Compiled here is a list of engineering resources related to electronics and electronics design, at all levels, both general and specific – and favorites of Electro-Tech-Online forum member “spec“, an electronics design engineer in the UK. The list includes books, links to online tutorials, and links to a manufacturer’s application reports or datasheets that he has found useful and which may be of interest to others.
What are your go-to engineering resources – on or offline? Feel free to note those in the comments section below and let us know why…
The Art of Electronics by Paul Horowitz & Winfield Hill, Edition 2, 1989, Published by Cambridge University Press, ISBN 0-5213-7095-7 (Edition 3 available with coverage of developments in the digital field) Wonderful, explanations of how electronics works from the basics up. Covers analogue and digital including microprocessors/controllers. Very popular with graduates to get into practical designs.
Current Sources and Voltage References by Lindon T Harrison, 2005, Elsevier Newnes, ISBN 0-7506-7752-X.
Covers FET current sources. It goes into some depth about subjects but it is clear and very readable.
Op Amp Applications Handbook by Walt Jung, 2005, Analog Devices/Elsevier/Newnes. ISBN 0-7506-7844-5.
Theoretical and practical advice from the world-famous Walt Jung
Audio Power Amplifier Design by Douglas Self, 2013, Edition 6, publisher: Focal Press, ISBN 978-0-240-52614-0
Insights from a top audio amp designer. Very readable and well structured so you can just go to the level that you want. Self is not just a theorist; he designs for production too. Of course, there are many approaches to audio amp design. Self’s main approach is the most widely used though. Some revealing information on how transistors and other components behave in the real world.
Introduction to Radar Systems by Merril Skolnik, 1985, publisher: McGraw-Hill, ISBN 0-07-057909-1 (later editions available)
Introduction to below.
Radar Handbook by Merril Skolnik, 1989,|publisher: McGraw-Hill, ISBN 0-0705-7913-X (later editions available)
The RADAR bible.
Electronic Filter Design Handbook by Williams, Arthur B & Taylor, Fred J ,1995, McGraw-Hill, ISBN 0-7-070441-4
The Bible for practical filter design. Although the design procedure has been replaced by computer applications this book tells you about the characteristic and practical aspects of each filter type.
EMC for Product Designers by Tim Williams, 2007, Newmans, ISBN 978-0-75-0681-4 (later editions available)
Not a dry tome but humorous, surprising and insightful. Another book that illustrates what the wiggley amps are doing. Useful, not only for EMC design, but when specifying cabinets and racks and PCB layout. For example, this book helps when designing audio power amps for low distortion and good screening.
Designing low-noise audio amplifiers by Wilfred Adam, June 1989 Article from Electronics & Wireless World.
http://www.keith-snook.info/wireless-world-magazine/Wireless-World-1989/Designing low-noise audio amplifiers.pdf
Simple explanation with practical circuits- old but still relevant.
The Sound of Silence by Burkhard Vogel, 2008, Springer, ISBN 978-3-540-7688-8.
Low noise design techniques. Focuses on RIAA phono input stages.
The Switch-Mode Power Supply Reference Manual by ON Semiconductor, SMPSRM/Rev 4 April 2014
http://www.onsemi.com/pub_link/Collateral/SMPSRM-D.PDF
An Audio Amplifier Power Supply Design. Texas Instruments, SAA057B June 2008- Revised May 2013.
http://www.ti.com/lit/an/snaa057b/snaa057b.pdf
Thermocouple Theory
http://www.pyromation.com/Downloads/Doc/Training_TC_Theory.pdf
Concise, simple introduction to thermocuples- just the facts and no padding
Film Capacitors
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Film_capacitor
Well-written article on the structure, manufacture, and applications of film capacitors. Essential reading for those getting into electronics at the intermediate level
Zener Diodes
http://www.onsemi.com/pub_link/Collateral/HBD854-D.PDF
Much more than just Zener diodes. Not as well focus as some ON (Motorola) app reports, but all the information you need is here
Electronic and Electrical Engineering by Lionel Warnes, Third Edition, 2003, Plgrave MacMillan, ISBN 0-333-99040-4
Electronics and electrical theory, with quite a lot of maths, but well written and clear. If you need to investigate an area a little further than the basics, this would be a good book to consult.