Voltage Divider And Theories On Basic Electronics

The first thing you must know when you build an electrical device with your own circuits are theories on basic electronics. Find out the various components used for them and the ways of properly connecting them with each other. Study also how to create and read a schematic diagram which graphically represents an electrical circuit with symbols and images.

Doing so is essential when there is a particular device you want to make but is still confused with some parts of the process. This might be something a little advance such as voltage divider which produces an output that is a portion of its input. But learn or review first the theories in basic electronics to understand better the more advanced stuffs.

Start by identifying the two kinds of electricity that are direct current and alternating current which are also known as DC and AC respectively. In AC, the direction where the electrical signal flows is alternating or reversing constantly with Hertz used to measure the reversal rate. In DC though, the movement is one directional from power source, commonly batteries, into the ground.

A circuit is closed when electric current is being allowed passage through a path to ground from power source which indicates a functioning device normally. While the open one has broken the path and prevents movement when a machine is turned off. This is done using a switch so you can alternate between them rather than removing its source.

Components create resistance when current pass through them from positive voltage to ground and if these two are directly connected, it would cause a short circuit. This direct connection will result in explosion, fire, breaking or overheating which must be avoided. A switch would not add resistance so simply putting one without other parts is not advisable still.

There are two ways to wire things together which are classified as parallel and series with the latter indicating all components are being wired one after the other. Meanwhile, the latter indicates the parts are being wired next with each other and that makes electricity to pass them simultaneously. Using both ways when building circuits is possible.

Resistors are used to add resistance into circuits and reducing their current flow with ohms used in measuring its different values. They have also wattage ratings and the colored bands surrounding their body indicates their resistance value. You can learn these colored bands or search for graphs which helps calculate their values instead.

Capacitors are components that stores electricity then discharges them when it drops and is measured in Farads with common ones being microfarad, nanofarad and picofarad. The commonly used types of capacitors are ceramic disc and electrolytic. The former being non polarized and the latter polarized requiring one of its leg to be properly connected with the power or ground.

Diodes are components that are polarized allowing one direction of passage for currents and causes a voltage drop as well. The side called cathode connects to the power and the opposite side is called anode. These are samples only of a few basic theories so research more about them.