Electronics with Brian

Welcome to Brian's electrical engineering and electronics page!

The page provides information for Brian's 2026-27 live classes.

Looking for Brian's 2025-26 Electronics classes? Please scroll to the bottom of the page to see the archive, or click here.

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.  Watch Understanding Brian's Classes and Supply Requirements and Order Your Supplies

If you want to build the electronics projects with Brian, you will need parts.
 
Kits can be ordered at any time, but the deadline to order kits
and have them in time for Brian’s “Getting Organized” class is September 7, 2026.
 

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. 

We highly recommend that you purchase two Harbor Freight 4 Drawer Toolbox Organizers (Item#68238). Two boxes provide enough capacity for both the electronics and coding supplies.

These parts boxes can be purchased directly from Harbor Freight or they can be added to your FutureVision Research kit order.

Click here to download a combined electronics and coding parts list that provides the locations in both the legacy 10 tray boxes and the current 4 tray boxes.

Below are the ready-to-cut labels. Be sure to download the proper labels for your boxes.

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

This live class occurs October 19, 2026. The recording for this class will be provided that same day.
 
During the presentation, Brian will share how to organize your parts and get ready for class.
 

Step 4. Join Brian's Classes

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) every other week. Recordings for each class will be posted with 3 hours after class concludes.

Class discussions are Tuesdays at 9:00AM (Pacific) after regular class and are not recorded.

Class dates in 2026:
(January-May 2027 dates will be posted by November)

Getting Organized:
October 19, 2026

Regular Live Classes:
November 2, 3
November 16, 17
November 30, December 1
December 14, 15

2026 - 27 Resources and Videos

Recordings of live classes 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.

Elektor Media and Learning

This organization publishes a magazine called Elektor.  They also offer many online learning resources and videos on electronics. However, most of it requires a paid subscription.

Recordings of Additional Lessons From Brian

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