[Joel_Mckay]

Did you mean you don't understand the equations/theory, or are having difficulty applying the concepts to design circuits?

In the first case, install LTSpice (free from Analog Devices), and head here to run down the basics:

https://www.youtube.com/@FesZElectronics/videos

And in the latter, go though common basic designs analyzing how they work:

https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofelectroniccircuits...

https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofel02graf

https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780070110779

https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofel0006graf

Then try your own designs combining properties of several designs. Start with simple blinkers and buzzers at first... Try to avoid Arduino designs until you've done a few 555, transistor, and opamp circuits first. =3

[TeMPOraL]

Most of my issues seem to be about power - I have no feel for the relevant math, so even as I remember the basic equations and methods, I never feel certain I'm calculating it right. So in terms of hands-on experience, I pretty much jumped straight from burning through-hole resistors with 12V battery to ignite rocket motors made of PVC and caramel fuel, to Arduinos and RPIs and NodeMCUs -- basically, stuff that comes with an USB port it can draw power from...

Thanks for the links, I'll work through them and hopefully come out with some understanding at the end of this process :).

[Joel_Mckay]

Note, part of the fun is the forensic analysis to figure out why stuff didn't work the first time... Maybe a LDO Voron 3d printer kit would be a fun project too =3

[otteromkram]

I mean I'm a dummy who just wanted to listen to ISS static and trucker jargon.

[Joel_Mckay]

Indeed, we also end up learning about our sun in levels of detail no person should find enthralling... lol =3