What's a good resource to learn to build a circuit based on a schematic -- without learning electronics?

Question

I often find schematics online for circuits I'd like to build. I know my way around a soldering iron and I know where to get parts, but my knowledge of electronics is limited.

I'm looking for a resource that will let me translate what I seen in a schematic into something I can build without learning the theory. (Yes, this makes me a poser and a Bad Person. I accept this.)

Is it just a matter of connecting *this* lead from *this* component to *that* lead from *that* component? I see many with, say, a +12V connection -- where does the -12V connect? That's the kind of stuff that I'm looking for answers to.

Yes, I know I should learn all the background, but honestly I'm only planning the occasional tinkering, and I didn't learn organic chem to start a garden. :)

Thanks!

Answer 1

I suggest you learn the basics of key electronic components such as resistor, capacitors, LED, logic ICs, varistor, transformer... to help you in your project.

Answer 2

That's kind of like asking to learn to fly without learning how the plane works. The difficulty you'll run in to is when your circuit doesn't work. What then ? By the way, there can be +12v without -12V. It happens all the time.

Answer 3

Depending on the type of circuits I'm afraid you're going to need a little theory. You can't just string together components arbitrarily on a pc board and expect it to work. For instance, resonance circuits need to be laid out in an "optimized" fashion in order for them to have full functionality. Good luck!