Customer Reviews

Encyclopedia of Electronics Circuits, Volume 5

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For school creation of simple electronic devices this series can't be beat. The two biggest problems with the early volumes were the binding and the index. The index often failed to reference the circuit you were searching for and the binding was poor, unable to withstand normal usage. When this series first appeared the emphasis was on new technology. Later volumes tried to mimic earlier device coverage and this was a serious mistake, the technologies had moved on. Still, if you are looking for quick ideas for a power supply or an instrument component, this can be a helpful place to start. A fanatic with time on his/her hands might come up with a new version with Spice models, a CD with searchable index, PC artwork, a netlist, and a parts list for each project. Needless to say none of this was available in the 1980's when this series began. Since these projects were generally copied as just the circuit diagram from magazine articles, they often are missing parts numbers or adequate information for correct construction. With today's technology, the whole article could be included on disk!

IF you are looking for a source of Circuits that components are still available this is it. This being one of 7 volumes from a year that is very much in demand. The variety of circuits in this volume spans from the ultra simple to moderately difficult as well as useful. It is supplied with analog and digital, radio, communication, fun, utility as well hard to find circuits. It also has circuits that have been brought forward an modernized to make use of current components. There are also circuits that are new and employ IC technology and MOS-LSI chips. The index in this volume also makes reference to earlier volumes that have circuits that this volume does not cover. This book can pay for itself rapidly for the right person.

This is a great reference. It's nice to have a few examples of how someone else has solved a problem before you go into your own design. Of course, you will want to own the complete library. All volumes have a reference in the back that includes previous volumes. This is handy. You only need to use the reference in the last volume you own to find a list of everything.

The fifth volume of "The Encyclopedia of Electronic Circuits" is an improvement over the first four volumes in the series. The schematics have been cleaned up for a more consistent style and some commentary has been added for every circuit.

The volume contains a large number of circuits for various functions--gleaned from a myriad of sources.