Resistor Books and Online Resources

On this page you will find a collection of valuable books and other online resources that cover the topics of resistors, electronic components, and general electronic design.

The Resistor Guide eBook

The Resistor Guide eBook is the most complete and practical overview about resistors. It explains all resistor types, properties, and background theory. Furthermore, it is complemented by practical examples and overviews of relevant standards and formulas.

Resistors and Other Components

Resistor books

• Resistor Theory and Technology, Felix Zandman (SciTech) The most up to date resistor book, written by the founder of Vishay. The book gives an overview of the design, use and production of resistors.
• The Resistor Handbook, Cletus J. Kaiser (CJ publishing) A good in-depth reference resistor book. It describes the fundamentals of composition, film, foil, wirewound and shunt resistors as well as NTC and PTC thermistors.

Varistor books

• Protection of Electronic Circuits from Overvoltages, Ronald B. Standler (Dover Books) If you need to learn how to protect circuits from overvoltages this book is interesting for you. The author clearly has experience in designing overvoltage protection, which is the main application of varistors.
• Electroceramics: Materials, Properties, Applications, A.J. Moulson (Wiley) A more fundamental book on electroceramics, the building blocks of varistors.

Electric component books

• Encyclopedia of Electronic Components Volume 1: Resistors, Capacitors, Inductors, Switches, Encoders, Relays, Transistors, C. Platt (O'Reilly) Electronic component encyclopedia that describe all commonly used components in a clear way. All components are illustrated with drawings and pictures making it easy to find information in this book.
• Electronic Components: A Complete Reference for Project Builders, D. Horn (McGraw-Hill) Electronic component reference book, including passive and active components as well as wire and solder.

General Electronics and Electrical Engineering

Online resources

• Lessons in Electric Circuits - This free electrical engineering textbook provides a series of volumes covering electricity and electronics. The information provided is great for students, makers, and professionals who are looking to refresh or expand their knowledge in this field.
• Video Tutorials - These video tutorials will guide you through the basic concepts of electronics, covering everything from analog and digital concepts, to electronic components & more. For beginners and beyond.
• Worksheets - These worksheets are a free and fun way to test your electrical engineering knowledge! Check your proficiency with everything from basic electricity to digital circuits.

Books for beginners

• Make: Electronics (Learning by Discovery), C. Platt (O'Reilly) A practical approach to learning electronics, a great resource to start learning electronics with a hands-on approach and a lot of interesting experiments.
• Electrical Engineering 101, Third Edition: Everything You Should Have Learned in School...but Probably Didn't, D. Ashby (Newnes) A good book to learn the basics of electricity and electronics. The fundamentals are explained in easy to understand language, this is supported by step-by-step projects to help getting a better understanding.

Books on electronics fundamentals

• The Art of Electronics, P. Horowitz / W. Hill (Cambridge University) Authoritative textbook and reference on electronic design.
• Foundations of Analog and Digital Electronic Circuits, A. Agarwal / J. Lang (Morgan Kaufmann) Extensive textbook that combines the fundamentals of analog and digital circuitry. The book supports the circuits and electronics course on MIT OpenCourseWare.

Books on low noise, audio and analog electronics design

• Low-Noise Electronic System Design, C.D. Motchenbacher / J.A. Connely (Wiley) An in-depth book on electric noise, it's sources and models. Gives clear guidance on how to design low noise microelectronic circuits.
• Small Signal Audio Design, Douglas Self (Focal press) This book by a professional audio equipment designer gives you great information on how to design small signal, low noise analog equipment, in ways that do not have to cost much.