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.

Looking for the 2024-25 classes, including the end of year review test?
Click here or click the button at the bottom of this page labeled, "Brian's 2024-25 Electronics Classes (Last School Year)"

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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

If you want to build the electronics projects with Brian, you will need parts.
 
The deadline to order kits and receive them in time for the "Getting Organized" class is August 1, 2025. However, kits can be ordered at anytime and will be shipped as soon as possible.
 

We highly recommend using Harbor Freight’s Storehouse 10 Utility Boxes to organize your parts. You’ll need two boxes for the electronics supplies and one box for the programming hardware supplies (three boxes total if you are doing both of Brian's courses this year).

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.

Step 3. Join the special class "Getting Organized and Preparing for Electronics with Brian."

September 8, 2025 @ 8AM Pacific
 
During the presentation, Brian will share how to organize your parts and get ready for class.
 

Getting Organized for
Electronics with Brian

September 8, 2025

8:00AM Pacific

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 8:00AM (Pacific) class dates for 2025 (2025 dates will be posted in November):

  • September 8 (Getting Organized for Electronics with Brian)
  • 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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