Electronics Resources

Electricity

What is Electricity? from Getting Started with Arduino by Massimo Banzi

Fundamentals of Electricity (Detailed, Technical)

Essential Electronics Concepts

Ohm's Law - Everything starts here!

Polarity (+ & -)

Series v. Parallel

Analog v. Digital

Pull-up Resistors (essential info for using sensors)

Voltage Divider (THIS IS WAY MORE IMPORTANT THAN YOU MIGHT THINK)

POWER! (watts & stuff, or "how to not blow up stuff")

Tools and Calculators

Ohms Law Calculator

Resistor Colour Code & Calculator

Voltage Divider Calculator

Simple Voltage Divider Calculator

Basic Components

A List of Components, Symbols, and Functions: http://electronicsclub.info/circuitsymbols.htm

The Electronics Club: http://electronicsclub.info/

Resistors: http://electronicsclub.info/resistors.htm

Switches: http://electronicsclub.info/switches.htm

Capacitors: http://electronicsclub.info/capacitors.htm

Diodes: http://electronicsclub.info/diodes.htm

Transistors: http://electronicsclub.info/transistors.htm

Relays: http://electronicsclub.info/relays.htm

LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes): http://electronicsclub.info/leds.htm

Variable Resistors and Potentiometers: http://electronicsclub.info/variableresistors.htm

Mail Order Electronics Suppliers

Wholesale Components:

Digikey: http://www.digikey.ca (>$100 = free shipping, <$100 = flat $8 shipping. Buy in groups!)
Mouser: http://ca.mouser.com/ (similar sort of shipping scheme)
Newark/Element14: http://canada.newark.com/ (If something is from U.K., look here (e.g. Raspberry Pi))

Parts, kits, breakouts, modules, plus libraries & tutorials:

Sparkfun Electronics: http://www.Sparkfun.com (USA)
Adafruit: http://www.adafruit.com/ (USA)
Solarbotics: http://solarbotics.com/ (Calgary)
Pololu: http://www.pololu.com/ (USA)
Spikenzie: http://www.spikenzielabs.com/ (Montreal)

Suppliers (Re-distribution of above, parts, etc.)

Diigiit Robotics: http://www.ca.diigiit.com/ (small but might have hard to find stuff. Montreal)
Robot Shop Canada: http://www.robotshop.com/ca/en/ (emphasis on robotics, surprise! Montreal)
ABRA: http://abra-electronics.com/ (Comprehensive stock, comparable to Lee's. Montreal)
Servo City: http://www.servocity.com/ (servos, robot parts, structural parts. USA)

Local Suppliers

Lee's Electronics: http://www.leeselectronic.com/
RP Electronics: http://www.rpelectronics.com/
Main Electronics: http://www.mainelectronics.com/ 
Metal Supermarkets: http://metalsupermarkets.com/ (low quantity metals)
MRO Electronic Supply: http://www.mroelectronics.com/