The excerpt from Charles Platt’s Make: Electronics, 3rd Edition, introduces the book’s hands-on approach: build circuits, observe what happens, and use those results to understand the underlying ideas. The book moves from basic electrical measurements and discrete components toward switching, logic, magnetism, and Arduino projects. Its experiments require physical parts and tools, so a digital multimeter and components compatible with the third edition are practical considerations.
What is Make: Electronics?
Make: Electronics, 3rd Edition, is Charles Platt’s practical introduction to building circuits with discrete components. Make Community describes this edition as updated, with redrawn diagrams and schematics, single-bus breadboards, and an expanded focus on Arduino. O’Reilly lists the third edition as published in September 2021, ISBN 9781680456868. Make Community’s edition description and the O’Reilly catalog listing provide further details.
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How does the book teach electronics?
Rather than presenting a complete theory first and then using a build to confirm it, the book starts with experiments. Readers see how a circuit behaves and work toward explaining why. Platt describes the method this way: “Instead of beginning with a theory and then suggesting an experiment to verify it, I prefer to begin with an experiment and then encourage you to figure out the theory.”
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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsThis discovery-first approach makes the book a fit for readers who want to learn by assembling and measuring real circuits. It also means the experiments are not just illustrations: they are the starting point for learning the concepts.
#1 Best Overall
What does the excerpt and book cover?
The available preview includes the introduction and a preview of the first section, but it does not establish the exact page or chapter boundaries of the excerpt. The book’s listed contents show the wider progression:
- Electrical foundations: current, voltage, wattage, resistance, and generating electricity.
- Components and circuit behavior: discrete parts and switching, including experiments with relays and transistors.
- Building and measuring: soldering and the use of circuit-building tools.
- Integrated circuits and logic: chips, logic, and projects such as a reflex tester.
- Magnetism and combined projects: electromagnetism and later projects that connect hardware with software, including Arduino.
The third edition also revises or adds projects involving alarms, timers, oscillators, sound, electromagnetism, and Arduino, according to the publisher. See the table of contents and publisher’s edition notes for the documented outline and changes.
Rank #2
- Learn electronics with ProTechTrader's Deluxe Kit 1 for Make: Electronics, 3rd Edition. Its 200-piece electronics kit matches early Sections 1-3 by Charles Platt.
- Build breadboard circuits with specified passive parts and semiconductors, then move projects to perforated board. A double-sided organizer keeps labeled parts sorted.
- Measure and assemble projects with the PDM631 multimeter and 30W soldering iron. Exact solder, heat-shrink tubing, wire, and test leads support the lesson work.
- Power the supported experiments with the supplied 9V battery, connector, or AC/DC adapter. This electronics tool kit sets up a new beginner bench in one package.
- Choose Deluxe for home study or a supervised class when your new bench needs tools, project power, and the parts used in Sections 1-3. Book sold separately. This product is not a toy and is designed for use by teens and adults ages 13 and up
What tools and parts do you need?
A digital multimeter
Plan to use a digital multimeter for the early measurement activities. It measures quantities including voltage, current, and resistance; Platt recommends a digital meter over an analog one and calls a handheld multimeter “the most essential tool when you are learning electronics.” Follow the book’s directions for each measurement, especially when setting up current measurements, since the meter’s connection and range depend on what you are measuring. The book preview describes the meter and other experiment materials.
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The projects use physical components and tools. The preview says each section describes the materials needed and points readers to specifications and parts sources. The publisher also notes that the third edition changed project content and redrew schematics, so use a parts list or kit explicitly matched to the third edition rather than assuming an older edition’s recommendations are identical.
Rank #3
- Learn electronics with ProTechTrader's Make: Electronics 3rd Edition Kit 1 Economy pack. Nearly 200 selected parts match Sections 1-3 by Charles Platt.
- Build hands-on circuit projects on solderless breadboards, then move selected work to perforated board. The electrical components match the early lessons and diagrams.
- Test switching, sound, and control circuits with an electronics kit that includes passive parts and semiconductors. An 8-ohm speaker and 9V relay support key experiments.
- Four wire colors separate circuit paths, and alligator-clip leads handle temporary connections. ProTechTrader sorts components in labeled bags for fast cleanup.
- Choose the Economy component pack for Sections 1-3 at home, in supervised STEM, homeschool, or club use if you own bench tools and project power. Book sold separately. This product is not a toy and is designed for use by teens and adults ages 13 and up
Choosing a kit
The preview notes that at least two independent suppliers offer kits with parts for the book’s projects. It also states that Platt has no control over or financial interest in those kits; their mention is not an endorsement. The available information does not establish any particular kit’s current stock, full contents, regional shipping, or compatibility with every third-edition project. Before buying, compare the supplier’s component list with the book’s materials requirements and confirm that it covers the experiments you intend to build.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Is this the right way to learn electronics?
Choose this approach if you want to assemble physical circuits and learn from their behavior, and are prepared to obtain tools and parts separately. When evaluating it against a course or another book, check whether it involves hands-on building or only examples, whether components and tools are included, how clearly it guides beginner measurements, and whether its projects match your interests. The publisher’s outline documents the third edition’s experiments and Arduino emphasis, but does not establish how it compares in quality or teaching effectiveness with other learning options.
Rank #4
- ProTechTrader Mini Kit 1 is an electronic component pack for Experiments 1-5 in Make: Electronics, Third Edition by Charles Platt. Use this electronics kit to build five beginner circuits by following Experiments 1-5.
- Start with Taste the Power and Go with the Flow, then use the same labeled parts for the remaining introductory circuits. Each electronics project introduces a basic circuit idea.
- The pack has resistors, LEDs, and glass cartridge fuses. Copper alligator clips, a 9V battery, and a snap connector complete the basic setup; the battery powers the included opening experiments.
- ProTechTrader sorts the components into resealable bags, so you can find each value without digging through loose parts. Organized electronic components shorten parts sorting between projects.
- The Make: Electronics book is sold separately; check the project notes for the multimeter and zinc-plated hardware needed outside this mini pack. For ages 13 and up.
To continue with the complete edition, see the O’Reilly listing for Make: Electronics, 3rd Edition. A separate listing for a full-colour edition appears at Shroff Publishers.
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