Pieces - Parts (Continued)

Batteries, capacitors, fuses, inductors, resistors, switches and transistors are all parts of electronic circuits. How do these components work and what do they do?

Integrated Circuits

An integrated circuit (or IC) performs several circuit functions in one simple package, and sometimes an entire application will only require the addition of a few external components. Like transistors, ICs are made completely of semiconductor materials and use very low operating voltages. This makes them low power devices. Below are some examples of typical ICs. One of the most complex use of ICs is the microprocessor.

Refer to the Common Electronics Schematics page for additional schematics.

Inductors

The inductance of a coil increases as an iron core is inserted. Many practical inductors of this type use screw threads to allow moving of the core in precise amounts when making small changes in inductance. The adjustable inductor uses a movable powdered-core or slug. They are sometimes called slug-tuned or permeability-tuned inductors. Some inductors and some circuits will interact with magnetic fields of other inductors. To prevent this a metal shield is used to enclose them. Pictured above are several types of common inductors, although there are many more.

Refer to the Common Electronics Schematics page for additional schematics.

Capacitors

A capacitor is made up of two or more conductive plates with an insulating material between them. There are four factors that determine the capacitance of a capacitor: 1) the type of insulating material, or dielectric used between the plates, 2) the area of the surface of one plate, 3) the number of plates, and 4) the distance between the plates.

Practical capacitors are described by the material used for their dielectric. Mica, ceramic, plastic-film, polystyrene, paper, and electrolytic capacitors are in common use today. Each of these types have properties that make them more or less suitable for a particular application.

Another type of capacitor is the variable capacitor. This type of capacitor allows you to vary the capacitance at some point. The best example is the tuning circuit of a receiver or transmitter VFO. The capacitance is varied by changing the amount of space between the plates.

Refer to the Common Electronics Schematics page for additional schematics.

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