Hello, I am new member of the forum (age 47) and I sometimes tend to find myself overwhelmed when trying to learn new things.
My Resume:
I have a great interest in electronics and want to learn to make thinks like I see in maker fairs, etc. I was initially inspired by they now defunct site "WindStuffNow" to make a wind generator, but as I learned what I would need to learn to get there, I got side tracked.
I used to play with the radio shack science electronics kits, and in fact I have a pretty good one now that I pull out every couple of years. I understand electronics and electricity up to basic transistors, although capacitors still mystify me. I have programmed in BASIC since I was 12, and dabbled in C, JAVA, and Perl. And, I am a router network engineer currently.
While trying to get to the point of being able to build a windmill, I learned to use a metal lathe, milling machine, and tig welder, as well as some basic sand casting of aluminum based on the Gingery series. I have done a small amount of electrical soldering in my life.
So, going forward...
I am getting close to starting to try to make some wind mill projects, and may want to start with some small models etc. One of the things I want to measure would be the RPM that a wind mill I make turns at, while I try to decide on a design. As well, I would like, if I actually make a wind mill, to be able to record the power created over time and graph the results, and finally, make a control system to maintain constant voltages.
I ran across an article about building a gauss/tesla meter with Arduino, and it captured my interest. So, if, eventually, I want to make a tachometer and power meter, and record the information or transmit it to my Mac, ostensibly with an Arduino...
Where should I start?
1) What kit to use to first get started learning to connect, program and record data from an Arduino?
2) What tutorials to do to learn about building or attaching sensors?
3) How to locate similar projects so that I don't have to reinvent the wheel?
4) How to locate mentors or trainers in my area to consult if needed?
It's nice to meet you, I look forward to your suggestions.
It seems