomy. On his own time (when he has any) he likes to do cabinetry and furniture design, build microcontroller-based gadgets for use with greenhouses, bees, and backyard urban chickens, and write books.