COMPUTER SYSTEM SERVICING 12 - LESSON MATERIAL

Lesson Title: Fundamentals of Electronics

Lesson Objectives:

1. Discuss the preventive maintenance practices in electronics.

2. Differentiate the electronic application of direct current (DC) and alternating current (AC).
3. Explain a series and parallel circuit to its functionality and current flows.
4. Construct a series, parallel, and combinational circuit using the different circuit diagrams.

Hazard Prevention

1. Avoid working with AC-operated circuits. If your project requires an AC power supply
(the power supply converts the AC to lower-voltage DC), consider using a self-contained one, such as a plug-in
wall transformer. They’re much safer than a homemade power supply.

2. Physically separate the AC and DC portions of your circuits. This helps to prevent a
bad shock if a wire comes loose.

3. Make sure you secure all wiring inside your project. Don’t just tape the AC cord inside
the project enclosure. It may pull out sometime, exposing a live wire. Use a strain relief or a cable mount to
secure the cord to the enclosure. A strain relief clamps around the wire and prevents
you from tugging the wire out of the enclosure. You can buy strain relief for electrical cords at almost any
hardware store or electronics shop.

4. Whenever possible, use a metal enclosure for your AC-operated projects, but
only if the enclosure is fully grounded. You need to use a 3-prong electrical plug and wire for this. Be
sure to firmly attach the green wire (which is always the ground wire; the ground is used as a reference for all
voltages in a circuit) to the metal of the enclosure.

5. If you can’t guarantee a fully-grounded system, use a plastic enclosure. The

plastic helps insulate you from any loose wires or accidental electrocution. For projects that aren’t fully
grounded, only use an isolated power supply, such as a wall transformer (a black box with plug prongs
that is attached to a wire, such as you may have on your cell phone charger). You plug the transformer into the
wall, and only relatively safe low-voltage DC comes out.

Electronic Application of Alternating Current and Direct Current

According to Schultz (2007) both Alternating Current and Direct Current describe the two types of
current flow in a circuit, direct current, the current flows in one direction while on the other hand alternating
current, the electric charge changes direction periodically. The voltage in AC circuits also sometimes reverses
because the current changes direction.

Alternating Current (AC). It means the flow of charge that changes direction periodically. As a
result, the voltage level also reverses along with the current. AC is used to supply power to houses, buildings,
offices, etc. AC can be produced using a device called an alternator. This device is a special type of electrical
generator designed to produce alternating current.

A loop of wire is spun inside of a magnetic field, which induces a current along the wire. The rotation of
the wire can come from any number of means: a wind turbine, a steam turbine, flowing water, and so on.
Because the wire spins and enters a different magnetic polarity periodically, the voltage and current alternates
on the wire.

The most common type of AC is the sine wave. The AC in most homes and offices has an oscillating
voltage that produces a sine wave.
 Applications of an Alternating Current (AC)

Home and office outlets are almost always AC. This is because generating and transporting AC across
long distances is relatively easy. At high voltages (over 110kV), less energy is lost in electrical power
transmission.

Higher voltages mean lower currents and lower currents mean less heat generated in the power line due
to resistance. AC can be converted to and from high voltages easily using transformers. AC is also capable of
powering electric motors. Motors and generators are the same devices, but motors convert electrical energy into
mechanical energy (if the shaft on a motor is spun, a voltage is generated at the terminals!). This is useful for
many large appliances like dishwashers, refrigerators, and so on, which run on AC.
Direct Current (DC). It is defined as the “unidirectional” flow of current; current only flows in one
direction. Voltage and current can vary over time so long as the direction of flow does not change. To simplify
things, we will assume that voltage is a constant. DC can be generated in several ways:
● An AC generator equipped with a device called a “commutator” can produce direct current.
● Use of a device called a “rectifier” that converts AC to DC.
● Batteries provide DC, which is generated from a chemical reaction inside of the battery.

Applications of a Direct Current (DC)

Everything that runs off of a battery, plugs into the wall with an AC adapter, or uses a USB cable for
power relies on DC. Examples of DC electronics include:
● Cell phones
● The LilyPad-based D&D Dice Gauntlet
● Flat-screen TVs (AC goes into the TV, which is converted to DC)
● Flashlights
● Hybrid and electric vehicles
Series, Parallel and Combinational Circuits in Relation to its functionality and Current Flow

Series Circuits. Two components are in series if they share a common node and if the same current
flows through them. Here’s an example circuit with three series resistors:

There’s only one way for the current to flow in the above circuit. Starting from the positive terminal of
the battery, current flow will first encounter R 1. From there the current will flow straight to R 2, then to R3, and
finally back to the negative terminal of the battery. Note that there is only one path for the current to follow.
These components are in series.
Parallel Circuits Defined. If components share two common nodes, they are in parallel.
Here’s an example schematic of three resistors in parallel with a battery:

From the positive battery terminal, current flows to R 1… R2, and R3. The node that connects the battery
to R1 is also connected to the other resistors. The other ends of these resistors are similarly tied together and
then tied back to the negative terminal of the battery. There are three distinct paths that the current can take
before returning to the battery, and the associated resistors are said to be in parallel.
Series and Parallel Circuits Working Together.
From there we can mix and match. In the next picture,
we again see three resistors and a battery. From the positive
battery terminal, the current first encounters R1. But, on the
other side of R1, the node splits and the current can go to both R 2
and R3. The current paths through R2 and R3 are then tied
together again, and the current goes back to the negative terminal
of the battery.
In this example, R2 and R3 are in parallel with each
other, and R1 is in series with the parallel combination of R 2 and
R3.