Electrical and Electronic: Difference between revisions
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Capacitors are essential in countless electronic devices due to their ability to store and release energy quickly. One of their most common uses is in '''filtering'''. In power supplies, they smooth out fluctuations in voltage to provide a steady, clean power source for sensitive electronics. They are also crucial in '''timing circuits'''. By controlling how quickly a capacitor charges or discharges, engineers can create precise time delays, which are used in everything from blinking lights to computer clocks. | Capacitors are essential in countless electronic devices due to their ability to store and release energy quickly. One of their most common uses is in '''filtering'''. In power supplies, they smooth out fluctuations in voltage to provide a steady, clean power source for sensitive electronics. They are also crucial in '''timing circuits'''. By controlling how quickly a capacitor charges or discharges, engineers can create precise time delays, which are used in everything from blinking lights to computer clocks. | ||
== Further Applications == | === Further Applications === | ||
Another key application is in '''signal coupling and decoupling'''. In audio amplifiers, for instance, they block direct current (DC) while allowing alternating current (AC) signals (like the sound waveform) to pass through, ensuring different stages of the circuit don't interfere with each other's DC voltage levels. In camera flashes, a large capacitor is charged over a few seconds and then rapidly discharged to produce a bright burst of light. From radios and computers to mobile phones and electric vehicles, capacitors are a cornerstone of modern electronics, performing a wide range of critical functions. | Another key application is in '''signal coupling and decoupling'''. In audio amplifiers, for instance, they block direct current (DC) while allowing alternating current (AC) signals (like the sound waveform) to pass through, ensuring different stages of the circuit don't interfere with each other's DC voltage levels. In camera flashes, a large capacitor is charged over a few seconds and then rapidly discharged to produce a bright burst of light. From radios and computers to mobile phones and electric vehicles, capacitors are a cornerstone of modern electronics, performing a wide range of critical functions. | ||
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Β | |||
==Inductors== | |||
An inductor is a fundamental passive electronic component that '''stores energy''' in a magnetic field when electric current flows through it. Often called a coil, choke, or reactor, an inductor is typically a coil of insulated wire wound around a core. The core material can be air or a magnetic material like iron or ferrite. The ability of an inductor to store energy in a magnetic field is called '''inductance''', and its unit of measurement is the Henry (H). | An inductor is a fundamental passive electronic component that '''stores energy''' in a magnetic field when electric current flows through it. Often called a coil, choke, or reactor, an inductor is typically a coil of insulated wire wound around a core. The core material can be air or a magnetic material like iron or ferrite. The ability of an inductor to store energy in a magnetic field is called '''inductance''', and its unit of measurement is the Henry (H). | ||
== How Inductors Work π == | == How Inductors Work π == | ||
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Electronics
Concepts
- Direct Current (DC) flows in one direction, either steadily or in pulses.
- Alternating Current (AC) flows in alternating directions across a circuit
- Current refers to the quantity of electrons passing a given point.
- Unit - Amperes
- Symbol - I
- Voltage - refers to the electrical pressure or force
- Unit - Volts
- Symbol - V
- Resistance - refers to a cause of restriction in the flow of a current
- Unit - Ohms
- Symbol - R (or Ξ©)
- Power - refers to the work performed by a current
- Unit - Watt
- Symbol - p
- Potential Difference - the difference in voltage between the two ends of a conductor through which a current flows. Also known as voltage drop.
Ohm's Law
a potential difference of 1 volt will force a current of 1 ampere through a resistance of 1 ohm, or: V = I x R or I = V / R or R = V / I
Ohm's law also is used to calculate power where P = I x V (or I^2 x R)
Abbreviations and Units
Metric Prefixes for SI Units
P (PETA-) = x 1,000,000,000,000,000 (or 10-15)
T (TERA-) = x 1,000,000,000,000 (or 10-12)
G (GIGA-) = x 1,000,000,000 (or 10-9)
M (MEG-) = x 1,000,000 (or 106
K (KILO-) = Γ 1,000 (or 103
h (HECTO-) = x 100 (or 102)
d (DECI-) = x 1.0 (or 10-1)
c (CENTI-) = x 0.01 (or 10-2)
m (MILLI-) = x 0.001 (or /1000 or 10-3)
Β΅ (MICRO-) = x 0.000 001 (or /1000000 or 10-6) (also mc)
n (NANO-) = x 0.000 000 001 (or /1000000000 or 10-9)
p (PICO-) = x 0.000 000 000 001 (or /10000000000 or 10-12)
f (FEMTO-) = x 0.000 000 000 000 001 (or /10000000000000 or 10-15)
Discrete Components
Resistors
Rt = Total Resistance
Resistors in series
- Rt = R1 + R2 + R3 (etc)
Resistors in parallel (2 resistors)
- Rt = (R1xR2) / (R1+R2)
Resistors in parallel (3 or more resistors)
- Rt = 1 / ((1/R1) + (1/R2) + (1/RN))
Resistors used as a voltage divider
- Vout = Vin x (R2/(R1+R2))
Resistor Colour Codes
| Colour | Significant Digits (bands 1&2) | Multipliers (band 3) | Tolerence (band 4) |
| Black | 0 | 1 | - |
| Brown | 1 | 10 | Β±1% |
| Red | 2 | 100 | - |
| Orange | 3 | 1000 (k) | - |
| Yellow | 4 | 10000 (x10k) | No |
| Green | 5 | 100000 (x100k) | colour |
| Blue | 6 | 1000000 (M) | band |
| Violet | 7 | 10000000 (x10M) | Β±20% |
| Gray | 8 | 100000000 (x100M) | - |
| White | 9 | - | - |
| Gold | - | - | Β±5% |
| Silver | - | - | Β±10% |
Example: a component with Yellow, Violet, Orange and Silver bands could be a 47k resistor with 10% tolerance.
Capacitors
A capacitor is a fundamental electronic component that stores electrical energy in an electric field. Think of it like a small, rechargeable battery that can charge and discharge very quickly. At its most basic, a capacitor consists of two conductive plates, typically made of metal, separated by an insulating material called a dielectric. This dielectric can be made of various materials, including ceramic, plastic, or even air. The ability of a capacitor to store charge is known as its capacitance, which is measured in units called Farads (F).
How Capacitors Work π
Capacitors work by accumulating charge on their conductive plates. When a voltage source, like a battery, is connected across the capacitor, an electric field is created across the dielectric. This causes positive charge to build up on one plate and negative charge to build up on the other. The dielectric prevents the charge from flowing directly between the plates, so the energy remains stored in the electric field. This process is called charging. When the capacitor is connected to a circuit, it releases this stored energy in a rapid burst, a process known as discharging. The amount of charge it can store depends on its capacitance and the voltage applied.
What Capacitors Are Used For π‘
Capacitors are essential in countless electronic devices due to their ability to store and release energy quickly. One of their most common uses is in filtering. In power supplies, they smooth out fluctuations in voltage to provide a steady, clean power source for sensitive electronics. They are also crucial in timing circuits. By controlling how quickly a capacitor charges or discharges, engineers can create precise time delays, which are used in everything from blinking lights to computer clocks.
Further Applications
Another key application is in signal coupling and decoupling. In audio amplifiers, for instance, they block direct current (DC) while allowing alternating current (AC) signals (like the sound waveform) to pass through, ensuring different stages of the circuit don't interfere with each other's DC voltage levels. In camera flashes, a large capacitor is charged over a few seconds and then rapidly discharged to produce a bright burst of light. From radios and computers to mobile phones and electric vehicles, capacitors are a cornerstone of modern electronics, performing a wide range of critical functions.
Inductors
An inductor is a fundamental passive electronic component that stores energy in a magnetic field when electric current flows through it. Often called a coil, choke, or reactor, an inductor is typically a coil of insulated wire wound around a core. The core material can be air or a magnetic material like iron or ferrite. The ability of an inductor to store energy in a magnetic field is called inductance, and its unit of measurement is the Henry (H).
How Inductors Work π
Inductors operate based on the principles of electromagnetism. When current flows through the coiled wire, it generates a magnetic field around the inductor. If the current changes, the magnetic field also changes, and this change induces a voltage (an electromotive force or EMF) across the coil, according to Faraday's law of induction. This induced voltage opposes the change in the original current, a property known as Lenz's law. In essence, an inductor resists changes in current. When current increases, the inductor tries to hold it back, and when current decreases, it tries to keep it flowing. It stores energy in the magnetic field when current is increasing and releases it when current is decreasing.
What Inductors Are Used For π‘
Due to their property of resisting changes in current, inductors are vital in many electronic applications. One of their primary uses is in filters. Paired with capacitors, they form LC circuits (or "tank" circuits) that can be used to select or block specific frequencies. This is fundamental to radio tuners and signal processing, allowing you to tune into a specific station while rejecting others. They are also essential in power supplies to smooth out the flow of direct current (DC) and filter out unwanted alternating current (AC) noise.
Further Applications
Inductors are also key components in power conversion. In devices like buck or boost converters (found in phone chargers and laptops), inductors are used to efficiently step voltages up or down. Their ability to store and release energy allows for the regulation of voltage and current. Furthermore, inductors are used as sensors to detect magnetic fields or the proximity of metallic objects. From the transformers that power our homes to the wireless charging pads for our phones and even the ignition systems in cars, inductors play a crucial role in managing and manipulating electrical energy across a vast range of technologies.
Active Components
Semiconductors
Diodes
Transistors
ICs
Opto
Microcontrollers
Pages about small computers, programming and process control
Other components
Power
- Batteries
Electrical
Pages pertaining to house and automotive electrical systems