Electronics guide: Diode, Capacitor, Arduino Platform, and Electronics Store
Zener breakdown refers to a phenomenon in a reverse-biased semiconductor diode where the voltage across the diode exceeds the breakdown voltage, causing a rapid increase in current through the diode. Unlike normal diodes that are designed to block current in the reverse direction, Zener diodes are specially designed to operate in this breakdown region reliably. … Read more
A transistor is commonly referred to as an amplifier because it can significantly increase the strength or amplitude of a weak signal applied to its base terminal. In this configuration, the transistor operates in active mode, where a small input signal controls a larger output signal across its collector-emitter path. This amplification process makes transistors … Read more
If one of the parallel resistors in a circuit is removed, the current through the remaining parallel resistors will increase. This is because the total resistance in the circuit decreases when a resistor is removed from a parallel configuration. According to Ohm’s law (I = V/R), with a lower total resistance, the total current supplied … Read more
Driving high side MOSFETs or IGBTs (Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistors) in practical circuits typically requires specialized techniques to ensure proper operation and efficiency. One practical way to drive high side MOSFETs or IGBTs is to use an isolated gate driver circuit. High side switches require a gate driver that can provide a gate voltage higher … Read more
A capacitor in a battery charger is used to smooth out fluctuations in voltage and current, providing more stable power to the charging circuitry. This helps protect sensitive electronic components from sudden voltage spikes or drops during the charging process. In a battery charger, capacitors are utilized to filter out noise and ripple from the … Read more
Dislocations in a crystal lattice can increase resistivity by disrupting the regular arrangement of atoms. As electrical current flows through a crystal, it encounters fewer obstacles in a perfect lattice than in a lattice containing dislocations. These disruptions impede the movement of electrons, causing them to scatter more frequently, which in turn increases the material’s … Read more
A relay is an electromechanical device that operates as a switch controlled by an electrical signal. It consists of a coil and one or more sets of contacts. When an electrical current flows through the coil, it generates a magnetic field that attracts or repels a movable armature connected to the contacts. This action either … Read more
Electronics can degrade over time due to various factors such as environmental conditions, usage patterns, and component aging. While many electronic devices are designed with robust materials and components to ensure durability, prolonged use, exposure to heat, humidity, dust, or mechanical stress can contribute to their degradation. For instance, integrated circuits (ICs) can experience degradation … Read more
When a starter relay starts to malfunction, several symptoms may become evident. One common symptom is difficulty starting the engine, where turning the ignition key results in either no response or intermittent starting. You may hear a clicking sound when attempting to start the vehicle, indicating that the relay is engaging but not effectively passing … Read more
The overall resistance of a circuit decreases when resistors are connected in parallel due to the combined effect of providing multiple paths for current flow. In a parallel configuration, each resistor offers a separate path for current to travel from the voltage source to the ground. As more resistors are added in parallel, the total … Read more