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Understanding Electronics Components

on-line, FREE! author: Filipovic D. Miomir

This book is meant for those people who want to create electronic devices with their own hands.
All components are illustrated and the circuit-symbol is explained in detail. Both simple and
complex examples are provided for the beginners. These include resistors, capacitors,
transformers, transistors, integrated circuits, etc and each has its own symbol to represent it in an
electrical or electronic diagram - called a circuit diagram. In order to understand how a certain
device functions, it is necessary to know each symbol and the characteristics of the component.
These are the things we will be covering in this book.

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Contents:

1. RESISTORS 6. THYRISTORS, TRIAC, DIAC

1.1. Marking the resistors 6.1. Practical examples
1.2. Resistor power
1.3. Nonlinear resistors 7. INTEGRATED CIRCUITS
1.4. Practical examples 7.1. Analog integrated circuits
1.5. Potentiometers 7.2. Digital integrated circuits
1.6. Practical examples 7.3. Practical examples

2. CAPACITORS 8. MICROPHONES, SPEAKERS, HEADPHONES

2.1. Block-capacitors 8.1. Microphones
2.1.1. Marking the clock-capacitors 8.2. Speakers
2.2. Electrolytic capacitors 8.3. Headphones
2.3. Variable capacitors 8.4. Practical examples
2.4. Practical examples
9. OPTO-ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS
3. COILS AND TRANSFORMERS 9.1. Practical examples
3.1. Coils
3.2. Transformers 10. OTHER COMPONENTS
3.2.1. Working principles and characteristics of transformers 10.1. Relays
3.3. Practical examples 10.2. Practical examples

4. TRANSISTORS 11. COMPONENTS CHECK

4.1. Working principles of transistors 11.1. Diodes and transistors
4.2. Basic characteristics of transistors 11.2. Transformers and coils
4.3. The safest way to test transistors 11.3. Capacitors
4.4. TUN and TUP 11.4. Potentiometers
4.5. Practical examples 11.5. Speakers, headphones, microphones

5. DIODES 12. CONDUCTIVITY PROBE

5.1. Marking the diodes 12.1. Semiconductors check
5.2. Characteristics of diodes 12.2. Other components check
5.3. Practical examples

To readers knowledge:

The contents published in the book "Understanding electronic components" is subject to copyright and it must not be
reproduced in any form without an explicit written permission released from the editorial of mikroElektronika.

The contact address for the authorization regarding contents of this book: [email protected] .

The book was prepared with due care and attention, however the publisher doesn't accept any responsibility neither for the
exactness of the information published therein, nor for any consequences of its application.

© C o p y r i g h t 2 0 0 3. m i k r o E l e k t r o n i k a. All Rights Reserved. For any comments contact webmaster.

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1. Resistors
Resistors are the most commonly used component in electronics and their purpose is to create specified values of current
and voltage in a circuit. A number of different resistors are shown in the photos. (The resistors are on millimeter paper, with
1cm spacing to give some idea of the dimensions). Photo 1.1a shows some low-power resistors, while photo 1.1b shows
some higher-power resistors. Resistors with power dissipation below 5 watt (most commonly used types) are cylindrical in
shape, with a wire protruding from each end for connecting to a circuit (photo 1.1-a). Resistors with power dissipation above
5 watt are shown below (photo 1.1-b).

Fig. 1.1a: Some low-power resistors Fig. 1.1b: High-power resistors and rheostats

The symbol for a resistor is shown in the following diagram (upper: American symbol, lower: European symbol.)

Fig. 1.2a: Resistor symbols

The unit for measuring resistance is the OHM. (the Greek letter Ω - called Omega). Higher resistance values are represented
by "k" (kilo-ohms) and M (meg ohms). For example, 120 000 Ω is represented as 120k, while 1 200 000 Ω is represented as
1M2. The dot is generally omitted as it can easily be lost in the printing process. In some circuit diagrams, a value such as 8
or 120 represents a resistance in ohms. Another common practice is to use the letter E for resistance in ohms. The letter R
can also be used. For example, 120E (120R) stands for 120 Ω, 1E2 stands for 1R2 etc.

1.1 Resistor Markings

Resistance value is marked on the resistor body. Most resistors have 4 bands. The first two bands provide the numbers for the
resistance and the third band provides the number of zeros. The fourth band indicates the tolerance. Tolerance values of 5%,
2%, and 1% are most commonly available.

The following table shows the colors used to identify resistor values:

COLOR DIGIT MULTIPLIER TOLERANCE TC

Silver x 0.01 W ±10%
Gold x 0.1 W ±5%
Black 0 x1W
Brown 1 x 10 W ±1% ±100*10-6/K
Red 2 x 100 W ±2% ±50*10-6 /K
Orange 3 x 1 kW ±15*10-6 /K
Yellow 4 x 10 kW ±25*10-6 /K
Green 5 x 100 kW ±0.5%
Blue 6 x 1 MW ±0.25% ±10*10-6 /K
Violet 7 x 10 MW ±0.1% ±5*10-6/K
Grey 8 x 100 MW
White 9 x 1 GW ±1*10-6/K

** TC - Temp. Coefficient, only for SMD devices

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Fig. 1.2: b. Four-band resistor, c. Five-band resistor, d. Cylindrical SMD resistor, e. Flat SMD resistor

The following shows all resistors from 0R1 (one tenth of an ohm) to 22M:

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NOTES:
The resistors above are "common value" 5% types.
The fourth band is called the "tolerance" band. Gold = 5%
(tolerance band Silver =10% but no modern resistors are 10%!!)
"common resistors" have values 10 ohms to 22M.

RESISTORS LESS THAN 10 OHMS

When the third band is gold, it indicates the value of the "colors" must be divided by 10.
Gold = "divide by 10" to get values 1R0 to 8R2
See 1st Column above for examples.

When the third band is silver, it indicates the value of the "colors" must be divided by 100.
(Remember: more letters in the word "silver" thus the divisor is "larger.")
Silver = "divide by 100" to get values 0R1 (one tenth of an ohm) to 0R82
e.g: 0R1 = 0.1 ohm 0R22 = point 22 ohms
See 4th Column above for examples.

The letters "R, k and M" take the place of a decimal point. The letter "E" is also used to indicate the word "ohm."
e.g: 1R0 = 1 ohm 2R2 = 2 point 2 ohms 22R = 22 ohms
2k2 = 2,200 ohms 100k = 100,000 ohms
2M2 = 2,200,000 ohms

Common resistors have 4 bands. These are shown above. First two bands indicate the first two digits of the resistance, third
band is the multiplier (number of zeros that are to be added to the number derived from first two bands) and fourth
represents the tolerance.

Marking the resistance with five bands is used for resistors with tolerance of 2%, 1% and other high-accuracy resistors. First
three bands determine the first three digits, fourth is the multiplier and fifth represents the tolerance.

For SMD (Surface Mounted Device) the available space on the resistor is very small. 5% resistors use a 3 digit code, while 1%
resistors use a 4 digit code.

Some SMD resistors are made in the shape of small cylinder while the most common type is flat. Cylindrical SMD resistors
are marked with six bands - the first five are "read" as with common five-band resistors, while the sixth band determines the
Temperature Coefficient (TC), which gives us a value of resistance change upon 1-degree temperature change.

The resistance of flat SMD resistors is marked with digits printed on their upper side. First two digits are the resistance value,
while the third digit represents the number of zeros. For example, the printed number 683 stands for 68000W , that is 68k.

It is self-obvious that there is mass production of all types of resistors. Most commonly used are the resistors of
the E12 series, and have a tolerance value of 5%. Common values for the first two digits are: 10, 12, 15, 18,
22, 27, 33, 39, 47, 56, 68 and 82.
The E24 series includes all the values above, as well as: 11, 13, 16, 20, 24, 30, 36, 43, 51, 62, 75 and 91.
What do these numbers mean? It means that resistors with values for digits "39" are: 0.39W, 3.9W, 39W,
390W, 3.9kW, 39kW, etc are manufactured. (0R39, 3R9, 39R, 390R, 3k9, 39k)

For some electrical circuits, the resistor tolerance is not important and it is not specified. In that case, resistors with 5%
tolerance can be used. However, devices which require resistors to have a certain amount of accuracy, need a specified
tolerance.

1.2 Resistor Dissipation

If the flow of current through a resistor increases, it heats up, and if the temperature exceeds a certain critical value, it can
be damaged. The wattage rating of a resistor is the power it can dissipate over a long period of time.

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Wattage rating is not identified on small resistors. The following diagrams show the size and wattage rating:

Fig. 1.3: Resistor dimensions

Most commonly used resistors in electronic circuits have a wattage rating of 1/2W or 1/4W. There are smaller resistors
(1/8W and 1/16W) and higher (1W, 2W, 5W, etc).
In place of a single resistor with specified dissipation, another one with the same resistance and higher rating may be used,
but its larger dimensions increase the space taken on a printed circuit board as well as the added cost.

Power (in watts) can be calculated according to one of the following formulae, where U is the symbol for Voltage across the
resistor (and is in Volts), I is the symbol for Current in Amps and R is the resistance in ohms:

For example, if the voltage across an 820W resistor is 12V, the wattage dissipated by the resistors is:

A 1/4W resistor can be used.

In many cases, it is not easy to determine the current or voltage across a resistor. In this case the wattage dissipated by the
resistor is determined for the "worst" case. We should assume the highest possible voltage across a resistor, i.e. the full
voltage of the power supply (battery, etc).
If we mark this voltage as VB, the highest dissipation is:

For example, if VB=9V, the dissipation of a 220W resistor is:

A 0.5W or higher wattage resistor should be used

1.3 Nonlinear resistors

Resistance values detailed above are a constant and do not change if the voltage or current-flow alters. But there are circuits
that require resistors to change value with a change in temperate or light. This function may not be linear, hence the name
NONLINEAR RESISTORS.

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There are several types of nonlinear resistors, but the most commonly used include : NTC resistors (figure a) (Negative
Temperature Co-efficient) - their resistance lowers with temperature rise. PTC resistors (figure b) (Positive Temperature
Co-efficient) - their resistance increases with the temperature rise. LDR resistors (figure c) (Light Dependent Resistors) - their
resistance lowers with the increase in light. VDR resistors (Voltage dependent Resistors) - their resistance critically lowers as
the voltage exceeds a certain value. Symbols representing these resistors are shown below.

Fig. 1.4: Nonlinear resistors - a. NTC, b. PTC, c. LDR

In amateur conditions where nonlinear resistor may not be available, it

can be replaced with other components. For example, NTC resistor may
be replaced with a transistor with a trimmer potentiometer, for adjusting
the required resistance value. Automobile light may play the role of PTC
resistor, while LDR resistor could be replaced with an open transistor. As
an example, figure on the right shows the 2N3055, with its upper part
removed, so that light may fall upon the crystal inside.

1.4 Practical examples with resistors

Figure 1.5 shows two practical examples with nonlinear and regular resistors as trimmer potentiometers, elements which will
be covered in the following chapter.

Fig. 1.5a: RC amplifier

Figure 1.5a represents an RC voltage amplifier, that can be used for amplifying low-frequency, low-amplitude audio signals,
such as microphone signals. The signal to be amplified is brought between node 1 (amplifier input) and gnd, while the
resulting amplified signal appears between node 2 (amplifier output) and gnd. To get the optimal performance (high
amplification, low distortion, low noise, etc) , it is necessary to "set" the transistor's operating point. Details on the operating
point will be provided in chapter 4; for now, let's just say that DC voltage between node C and gnd should be approximately
one half of battery (power supply) voltage. Since battery voltage equals 6V, voltage in node C should be set to 3V.
Adjustments are made via resistor R1.

Connect a voltmeter between node C and gnd. If voltage exceeds 3V, replace the resistor R1=1.2MW with a smaller resistor,
say R1=1MW. If voltage still exceeds 3V, keep lowering the resistance until it reaches approximately 3V. If the voltage at
node C is originally lower than 3V, increase the resistance of R1.

The degree of amplification of the stage depends on R2 resistance: higher resistance - higher amplification, lower resistance -
lower amplification. If the value of R2 is changed, the voltage at node C should be checked and adjusted (via R1).

Resistor R3 and 100µF capacitor form a filter to prevent feedback from occurring. This feedback is called "Motor-boating" as it
sounds like the noise from a motor-boat. This noise is only produced when more than one stage is employed.
As more stages are added to a circuit, the chance of feedback, in the form of instability or motor-boating, will occur.
This noise appears at the output of the amplifier, even when no signal is being delivered to the amplifier.

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The instability is produced in the following manner:

Even though no signal is being delivered to the input, the output stage produces a very small background noise called "hiss.
This comes from current flowing through the transistors and other components.
This puts a very small waveform on the power rails. This waveform is passed to the input of the first transistor and thus we
have produced a loop for "noise-generation." The speed with which the signal can pass around the circuit determines the
frequency of the instability. By adding a resistor and electrolytic to each stage, a low-frequency filter is produced and this
"kills" or reduces the amplitude of the offending signal. The value of R3 can be increased if needed.

Practical examples with resistors will be covered in the following chapters as almost all circuits require resistors.

Fig. 1.5b: Sound indicator of changes in temperature or the amount of light

A practical use for nonlinear resistors is illustrated on a simple alarm device shown in figure 1.5b. Without trimmer TP and
nonlinear NTC resistor it is an audio oscillator. Frequency of the sound can be calculated according to the following formula:

In our case, R=47kW and C=47nF, and the frequency equals:

When, according to the figure, trim pot and NTC resistor are added, oscillator frequency increases. If the trim pot is set to
minimum resistance, the oscillator stops. At the desired temperature, the resistance of the trim pot should be increased until
the oscillator starts working again. For example, if these settings were made at 2°C, the oscillator remains frozen at higher
temperatures, as the NTC resistor's resistance is lower than nominal. If the temperature falls the resistance increases and at
2°C the oscillator is activated.

If an NTC resistor is installed in a car, close to the road surface, the oscillator can warn driver if the road is covered with ice.
Naturally, the resistor and two copper wires connecting it to the circuit should be protected from dirt and water.

If, instead of an NTC resistor, a PTC resistor is used, the oscillator will be activated when the temperature rises above a
certain designated value. For example, a PTC resistor could be used for indicating the state of a refrigerator: set the oscillator
to work at temperatures above 6°C via trimmer TP, and the circuit will signal if anything is wrong with the fridge.

Instead of an NTC, we could use an LDR resistor - the oscillator would be blocked as long as a certain amount of light is
present. In this way, we could make a simple alarm system for rooms where a light must be always on.

The LDR can be coupled with resistor R. In that case, the oscillator works when the light is present, otherwise it is blocked.
This could be an interesting alarm clock for huntsmen and fishermen who would like to get up at the crack of dawn, but only if
the weather is clear. For the desired moment in the early morning, the trim pot should be set to the uppermost position.
Then, the resistance should be carefully reduced, until the oscillator starts. During the night the oscillator will be blocked,
since there is no light and LDR resistance is very high. As the amount of light increases in the morning, the resistance of the
LDR drops and the oscillator is activated when the LDR is illuminated with the required amount of light.

The trim pot from the figure 1.5b is used for fine adjustments. Thus, TP from figure 1.5b can be used for setting the oscillator
to activate under different conditions (higher or lower temperature or amount of light).

1.5 Potentiometers
Potentiometers (also called pots) are variable resistors, used as voltage or current regulators in electronic circuits. By means
of construction, they can be divided into 2 groups: coated and wire-wound.

With coated potentiometers, (figure 1.6a), insulator body is coated with a resistive material. There is a conductive slider
moving across the resistive layer, increasing the resistance between slider and one end of pot, while decreasing the resistance
between slider and the other end of pot.

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Fig. 1.6a: Coated potentiometer

Wire-wound potentiometers are made of conductor wire coiled around insulator body. There is a slider moving across the
wire, increasing the resistance between slider and one end of pot, while decreasing the resistance between slider and the
other end of pot.

Coated pots are much more common. With these, resistance can be linear, logarithmic, inverse-logarithmic or other,
depending upon the angle or position of the slider. Most common are linear and logarithmic potentiometers, and the most
common applications are radio-receivers, audio amplifiers, and similar devices where pots are used for adjusting the volume,
tone, balance, etc.

Wire-wound potentiometers are used in devices which require more accuracy in control. They feature higher dissipation than
coated pots, and are therefore in high current circuits.

Potentiometer resistance is commonly of E6 series, including the values: 1, 2.2 and 4.7. Standard tolerance values include
30%, 20%, 10% (and 5% for wire-wound pots).

Potentiometers come in many different shapes and sizes, with wattage ranging from 1/4W (coated pots for volume control in
amps, etc) to tens of watts (for regulating high currents). Several different pots are shown in the photo 1.6b, along with the
symbol for a potentiometer.

Fig. 1.6b: Potentiometers

The upper model represents a stereo potentiometer. These are actually two pots in one casing, with sliders mounted on
shared axis, so they move simultaneously. These are used in stereophonic amps for simultaneous regulation of both left and
right channels, etc.

Lower left is the so called slider potentiometer.

Lower right is a wire-wound pot with a wattage of 20W, commonly used as rheostat (for regulating current while charging a
battery etc).

For circuits that demand very accurate voltage and current values, trimmer potentiometers (or just trim pots) are used.
These are small potentiometers with a slider that is adjusted via a screwdriver.

Trim pots also come in many different shapes and sizes, with wattage ranging from 0.1W to 0.5W. Image 1.7 shows several
different trim pots, along with the symbol.

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Fig. 1.7: Trim pots

Resistance adjustments are made via a screwdriver. Exception is the trim pot on the lower right, which can be adjusted via a
plastic shaft. Particularly fine adjusting can be achieved with the trim pot in the plastic rectangular casing (lower middle). Its
slider is moved via a screw, so that several full turns is required to move the slider from one end to the other.

1.6 Practical examples with potentiometers

As previously stated, potentiometers are most commonly used in amps, radio and TV receivers, cassette players and similar
devices. They are used for adjusting volume, tone, balance, etc.

As an example, we will analyze the common circuit for tone regulation in an audio amp. It contains two pots and is shown in
the figure 1.8a.

Fig. 1.8 Tone regulation circuit: a. Electrical scheme, b. Function of amplification

Potentiometer marked BASS regulates low frequency amplification. When the slider is in the lowest position, amplification of
very low frequency signals (tens of Hz) is about ten times greater than the amplification of mid frequency signals (~kHz). If
slider is in the uppermost position, amplification of very low frequency signals is about ten times lower than the amplification
of mid frequency signals. Low frequency boost is useful when listening to music with a beat (disco, jazz, R&B...), while Low
Frequency amplification should be reduced when listening to speech or classical music.

Similarly, potentiometer marked TREBLE regulates high frequency amplification. High frequency boost is useful when music
consists of high-pitched tones such as chimes, while for example High Frequency amplification should be reduced when
listening to an old record to reduce the background noise.

Diagram 1.8b shows the function of amplification depending upon the signal frequency. If both sliders are in their uppermost
position, the result is shown with curve 1-2. If both are in mid position function is described with line 3-4, and with both
sliders in the lowest position, the result is shown with curve 5-6. Setting the pair of sliders to any other possible results in
curves between curves 1-2 and 5-6.

Potentiometers BASS and TREBLE are coated by construction and linear by resistance.

The third pot in the diagram is a volume control. It is coated and logarithmic by resistance (hence the mark log)

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2. Capacitors
Capacitors are common components of electronic circuits, used almost as frequently as resistors. The basic difference
between the two is the fact that capacitor resistance (called reactance) depends on the frequency of the signal passing
through the item. The symbol for reactance is Xc and it can be calculated using the following formula:

f representing the frequency in Hz and C representing the capacitance in Farads.

For example, 5nF-capacitor's reactance at f=125kHz equals:

while, at f=1.25MHz, it equals:

A capacitor has an infinitely high reactance for direct current, because f=0.

Capacitors are used in circuits for many different purposes. They are common components of filters, oscillators,
power supplies, amplifiers, etc.

The basic characteristic of a capacitor is its capacity - the higher the capacity, the higher is the amount of
electricity it can hold. Capacity is measured in Farads (F). As one Farad represents fairly high capacity, smaller
values such as microfarad (µF), nanofarad (nF) and picofarad (pF) are commonly used. As a reminder, relations
between units are:

1F=106 µF=109 nF=1012pF,

that is 1µF=1000nF and 1nF=1000pF. It is essential to remember this notation, as same values may be marked differently in
some circuits. For example, 1500pF is the same as 1.5nF, 100nF is 0.1µF.
A simpler notation system is used as with resistors. If the mark on the capacitor is 120 the value is 120pF, 1n2 stands for
1.2nF, n22 stands for 0.22nF, while .1µ (or .1u) stands for 0.1µF.

Capacitors come in various shapes and sizes, depending on their capacity, working voltage, type of insulation,
temperature coefficient and other factors. All capacitors can divided in two groups: those with changeable
capacity values and those with fixed capacity values. These will covered in the following chapters.

2.1 Block-capacitors
Capacitors with fixed values (the so called block-capacitors) consist of two thin metal plates (these are called "electrodes" or
sometimes called the "foil"), separated by a thin insulating material such as plastic. The most commonly used material for the
"plates" is aluminum, while the common materials used for insulator include paper, ceramic, mica, etc after which the
capacitors get named. A number of different block-capacitors are shown in the photo below. A symbol for a capacitor is in the
upper right corner of the image.

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Fig. 2.1: Block capacitors

Most of the capacitors, block-capacitors included, are non-polarized components, meaning that their leads are equivalent in
respect of the way the capacitor can be placed in a circuit. Electrolytic capacitors represent the exception as their polarity is
important. This will be covered in the following chapters.

2.1.1 Marking the block-capacitors

Commonly, capacitors are marked by a set of numbers representing the capacity. Beside this value is another number
representing the maximal working voltage, and sometimes tolerance, temperature coefficient and some other values are
printed as well. But on the smallest capacitors (such as surface-mount) there are no markings at all and you must not remove
them from their protective strips until they are needed. The size of a capacitor is never an indication of its value as the
dielectric and the number of layers or "plates" can vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. The value of a capacitor on a
circuit diagram, marked as 4n7/40V, means the capacitor is 4,700pF and its maximal working voltage is 40v. Any other 4n7
capacitor with higher maximal working voltage can be used, but they are larger and more expensive.

Sometimes, capacitors are identified with colors, similar to the 4-band system used for resistors (figure 2.2).
The first two colors (A and B) represent the first two digits, third color (C) is the multiplier, fourth color (D) is
the tolerance, and the fifth color (E) is the working voltage.

With disk-ceramic capacitors (figure 2.2b) and tubular capacitors (figure 2.2c) working voltage is not specified, because these
are used in circuits with low DC voltage. If a tubular capacitor has five color bands on it, the first color represents the
temperature coefficient, while the other four specify the capacity in the previously described way.

COLOR DIGIT MULTIPLIER TOLERANCE VOLTAGE

Black 0 x 1 pF ±20%
Brown 1 x 10 pF ±1%
Red 2 x 100 pF ±2% 250V
Orange 3 x 1 nF ±2.5%
Yellow 4 x 10 nF 400V
Green 5 x 100 nF ±5%
Blue 6 x 1 µF
Violet 7 x 10 µF
Grey 8 x 100 µF
White 9 x 1000 µF ±10%

Fig. 2.2: Marking the capacity using colors

The figure 2.3 shows how the capacity of miniature tantalum electrolytic capacitors are marked by colors. The first two colors
represent the first two digits and have the same values as with resistors. The third color represents the multiplier, to get the
capacity expressed in µF. The fourth color represents the maximal working voltage.

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COLOR DIGIT MULTIPLIER VOLTAGE

Black 0 x 1 µF 10V
Brown 1 x 10 µF
Red 2 x 100 µF
Orange 3
Yellow 4 6.3V
Green 5 16V
Blue 6 20V
Violet 7
Grey 8 x .01 µF 25V
White 9 x .1 µF 3V
Pink 35V

Fig. 2.3: Marking the tantalum electrolytic capacitors

One important note on the working voltage: The voltage across a capacitor must not exceed the maximal working voltage as
the capacitor may get destroyed. In the case when the voltage is unknown, the "worst" case should be considered. There is
the possibility that, due to malfunction of some other component, the voltage on capacitor equals the power supply voltage.
If, for example, the supply is 12V, the maximal working voltage for the capacitor should be higher than 12V.

2.1 Electrolytic capacitors

Electrolytic capacitors represent the special type of capacitors with fixed capacity value. Thanks to special construction, they
can have exceptionally high capacity, ranging from one to several thousand µF. They are most frequently used in circuits for
filtering, however they also have other purposes.

Electrolytic capacitors are polarized components, meaning they have positive and negative leads, which is very
important when connecting it to a circuit. The positive lead or pin has to be connected to the point with a higher
positive voltage than the negative lead. If it is connected in reverse the insulating layer inside the capacitor will
be "dissolved" and the capacitor will be permanently damaged.

Explosion may also occur if capacitor is connected to voltage that exceeds its working voltage. In order to
prevent such instances, one of the capacitor's connectors is very clearly marked with a + or -, while the working
voltage is printed on the case.

Several models of electrolytic capacitors, as well as their symbols, are shown on the picture below.

Fig. 2.4: Electrolytic capacitors

Tantalum capacitors represent a special type of electrolytic capacitor. Their parasitic inductance is much lower than standard
aluminum electrolytic capacitors so that tantalum capacitors with significantly (even ten times) lower capacity can completely
substitute an aluminum electrolytic capacitor.

2.3 Variable capacitors

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Variable capacitors are capacitors with variable capacity. Their minimal capacity ranges from 1p and their maximum capacity
goes as high as few hundred pF (500pF max). Variable capacitors are manufactured in various shapes and sizes, but common
features for them is a set of fixed plates (called the stator) and a set of movable plates. These plates are fitted into each
other and can be taken into and out of mesh by rotating a shaft. The insulator (dielectric) between the plates is air or a thin
layer of plastic, hence the name variable capacitor. When adjusting these capacitors, it is important that the plates do not
touch.

Below are photos of air-dielectric capacitors as well as mylar-insulated variable capacitors (2.5a).

Fig. 2.5: a, b, c. Variable capacitors, d. Trimmer capacitors

The first photo shows a "ganged capacitor" in which two capacitors are rotated at the same time. This type of capacitor is
used in radio receivers. The larger is used for the tuning circuit, and the smaller one in the local oscillator. The symbol for
these capacitors is also shown in the photo.

Beside capacitors with air dielectric, there are also variable capacitors with solid insulator. With these, thin
insulating material such as mylar occupies the space between stator and rotor. These capacitors are much more
resistant to mechanical damage. They are shown in figure 2.5b.

The most common devices containing variable capacitors are radio receivers, where these are used for frequency
adjustment. Semi-variable or trim capacitors are miniature capacitors, with capacity ranging from several pF to several tens
of pFs. These are used for fine tuning radio receivers, radio transmitters, oscillators, etc. Three trimmers, along with their
symbol, are shown on the figure 2.5d.

2.4 Practical examples

Several practical examples using capacitors are shown in figure 2.6. A 5µF electrolytic capacitor is used for DC blocking. It
allows the signal to pass from one sage to the next while prevent the DC on one stage from being passed to the next stage.
This occurs because the capacitor acts like a resistor of very low resistance for the signals and as a resistor of high resistance
for DC.

Fig. 2.6: a. Amplifier with headphones, b. Electrical band-switch

The figure 2.6b represents a diagram of a band-switch with two speakers, with Z1 used for reproducing low and
mid-frequency signals, and Z2 for high frequency signals. 1 and 2 are connected to the audio amplifier output. Coils L1 and
L2 and the capacitor C ensure that low and mid-frequency currents flow to the speaker Z1, while high frequency currents flow

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to Z2. How this works exactly ? In the case of a high frequency current, it can flow through either Z1 and L1 or Z2 and C.
Since the frequency is high, impedance (resistance) of the coils are high, while the capacitor's reactance is low. It is clear that
in this case, current will flow through Z2. In similar fashion, in case of low-frequency signals, current will flow through Z1, due
to high capacitor reactance and low coil impedance.

Fig. 2.6: c. Detector radio-receiver

The figure 2.6c represents a circuit diagram for a simple detector radio-receiver (commonly called a "crystal set"), where the
variable capacitor C, forming the oscillatory circuit with the coil L, is used for frequency tuning. Turning the capacitor's rotor
changes the resonating frequency of the circuit, and when matching a certain radio frequency, the station can be heard.

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3. Coils and transformers

3.1 Coils
Coils are not a very common component in electronic circuits, however when they are used, they need to be understood.
They are encountered in oscillators, radio-receivers, transmitter and similar devices containing oscillatory circuits. In amateur
devices, coils can be made by winding one or more layers of insulated copper wire onto a former such as PVC, cardboard,
etc. Factory-made coils come in different shapes and sizes, but the common feature for all is an insulated body with turns of
copper wire.

The basic characteristic of every coil is its inductance. Inductance is measured in Henry (H), but more common
are millihenry (mH) and microhenry (µH) as one Henry is quite a high inductance value. As a reminder:

1H = 1000mH = 106 µH.

Coil inductance is marked by XL, and can be calculated using the following formula:

where f represents the frequency of the voltage in Hz and the L represents the coil inductance in H.

For example, if f equals 684 kHz, while L=0.6 mH, coil impedance will be:

The same coil would have three times higher impedance at three times higher frequency. As can be seen from the formula
above, coil impedance is in direct proportion to frequency, so that coils, as well as capacitors, are used in circuits for filtering
at specified frequencies. Note that coil impedance equals zero for DC (f=0).

Several coils are shown on the figures 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, and 3.4.

The simplest coil is a single-layer air core coil. It is made on a cylindrical insulator (PVC, cardboard, etc.), as shown in figure
3.1. In the figure 3.1a, turns have space left between them, while the common practice is to wind the wire with no space
between turns. To prevent the coil unwinding, the ends should be put through small holes as shown in the figure.

Fig. 3.1: Single-layer coil

Figure 3.1b shows how the coil is made. If the coil needs 120 turns with a tapping on the thirtieth turn, there are two coils L1
with 30 turns and L2 with 90 turns. When the end of the first and the beginning of the second coil are soldered, we get a
"tapping."

A multilayered coil is shown in figure 3.2a. The inside of the plastic former has a screw-thread, so that the ferromagnetic core
in the shape of a small screw can be inserted. Screwing the core moves it along the axis and into the center of the coil to
increase the inductance. In this manner, fine changes to the inductance can be made.

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Fig. 3.2: a. Multi-layered coil with core, b. Coupled coils

Figure 3.2b shows a high-frequency transformer. As can be seen, these are two coils are coupled by magnetic induction on a
shared body. When the coils are required to have exact inductance values, each coil has a ferromagnetic core that can be
adjusted along the coil axis.

At very high frequencies (above 50MHz) coil inductance is small, so coils need only a few turns. These coils are made of thick
copper wire (approx. 0.5mm) with no coil body, as shown on the figure 3.3a. Their inductance can be adjusted by physically
stretching or squeezing the turns together.

Fig. 3.3: a. High frequency coil, b. Inter-frequency transformer

Figure 3.3b shows a metal casing containing two coils, with the schematic on the right. The parallel connection of the first coil
and capacitor C forms an oscillatory circuit. The second coil is used for transferring the signal to the next stage. This is used in
radio-receivers and similar devices. The metal casing serves as a screen to prevent external signals affecting the coils. For
the casing to be effective, it must be earthed.

Fig 3.4 shows a "pot core" inductor. The core is made in two halves and are glued together. The core is made of
ferromagnetic material, commonly called "ferrite." These inductors are used at frequencies up to 100kHz.
Adjustment of the inductance can be made by the brass or steel screw in the centre of the coil.

Fig. 3.4: A "pot core" inductor

3.2 Transformers
For electronic devices to function it is necessary to have a DC power supply. Batteries and rechargeable cells can fulfill the
role, but a much more efficient way is to use a POWER SUPPLY. The basic component of a power supplyr is a transformer to
transform the 220V "mains" to a lower value, say 12V. A common type of transformer has one primary winding which
connects to the 220V and one (or several) secondary windings for the lower voltages. Most commonly, cores are made of E
and I laminations, but some are made of ferromagnetic material. There are also iron core transformers used for higher
frequencies. Various types of transformers are shown on the picture below.

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Fig. 3.5: Various types of transformers

Symbols for a transformer are shown on the figure 3.6 Two vertical lines indicate that primary and secondary windings share
the same core.

Fig. 3.6: Transformer symbols

With the transformer, manufacturers usually supply a diagram containing information about the primary and secondary
windings, the voltages and maximal currents. In the case where the diagram is missing, there is a simple method for
determining which winding is the primary and which is the secondary: a primary winding consists of thinner wire and more
turns than the secondary. It has a higher resistance - and can be easily be tested by ohmmeter. Figure 3.6d shows the
symbol for a transformer with two independent secondary windings, one of them has three tappings, giving a total of 4
different output voltages. The 5v secondary is made of thinner wire with a maximal current of 0.3A, while the other winding is
made of thicker wire with a maximal current of 1.5A. Maximum voltage on the larger secondary is 48V, as shown on the
figure. Note that voltages other than those marked on the diagram can be produced - for example, a voltage between
tappings marked 27V and 36V equals 9V, voltage between tappings marked 27V and 42V equals 15V, etc.

3.2.1 Working principles and basic characteristics

As already stated, transformers consist of two windings, primary and the secondary (figure 3.7). When the voltage Up is
connected to the primary winding (in our case the "mains" is 220V), AC current Ip flows through it. This current creates a
magnetic field which passes to the secondary winding via the core of the transformer, inducing voltage Us (24V in our
example). The "load" is connected to the secondary winding, shown in the diagram as Rp (30Ω in our example). A typical load
could be an electric bulb working at 24V with a consumption of 19.2W.

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Fig. 3.7: Transformer: a. Working principles, b. Symbol

Transfer of electrical energy from the primary to the secondary is done via a magnetic field (called "flux") and a
magnetic circuit called the "core of the transformer." To prevent losses, it is necessary to make sure the whole
magnetic field created by the primary passes to the secondary. This is achieved by using an iron core, which has
much lower magnetic resistance than air.

Primary voltage is the "mains" voltage. This value can be 220V or 110V, depending on the country. Secondary
voltage is usually much lower, such as 6V, 9V, 15V, 24V, etc, but can also be higher than 220V, depending on
the transformer's purpose. Relation of the primary and secondary voltage is given with the following formula:

where Ns and Np represent the number of turns on the primary and secondary winding, respectively. For
instance, if Ns equals 80 and Np equals 743, secondary voltage will be:

Relationship between the primary and secondary current is determined by the following formula:

For instance, if Rp equals 30Ω, then the secondary current equals Ip = Up/Rp = 24V/30Ω = 0.8A. If Ns equals
80 and Np equals 743, primary current will be:

Transformer wattage can be calculated by the following formulae:

In our example, the power equals:

Everything up to this point relates to the ideal transformer. Clearly, there is no such thing as perfect, as losses
are inevitable. They are present due to the fact that the windings exhibit a certain resistance value, which
makes the transformer warm up during operation, and the fact that the magnetic field created by the primary

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does not entirely pass to the secondary. This is why the output wattage is less than the input wattage. Their
ratio is called EFFICIENCY:

For transformers delivering hundreds of watts, efficiency is about µ=0.85, meaning that 85% of the electrical
energy taken from the mains gets to the consumer, while the 15% is lost due to previously mentioned factors in
the form of heat. For example, if power required by the consumer equals Up*Ip = 30W, then the power which
the transformer draws from the maains equals:

To avoid any confusion here, bear in mind that manufacturers have already taken every measure in minimizing the losses of
transformers and other electronic components and that, practically, this is the highest possible efficiency. When acquiring a
transformer, you should only worry about the required voltage and the maximal current of the secondary. Dividing the
wattage and the secondary voltage gets you the maximal current value for the consumer. Dividing the wattage and the
primary voltage gets you the current that the transformer draws from network, which is important to know when buying the
fuse. Anyhow, you should be able to calculate any value you might need using the appropriate formulae from above.

3.3 Practical examples with coils and transformers

On the figure 2.6b coils, along with the capacitor, form two filters for conducting the currents to the speakers.
The coil and capacitor C on figure 2.6c form a parallel oscillatory circuit for "amplifying" a particular radio signal, while
rejecting all other frequencies.

Fig. 2.6: a. Amplifier with headphones, b. Band-switch, c. Detector radio-receiver

The most obvious application for a transformer is in a power supply. A typical transformer is shown in figure 3.8 and is used
for converting 220V to 24V.

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Fig. 3.8: Stabilized converter with circuit LM317

Output DC voltage can be adjusted via a linear potentiometer P, in 3~30V range.

Fig. 3.9: a. Stabilized converter with regulator 7806, b. auto-transformer, c. transformer for devices
working at 110V, d. isolating transformer

Figure 3.9a shows a simple power supply, using a transformer with a centre-tap on the secondary winding. This makes
possible the use two diodes instead of the bridge in figure 3.8.

Special types of transformers, mainly used in laboratories, are auto-transformers. The diagram for an auto-transformer is
shown in figure 3.9b. It features only one winding, wound on an iron core. Voltage is taken from the transformer via a slider.
When the slider is in its lowest position, voltage equals zero. Moving the slider upwards increases the voltage U, to 220V.
Further moving the slider increases the voltage U above 220V.

The transformer in figure 3.9c converts 220v to 110v and is used for supplying devices designed to work on 110V.

As a final example, figure 3.9d represents an isolating transformer. This transformer features the same number of turns on
primary and secondary windings. Secondary voltage is the same as the primary, 220V, but is completely isolated from the
"mains," minimizing the risks of electrical shock. As a result, a person can stand on a wet floor and touch any part of the
secondary without risk, which is not the case with the normal power outlet.

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4. Transistors
Transistors are active components and are found everywhere in electronic circuits. They are used as amplifiers and switching
devices. As amplifiers, they are used in high and low frequency stages, oscillators, modulators, detectors and in any circuit
needing to perform a function. In digital circuits they are used as switches.

There is a large number of manufacturers around the world who produce semiconductors (transistors are
members of this family of components), so there are literally thousands of different types. There are low,
medium and high power transistors, for working with high and low frequencies, for working with very high
current and/or high voltages. Several different transistors are shown on 4.1.

The most common type of transistor is called bipolar and these are divided into NPN and PNP types.
Their construction-material is most commonly silicon (their marking has the letter B) or germanium (their
marking has the letter A). Original transistor were made from germanium, but they were very temperature-
sensitive. Silicon transistors are much more temperature-tolerant and much cheaper to manufacture.

Fig. 4.1: Different transistors

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Fig. 4.2: Transistor symbols: a - bipolar, b - FET, c - MOSFET, d - dual gate MOSFET,
e - inductive channel MOSFET, f - single connection transistor

The second letter in transistor’s marking describes its primary use:

C - low and medium power LF transistor,
D - high power LF transistor,
F - low power HF transistor,
G - other transistors,
L - high power HF transistors,
P - photo transistor,
S - switch transistor,
U - high voltage transistor.

Here are few examples:

AC540 - germanium core, LF, low power,
AF125 - germanium core, HF, low power,
BC107 - silicon, LF, low power (0.3W),
BD675 - silicon, LF, high power (40W),
BF199 - silicon, HF (to 550 MHz),
BU208 - silicon (for voltages up to 700V),
BSY54 - silicon, switching transistor.
There is a possibility of a third letter (R and Q - microwave transistors, or X - switch transistor), but these
letters vary from manufacturer to manufacturer.
The number following the letter is of no importance to users.
American transistor manufacturers have different marks, with a 2N prefix followed by a number (2N3055, for
example). This mark is similar to diode marks, which have a 1N prefix (e.g. 1N4004).
Japanese bipolar transistor are prefixed with a: 2SA, 2SB, 2SC or 2SD, and FET-s with 3S:
2SA - PNP, HF transistors,
2SB - PNP, LF transistors,
2SC - NPN, HF transistors,
2SD - NPN, HF transistors.

Several different transistors are shown in photo 4.1, and symbols for schematics are on 4.2. Low power
transistors are housed in a small plastic or metallic cases of various shapes. Bipolar transistors have three leads:
for base (B), emitter (E), and for collector (C). Sometimes, HF transistors have another lead which is connected
to the metal housing. This lead is connected to the ground of the circuit, to protect the transistor from possible
external electrical interference. Four leads emerge from some other types, such as two-gate FETs. High power
transistors are different from low-to-medium power, both in size and in shape.

It is important to have the manufacturer’s catalog or a datasheet to know which lead is connected to what part
of the transistor. These documents hold the information about the component's correct use (maximum current
rating, power, amplification, etc.) as well as a diagram of the pinout. Placement of leads and different housing
types for some commonly used transistors are in diagram 4.3.

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Fig. 4.3: Pinouts of some common packages

It might be useful to remember the pinout for TO-1, TO-5, TO-18 and TO-72 packages and compare them with
the drawing 4.2 (a). These transistors are the ones you will come across frequently in everyday work.

The TO-3 package, which is used to house high-power transistors, has only two pins, one for base, and one for
emitter. The collector is connected to the package, and this is connected to the rest of the circuit via one of the
screws which fasten the transistor to the heat-sink.

Transistors used with very high frequencies (like BFR14) have pins shaped differently.
One of the breakthroughs in the field of electronic components was the invention of SMD (surface mount
devices) circuits. This technology allowed manufacturers to achieve tiny components with the same properties
as their larger counterparts, and therefore reduce the size and cost of the design. One of the SMD housings is
the SOT23 package. There is, however, a trade-off to this, SMD components are difficult to solder to the PC
board and they usually need special soldering equipment.

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As we said, there are literally thousands of different transistors, many of them have similar characteristics,
which makes it possible to replace a faulty transistor with a different one. The characteristics and similarities
can be found in comparison charts. If you do not have one these charts, you can try some of the transistors you
already have. If the circuit continues to operate correctly, everything is ok. You can only replace an NPN
transistor with an NPN transistor. The same goes if the transistor is PNP or a FET. It is also necessary to make
sure the pinout is correct, before you solder it in place and power up the project.
As a helpful guide, there is a chart in this chapter which shows a list of replacements for some frequently used
transistors.

4.1 The working principle of a transistor

Transistors are used in analog circuits to amplify a signal. They are also used in power supplies as a regulator
and you will also find them used as a switch in digital circuits.
The best way to explore the basics of transistors is by experimenting. A simple circuit is shown below. It uses a
power transistor to illuminate a globe. You will also need a battery, a small light bulb (taken from a flashlight)
with properties near 4.5V/0.3A, a linear potentiometer (5k) and a 470 ohm resistor. These components should
be connected as shown in figure 4.4a.

Fig. 4.4: Working principle of a transistor: potentiometer moves toward its upper position - voltage
on the base increases - current through the base increases - current through the collector increases -
the brightness of the globe increases.

Resistor (R) isn't really necessary, but if you don't use it, you mustn't turn the potentiometer (pot) to its high
position, because that would destroy the transistor - this is because the DC voltage UBE (voltage between the
base and the emitter), should not be higher than 0.6V, for silicon transistors.

Turn the potentiometer to its lowest position. This brings the voltage on the base (or more correctly between the
base and ground) to zero volts (UBE = 0). The bulb doesn't light, which means there is no current passing
through the transistor.

As we already mentioned, the potentiometers lowest position means that UBE is equal to zero. When we turn
the knob from its lowest position UBE gradually increases. When UBE reaches 0.6v, current starts to enter the
transistor and the globe starts to glow. As the pot is turned further, the voltage on the base remains at 0.6v but
the current increases and this increases the current through the collector-emitter circuit. If the pot is turned
fully, the base voltage will increase slightly to about 0.75v but the current will increase significantly and the
globe will glow brightly.

If we connected an ammeter between the collector and the bulb (to measure IC), another ammeter between the
pot and the base (for measuring IB), and a voltmeter between the ground and the base and repeat the whole
experiment, we will find some interesting data. When the pot is in its low position UBE is equal to 0V, as well as
currents IC and IB. When the pot is turned, these values start to rise until the bulb starts to glow when they
are: UBE = 0.6V, IB = 0.8mA and IB = 36 mA (if your values differ from these values, it is because the 2N3055
the writer used doesn't have the same specifications as the one you use, which is common when working with
transistors).
The end result we get from this experiment is that when the current on the base is changed, current on the
collector is changed as well.

Let's look at another experiment which will broaden our knowledge of the transistor. It requires a BC107

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transistor (or any similar low power transistor), supply source (same as in previous experiment), 1M resistor,
headphones and an electrolytic capacitor whose value may range between 10u to 100µF with any operating
voltage.
A simple low frequency amplifier can be built from these components as shown in diagram 4.5.

Fig. 4.5: A simple transistor amplifier

It should be noted that the schematic 4.5a is similar to the one on 4.4a. The main difference is that the collector
is connected to headphones. The "turn-on" resistor - the resistor on the base, is 1M. When there is no resistor,
there is no current flow IB, and no Ic current. When the resistor is connected to the circuit, base voltage is
equal to 0.6V, and the base current IB = 4µA. The transistor has a gain of 250 and this means the collector
current will be 1 mA. Since both of these currents enter the transistor, it is obvious that the emitter current is
equal to IE = IC + IB. And since the base current is in most cases insignificant compared to the collector
current, it is considered that:

The relationship between the current flowing through the collector and the current flowing through the base is
called the transistor's current amplification coefficient, and is marked as hFE. In our example, this coefficient is
equal to:

Put the headphones on and place a fingertip on point 1. You will hear a noise. You body picks up the 50Hz AC
"mains" voltage. The noise heard from the headphones is that voltage, only amplified by the transistor. Let's
explain this circuit a bit more. Ac voltage with frequency 50Hz is connected to transistor's base via the capacitor
C. Voltage on the base is now equal to the sum of a DC voltage (0.6 approx.) via resistor R, and AC voltage
"from" the finger. This means that this base voltage is higher than 0.6V, fifty times per second, and fifty times
slightly lower than that. Because of this, current on the collector is higher than 1mA fifty times per second, and
fifty times lower. This variable current is used to shift the membrane of the speakerphones forward fifty times
per second and fifty times backwards, meaning that we can hear the 50Hz tone on the output.
Listening to a 50Hz noise is not very interesting, so you could connect to points 1 and 2 some low frequency
signal source (CD player or a microphone).

There are literally thousands of different circuits using a transistor as an active, amplifying device. And all these
transistors operate in a manner shown in our experiments, which means that by building this example, you're
actually building a basic building block of electronics.

4.2 Basic characteristics of transistors

Selecting the correct transistor for a circuit is based on the following characteristics: maximum voltage rating
between the collector and the emitter UCEmax, maximum collector current ICmax and the maximum power
rating PCmax.

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If you need to change a faulty transistor, or you feel comfortable enough to build a new circuit, pay attention to
these three values. Your circuit must not exceed the maximum rating values of the transistor. If this is
disregarded there are possibilities of permanent circuit damage. Beside the values we mentioned, it is
sometimes important to know the current amplification, and maximum frequency of operation.
When there is a DC voltage UCE between the collector (C) and emitter (E) with a collector current, the
transistor acts as a small electrical heater whose power is given with this equation:

Because of that, the transistor is heating itself and everything in its proximity. When UCE or ICE rise (or both of
them), the transistor may overheat and become damaged. Maximum power rating for a transistor, is PCmax
(found in a datasheet). What this means is that the product of UCE and IC should should not be higher than
PCmax:

So, if the voltage across the transistor is increased, the current must be dropped.
For example, maximum ratings for a BC107 transistor are:
ICmax=100mA,
UCEmax = 45V and
PCmax = 300mW
If we need a Ic=60mA , the maximum voltage is:

For UCE = 30V, the maximum current is:

Among its other characteristics, this transistor has current amplification coefficient in range between hFE= 100
to 450, and it can be used for frequencies under 300MHz. According to the recommended values given by the
manufacturer, optimum results (stability, low distortion and noise, high gain, etc.) are with UCE=5V and
IC=2mA.
There are occasions when the heat generated by a transistor cannot be overcome by adjusting voltages and
current. In this case the transistors have a metal plate with hole, which is used to attach it to a heat-sink to
allow the heat to be passed to a larger surface.

Current amplification is of importance when used in some circuits, where there is a need for equal amplification
of two transistors. For example, 2N3055H transistors have hFE within range between 20 and 70, which means
that there is a possibility that one of them has 20 and other 70. This means that in cases when two identical
coefficients are needed, they should be measured. Some multimeters have the option for measuring this, but
most don't. Because of this we have provided a simple circuit (4.6) for testing transistors. All you need is an
option on your multimeter for measuring DC current up to 5mA. Both diodes (1N4001, or similar general
purpose silicon diodes) and 1k resistors are used to protect the instrument if the transistor is "damaged". As we
said, current gain is equal to hFE = IC / IB. In the circuit, when the switch S is pressed, current flows through
the base and is approximately equal to IB=10uA, so if the collector current is displayed in milliamps. The gain is
equal to:

For example, if the multimeter shows 2.4mA, hFE = 2.4*100 = 240.

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Fig. 4.6: Measuring the hFE

While measuring NPN transistors, the supply should be connected as shown in the diagram. For PNP transistors
the battery is reversed. In that case, probes should be reversed as well if you're using analog instrument (one
with a needle). If you are using a digital meter (highly recommended) it doesn't matter which probe goes where,
but if you do it the same way as you did with NPN there would be a minus in front of the read value, which
means that current flows in the opposite direction.

4.3 The safest way to test transistors

Another way to test transistor is to put it into a circuit and detect the operation. The following circuit is a
multivibrator. The "test transistor" is T2. The supply voltage can be up to 12v. The LED will blink when a good
transistor is fitted to the circuit.

Fig. 4.7: Oscillator to test transistors

To test PNP transistors, same would go, only the transistor which would need to be replaced is the T1, and the
battery, LED, C1 and C2 should be reversed.

4.4 TUN and TUP

As we previously said, many electronic devices work perfectly even if the transistor is replaced with a similar
device. Because of this, many magazines use the identification TUN and TUP in their schematics. These are
general purpose transistors. TUN identifies a general purpose NPN transistor, and TUP is a general purpose PNP
transistor.

TUN = Transistor Universal NPN and TUP = Transistor Universal PNP.

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These transistors have following characteristics:

4.5 Practical example

The most common role of a transistor in an analog circuit is as an active (amplifying) component. Diagram 4.8
shows a simple radio receiver - commonly called a "Crystal Set with amplifier."

Variable capacitor C and coil L form a parallel oscillating circuit which is used to pick out the signal of a radio
station out of many different signals of different frequencies. A diode, 100pF capacitor and a 470k resistor form
a diode detector which is used to transform the low frequency voltage into information (music, speech).
Information across the 470k resistor passes through a 1uF capacitor to the base of a transistor. The transistor
and its associated components create a low frequency amplifier which amplifies the signal.
On figure 4.8 there are symbols for a common ground and grounding. Beginners usually assume these two are
the same which is a mistake. On the circuit board the common ground is a copper track whose size is
significantly wider than the other tracks. When this radio receiver is built on a circuit board, common ground is
a copper strip connecting holes where the lower end of the capacitor C, coil L 100pF capacitor and 470k resistor
are soldered. On the other hand, grounding is a metal rod stuck in a wet earth (connecting your circuits
grounding point to the plumbing or heating system of your house is also a good way to ground your project).
Resistor R2 biases the transistor. This voltage should be around 0.7V, so that voltage on the collector is
approximately equal to half the battery voltage.

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Fig. 4.8: Detector receiver with a simple amplifier

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5. Diodes
As with transistors, diodes are fabricated from semi-conducting material. So, the first letter in their
identification is A for germanium diode or B for silicon diode. They can be encased in glass, metal or a plastic
housing. They have two leads: cathode (k) and an anode (A). The most important property of all diodes is their
resistance is very low in one direction and very large in the opposite direction.
When a diode is measured with a multimeter and it reads a low value of ohms, this is not really the resistance
of the diode. It represents the voltage drop across the junction of the diode. This means a multimeter can only
be used to detect if the junction is not damaged. If the reading is low in one direction and very high in the other
direction, the diode is operational.

When a diode is placed in a circuit and the voltage on the anode is higher than the cathode, it acts like a low
value resistor and current will flow.
If it is connected in the opposite direction it acts like a large value resistor and current does not flow.
In the first case the diode is said to be "forward biased" and in the second case it is "reverse biased."

Figure 5.1 shows several different diodes:

Fig. 5.1: Several different types of diodes

The diodes above are all single diodes, however 4 diodes are available in a single package. This is called a
BRIDGE or BRIDGE RECTIFIER. Examples of a bridge are shown in the diagram below:

You must be able to identify each of the 4 leads on a bridge so that it can be inserted into a circuit around the
correct way. The surface-mount device above is identified by a cut @ 45° along one side. The leaded bridge has
one leg longer than the others and the top is marked with AC marks and "+." The high-current bridge has a
corner cut off and the other surface-mount device has a cut or notch at one end.

These devices are added to a circuit as shown in the next diagram:

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The 4 diodes face the same direction and this means a single diode can be shown on the circuit diagram:

Symbols in 5.2 show a number of diodes. There are a number of specially-designed diodes: for high current,
high-speed, low voltage-drop, light-detection, and varying capacitance as the voltage is altered. Most diodes are
made from silicon as it will withstand high temperature, however germanium is used if a low voltage-drop is
required. There is also a light emitting diode called a LED, but this is a completely different type of diode.

Fig. 5.2: Diode symbols: a - standard diode, b - LED,

c, d - Zener, e - photo, f,g - tunnel, h - Schottky, i - breakdown,
j - capacitative

LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) are constructed from a crystalline substance that emits light when a current flows
through it. Depending on the crystalline material: red, yellow, green, blue or orange light is produced. The
photo below shows some of the colours hat can be produced by LEDs:

It is not possible to produce white light from any of these materials, so a triad of red, blue and green is placed
inside a case and they are all illuminated at the same time to produce white light. Recently, while light has been
produced from a LED by a very complex and interesting process that can be found on Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LED

LEDs have a cathode and anode lead and must be connected to DC around the correct way. The cathode lead is
identified on the body by a flat-spot on the side of the LED. The cathode lead is the shorter lead.

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One of the most important things to remember about a LED is the characteristic voltage that appears across it
when connected to a voltage. This does not change with brightness and cannot be altered.
For a red LED, this voltage is 1.7v and if you supply it with more than this voltage, it will be damaged.
The easy solution is to place a resistor on one lead as shown in the diagram below:

The LED will allow the exact voltage to appear across it and the brightness will depend on the value of the
resistor.

Zener diodes (5.2c and 5.2d) are designed to stabilize a voltage. Diodes marked as ZPD5.6V or ZPY15V have
operating voltages of 5.6V and 15V.

Photo diodes (5.2e) are constructed in a way that they allow light to fall on the P-N connection. When there is
no light, a photo diode acts as a regular diode. It has high resistance in one direction, and low resistance in
opposite direction. When there is light, both resistances are low. Photo diodes and LEDs are the main items in
an optocoupler (to be discussed in more detail in chapter 9).

Tunnel diodes (5.2f and 5.2g) are commonly used in oscillators for very high frequencies.

Schottky diodes (5.2h) are used in high frequency circuits and for its low voltage drop in the forward direction.

Breakdown diodes (5.2i) are actually Zener diodes. They are used in various devices for protection and voltage
regulation. It passes current only when voltage rises above a pre-defined value.

A Varicap diode (5.2j) is used instead of a variable capacitor in high frequency circuits. When the voltage across
it is changed, the capacitance between cathode and anode is changed. This diode is commonly used in radio
receivers, transceivers and oscillators.

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The cathode of a low power diode is marked with a ring painted on the case, but it is worth noting that some
manufacturers label the anode this way, so it is best to test it with a multimeter.

Power diodes are marked with a symbol engraved on the housing. If a diode is housed in a metal package, the
case is generally the cathode and anode is the lead coming from the housing.

5.1 Diode identification

European diodes are marked using two or three letters and a number. The first letter is used to identify the
material used in manufacturing the component (A - germanium, B - silicon), or, in case of letter Z, a Zener
diode.
The second and third letters specify the type and usage of the diode. Some of the varities are:
A - low power diode, like the AA111, AA113, AA121, etc. - they are used in the detector of a radio receiver;
BA124, BA125 : varicap diodes used instead of variable capacitors in receiving devices, oscillators, etc., BAY80,
BAY93, etc. - switching diodes used in devices using logic circuits. BA157, BA158, etc. - these are switching
diodes with short recovery time.
B - two capacitive (varicap) diodes in the same housing, like BB104, BB105, etc.
Y - regulation diodes, like BY240, BY243, BY244, etc. - these regulation diodes come in a plastic packaging and
operate on a maximum current of 0.8A. If there is another Y, the diode is intended for higher current. For
example, BYY44 is a diode whose absolute maximum current rating is 1A. When Y is the second letter in a
Zener diode mark (ZY10, ZY30, etc.) it means it is intended for higher current.
G, G, PD - different tolerance marks for Zener diodes. Some of these are ZF12 (5% tolerance), ZG18 (10%
tolerance), ZPD9.1 (5% tolerance).
The third letter is used to specify a property (high current, for example).
American markings begin with 1N followed by a number, 1N4001, for example (regulating diode), 1N4449
(switching diode), etc.
Japanese style is similar to American, the main difference is that instead of N there is S, 1S241 being one of
them.

5.2 Diode characteristics

The most important characteristics when using power diodes is the maximum current in the forward direction
(IFmax), and maximum voltage in the reverse direction (URmax).

The important characteristics for a Zener diode are Zener voltage (UZ), Zener current (IZ) and maximum
dissipation power (PD).

When working with capacitive diodes it is important to know their maximum and minimum capacitance, as well
as values of DC voltage during which these capacitances occur.

With LEDs it is important to know the maximum value of current it is capable of passing. The natural
characteristic voltage across a LED depends on the colour and starts at 1.7V for red to more than 2.4v for green
and blue.
Current starts at 1mA for a very small glow and goes to about 40mA. High brightness LEDs and "power LEDs"
require up to 1 amp and more. You must know the exact current required by the LED you are using as the
wrong dropper resistor will allow too much current to flow and the LED will be damaged instantly.
The value of this resistors will be covered in another chapter.

Beside universal transistors TUN and TUP (mentioned in Chapter 4.4), there are universal diodes as well. They
are marked with DUS (for universal silicon diode) and DUG (for germanium) on circuit diagrams.

DUS = Diode Universal Silicon DUG = Diode Universal Germanium

5.3 Practical examples

The diagram of a power supply in figure (3.8) uses several diodes. The first four are in a single package,
identified by B40C1500. This is a bridge rectifier.
The LED in the circuit indicates the transformer is working. Resistor R1 is used to limit the current through the
LED and the brightness of the LED indicates the approximate voltage.
Diodes marked 1N4002 protect the integrated circuit.

Figure 5.3 below shows some other examples of diodes. The life of a globe can be increased by adding a diode
as shown in 5.3a. By simply connecting it in series, the current passing through the globe is halved and it lasts
a lot longer. However the brightness is reduced and the light becomes yellow. The Diode should have a reverse
voltage of over 400V, and a current higher than the globe. A 1N4004 or BY244 is suitable.

A very simple DC voltage stabilizer for low currents can be made using 5.3c as a reference.

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Fig. 5.3: a - using a diode to prolong the light bulb's life span, b - stair-light LED indicator,
c - voltage stabilizer, d - voltage rise indicator, e - rain noise synthesizer, f - backup supply

Unstabilized voltage is marked "U", and stabilized with "UST." Voltage on the Zener diode is equal to UST, so if
we want to achieve a stabilized 9V, we would use a ZPD9.1 diode. Although this stabilizer has limited use it is
the basis of all designs found in power supplies.
We can also devise a voltage overload detector as sown in figure 5.3d. A LED indicates when a voltage is over a
predefined value. When the voltage is lower than the operating voltage of the Zener, the zener acts as a high
value resistor, so DC voltage on the base of the transistor is very low, and the transistor does not "turn on."
When the voltage rises to equal the Zener voltage, its resistance is lowered, and transistor receives current on
its base and it turns on to illuminate the LED. This example uses a 6V Zener diode, which means that the LED is
illuminated when the voltage reaches that value. For other voltage values, different Zener diodes should be
used. Brightness and the exact moment of illuminating the LED can be set with the value of Rx.
To modify this circuit so that it signals when a voltage drops below some predefined level, the Zener diode and
Rx are swapped. For example, by using a 12V Zener diode, we can make a car battery level indicator. So, when
the voltage drops below 12V, the battery is ready for recharge.
Figure 5.3e shows a noise-producing circuit, which produces a rain-like sound. DC current flowing through diode
AA121 isn't absolutely constant and this creates the noise which is amplified by the transistor (any NPN
transistor) and passed to a filter (resistor-capacitor circuit with values 33nF and 100k).

Figure 5.3f shows a battery back-up circuit. When the "supply" fails, the battery takes over.

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6. Thyristors, triacs, diacs

There are several thyristors displayed on 6.1. Triacs look the same, while diacs look like small power rectifying
diodes. Their symbols, and pin-out is found in figure 6.2.

Fig. 6.1: Several thyristors and triacs

A thyristor is an improved diode. Besides anode (A) and cathode (k) it has another lead which is commonly
described as a gate (G), as found on picture 6.2a. The same way a diode does, a thyristor conducts current
when the anode is positive compared to the cathode, but only if the voltage on the gate is positive and sufficient

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current is flowing into the gate to turn on the device. When a thyristor starts conducting current into the gate is
of no importance and thyristor can only be switched off by removing the current between anode and cathode.
For example, see figure 6.3. If S1 is closed, the thyristor will not conduct, and the globe will not light. If S2 is
closed for a very short time, the globe will illuminate. To turn off the globe, S1 must be opened. Thyristors are
marked in some circuits as SCR, which is an acronym for Silicon Controlled Rectifier.
A triac is very similar to a thyristor, with the difference that it can conduct in both directions. It has three
electrodes, called anode 1 (A1), anode 2 (A2), and gate (G). It is used for regulation of alternating current
circuits. Devices such as hand drills or globes can be controlled with a triac.

Thyristors and triacs are marked alphanumerically, KT430, for example.

Low power thyristors and triacs are packed in same housings as transistors, but high power devices have a
completely different housing. These are shown in figure 6.1. Pin-outs of some common thyristors and triacs are
shown in 6.2 a and b.
Diacs (6.2c), or two-way diodes as they are often referred to, are used together with thyristors and triacs. Their
main property is that their resistance is very large until voltage on their ends exceeds some predefined value.
When the voltage is under this value, a diac responds as a large value resistor, and when voltage rises it acts as
a low value resistor.

Fig. 6.2: Symbols and pin placements for: a - thyristor, b - triac, c - diac

Fig. 6.3: Thyristor principle of work

6.1 Practical examples

Picture 6.5 detects when light is present in a room. With no light, the photo-transistor does not conduct. When
light is present, the photo-transistor conducts and the bell is activated. Turning off the light will not stop the
alarm. The alarm is turned off via S1.

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Fig. 6.5: Alarm device using a thyristor and a photo-transistor

A circuit to flash a globe is shown in figure 6.6 This circuit flashes a 40w globe several times per second. Mains
voltage is regulated using the 1N4004 diode. The 220u capacitor charges and its voltage rises. When this
voltage reaches the design-voltage of the the diac (20v), the capacitor discharges through the diac and into the
triac. This switches the triac on and lights the bulb for a very short period of time, after a period of time (set by
the 100k pot), the capacitor is charged again, and the whole cycle repeats. The 1k trim pot sets the current
level which is needed to trigger the triac.

Fig. 6.6: Flasher

A circuit to control the brightness of a globe or the speed of a motor is shown in figure 6.7

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Fig. 6.7: Light bulb intensity or motor speed controller

If the main use for this circuit is to control the brightness of a light bulb, RS and CS are not necessary.

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7. Integrated circuits
Integrated Circuits play a very important part in electronics. Most are specially made for a specific task and
contain up to thousands of transistors, diodes and resistors. Special purposes IC's such as audio-amplifiers, FM
radios, logic blocks, regulators and even a whole micro computers in the form of a micro controller can be fitted
inside a tiny package. Some of the simple Integrated Circuits are shown in figure 7.1.

Fig. 7.1: Integrated circuits

Depending on the way they are manufactured, integrated circuits can be divided into two groups: hybrid and
monolithic. Hybrid circuits have been around longer. If a transistor is opened, the crystal inside is very small. This
means a transistor doesn't take up very much space and many of them can be fitted into a single Integrated
Circuit.
The pin-out for some of the common packages is shown in Figure 7.2:

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Fig. 7.2: Pin-out and symbols for some common integrated circuits

Most integrated Circuits are in a DIL package - Dual In Line, meaning there are two rows of pins. (DIL16 and
DIL8 are shown in 7.2b and 7.2c). The device is viewed from the top and the pins are numbered in an
anti-clockwise direction.
High power integrated circuits can generate a lot of heat and they have a metal tag that can be connected to a
heatsink to dissipate the heat. Examples of these IC's are shown in 7.2d and 7.2e, and 7.2f.
Symbols used to represent integrated circuits are shown in 7.2g and 7.2i. Symbol 7.2g is commonly used to
represent amplifiers.

Figure 7.2i shows an operational amplifier. Signs + and - represent inverting and non-inverting inputs. The signal
to be amplified is applied between one of the inputs and ground (ground and supply aren't represented, but are
necessary for the circuit to operate).
Integrated circuits can be divided into two further groups: analog (linear) and digital. The output voltage of a
linear circuits is continuous, and follows changes in the input. Typical representative of a linear IC is an
integrated audio amplifier. When a signal from a microphone is connected to the input the output will vary in the
same way as the voltage from the microphone. If watched on an oscilloscope, the signal on the output will be the
same shape as the mic's signal, only the voltage will be higher depending on the amplification of the integrated
circuit.
It is a different situation with digital IC's. Their output voltage is not continuous. It is either LOW or HIGH and it
changes from one state to the other very quickly.

7.1 Analog integrated circuits

While on the topic of analog circuits, we will look at the LM386 IC. It has all the components for a complete
audio-amplifier. Figure 7.3a shows an example of an amplifier made with this integrated circuit, which can be
used as a complete amplifier for a walkman, interphone, cassette player or some other audio device. It can also
be used as a test circuit for troubleshooting.

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Fig. 7.3: a - A low frequency amplifier using the LM386

The signal is brought to the non-inverting input (between pin 3 and ground). Inverting input (pin 2) is connected
to ground. If 10µF is placed between pins 1 and 8 a voltage amplification of 200 is created. If this capacitor is
removed the amplification is 20. It is possible to achieve in-between amplification by adding a resistor and
connecting it in series with the capacitor.
One of the essential components in this circuit is the 100nF capacitor which is placed between pin 6 (which is
connected to the positive of the supply) and ground. The capacitor should be ceramic and should be mounted as
close to the integrated circuit as possible. This is common practice when working with integrated circuits, even
when it isn't shown in the diagram as a capacitor connected between the positive and negative stabilizes the
voltage and protects the circuit from spikes and a phenomenon called instability. This is due to inductance in the
power supply tracks allowing high currents taken by the IC to upset its operation.

7.2 Digital integrated circuits

The CD4011 will be our "show-and-tell" IC to cover the main characteristics of digital circuits. It is a 14 pin DIL
package. The pin-out is shown in figure 7.4a. Note the small half-round slit on one end of the IC. It identifies pin
1. Pins 7 and 14 connect to a supply (battery or DC power supply). Negative is connected to pin 7. Positive is
connected to pin 14.
There are four logic NAND gates in a CD4011 IC. Each has two inputs and one output. For gate N1 the inputs are
pins 1 and 2, and output is pin 3. The symbol for a NAND gate is displayed in figure 7.4b. The inputs are marked
A and B and output is F. The supply voltage can be up to 16v and as low as 5V. The output will deliver up to

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10mA at 12v but this is reduced as the supply voltage is reduced.

Figure 7.4b shows the truth table for a NAND gate. It shows the output voltage (voltage between F and ground)
with different input states. Because there are only two voltages for every pin, we call them states, with logic zero
when the voltage is zero, and logic one when the voltage on the pin is the same as the supply voltage.
From this we can read the second row of the truth table: if logic zero is on both input pins, output is logic one,
third row is similar: if the first input is one, and the second one is zero, output is logic one, fourth row: if the first
input is zero, and the second one is one, output is logic one. Fifth row is different, since both of its inputs are
one, the definition of NAND gate states that the output is zero.

Fig. 7.4: a - 4011 pin placements, b - symbol and the truth table for NAND gates,

Logic circuits have many applications, but their main use is in computer circuits.
The following circuit is a simple example to show how the gates can be connected to produce a project that turns
on a globe when a finger is placed on a "touch pad."
The globe turns off after a period of time, determined by the value of the 470u and 2M2 resistor.

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The operation of a NAND gate

Lets look at the functionalities of the following circuit. Both inputs of NI1 are connected to each other, so when
input P is HIGH, output is zero. This logic zero is passed on to NI2, so no matter what is on the input 6, output 4
is logic one. This means that, between the ground and pin 4, the voltage is equal to 12V.

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Fig. 7.5: Sensor switch using a 4011

Current flows through capacitor C and resistor R, so capacitor begins to charge. Every uncharged capacitor
behaves like a short circuit. Because of that, when 12V appears on pin 4, it is also present on resistor R and also
on pins 8 and 9. Pin 10 shows logic zero because of this which is connected to pin 6. From now on, logic zero on
pin 5 is no longer needed because only one input needs to be zero for the output to be logic one. So input P is no
longer needed. Gates NI2 and NI3 maintain logic zero on pin 4. How long will this last? It depends on the value
of the capacitor and resistor. As the capacitor charges, the voltage on the resistor drops and when it falls to 1/2
of the supply voltage (6V in our case), NI3 detects a low on its inputs so logic one appears on pin 10. Since logic
one is now on input 5 (no logic one present on P), and on input 6, output 4 is zero, capacitor dumps its charge
via diodes on the inputs on pins 8 and 9 and the circuit starts operating again.

As we saw, for a certain period of time, which is equal to T=0.7*RC output of pin 10 was logic zero. During that
time output E (pin 11) is logic one. For example, if R = 2M2 and C=47µF, for time T = 2.2*10^6*47*10^-6 = 94
sec from the moment impulse on input P subsided, voltage on output E is 12V.
The end result of our experiment is on diagram 7.5a. Short positive pulses appearing on P in the time t1 caused
a longer variable ulse on output E.
Schematic 7.5b displays this circuit which allows us to light a bulb using four NAND gates interconnected in the
way shown on picture 7.5a.
The sensor is two copper (or some other conducting material) plates glued to some non-conducting material
(plastics, wood, etc.) in close proximity to each other. So, when we touch the sensor with the tip of our finger, we
close the circuit. 12V appears on input P, which in turn conducts the voltage to the output E, resistor R = 22k
conducts base current and the bulb lights. When we remove our finger, output E will last for 94 seconds, after
which it goes to logic zero and the light goes out.
Transistor T is selected so that its maximum allowed collector current is higher than the current of the globe.
(The globes current flow value is found by dividing its power by its voltage. For example, if its power is P = 6W
and voltage is U = 12V, current through the globe is I = P/U = 6W/12V = 0.5A or higher. One thing you must
remember with a globe is the starting or "turn-on" current. It is about six times the operating current and the
transistor must be able to pass this current for the globe to illuminate.

7.3 Practical examples

Diagram 7.6 shows a circuit for a stereo audio-amp using a TDA4935 IC. It is a modern integrated circuit with
two separate pre-amps and stereo outputs.
Left and right input signals are marked UL and UD, which are brought to two inputs of the amplifier. The chip also

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has built-in heat and overload protection. Maximum output for each amplifier is 15W, so they can be used in
stereo mode of 2x15W amplifiers.

Fig. 7.6: Stereo audio-amplifier using the TDA4935

Another example is an audio amplifier using an LM386 circuit, with a preamp using a BC107 transistor. The series
connected capacitor and resistor between pins 1 and 5 produces low frequency amplification (around 100Hz)
improving the characteristics of the circuit. This amplifier could be used with any low frequency source
(gramophone, microphone, etc.).

Fig. 7.7: complete audio-amplifier using the LM386

The third example is a simple alarm, shown in figure 7.8. It uses a CD4011 IC. Gates NI3 and NI4 form a 600Hz
audio oscillator. This signal is amplified using an NPN transistor and passed to an 8R speaker. To hear the 600Hz
tone, remove the connection to pin 8 and connect pin 8 to pin 9. This produces a constant tone. Gates NI1 and
NI2 form a 4Hz oscillator, whose output is connected to pin 8. This turns the 600Hz tone on and off at 4Hz. To
use this alarm in your home, on doors for example, connected pin 1 to 7 via a switch.

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Fig. 7.8: Alarm using a CD4011 IC

The last circuit in this chapter is an example of a mono FM receiver using a TDA7088T IC, which can be, along
with the SMD components, housed in a match-box along with two miniature watch batteries. You can purchase a
ready-built scanning radio in a "junk shop" for as little as $5.00 with stereo head-phones Always look in the toy
sections of large stores for the latest technology at the cheapest price.

Fig. 7.9: Mono FM radio receiver with an electronic preset

Tuning to a low frequency station is done automatically by pressing the RUN button. This turns on the part of the
integrated circuit which is designated for scanning over a given range. When it finds a station it locks on until the
RUN button is pressed again. When it reaches 108MHz it waits for the RESET signal which returns the scan to
88MHz.

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8. Microphones, speakers and headphones

Microphones, speakers and headphones are components commonly used as the input and output devices of many circuits
A microphone converts sound waves into electrical signals that closely follow the waveform of the sound being received
This signal is then amplified by the circuit and transformed into a sound by a speaker or headphone. The symbols fo
these components are shown on 8.1.

8.1 Microphones
There are several different types of microphone: carbon, dynamic, crystal, capacitive (electret). Carbon microphones wer
one of the first to be invented and were used mainly in telephone applications. But they are very noisy as the carbo
granules rattle when the microphone is moved and this type is being replaced by more advanced types.

Dynamic microphones are in wide use and their quality of reproductio

is superb. They are used in the recording industry for music and speec
where high fidelity is required. Basically they are exactly the same as
speaker, the only difference being the size. But their only limitation
the very low output. The internal structure is shown in figure 8.2.
paper cylinder, onto which fine copper wire is wound, is connected to
membrane which moves under the force of sound pressure created b
the sound source. This coil is in a narrow gap with a high magnetic fiel
created by a permanent magnet. When the coil moves in this magnet
field, it produces a voltage identical to the sound causing th
movement.

Because of the low resistance (impedance) of a dynamic microphone,

usually needs a transformer so it can be connected to an amplifie
(called a pre-amp). This transformer is usually built into th
microphone's case, but if is absent, it is necessary to connect th
microphone to a preamplifier with low input resistance.

Crystal microphones contain a crystal called a "piezo crystal" that is connected to a small diaphragm. When sound wave
hit the diaphragm, the crystal changes shape and it produces a voltage. This voltage is passed to an amplifier.

Recently, electret microphones have improved in quality and taken over from nearly all other types of microphone. The
are small, rugged, low in price and produce a very high quality output.
The shape, size and characteristics are shown in 8.3.
The microphone contains a Field Effect Transistor, which means it needs a DC voltage for it to operate. Figure 8.3d show
how an electret mic is connected to a circuit. It needs a "load resistor" to limit the current to the FET and the output
taken across this resistor. That's the technical way of saying the output is taken from the point where the resistor meet
the FET.

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8.2 Speakers
Speakers vary enormously in size and shape. They can be designed as crystal or capacitive, but most often they ar
dynamic (called electro-dynamic construction).

The cross-section of an electro-dynamic speaker is

shown in 8.4. Ferrite rings (2, 3 and 4) are added
to a large permanent magnet (1) which creates a
strong magnetic field in the narrow gap between
magnets North and South poles. A Cylindrical
former is added to the gap and it holds coil (5).
The ends of the coil are taken to the outside of the
speaker.

The two most important characteristics of a

speaker are its resistance (we actually call the
resistance of a speaker IMPEDANCE as the value is
determined at a frequency of 1kHz and the value
is higher than its actual resistance) and its
wattage. Common impedances are 4, 8 and 16
ohm, but there are also 1.5, 40 and 80 ohm
speakers. Speaker wattages range from a fraction
of a watt to hundreds of watts.

When choosing a speaker, it is advisable to choose

the largest speaker possible as they are more efficient and produce the least distortion especially in the low frequenc
range. Speakers should be housed in a large box since it functions as a resonating chamber and this greatly adds to th
overall quality of the sound.

8.3 Headphones

There are several types of headphone: crystal and electromagnetic. The

electromagnetic type is the most commonly used. They functioning in the
same way as speakers, with obvious differences in construction, since they
are intended for much lower power. Their main characteristic is their
resistance (impedance), from a few ohms to a few thousand ohms.

The cross section of an electromagnetic headphone is shown in 8.5. It

consists of a horseshoe magnet with poles that hold two coils. These are
connected in series. The diaphragm is a thin steel plate. When current flows
through the coils, the diaphragm is pulled towards the coils. This moves the
air and the result is heard as a faithful reproduction.

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8.4 Examples
The schematic of a very simple FM radio-transmitter is shown
in figure 8.6. It uses an electret microphone and transmits
on a frequency between 88MHz and 108MHz.
The transistor, coil L, trimmer capacitor Ct, capacitor C3 and
resistors R2, R3 and R4 creates an oscillator with a frequency
determined by:

In this equation CCB represents the capacitance between the

collector and the base. The value of this capacitance depends
on the voltage on the base. The higher the voltage, the lower
the capacitance and vice versa. The voltage on the base is
constant while there is no sound, which means the frequency
of the oscillator is constant. When the microphone picks up a
sound, it is passed to the base of the transistor via C1. This
causes the frequency of the oscillator to change and that's
why the circuit is called FREQUENCY MODULATED (FM).
To transmit on a frequency away from any other radio
station, a trim cap is included. The transmitter has a range
up to 200 metres, depending on the length of the antenna
and where it is placed. Ideally, the antenna should be vertical
and as high as possible.
The antenna can be as long as 3 metres but 180cm will work
very well.
Coil L is made by winding 6 turns of 1mm enameled wire on
a 6mm dia drill bit. This coil can be stretched of squashed to
adjust the operating frequency of the circuit and the trimmer
will fine tune the frequency.

High Fidelity (or Hi-Fi) sound reproduction is the main purpose for using good-quality speakers. They are used in radios
TV's, cassette players, CD players, etc. The speakers are housed in speaker boxes and use at least two speakers. This
because no individual speaker is capable of reproducing the full range of frequencies. A speaker with a large cone is calle
a "Woofer" and will reproduce the low frequencies. A speaker with a small cone is called a "tweeter" and will reproduce th
high frequencies. Together, they will reproduce the full range of between 30Hz and 15kHz.
The difficulty is now to detect the low or high frequency and divert the correct frequency to the particular speaker. This
the job of a cross-over network. In the figure 8.7 an inductor L1 passes the low frequencies to speaker Z1 and capacito
C1 passes the high frequencies to speaker Z2. Z1 reproduces frequencies from 30Hz to 800Hz and Z2 reproduces sound
with frequencies from 800Hz to 15kHz.

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Headphones are most commonly used with portable devices

such as radio receivers, cassette players, CD walkmans, mp
players, etc. Headphones produce a very high qualit
reproduction. All modern devices have an audio-amplifier.
usually employs an integrated circuit and most of these ar
designed for 32 ohm headphones. There are also 8 ohm an
16 ohm headphones.
The schematic of a AM portable radio is shown in figure 8.8
It's built around the ZN416 integrated circuit. The output
connected to two serially connected 32 ohm headphones, wit
overall resistance of 64 ohms.
It is possible to connect the radio receiver in figure 8.8 t
amplifier in figure 7.3 to produce a radio with speaker output.

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9. Opto-electronic components
Optoelectronic components (or as often referred to photo-electronic components), are electronic components which prod
or react to it. Some components among them are LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes), photo transistors, photo diodes, photo
(or LDR – Light Dependant Resistors), different visual indicators, light emitters and detectors, optocouplers, etc. Many
components can be recognized easily recognized because of the “window” on the component's case which is used to pass t
Sometimes, instead of a window, there is a small lens, which directs light to some predestined location inside of the com
Some of the most important optoelectronic components are shown on photo 9.1.

9.1 Photo-electronic components

We already mentioned the most frequently used component of them – the LED. Basic role of a LED in circuits is a visual
of, for example, state of the device (on/off), but is not rare in other indicator appliances, voltage stabilizers, etc. The
abundance of colors, shapes and sizes to choose from, but most frequent ones are red, green and yellow. Because of the
and more complicated manufacturing process, blue ones cost a bit more than other ones. There are square, housed, SMD
ultra bright, multicolored and many other kinds, but they all have the same principles of use.

Another application of LEDs is a LED display. One display is on 9.2. It is, as shown,
facilitated out of 8 diodes marked with an a,b,c,d,e,f,g and DP (DP being the
Decimal Point). These devices come in two possible flavors – with a common
cathode (as this display), or with a common anode. In both cases it is necessary to
connect protection resistors to to all diodes (which is the same as when working
with ordinary LEDs).
Photo diodes are similar to other, ordinary, diodes internally. One main difference
is in that that photo diode has an exposed surface to for light to fall onto. These
diodes are acting as high value resistor while in dark. It's resistance lowers as
light gains in intensity. In their behavior they are similar to photo resistors, apart from that as with all diodes polarit
component must be appropriately positioned.

Emitting diodes are special kind of photo-diodes. One of them is the LED, and some of them include infra-red or ult
emitting for different wireless communication purposes. Most common area of application of IR-LEDs (Infra Red) are
controllers for TVs and other devices.
Photo diodes are usually housed in round metallic or square plastic cases with a glass window or a lens which foc
incoming light.

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Photo-transistor's internal parts are similar to internals of a regular transistor. One main difference between them is t
window which allows light to reach the crystal plate which holds all transistor's parts. With changes of light intensity, re
between base and the collector varies, and this influences variations of the collector current. In this component light
same role as voltage over base of the regular transistor. When intensity rises, current through the transistor rises as w
other way round, if intensity fades, current fades.
Photo electronic components are manufactured in an array of different case shapes and sizes. Several of them, toget
their schematics symbols are displayed on 9.3.
One special group of photo-electronic components are the optocouplers. These are special integrated circuits facilitated o
IR photo diode, and some component which is sensitive to light (photo transistor, photo thyristor). Diode is called an emi
“receiving” end is called the detector. This means that the only connection between the emitter and detector is through
light. This is an important property of optocouplers, since it allows two different parts of the circuit which operate on
supply voltages to connect to each other without actually conducting electricity, which means that one part could opera
and other on 5V without fear of burning the sensitive lower voltage components.

There are several optocouplers and their cases on 9.4.

Photo transistors on 9.4a are connected to other components in the same manner as ordinary transistors. Control of
which passes through it is done by light falling onto it.
Voltage to the diode on 9.4a can be variable in time, but anode must always be positive compared to the cathode. In
component is used in an alternating current circuit, diode emits light only during one half of the interval in which
positive comparing to cathode. It is possible to use circuit on 9.4b in case it is needed for diode to be lit during both peri
circuit demonstrates two diodes in anti-parallel connection, so one of the two is lit during each half of the period.
Picture 9.4c is an optocoupler using a thyristor. Thyristor is connected to other components in usual manner, and
conducting only upon receiving light impulse created by the diode.
Transistor on 9.4d is controlled by regulating either the light intensity of the diode or voltage over pin 6. Same goes when
triac on 9.4e, light intensity of the diode or voltage on pin6 trigger the circuit.
Dual input NAND gate circuit is used as a detector on the 9.4f, one of those inputs controls the voltage on pin 7, and the
controlling diode's light intensity. Logic zero on pin 6 remains only in case pin 7 has a logic one and diode is lit, any other
6 has logic one.

9.1 Examples
We offer a schematic of a device which detects a certain level of intensity of ambient light, and when that level is det
turns on a device connected to mains grid. Data on 9.5 shows that in absence of light resistance of the LDR resistor, NO
R=1MOhm, which makes both base voltage and base current very low, so there is practically no current flowing
transistor. Since there is no current flowing through the coil of the relay it's other end is in switched off position. Wh
intensity reaches certain point, resistance of the LDR lowers (at around 10lx resistance is approximately 9kOhm), volta
current of the base rise, this current flows further through the relay's coil which connects pins 1 and 3 and this switche
wanted appliance to the mains.
Slider of the 5kOhm trimmer resistor sets sensitivity of entire circuit. L
slider's position to lower the light level that triggers the appliance on.
sensitivity is reached when trimmer is omitted from the circuit.
There is a possibility to use a photo-diode instead of a LDR (cathode go
+ of the battery), or a photo-transistor (collector up).
The device would be turned off when light is absent in case we placed
regular resistor instead, and LDR between points A and B.
Each relay has a coil which accords to voltage of the battery. In our cas
12V.Resistance of the coil is several hundreds of Ohms, and it shou
lower than 120Ohm. Current rate through the relay should be equ

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greater than needed by the device plugged to mains. If, for example,
looking at an 1kW electric heater, it's current is equal to:

I=P/U=1000W/220V=4,5 A.

Any TUN transistor whose maximum current rating is higher than

through relay's rate, is alright. This value is calculated by dividing
voltage with relay's coil resistance.
When we want to employ remote control over some device, it is po
utilize different technologies, but in some cases cable connection or ra
control aren't the most appropriate ones, like the one between the TV and it's remote controller. Some IR emitting and r
photo diodes are used specifically in low range transmitters and receivers. Block scheme on 9.6 represents usage of phot
between the sound source (hi-fi, radio receiver, TV) and headphones, which removes the need for long cables.
Low frequency signal which is to be carried is marked with uLF. Based on that
frequency, IR transmitter modulates the HF voltage, called the carrier. This
modulated HF voltage is further sent to emitting diode LD271. Variable light
emitted by this diode varies resistance of the receiving diode, and thus the HF
signal created using this variations is equal to the modulated signal on the
transceivers end. IR receiver is demodulating this signal, which transforms the
received HF signal into the original LF signal which is equal to the original sound. This signal is further amplified and br
headphones.
Using optical components enables safe interfacing of different devices to your home PC. There is a schematic on 9
displays a simple way to interface a random device to the parallel (printer) port of the computer. For simplicity we
connect small portable radio receiver supplied using a 9V battery.
Receiver, battery and the interface circuit are connected to the parallel port using the male SUB-D 25 connector. Program
to control the circuit is easily developed in any programming language. We display a sample program written in Q-Bas
turn the receiver in 7am and turn it off in 7:30 am.

REM Wake up program

10 DO
20 LOOP UNTIL TIME$="07:00:00"
30 OUT &H378, 128
40 SLEEP 900
50 OUT &H378, 0
60 STOP

At 7 o'clock, voltage on pin 9 will turn to +5V, and it will remain that way for the next 900seconds.

A bit more modern operating systems than Windows 95 will have different ways of controlling the parallel port, and the
extensive knowledge base on the Internet for programming this kind of operation on any operating system. Google is you
Schematic of another interface circuit on 9.8 enables connection of any device plugged to the mains grid to be turned o
Control over this device is done in the same fashion as done in previous program.
When, according to the program pin 9 is +5V (logic one), diode will conduct electricity. Light emitted by it switches the tri

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of the optocoupler on. This current flows through the 150Ohm resistor and creates a voltage drop which ignites the tria
enables current flow from the mains, which powers the device.
Maximum allowed current of the BT136 triac is 4A, which means that maximum allowed power of the device is 990W. It
saying that optocouplers should be used only with resistance load devices (light bulbs, heaters...). When connecting in
load devices like electro motors, transformers and such, it is advised to use the relay interfaces.

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10. Other components

The following table covers almost every circuit symbol you will need. This is the English/American version of
each symbol. The European version of some symbols is slightly different and are shown further down the page.

CIRCUIT
SYMBOLS
by
Talking Electronics
Copy and save!!
Click on for more information
Click HERE for ways to use this list

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Learn BASIC ELECTRONICS

Go to: Talking Electronics
email Colin Mitchell
12-8-2007

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NOTES
Here are a few notes on the symbols above.

Fuses (10.1a) have single role in a circuit - to detect excess current and protect the device. In most cases the
excess current flows when a higher voltage is present but a fuse cannot detect the voltage - it can only detect
when a higher current flows. The higher voltage causes the higher current to flow and this triggers the action of
"blowing the fuse." Of course, when a component fails, a higher current can flow and this will also "blow the
fuse."
Fuses come in all sizes and ratings (current flow) and it is important to know that the size of the wire inside a
fuse does not necessarily indicate the current rating.
The wire inside can be made from copper and plated to protect it from oxidizing or it can be a low temperature
material that needs to be a larger diameter.
The wire can also be wound in a spiral and formed into a spring. The end of the spring sits in a dob of solder and
when the spring heats up, the solder melts and the spring separates from the other end.
This is called a DELAY FUSE.
Other forms of delay fuse consist of a wire joined at the centre by a dob of solder and others are made of
low-temperature-melting material.
Some pieces of equipment use expensive fuses and whenever a fuse is damaged, you must decide if the
problem is a major or minor fault.
Sometimes a fuse can go open-circuit for no apparent reason. It can "wear-out."
For instance, some equipment takes a very high current when it is turned on and you will see the fuse heat up
and stretch and dip in the middle. This causes strain on the fuse and eventually the wire oxidizes to a point
where it finally "burns out."
The equipment is not faulty and it is just a matter of replacing the fuse.
Sometimes the fuse completely explodes and the glass is thrown all over the chassis. This indicates a short-
circuit in the power supply and most often one or more of the diodes must be replaced.
The fuse can also go off with a "bang" and the inside of the glass is coated with "silver." This also indicates a
diode is damaged in the power supply. Generally 2 or 4 diodes are damaged.
If the fuse is damaged beyond recognition, you will not know if it is a delay fuse or a normal fuse.
The current-rating on the end-cap can sometimes help you.
For instance, if a fuse is rated at 4A, you will need to replace it with a 4 amp normal fuse or 3.15 amp
slow-blow.
When fuses are rating at 100mA to 250mA, they are very delicate and will not accept the slightest overload.
When replacing this type of fuse, it is necessary to determine if the equipment is drawing a heavy current when
turning on or if a fault exists in the power supply. Sometimes the switch can cause the problem if it is not
making contact fast enough.
Replace the fuse and watch it as someone else turns on the equipment. If the fuse burns out immediately, a
short exists. If the fuse glows red and burns out, the equipment is drawing too much current during turn-on.
This may be due to devices you have added to the equipment or operation on a slightly higher voltage. You can
try a fuse with a slightly higher rating to see if the fault is fixed.
Never replace a 100mA fuse with a 1 amp fuse. The 1 amp fuse will never "blow" and if the transformer is being
overloaded, the transformer will simply "cook."

Lamps (10.1b) Ordinary electric light globes heat a coil of tungsten wire inside a glass bulb that has an inert
gas such as argon. The resistance of the filament depends on the temperature it is heated to. It can be ten to
twenty times higher than when it is cold.
A neon lamp (10.1c) contains a gas (such as neon) and this gas gives off a glow when a high voltage is applied
to two plates. This glow occurs at about 70v to 90v and a resistor must be used in series to prevent the voltage
rising higher than required by the lamp. To put this more accurately, the resistance of the neon lamp reduces
when it "strikes" and a high current will flow. To limit this current a "current limit" resistor is needed.

VDR (10.1d) The resistance of a VDR depends on the voltage across it. A VDR is also called a VARISTOR. Its

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resistance is high until a critical value of voltage and the resistance suddenly drops. They are used as voltage
protection devices. If they, for example, see a voltage higher than 220V, their resistance decreases and this
“soaks” the excess voltage. Their response time is only a few 10's of nanoseconds.

The symbol for a single DC cell is shown in 10.1e.

A Quartz crystal is shown in 10.1f. It is a thin sheet of quarts material between two metal plates and packaged
in a metal case. Quartz crystals are commonly used as the reference for an oscillator circuit, such as a clock
source in microprocessor designs.
An instrument for measuring current (A) and voltage (V) is shown in 10.1g. This symbol dates from the time
when analog instruments with a needle were used. The symbol remains the same, although digital instruments
have replaced analog devices.
AC voltage symbol is shown in 10.1h. The shape of the wave is shown in the symbol. It can be sine-wave or
saw-tooth or square-wave.
The simplest form of switch device is displayed in 10.1i. Because of the wide range of switches, there are many
different types in use. For example, a two pole switch (10.1j) has two operating positions, in one position it
connects points 1 and 2, and in the other it connects points 1 and 3.
There are switches with more operating positions. 10.1k is an example of a rotary switch with four positions.

Momentary switches, or push buttons have a built-in spring, which makes the switch conduct only while
it is being pressed (your standard doorbell has this kind of switch).
Four diodes in a single case is called a BRIDGE. Two pins are marked with sine waves, used to connect to the
AC voltage and two marked with "+" and "-"

RELAY When an electromagnet receives sufficient voltage on points 4 and 5, connection between points 2 and
3 is opened, and at the same time points 3 and 1 are closed. A relay is actually an electromagnetic switch.

Symbols for a receiving and transmitting antenna are shown.

Grounding symbols Grounding and common ground aren't the same thing, but if both exist in a circuit,
they are always connected to each other. With electronic devices housed in a metal case, grounding is
connected to the metal housing.

Schematic symbols representing logic gates and different digital integrated circuits are shown above. It should
be kept in mind that basic logic gates (AND, OR, XOR, Inverter, etc.) aren't manufactured as single standalone
components. They are always integrated in groups in an IC, but for the sake of clarity, they are represented as
separate blocks. These components require a DC voltage, which may or may not be represented on the
schematic. These voltages might be different depending on the internal structure and technology used between

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different family types. Detailed info on this can be found in the component's datasheet provided by the
manufacturer.

10.1 Relays
A relay is an electro mechanical device which is commonly used to connect two different circuits. It can connect
a low voltage circuit to a high voltage circuit or a low current circuit to a high current circuit or simply to isolate
two circuits.
The simplest relay has one set of contacts (commonly called "change-over" contacts). Inside the relay is a coil
(called a solenoid) and when the coil is energised, the centre core of the solenoid becomes magnetised and
moves an arm closer to the coil. A "contact" is connected to this arm and the contact touches another contact to
complete a circuit. The contacts are labeled "common" for the moving contact, "normally open" and "normally
closed." This can be seen in diagram 10.2 a:

A relay can be connected as the collector load of a transistor, as shown on 10.3. When sufficient collector
current flows in the transistor, the relay is activated and any device connected to the contacts will be
operational.
Since a relay is an electro mechanic component which is consisted of moving parts, it has a limited operational
life span, and cannot be used for rapid switching. It would not be very effective using it in a, for example, light
show which has frequent switching frequency (several hundreds or thousands times per hour). Each opening
and closing of the contact is followed by sparks which would dramatically shorten the life of such device.

Coil values are “input values” or voltage and resistance values at which relay draws the lever and
switches. Usual coil voltages are 3V, 5V, 6V, 12V and 24V. They can be found printed on the relay's
housing. These are all DC voltages, but there are AC voltage designed relays with 230V/250V. The
current taken by the relay depends on the resistance of the coil. The coil resistance can be
measured with a multimeter. Current flowing through
the coil is calculated using Ohm's law, by dividing the
relay's voltage by its resistance. For example a 12v
relay has a coil resistance of 300 Ohm, which means
the current flow is:
I=U/R=12/300=40mA.

2. Voltage on relay's contacts, also marked on the

housing, is the maximum value allowed. Over-voltage
will cause sparks inside the relay and possibly damage
the contacts.

The maximum current rating for a relay is marked on the housing

with all the other information. It is usually higher than 1A.

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11. Checking Components

So you've put a circuit together and as far as you know everything appears to be ok, but it doesn't work as
expected. Even worse, it refuses to give any signs of life. What do you do? First, check the circuit for
mechanical failures, like non-connected wires, broken vias on the board (these are holes on the printed circuit
board that have a metal coating down the length of the hole to connect one side of the board to the other), bad
battery contacts inside the case, broken pins on a component, cold solder joints, etc.
If this doesn't come up with a result, you should compare values of components with the schematic.
You may have put a component in the wrong place, or read values the wrong way. Maybe you forgot k in front
of Ohms. Maybe you connected the supply to the wrong pin of an IC.
The next step is to test each component on the board.
Start troubleshooting by measuring DC voltages at certain points of the board, and comparing these values to
the schematic. So, by knowing the operation of the circuit you start the process of elimination to find the
“suspect” component.
If there are several “suspects”, and this is not a rare occurrence in complex devices, the testing is divided into
groups of components. You start checking in reverse soldering order, this means you start with components last
soldered, because those are the most sensitive components on the circuit like integrated circuits, transistors,
diodes, etc.
The fastest and simplest method to troubleshoot is to use an “ohm-meter.”
In most cases you don't have an ohm-meter by itself as it is usually aded to an ammeter and voltmeter in one
instrument, called AVO meter or multimeter.
The safest and most accurate method is to desolder the component from the board when testing it, because
other components could lead to a wrong diagnosis, so you have to be very careful when testing in-circuit.
Ok, you should know something about multimeters
now. There are two kinds: analog and digital. Analog
ones are items of the past, and since they use a
needle to tell you values, it can be difficult
determining the right value. Digital meters, on the
other hand have a display. You should go for this
type, although both come in different sizes and with
different ranges. Their price is from several dollars,
to several hundreds of dollars for really good
professional types.
Two instruments are shown in 11.1.

11.1 Diodes and Transistors

When using an analog instrument to
test a diode, the needle will swing
almost fully across the scale when
the diode is placed in one direction
and hardly move when the diode is
reversed.
The needle does not measure the
resistance of the diode but rather
the flow of current in one direction
and no current-flow in the other
direction.
If the value is equal to or near
equal, either low or high in both
directions, the diode is faulty, and

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should be replaced.

Digital instruments have a position on the dial to measure diodes, as shown in 11.1b. When we connect probes
to each other, the multimeter should buzz, which signals a short circuit, and display tells 0. When we separate
the probes the buzzing stops, and a symbol for open circuit is displayed (this can be either 0L or 1). Now we
connect probes to the diode (11.3a). Then we
reverse the diode and connect it again (11.3b). If
the measured diode was ok, one of the two
measurements would have shown a value which
represents a minimum voltage that could be
conducted through the diode (between 400mV and
800mV), and the anode is the end of the diode
which is connected to probe A (red one). The diode
is faulty if you hear a buzz (closed circuit) or some
value which represents infinity.
Transistors are tested in a similar fashion, since
they act as two connected diodes. According to
11.4b, the positive probe is connected to the base,
and the negative probe is first connected to the
collector and then the emitter. In both cases the
resistance should be low. After that, you do the
same thing, only with switched probes. The
negative probe is connected to the base and you test the collector and emitter with a positive probe.
Both cases should produce a high value on the meter.
When testing PNP transistors, all steps are the same, but the
measurements should be opposite: on 11.4a they are high,
and on 11.4c they are low.
If you test transistors using a digital instrument, the process
remains similar to the one with diodes. Each diode should
produce a value between 400mV and 800mV. Many modern
digital multimeters have a socket for testing transistors.
There is, as displayed on 11.5, a special socket where low
and medium power transistors fit. If you need to test high
power transistors, thin wires (0.8mm) should be soldered to
transistor's pins and then plugged into the socket. As
displayed on 11.5, a transistor is plugged into the socket
according to its type (PNP or NPN) and the switch with a hFE
marking is brought into position. If the transistor works, the
display shows a value which represents the current
amplification coefficient. If, for example, a transistor is
tested, and the display shows 74, this means the collector
current is 74 times higher than the base current.

11.2 Transformers and coils

Transformers are tested by measuring the resistance of the copper wire on the primary and secondary. Since
the primary has more turns than the secondary, and is wound using a thinner wire, its resistance is higher, and
its value is in range of tens of ohms (in high power transformers) to several hundreds of ohms.
Secondary resistance is lower and is in range between several ohms to several tens of ohms, where the
principle of inverse relations is still in place, high power means low resistance.
If the multimeter shows an infinite value, it means the coil is either poorly connected or the turns are

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disconnected at some point.

Coils can be tested in the same way as transformers – through their resistance. All principles remain the same
as with transformers. Infinite resistance means an open winding.

11.3 Capacitors
Capacitors should produce an infinite reading on a multimeter. Exceptions are electrolytics and very high value
block capacitors. When the positive end of an electrolytic capacitor is connected to the positive probe of an
analog instrument, and a negative end to a negative probe, the needle moves slightly and gradually comes back
towards infinity. This is proof the capacitor is ok, and the needle's movement is charge being stored in the
capacitor. (Even small capacitors get charged while testing.)
Variable capacitors are tested by connecting an ohm-meter to them, and turning the rotor. The needle should
point to infinity at all times, because any other value means the plates of the rotor and stator are touching at
some point.
There are digital meters that have the ability to measure capacitance, which simplifies the process. With this
said, it is worth mentioning that capacitors have considerably wider tolerance than resistors, (about 20%).

11.4 Potentiometers
To test a potentiometer, (pot), or a variable resistor, the process is rather simple – you connect the component
to the probes of a meter set to ohms and turn the shaft.
(A “noisy” pot can be repaired using a special spray.)

11.5 Speakers and headphones

When testing speakers, their voice-coil can be between 1.5 and 32 Ohms. The value marked on the speaker is
an impedance value and the actual DC resistance will be lower. When measuring a speaker with an analogue
meter, you should hear a click when the probes are connected.

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12. Conductivity probe

Conductivity tester is a simple, but very important instrument, which is able to test for faults many components
like: diodes, transistors, coils, transformers, speakers and headphones, capacitors, switches, jumpers, cables
and many other different electronic components. This method is a lot faster and straightforward than it is using
some “off the shelf” instrument.
Schematic for this device is on 12.1a. It is called a relaxation audio oscillator. When you connect points A and B
using a piece of copper wire, a variable current flows through the transistors as sequences of impulses. This
means that immediately upon connecting the points A and B, current level rapidly rises to some destined
maximum value, and then drops to zero. For certain amount of time there is no current, after which it rises
again rapidly, and whole cycle repeats itself. Since relation of times when current is flowing and when it is not is
highly in favor of the later, this kind of current is called the spike impulse current. Collector current of a T2
transistor flows through the speaker which generates sound, whose base frequency could be calculated using
this approximate equation.

In our case R=47 kOhm and C=47 nF, which means:

From the equation above, it is clear that varying

of the frequency is possible by varying the
resistor or capacitor value. Frequency rise is
achieved by lowering the resistance or
capacitance of the circuit, and vice versa, rising
the values of the resistor or capacitor, lowers the
oscillator frequency. Active variation of the
frequency base is possible by replacing the
resistor with a several hundred kiloohm trimmer
potentiometer. If such modification of the circuit
was needed, special care must be taken not to set
the trimmer into it's lowest position since this
means zero resistance, and that could burn the
transistors. To avoid unnecessary care and
further complicating the operation of this
straightforward device, low value resistor could
be connected to the trimmer in series. This
resistor would act as a protection for transistors
inside of the circuit since it facilitates a minimum
resistance, and thus doesn't leave transistors bare in the frying pan when the trimmer is in it's lowest position.
In this example we used an 1.5V battery for supply, but it is possible to plug this instrument on any battery
between 1.5V and 9V.
Current flowing through the component that is being tested is lower than I=U/R, where U is the voltage of the
supply battery, and R is the resistance of the resistor in the base circuit. In our example, these values are
U=1,5 V i R=47 kW, which means that current flow is I=32 micro amperes, which is very low, so tested
component is safe from harm from this device.
Oscillator's printed board design is on 12.2. This is viewed from the copper plated side of the board, components
are placed on the other side, so their positions are marked in dotted lines. Component side of the board is on
12.2.
Printed board, battery and the speaker are placed in a
small box, as shown on 12.3. Miniature speaker is fixed
to the upper pane of the box using two wood screws. It
is connected to the circuit board using two threaded
isolated wires. Same wires are used for all other
connections as well. Battery is connected to the board
using these wires, for example. In our example, wires
are soldered directly to the poles of the battery, and the
board fixed inside of the box using wood screws and two
rectangular wooden pads glued to the bottom of the

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box, leaving just enough space to squeeze the battery

in. These are not proper solutions, they are cheap
“hacks” used when other options are limited. But these
are functional for people who always have their trusty
soldering iron at hand. What would be a proper
solution? Buying a battery holder (with enough battery
slots as needed) or battery clips (for those square 9V
batteries) would simplify the process of changing the
battery, although this circuit is very low in power
consumption. Other thing is plastic or metal mounts for boards, these are pretty cheap and you should keep
them at hand in your “junk box” when experimenting with electronics.On the front side of the box, we drilled
two holes, one for the switch and the other for
wires which hold probes on their ends. Probes
are cheap components and come in various
shapes and sizes with various purposes in
mind. Since we've been applying dirty
methods, like soldering the battery, there is no
reason why we should back from building our
own probes now. Any old marker-pen will do,
just slip thicker copper wire through it's
center, and sand/grind/cut protruding ends
into a pointy tip. It is advisable to make
probes in different colors, red and black are
dominant standards for distinguishing them.
Positive probe (red) is connected to point A,
and negative one (black) is connected to the
point B. You could use alligator clips instead of
probes, for example, this would leave your
hands free for other purposes, but for some
precise testing of the on-board components, go
with the more precise probes we already
mentioned.
Give your new instrument the initial self-test
(battery might be empty, or some other
unexpected thing happened) by connecting the
probe tips together. If sound is heard from the
speaker, everything is fine and ready for work.
Ok, everything is working, now you want to
play with your new toy. Check, for example,
conductivity of your own body. Hold probe tips
between thumb and index finger of your left
and right hand. What you hear is a sound
whose level and especially frequency depend
on your skin moistness. Wow, now instrument
could be used as a very crude an inaccurate lie
detector. This probably wouldn't be accepted in
a court of law, but may be an interesting game
you play on your friends. “Suspect” holds in
his/hers hands probes which could be made of
a metal pipe for this occasion. Pipe should be
wide enough so that a large portion of palm
surface is actually in contact with metal. When
the suspect starts dodging questions or lying,
his palms start sweating more than usual, and
the tone produced by our “lie detector” is
higher than usual.

12.1 Semiconductors check

To test diodes using this circuit, we fall back to the diode theory of operation: when anode is positive comparing
to the cathode (red probe on anode, black on cathode), whole diode acts as a low value resistor, which means
that speaker sound is higher than usual. On the other hand, in the opposite direction, sound is lower because in
that direction diode acts as a high value resistor. Testing process is shown on 12.4.

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DC transistor acts in the same fashion as two connected diodes (11.4a). If both diodes are functional, transistor
is functional as well as shown on 12.5. As you can see, probe A is connected to the base, and then probe B is
connected first to the emitter, and then to the collector. In both cases, if the transistor is ok, “music” would have
been heard. We then switch probe connections, A goes where B was connected to and vice versa, if there is no
music now, everything is in order. So, transistor is faulty if speaker remains silent in the first two
measurements, or if it “plays” in one of the second two measurements.
FET testing is done in similar fashion as testing the bipolar transistors, which is shown on 12.6.

One principle that is applicable when testing the photo resistors, photo transistors and diodes is NL-NM (or, No
Light – No Music). Probe A is connected to the collector of the transistor, or diode's anode or one side of the
photo resistor, and the other one is connected to transistor's emitter or diode's cathode or the other resistor's
side and some kind of sound should be heard from the speaker. If this continues when the component is
shadowed using your palm, everything is in functional order. We displayed graphically the method of testing
photo sensitive components on 12.7.

12.2 Checking other components

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Many other components may be tested using this instrument. Base rule is: if component is intended to conduct
electricity, sound will be heard. This is the case with resistors, coils, transformers, fuses, closed switches. If
component doesn't conduct electricity, like capacitors, or open switches, or two copper wires on the circuit board
which shouldn't be connected, then music would have not been heard.
When testing different resistors, it is apparent that different resistance values give different output sound. So
with some experience using this instrument on various resistors it will be possible to tell the resistance of the
resistor in question from only the generated sound. This may be easier and more accurately done using regular
ohmmeter on your multimeter, but your nerd level will certainly rise sky high if you are able to tell resistor's
value from bare sound.
Components which have coils in them, like different electro motors, headphones, speakers, transformers and
such conduct electricity, so absence of sound while testing tells of some coil connection failure. With
transformers with several secondary coils there is a possibility to find beginning and the end of each of them.
And from the sound frequency one is possible to tell which coil is primary and which is secondary.
Functional capacitor will generate no music. An exception are electrolithic and block capacitors, especially the
larger ones. Tone generated by connecting these capacitors to the instrument will change in level and frequency
and fade until completely off when capacitor is discharged. Length of playing depends on the capacitance of the
component, where higher values give longer sound time, which allows for a crude approximation of the
component's capacitance.

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