CHAPTER II

BASIC ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS

A. BASIC COMPETENCE/INDICATORS
After completing this course, you will be able to:
1. Identify passive component and explain each of the component
2. To differentiate between fixed resistors and variable resistors.
. !alculate the resistance of resistor
". Identify and analyse the type of capacitor
#. Identify active component and explain each of the component.
$. Identify and analyse the type of diode and transistor
%. &xplain the contribution and application of active component.
B. MATERIALS
There are several basic electronic components that we can find around us, mainly:
1. 'assive !omponents
( )esistors
( !apacitors
( Inductors
( *iodes
( Interface components
2. Active !omponents
( Transistors
+ipolar
,ield effect
( Integrated circuits
Analog
*igital
-icrocontroller
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,ig. 2(1 +asic electronic components
2.1 )esistors
The function of resistor is to resists or slows down the flow of electrons.
The two main characteristics of a resistor are its resistance, R, in ohms and
its power rating, ', in .atts.
The resistance, R, provides the re/uired reduction in current or the desired
drop in voltage.
The wattage rating indicates the amount of power the resistor can safely
dissipate as heat. The wattage rating is always more than the actual
amount of power dissipated by the resistor, as a safety factor.
0enerally, there are two category of resistor, namely:
a. ,ixed )esistors
1 !an only handle a certain amount of current.
1 Typically made from a resistance wire, which is 2wound around a ceramic core
and covered with some insulating material3.
1

,ig. 2(2 &xample of fixed resistor
b. 4ariable resistors
1 Also 5nown as rheostats, or potentiometers
1 Allow you to regulate the amount of current flowing through the circuit
1 )esistors are non(polari6ed, which means there are no positive or negative ends
,ig. 2( 'otentiometer
A. Types of )esistors
.ire(wound resistors
!arbon(composition resistors
,ilm(type resistors
!arbon film
-etal film
7urface(mount resistors 8chip resistors9
,usible resistors
1"
Thermistors
.ire .ound )esistor
7pecial resistance wire is wrapped around an insulating core, typically
porcelain, cement, or pressed paper.
These resistors are typically used for high(current applications with low
resistance and appreciable power.


,ig. 2(" .ire .ound )esistor
:arge wire(wound resistors with #;(. power ratings. 8a9 ,ixed R, length of # in. 8b9
4ariable R, diameter of in.
!arbon !omposition )esistors
-ade of carbon or graphite mixed with a powdered insulating material.
-etal caps with tinned copper wire 8called axial leads9 are <oined to the
ends of the carbon resistance element. They are used for soldering the
connections into a circuit.
+ecoming obsolete because of the development of carbon(film resistors.
1#

,ig. 2(# !arbon resistors with the same physical si6e but different resistance values.
2.2 !apacitors
1 +asic <ob is to store electron current until needed by the circuit
1 !harge and discharge electrons as re/uired by the circuit
1 -ade up of two or more plates 8conductors9, each separated by a dielectric
8insulator9
1 !eramic capacitors and mica capacitors are non(polari6ed
1 &lectrolytic capacitors are polari6ed, meaning one lead is positive and the other is
negative, as mar5ed
1 4alues specified in microfarads 8=,9 or picofarads 8p,9
1 -ar5ed with actual value or a numeric code
1 7ome varieties are >?( polari6ed

,ig. 2($ !apacitors
2. Inductors
4alues specified in henries 8@9, millihenries 8m@9 and microhenries 8=@9
A coil of wire that may be wound on a core of air or other non(magnetic material, or on a
magnetic core such as iron powder or ferrite.
1$
Tantalum
Ceramic Electrolytic
-ica
Tantalum
The symbols of inductors are or
Two coils magnetically coupled form a transformer.
Inductor types:
,ig. 2(% Inductors
2." *iodes
1 A solid state device designed to permit the flow of electrons in one direction and
bloc5 the flow in the opposite direction
1 -ost modern diodes are semiconductor devices, but are considered passive since
they do not contribute any amplification or gain to a circuit.
1 -ade from germanium or silicon
1 A 6ener diode is used to regulate voltage
1 A light emitting diode 8:&*9 is a solid state component that emits a tiny bit of
light when current passes through it
1%
,ig. 2(A *iodes symbols
*iode types
-ay be classified by semiconductor material 8silicon, germanium, gallium arsenide, etc9
or classified by circuit function.
,ig. 2(B *iode types
2.# Interface components
Interface components are consisted of :
( 7witches
( 'lugs
( 7oc5ets
( 'anel controls
a. 7witches
7witches is a device which closes to complete an electrical circuit allowing electrons
to flow through the circuit, or which opens or brea5s a circuit, stopping the flow.
1A
,ig. 2(1; 7witches
b. 'lug
Two common plug styles:
,ig. 2(11 'lugs
2.$ Transistors
1 The symbols of transistor are as follow:
1B
1 7olid(state device used for switching and?or amplifying the flow of electrons in a
circuit
1 Two basic types of transistors are switching and amplifying
1 7witching transistors are used in circuits, which are either on or off
1 Amplifying transistors amply an electrical signal are used in places where the
amount of signal is important
1 A phototransistor is a solid state component where the amount of light which
passes through a lens controls the amount of current flow
,ig. 2(12 Transistors
2.% Integrated !ircuits
1 Three common electronic components, which ma5e up an integrated circuit, are
resistors, transistors and capacitors. The main advantage of I!s is that so much
electronic circuitry can be in such a small pac5age.
1 Integrated circuits 8I!s9 are multi(terminal devices that provide an array of
functions and applications far to numerous to list here.
2;
,ig. 2(1 Integrated !ircuit
'in identification and numbering convention
( 'ins are numbered se/uentially in a countercloc5wise direction.
( 'in 1 is often identified with a dot or a dimple.
( The pin 1 end of the chip is often identified with a notch.
,ig. 2(1" 'in identification and numbering convention
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