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Electronics 3

This document provides an overview of electronics components including the potential divider, transistor, and capacitor. It discusses how a potential divider can be used to control voltage levels and switch on/off components. A transistor is described as being able to amplify a small input current to switch on a larger output current. Putting two transistors together in a Darlington pair configuration further increases this gain. Capacitors are also mentioned but not described in detail. Links are provided for further reading on these topics.

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67 views

Electronics 3

This document provides an overview of electronics components including the potential divider, transistor, and capacitor. It discusses how a potential divider can be used to control voltage levels and switch on/off components. A transistor is described as being able to amplify a small input current to switch on a larger output current. Putting two transistors together in a Darlington pair configuration further increases this gain. Capacitors are also mentioned but not described in detail. Links are provided for further reading on these topics.

Uploaded by

api-619135742
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Electronics

The potential divider, the transistor and the capacitor


Day 2 afternoon
This afternoon…

Understanding a little bit about inputs, process and outputs

Understanding the potential divider

Using and understanding how a transistor works and where it is used


What is a System?

A system is a set of devices or things which are connected and work in


conjunction with each other in order to perform a specific function.

All systems have

INPUT PROCESS OUTPUT


A system is sometimes made of subsystems joined together.

INPUT Burglar Alarm


Door sensor

INPUT OUTPUT

Window PROCESS Siren Flashing light


sensor

INPUT
Panic button
Build this very simple circuit (breadboard &
software)
4.5V

Place the voltmeter probes either side of the LDR.

Measure the output voltage (Vout) when you turn the LDR is
under different light levels.

0V What happens to the? Vout ?

Further explanation here:


https://www.kitronik.co.uk/blog/how-an-ldr-light-dependent-resistor-works/
The potential divider
4.5V
When you place 2 different resistors (even if
they are different types) they have the
function of dividing the voltage at the point
between the components (Vout)

Vout

Then we are able to use the new voltage


levels to control (switch on or switch off)
different output components (such as LEDs
or buzzers).
0V

Further explanation here:


https://www.kitronik.co.uk/blog/how-an-ldr-light-dependent-resistor-works/
Transistor switching circuit

We can use the concept of dividing the


potential (dividing the supply voltage) with
two resistors to switch on/off transistor in the
following circuit.

To test this, build this circuit in Circuit Wizard


software.

Make sure you have the correct values

Input Process Output


Transistor
A very simple description of a transistor

This type of transistor is a BC108


Transistor switching circuit – what the
transistor does

Ic
Ib

A small current arriving at the ‘base’ of the transistor, switches on a much higher
current going form the ‘collector’ through the ‘emitter’.
Transistor Gain hfe
The amount of amplification a
transistor is capable of is called
its GAIN.

To calculate gain:

Ib Hfe = Ic
Ib
Ic

Note that:
Ie = Ib+Ic

Now, on Circuit Wizard 2


Build the following circuit accurately
Can you check what the current is in each position? (hover over lines with your mouse pointer)
What happens when you put 2 transistors together?
(Darlington Pair)
In this activity, we are going to find out what happens when you combine two transistors.
Step 1 – build this circuit in Circuit Wizard 2
What happens when you put 2
transistors together? (Darlington Pair)
In this activity, we are going to find out what happens when you combine two transistors
Step 2 – Find research the data sheets for two different transistors online

Can you find out (from http://uk.rs-online.com/ the


following for these two transistors and two more types?

hFE (min)
Ic (max) mA Usual application
At Ic

BC108

BFY 51
What happens when you put 2
transistors together? (Darlington Pair)
In this activity, we are going to find out what happens when you combine two transistors
Step 3 – Work out the overall ‘gain’ of the Darlington Pair

Remember, to calculate gain:

Hfe = Ic
Ib

What is the gain in this circuit?


Further reading

Some basic information about capacitors on Technology Student

http://www.technologystudent.com/elec1/capac1.htm

All about capacitors on Sparkfun website:


https://learn.sparkfun.com/tutorials/capacitors

‘C’ is for Capacitor(video on Adafruit website)


https://learn.adafruit.com/circuit-playground-c-is-for-capacitor/video

PCB making

http://www.electricstuff.co.uk/pcbs.html

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