Difference between revisions of "Common Electronic Components Overview"
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== Diode == | == Diode == | ||
Controls the flow of electricity, as it only allows a current to pass in one direction. They are commonly used to convert AC to DC current by blocking the negative part of the AC signal, or, if they are reversed, they pass only the negative part and not the positive part. This allows them to be used to generate a positive or negative DC supply. Diodes are also commonly called "rectifiers" because they rectify the AC voltage, however, the term "rectifier" is usually reserved for diodes used in the power supply section of an amplifier, while "diode" is generally used in small signal, or low power applications, such as clippers. | Controls the flow of electricity, as it only allows a current to pass in one direction. They are commonly used to convert AC to DC current by blocking the negative part of the AC signal, or, if they are reversed, they pass only the negative part and not the positive part. This allows them to be used to generate a positive or negative DC supply. Diodes are also commonly called "rectifiers" because they rectify the AC voltage, however, the term "rectifier" is usually reserved for diodes used in the power supply section of an amplifier, while "diode" is generally used in small signal, or low power applications, such as clippers. | ||
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| + | *LED | ||
| + | :LED is an acronym for Light Emitting Diode, a semiconductor device that emits light of various colors when an electric current is passed through it. LEDs are typically used as indicators, but occasionally are used as clipping diodes because of their larger forward voltage drop when compared to a standard silicon diode. | ||
== Inductor == | == Inductor == | ||
Revision as of 16:54, 27 May 2007
Contents
Capacitor
Capacitors are used to store and release an electrical charge. They will block DC while passing AC. They are frequency-dependent devices, which means that their capacitive reactance, or "effective resistance" to AC increases as the frequency gets lower. Long ago they used to be known as a "condenser".
- Bypass cap
- A Bypass cap is a capacitor that is connected from the power supply to ground. It "bypasses" the AC signals to ground, while passing the DC supply through. This is used to make the DC supply rail "clean", or free from AC noise.
- Coupling capacitor
- Used in guitar amplifiers to block the DC plate voltage of the previous stage, while passing the AC guitar signal on through.
Diode
Controls the flow of electricity, as it only allows a current to pass in one direction. They are commonly used to convert AC to DC current by blocking the negative part of the AC signal, or, if they are reversed, they pass only the negative part and not the positive part. This allows them to be used to generate a positive or negative DC supply. Diodes are also commonly called "rectifiers" because they rectify the AC voltage, however, the term "rectifier" is usually reserved for diodes used in the power supply section of an amplifier, while "diode" is generally used in small signal, or low power applications, such as clippers.
- LED
- LED is an acronym for Light Emitting Diode, a semiconductor device that emits light of various colors when an electric current is passed through it. LEDs are typically used as indicators, but occasionally are used as clipping diodes because of their larger forward voltage drop when compared to a standard silicon diode.
Inductor
An inductor is also known as a "choke." A choke is often used as a power supply filter. Inductors use a circuit element consisting of a coil of wire would on a core material made of ferrous or non-ferrous material. An inductor resists changes in the flow of electric current through it, because it generates a magnetic field that acts to oppose the flow of current through it, which means that the current cannot change instantaneously in the inductor. This property makes inductors very useful for filtering out residual ripple in a power supply, or for use in signal shaping filters.
Oscillator
Resistor
A a circuit element that presents a resistance to the flow of electric current. A current flowing through a resistance will create a voltage drop across that resistance in accordance with Ohm's law.
