Garcia, Sharie B.

November 9, 2010
Bscoe 3-1 Circuits 2

Assignment

Capacitor

A device used to store charge in an electrical circuit. A capacitor functions much like a battery,
but charges and discharges much more efficiently (batteries, though, can store much more
charge).

A basic capacitor is made up of two conductors separated by an insulator, or dielectric. The

Capacitor electron storing ability (called capacitance) is measured in farads. One farad is

A capacitor is a passive electronic component that stores energy in the form of an electrostatic
field.  In its simplest form, a capacitor consists of two conducting plates separated by an
insulating material called the dielectric.  Capacitance is directly proportional to the surface areas
of the plates, and is inversely proportional to the plates' separation. 

Two main types of capacitors:

Non-polarized fixed capacitor 

A non-polarized ("non polar") capacitor is a type of capacitor that has no implicit polarity -- it can
be connected either way in a circuit. Ceramic, mica and some electrolytic capacitors are non-
polarized. You'll also sometimes hear people call them "bipolar" capacitors.

Polarized fixed capacitor 

A polarized ("polar") capacitor is a type of capacitor that have implicit polarity -- it can only be
connected one way in a circuit. The positive lead is shown on the schematic (and often on the
capacitor) with a little "+" symbol. The negative lead is generally not shown on the schematic,
but may be marked on the capacitor with a bar or "-" symbol. Polarized capacitors are generally
electrolytics.
Inductor

A device for introducing inductance into a circuit. The term covers devices with a wide range of
uses, sizes, and types, including components for electric-wave filters, tuned circuits, electrical
measuring circuits, and energy storage devices.

Inductors are classified as fixed, adjustable, and variable. All are made either with or without
magnetic cores. Inductors without magnetic cores are called air-core coils, although the actual
core material may be a ceramic, a plastic, or some other nonmagnetic material. Inductors with
magnetic cores are called iron-core coils. A wide variety of magnetic materials are used, and
some of these contain very little iron.

An inductor is a passive electrical component that can store energy in a magnetic field created
by passing an electric current through it. A simple inductor is a coil of wire. When an electric
current is passed through the coil, a magnetic field is formed around it. This magnetic field
causes the inductor to resist changes in the amount of current passing through it.
An inductor's ability to store magnetic energy is measured by its inductance, in units of henries.
The inductance of a coil is directly proportional to the number of turns in the coil. Inductance
also varies with the coil's radius and the material (or "core") around which the coil is wound.
Inductors are widely used in analog circuits and signal processing. Large inductors, in
combination with capacitors, are useful as chokes in power supplies, to remove fluctuations
from direct current output. Small inductor/capacitor combinations are useful in making tuned
circuits for radio reception and broadcasting. In addition, inductors are employed
in transformers for power grids, and as energy storage devices in some switched-mode power
supplies.

Formula
 Inductance of a coil
N 2 μA
L=
l
Where:
l =inductance in henries
N2 = number of turns squared
µ =permeability of the core material
A = cross-sectional area of the coil in m2
L = length of the coil in m

 Inductors in series
LT =L1+ L2 + L3 +…+ Ln

 Inductors in parallel
1
LT =
1 1 1 1
+ + +…+
L1 L 2 L3 LN
 Cores

Laminations
supplied in stamped letter shapes such as: "ei", "el", "ee", "f", or "ui". They are composed of
silicon iron and nickel alloys. Audio and telecommunication transformers use nickel alloys.
Silicon iron is generally used for line frequency power magnetics. \

Ferrite
available in a variety of shapes and sizes, these ceramic magnetic cores are composed of ferric
oxide and a combination of maganese, zinc, or nickel. The shapes "ee", "pq", "uu", "etd" and
dual-slab are used for high frequency power applications. Telecommunications and low power
applications use pot cores, touch tone cores, "ep" and "rm". Slugs, rods, and beads are used for
radio frequency applications.

Toroids
these circular, nonradiating, magnetic cores are available in a large selection of materials such
as nickel and cobalt alloys, metallic glass, and, ferrite and powdered iron. Popular for its low
cost and small size, these are ideal for nonradiating power transformers and current-sensing
transformers.

Windings
copper wire, based on the american wire gauge (awg) standard, copper foil or litz wire (made by
twisting together multiple strands of wire) are the most common conductors used. The current
load determines the wire gauge. Voltage, type of core material, and wave form will determine
the number of wire turns.

Insulation
properly insulated transformers can withstand severe environmental conditions and remain in
service for many years. The temperature of operation and the dielectric withstanding voltage
(hipot) with determine the type and amount of insulation needed. Bobbins that hold the wire are
manufactured with either thermoset or thermoplastic. To insulate the windings from each other,
mylar &spr, kapton &spr, or nomex &spr are used.