Common Terms Used In Electronics Construction
There is lots of electronics lingo that many electronics novices may not fully understand. Anything from switches to semiconductors, or AC and DC currents or CAD software programs, you will have to have an understanding of these items to finish your project.
Below are terms every electronics hobbyist should know:
Alternating Current (AC)
An electrical current that sometimes changes direction
CAD or Computer-Aided Design Software
To design the schematics for PCBs and other electronics, you should use CAD software. Learn how to use CAD software.
Capacitance
This measures the electrical charge that could potentially be stored within a conductor. Some types are disc and electrolytic.
Capacitor
These are used to store electrical charges
Conductor
Materials with minimal resistance that allow electrical current to flow.
Digital Circuit
A circuit with inputs and outputs of only two states: low (0) or high (1). Analog electronics contain systems that have continuously variable signals (proportion of signal to voltage/current)
Diode
A component used in electronics design that will only permit currents to flow in a single direction
Direct Current (DC)
A flow of electrical current that goes in a single direction
Electronics
The technology and science of applied electricity and electrical theory from basic homemade projects to extensive production of power and transmissions.
Ground
To avoid any contact between the circuit and dangerous amounts of voltage, grounds are in place to connect the circuit to the earth (either theoretically or actually). In smaller devices it is common for a ground to be a big conductor that acts as a return path for surplus voltage.
Insulator
Insulators are made from high resistance materials that are not very conductive. They help avoid unnecessary spread of current in a circuit.
Integrated Circuit (IC)
Used to perform some of the functions of large systems, semiconductors are small computer chips or electronic devices consisting of many transistors and resistors.
Light Emitting Diode or LED
An individual diode that will emit light once current passes through
Ohm’s Law – This describes the relationship of resistance, voltage and current when an electric current goes through a conductor. By this law, the current should be directly proportional to the voltage and inversely proportional to the resistance.
Ohm – The unit we use to take a resistance measurement
Printed Circuit Board (PCB)
PCBs are boards made up of components that are connected by a slim coat of conductive materials that are etched on the board in place of using wires. Printed circuit boards are commonly used as a place to mount your electrical components. Find some additional printed circuit board information.
Resistance
The electrical friction between an electric current and the material it is flowing through
Resistor
A component that is used to create resistance within a circuit.
Schematic
Detailed diagrams of circuits using standard symbols
Semiconductor
Usually made from precious metals, semiconductors are materials of electrical resistance used to create the resistors, transistors and diodes of an IC
Solder
The glue that holds it all together. It actually isn’t glue. Its solder, or a highly conductive alloy that is applied to the board to mount any wire or components to the circuit.
Switch
A device used to connect or disconnect the flow of an electrical circuit, turning on or off
Transistor
Transistors are versatile devices that can amplify switch, or oscillate current flow between 2 terminals of a circuit.
Voltage
This is a measurement that shows a difference in electrical potential between 2 areas of a circuit or through the entire material.
Volts
Amount of voltage