Ask HN: Books to read on electricity

[nikmobi]

Hi HN, I spend a lot of time playing with circuits, MCU's, etc, but still feel like I lack the most basic fundamentals on how electricity works in general. Can anyone recommend any books that wouldn't be unreadable for someone without an EE or physics degree?

[greenyoda]

Some suggestions were posted here a few days ago:

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=12264359

[nikmobi]

Thanks a lot for the link! That thread seems a bit more geared towards design and high level projects.

To clarify, I've worked on a enough projects (hobby and professionally) to be able to get the job done (calculating resistance when needed etc), but want to gain a lower level understandings of electricity itself.

E.g. alternating current/negative voltages still seems really odd to me, which tells me I'm lacking fundamental knowledge. Hopefully this clarifies what I'm asking for, and thanks again for the link!

[lovelearning]

I think these 2 favorites of mine will help you:

- Tony Kuphaldt's books: http://www.allaboutcircuits.com/textbook/ and related forum http://forum.allaboutcircuits.com/

- "Practical Electronics for Inventors" by Paul Scherz

Both books start at explain-like-I'm-5 level and build up the narrative from there. The forum too is a great resource; lots of questions and good answers on fundamentals just like yours.

[nikmobi]

I will check these out! Thanks a lot I really appreciate it.

[greenyoda]

Some of the articles on Wikipedia are pretty good sources of fundamental knowledge. For example, here's their article on alternating current:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alternating_current

[irremediable]

I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Stan Gibilisco's Teach Yourself Electricity and Electronics. It got me into electronics as a curious teenager, and helped get me through the EE part of my undergrad degree.

[yetanotheracc]

Edward Purcell, Electricity and Magnetism, it is a standard lower division undergraduate textbook. The only prerequisites are basic calculus and some mechanics.