 | Wire - An efficient path for current. |
 | Wires with no join - The preferred method is the hump method as the other can be confused more easily. |
 | Wires with join - Indicates a physical connection that allows current to pass through. |
| |
 | Power DC - Unlimited supply of electrical energy with the current always flowing in one direction. |
 | Power AC - Unlimited supply of electrical energy with the current constantly changing direction. |
 | Battery - Limited supply of electrical energy from or more cells. |
 | Cell - Limited supply of electrical energy. |
 | Ground - Connections to earth, 0 volt or the real ground depending on the circuit. |
| |
 | Diode - Restricts current to flow in one direction only. |
 | LED - Converts electrical energy to light. |
 | Photodiode - A photo(light) sensitive device that restricts current to flow in one direction only dependant on light levels. |
 | Zener Diode - A diode use to maintain fixed voltage across its terminals. |
| |
 | Resistor - Used to restrict current flow. |
 | Rheostat - Used to restrict current flow to varying degrees but with only two contacts. |
 | Potentiometer - Used to restrict current flow to varying degrees but with three contacts. |
 | Preset Variable Resistor - Used to restrict current flow to varying degrees but to be set once and left. |
 | Thermistor - Used to restrict current flow to varying degrees depending on temperature it is exposed to. |
 | Light Dependent Resistor - Used to restrict current flow to varying degrees depending on the amount of light it is exposed to. |
 | Heater - Converts electrical energy into heat. |
 | Fuse - When current that exceeds the fuse ratings passes through it breaks the circuit. Used for safety |
| |
 | Lamp, Lighting - Converts electrical energy into light |
 | Lamp, Indicator - Converts electrical energy into light for the purpose of a warning |
 | Motor - Converts electrical energy into mechanical energy |
 | Inductor (Coil, Solenoid) - A coil of wire that creates a magnetic field when current passes through it. |
| |
 | Oscilloscope - A meter that displays the shape of electrical signal over time. |
 | Galvanometer - A meter that displays the very small current less than 1mA. |
 | Voltmeter - A meter that displays the voltage difference between two points. |
 | Ohmmeter - A meter that displays the current flow between two points. |
 | Ammeter - A meter that displays the resistance between two points. |
| |
 | And - A logic circuit that takes two inputs, if the are both high then output is high, all other cases produce a low. (00=0 01=0 10=0 11=1) |
 | Or - A logic circuit that takes two inputs, if either or both are high then output is high, all other cases produce a low. (00=0 01=1 10=1 11=1) |
 | NAnd - A logic circuit that takes two inputs and produces the opposite results of AND. (00=1 01=1 10=1 11=0). An interesting note, your computer CPU is built entirely out of the gates. |
 | Nor - A logic circuit that takes two inputs and produces the opposite results of OR. (00=1 01=0 10=0 11=0). |
 | Not - A logic circuit that takes one input, if it is high it output a low and if it is high it output a low. (0=1 1=0) |
 | Xor - A logic circuit that takes two inputs, if either but not both are high then output is high, all other cases produce a low. (00=0 01=1 10=1 11=0) |
 | NXOr - A logic circuit that takes two inputs and produces the opposite results of XOR. (00=1 01=0 10=0 11=1) |
| |
 | Switch (SPST) - A switch that allows current to flow only in the close position. Will retain the state once it is changed. |
 | Switch 2 Way (SPDT) - A switch that allows current to flow between two different paths. Will retain the state once it is changed. |
 | Switch Push - A switch that allows current to flow only in the close position (only when pressed). Will return to the open state. |
 | Switch Push to Break - A switch that allows current to flow only in the close position (only when not pressed). Will return to the closed state. |
 | Switch Dual On/Off (DPST) - A switch that allows current to flow through from two wire only in closed position. Will retain the state once it is changed. |
 | Switch Reversing (DPDT) - A switch that allows current to flow through from two wire each through two different paths. Will retain the state once it is changed. |
 | Dial - A switch that allows current to flow to multiple destinations from one source. Will retain the state once it is changed. |
 | Relay - A switch that is triggered buy an electric current that allows current to flow from one source to two different destinations. Will return to it's original state once the current flow stops. NO-Normally open. NC-Normally Closed COM-Common |
| |
 | Transistor NPN - Used as a switch or to amplify current (a small current switches the larger one on). |
 | Transistor PNP - Used as a switch or to amplify current (a small current switches the larger one on). |
 | Photo transistor - Used to amplify current or as a switch, triggered by light. |
| |
 | Capacitor - Stores electrical charge. |
 | Capacitor, Polarised - Stores electrical charge but must be place the right way round. |
 | Capacitor, Trimmer - Stores a variable electrical charge to be set once and left. |
 | Capacitor, Variable - Stores a variable electrical charge to be adjusted constantly. |
| |
 | Piezo Transducer - A transducer that converts electrical energy to sound energy. |
 | Transformer - Two sets of coiled wire separated by an iron core with no connection between the wire used to change AC voltage up and down. |
 | Speaker - A transducer that converts electrical energy to sound energy. |
 | Earphone - A transducer that converts electrical energy to sound energy. |
 | Microphone - A transducer that converts sound energy to electrical energy. |
 | Amplifier - A summarized circuit of transistor with one input and one output that increases the input current. |
 | Bell - A transducer that converts electrical energy to sound energy. |
 | Buzzer - A transducer that converts electrical energy to sound energy. |
 | Antenna - Transmits or receives radio signals. |
Electrical Circuits | |
| Author | Message | |
Anonymous
173 | Okay, I need the very basics explained (a picture would be great too)...I have no idea how to set up a simple circuit on the protoboard and I can't really find anywhere to give me a step by step description. And when I say simple, I mean simple...like two resistors connected in a circuit and that's it. |
Anonymous
173 | Aren't the Ammeter and Ohmeter backawards? |
Anonymous
173 | DC is electrons flowing in only one direction. AC is electrons flowing in two directions alternately.OK.
Then, how can a capacitor(just two plates separated by a small distance) block DC and allow AC?
i.e. block electrons moving in one direction and allow electrons moving in both directions.
Doesn't it sound weird? |
Anonymous
173 | Think of a capacity as a battery first of all. It charges up and discharges at times. With DC, it will charge to capacity then stop the current flow, this can be useful to keep dc out of parts of a circuit.
With AC current which is reversing polarity, current can always flow through a capacitor if it is large enough. Changing the size of the capacitor can be used to limit the flow of ac similiar to a resistor with DC. |
Anonymous
173 | i can not still understand the meaning of capacitance
|
Anonymous
173 | It normally means that there is a break in the circuit where no curent can flow. If it's in A plan then it is probably a switch, if someone tells you you have one when you are testing it it is probably a fault that you need to fix. |
Anonymous
173 | What does open circuit mean? |
Anonymous
173 | You have resistors as a little box. I think you'll find it's a little zig-zag line. |
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