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Showing posts from July 3, 2022

Capacitors

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Capacitors  Introduction A capacitor is a two-terminal, electrical component. Along with resistors and inductors, they are one of the most fundamental passive components we use. You would have to look very hard to find a circuit which didn't have a capacitor in it. What makes capacitors special is their ability to store energy ; they're like a fully charged electric battery. Caps , as we usually refer to them, have all sorts of critical applications in circuits. Common applications include local energy storage, voltage spike suppression, and complex signal filtering. Covered in this Tutorial In this tutorial, we'll be examining all sorts of capacitor-related topics, including: How a capacitor is made How a capacitor works Units of capacitance Types of capacitors How to recognize capacitors How capacitance combines in series and parallel Common capacitor applications   Symbols and Units Circuit Symbols There are two common ways ...

Alternating Current (AC) vs. Direct Current (DC)

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Alternating Current (AC) vs. Direct Current (DC)  Thunderstruck! Where did the Australian rock band AC/DC get their name from? Why, Alternating Current and Direct Current, of course! Both AC and DC describe types of current flow in a circuit. In direct current (DC), the electric charge (current) only flows in one direction. Electric charge in alternating current (AC), on the other hand, changes direction periodically. The voltage in AC circuits also periodically reverses because the current changes direction. Most of the digital electronics that you build will use DC. However, it is important to understand some AC concepts. Most homes are wired for AC, so if you plan to connect your Tardis music box project to an outlet, you will need to convert AC to DC. AC also has some useful properties, such as being able to convert voltage levels with a single component (a transformer), which is why AC was chosen as the primary means to transmit electricity over lo...

How to Use a Multimeter

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How to Use a Multimeter  Introduction So... how do I use a multimeter ? This tutorial will show you how to use a digital multimeter (DMM), an indispensable tool that you can use to diagnose circuits, learn about other people's electronic designs, and even test a battery. Hence the 'multi'-'meter' (multiple measurement) name. The most basic things we measure are voltage and current. A multimeter is also great for some basic sanity checks and troubleshooting. Is your circuit not working? Does the switch work? Put a meter on it! The multimeter is your first defense when troubleshooting a system. In this tutorial we will cover measuring voltage, current, resistance and continuity.Parts of a Multimeter A multimeter is has three parts: Display Selection Knob Ports The display usually has four digits and the ability to display a negative sign. A few multimeters have illuminated displays for better viewing in low light situations. T...