Learn electronics
Electronics guides
Practical guides for identifying components, building circuits and developing reliable soldering skills, written to help you move from understanding a circuit to constructing it properly.
Start with the fundamentals
Guide library
Choose a topic below. Each guide hub links into focused chapters so you can read from the beginning or jump directly to the part you need.
Identifying Part Values
Learn practical ways to identify common resistor and capacitor values from colour bands and printed component codes.
Open guide → ConstructionMaking Circuits
Move an electronics idea from a solderless breadboard towards more permanent and reliable construction methods.
Open guide → Through-holeSoldering Guide
Learn the soldering process, tool choice and practical technique needed to produce reliable through-hole joints on a PCB.
Open guide → Surface mountSMD Soldering Guide
Understand SMD packages, polarity and practical hand-soldering techniques using an ordinary soldering iron.
Open guide →Where should I start?
A practical learning path
The guides are independent, but this order works well if you are learning electronics construction from the beginning.
Start by learning how common resistor and capacitor values are marked.
Understand the practical construction methods available as a circuit becomes more permanent.
Develop a reliable through-hole soldering technique before moving to smaller components.
Apply the same careful construction principles to surface-mount parts and packages.
Learn by doing
Use the guides with the rest of the resource library
Theory is most useful when it connects directly to a circuit, a component value or something you can build and test.
Online calculators
Calculate resistor values, timer periods, op-amp gain and other common electronics quantities.
Browse calculators →Circuit simulator
Experiment with electronic circuits in the browser using the CircuitJS simulator.
Open simulator →Kit instructions
Find the build instructions and supporting material for MitchElectronics educational kits.
Find instructions →Need a value for your circuit?
Use the online electronics calculators
Once the circuit makes sense, use the calculator library to quickly work through the component values and operating points.