Basic Electrical

Components and Sybols

There are two types of electrical signals, those being alternating current(AC), and
direct current(DC).
AC
THe US we use 60HZ, (thats reversing 120 times per second(twice per cycle)
DC
With direct current, electricity flows in one direction between power and ground. In
this arrangement there is always a positive source of voltage and ground(0V)
source of voltage. Red wires are positive, black or brown wires are negative
Circuits
Closed circuit is closed and the loop is operational, open circuit is open and has
no circuit. Closed circuit allows electricity to flow. Series circuit

Parallel Cicuit
Resistor
Resistors add resistance to the circuit and reduces the flow of electrical current. It
is represented in a circuit diagram. OHMS is a resistor
Capacitor
A capacitor is a component that stores electricity and then discharges it into the
circuit when there is a drop in electricity.
Diodes
Diodes are components which are polarized. They only allow electrical current to
pass through them in one direction.
Fuse
Designed to burn if it gets to hot. Current creates heat and the fuse protects the
wires if it gets too hot.
LEDs
The longer leg on the LED is called an Anode(+side), it will connect to power. The
shorted leg is called the cathode(-side) and will connect to the ground.
Transistors
A transistor takes in a small electrical current at its base and amplifies it such that
a much larger current can pass between its collector and emitter pins
Integrated Circuits
An integrated circuit is an entire specialized circuit that has been miniaturized and
fit into one small chip with each chip connecting to a point within the circuit
Potentiometers

Potentiometers are variable resistors. In plain english, they have some sort of
knob or slider that you turn or push to change resistance in a circuit. It is like a
volume knob.
Switches
A switch is basically a mechanical device that creates a break in a circuit. WHen
you activate the switch, it opens. When you deactivate the switch it closes the
current.
Batteries
A battery is a container which converts chemical energy into electricity. To
over-simplify the matter you can say it stores power.