Basic Electronics Components That Make Up A Circuit Assembly

Nowadays, you can look all around and you will certainly find numerous things that are electronic and electrical: television, electric fan, air conditioning unit, cellular phones, computers, etc.  These are things that help make our lives easier and more enjoyable. Nevertheless, most people simply know how to operate these things. If you ask them what other things they know about electronic gadgets and tools, you will probably not get satisfactory answers. Professionals like electricians and electronic technicians are usually more knowledgeable about these things since their jobs involve maintaining and repairing them.  Conversely, we also need to learn even just a few basic things about these electronic items so we can use them more appropriately.  Every electronic gadget or item has a circuit assembly where you are likely to see different basic components.  Resistors.  These are components that have the ability to resist electric component.  They can add resistance to the circuit.  They help reduce the electrical flow in the circuit.  Resistors have varying sizes and shapes.  These components are rated according to their resistance value and power capacity. Resistors also dissipate heat due to the opposing electricity.  Resistance refers to the amount of electricity opposed by the resistor; power capacity refers to the amount of power dispersed by the resistor before it becomes damaged.  There are bigger resistors for handling immense amount of power. Variable resistors are also available, whose resistance values may be varied using an integrated knob.Capacitors.  One capacitor is made of two conductive plates; in between these plates is an insulator that prevents the plates from being in contact with one another.  If DC current is applied, one of the plates builds up positive charge while the other obtains negative charge.  This condition remains until the capacitor becomes discharged.  The component is valued through its capacitance. Capacitors are used in combination with resistors and/or inductors such as in a computer. Inductors. They are basically coils of wire. They store magnetic energy when current flows through them.  Typically, an inductor is the opposite of a capacitor.  It stores current in the form of magnetic energy; while the capacitor stores voltage in electrical energy.  Whereas a capacitor blocks DC current and allows AC current to pass, an inductor performs the opposite of this process.  Diodes. Diodes are of various types, but the most common type of diode we know is LED or light emitting diode.  LEDs are used in computers, in remote controls, etc.  A LED emits light when current is applied to it.  They are usually made of semiconductor materials restricting current flow in an electrical circuit.  Diodes can be used in various applications.  Fuses.  These are devices that are placed in circuits to help protect other circuit components from being damaged due to excessive amount of flowing current.  Every fuse has a design for handling particular or specific amount of electrical current.  Providing that the current applied to the circuit is below the capacity of a fuse, it will simply let this current pass. If the current goes beyond what the fuse can handle, the component will blow and will disconnect the circuit from the current source or flow.  Fuses are usually designed to be replaced in a circuit, as soon as the current problem is corrected. 

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