Electronics Components

Objective:
You shall be able to identifying and understanding electronic components,
common configuration and how it look like.

Contents:
1. IDENTIFYING ELECTRONICS COMPONENTS - PASSIVE DEVICES:
How to identify simple electronics components used on circuit boards.
2. IDENTIFYING ELECTRONICS COMPONENTS - ACTIVE DEVICES:
How to identify semiconductor electronics components used on circuit
boards.

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IDENTIFYING ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS PASSIVE

When a beginner to electronics first looks at a circuit board full of components
he/she is often overwhelmed by the diversity of do-dads. In these next few
sections we will help you to identify some of the simple components and their
schematical symbol. Then you should be able to call them resistors and transistors
by identifying them. In later sections we will go into the workings of each
component. Just try to familiarize yourself with the basics for now.

Electronic component are classed into either being Passive devices or Active
devices.
A Passive Device is one that contributes no power gain (amplification) to a
circuit or system. It has not control action and does not require any input other
than a signal to perform its function. In other words, "A components with no
brains!" Examples are Resistors, Capacitors and Inductors
Active Devices are components that are capable of controlling voltages or
currents and can create a switching action in the circuit. In other words, "Devices
with smarts!" Examples are Diodes, Transistors and Integrated circuits.
Resistors:
This
is
the
most
common
component in electronics. It is used
mainly to control current and
voltage within the circuit. You can
identify a simple resistor by its simple
cigar shape with a wire lead
coming out of each end. It uses a
system of color coded bands to
identify
the
value
of
the
component (measured in Ohms) *A
surface mount resistor is in fact
mere millimeters in size but performs
the same function as its bigger
brother, the simple resistor. A
potentiometer is a variable resistor.
It lets you vary the resistance with a
dial or sliding control in order to
alter current or voltage on the fly.
This is opposed to the "fixed" simple
resistors.
(SMD)

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Capacitors:
Capacitors, or "caps", vary in size and shape
- from a small surface mount model up to a
huge electric motor cap the size of a paint
can. Whatever the size or shape, the
purpose is the same - It storages electrical
energy in the form of electrostatic charge.
We will get into the mechanics and further
properties of this later. The size of a
capacitor generally determines how much
charge it can store. A small surface mount or
ceramic cap will only hold a minuscule
charge. A cylindrical electrolytic cap will
store a much larger charge. Some of the
large electrolytic caps can store enough
charge to kill a person. Another type, called
Tantalum Capacitors, store a larger charge
in a smaller package.
Various type of capacitors.

Inductors:
You may remember from science class that
adding electrical current to a coil of wire
produces a magnetic field around itself. This is
how the inductor works. It is charged with a
magnetic field and when that field collapses it
produces current in the opposite direction.
Inductors are used in Alternating Current
circuits to oppose changes in the existing
current. The mechanics of this will be described
later. Most inductors can be identified by the
"coil" appearance. Others actually look like a
resistor but are usually green in color.
Syimbol:
A. Air Core, B. Iron Core, C. Powdered Metal
Core.
Assortments of inductors

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IDENTIFYING ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS - ACTIVE

Active Devices are components that are capable of controlling voltages or

currents and can create a switching action in the circuit. In other words, "Devices
with smarts!" . Examples are Diodes, Transistors and Integrated circuits.
NOTE: Most Active components are semiconductors. More on this in later
sections.
A Passive Device is one that contributes no power gain (amplification) to a
circuit or system. It has not control action and does not require any input other
than a signal to perform its function. In other words, "A components with no
brains!" Examples are Resistors, Capacitors and Inductors
Diodes:
Diodes are basically a one-way valve for
electrical current. They let it flow in one
direction (from positive to negative) and
not in the other direction. Most diodes
are similar in appearance to a resistor
and will have a painted line on one end
showing the direction or flow (white side
is negative). If the negative side is on the
negative end of the circuit, current will
flow. If the negative is on the positive side
of the circuit no current will flow.
Use: To convert AC to DC, blocking
circuit and signal demodulation.

LEDs: Light Emitting Diodes:

LEDs are simply diodes that emit light of
one form or another. They are used as
indicator devices. Example: LED lit equals
machine on. They come in several sizes
and colors. Some even emit Infrared Light
which cannot be seen by the human eye.
Use: Signaling, Indicators, Billboard, sensors
etc.

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Transistors:
The transistor is possibly the most important
invention of this decade. I perform two basic
functions. 1) It acts as a switch turning current
on and off. 2) It acts as a amplifier. This makes
an output signal that is a magnified version of
the input signal. More on transistors in later
sections.
Transistors come in several sizes depending
on their application. It can be a big power
transistor such as is used in power amplifiers in
your stereo, down to a surface mount (SMT)
and even down to .5 microns wide such as in
a microprocessor or Integrated Circuit.

Various type
of Transistor

Integrated Circuit and Microprocessors (MPUs):

Microprocessors and other large
scale ICs are very complex ICs. At
their core is the transistor which
provides the logic for computers,
cars,
TVs
and
just
about
everything
else
electronic.
Packages are becoming smaller
and smaller as companies are
learning new tricks to make the
transistors ever tinier.

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