Electronics with Brian
Welcome to Brian's electrical engineering and electronics page for the 2025-26 school year! Brian teaches live classes each month, and we've created this page to be an archive of all his classes along with the parts lists, schematics, data sheets and resources you need so everything's in one place.
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Class Description
In this class, you’ll learn about the physics of electronics and gain an understanding of concepts such as voltage, current, and resistance. It will start "from the beginning" and assumes no prior knowledge of electronics.
You’ll also learn how to build projects using individual electronic parts such as resistors, capacitors, transistors, and integrated circuits.
The projects you build will help reinforce the math, physics, and electrical concepts introduced throughout the year.
Step 1. Subscribe to Brian's class update email list through Substack.
Brian uses this email list to send updates throughout the year.
During the summer he provides information on kits.
During the school year, Brian sends information on class resources and upcoming projects.
Step 2. Order your supplies
We highly recommend using Harbor Freight’s Storehouse 4 Drawer Toolboxes to organize your parts. Two boxes provide enough capacity for the both the electronics and coding supplies.
You can add these boxes to your order from Brian, and he will include “ready-to-cut” label cards to help you organize your parts. Alternatively, you can order the boxes directly from Harbor Freight and then purchase the cards from Brian, or print your own.
Note regarding parts boxes:
As of August 2025 Harbor Freight has discontinued the 10 Tray Utility Boxes previously used with this class.
Two Harbor Freight 4 Drawer Toolbox Organizers (Item#68238) are now recommend. Two boxes provide enough capacity for both the electronics and coding supplies.
Below are the ready-to-cut labels. Be sure to download the proper labels for your boxes.
Step 3. Watch "Getting Organized and Preparing for Electronics with Brian."
Step 4. Join Brian's Classes
This class occurs on Mondays and Tuesdays every other week at 8:00AM (Pacific). Each session is approximately 60 minutes and includes time for Q&A, troubleshooting and interaction between Brian and the students.
Tuesday classes will include up to an extra 30 minutes of discussion time.
All classes are on Zoom, and all recordings are posted to this page (below).
Each class covers different content, and the Monday/Tuesday two-day format means that Part 1 is on Monday and Part 2 is on Tuesday. Please make sure you attend all the sessions if you wish to make all of the projects.
Electronics with Brian classes are Mondays and Tuesdays at 8:00AM (Pacific) on the following dates in 2025:
(2026 dates will be posted in November):
Class discussions are Tuesdays at 9:00AM (Pacific) after regular class.
- September 22, 23
- October 6, 7
- October 20,21
- November 3, 4
- November 17, 18
- December 1, 2
- December 15, 16
Links to 2025-26 Videos and Resources will be posted here.
Book Recommendations from Brian
Getting Started in Electronics
by Forrest Mims III
This book starts from the basics, but has lots of great circuit examples. This is the book that introduced Brian to electronics!
Engineer's Notebook
by Forrest Mims III
This book contains hundreds of fully tested circuit tutorials. Brian gained inspiration for many class projects through this book.
Make Electronics: 3rd Edition
by Charles Platt
This book starts at the fundamentals and takes students into more advanced concepts.
Make More Electronics
by Charles Platt
This book picks up where Make Electronics left off. It includes chapters on both analog and digital circuits.
Magazine Recommendations from Brian
Raspberry Pi Magazine (AKA MagPi)
Monthly magazine that offers tutorials, project ideas, news, and reviews focused on Raspberry Pi computers and electronics.
All issues are available as free downloads.
Hackspace Magazine
Originally produced by the Raspberry Pi Foundation, Hackspace magazine provides tutorials on electronics and various microcontrollers.
Hackspace was merged into Raspberry Pi Magazine in 2024. However, 81 issues were produced and are still available for free.
Recordings of Additional Lessons From Brian
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