INTRODUCTION TO BASIC ELECTRONICS:

• A brief overview of common electronic tools and components;

what their functions are.
• You will then learn about schematic diagrams and how they are
used to design and build circuits.
• Kirchhoff's Law
• Resistor’s Colour codes
TOOLS:
BREADBOARDS:
Breadboards are an essential tool for
prototyping and building temporary
circuits. These boards contain holes
for inserting wire and components.
Because of their temporary nature,
they allow you to create circuits
without soldering..
 .
Test Leads (Alligator Wire Cutters:
Clips):
• Test leads are great for connecting • Wire cutters are essential for
components together to test a stripping stranded and solid copper
circuit without the need for wire.
soldering.
 .
Precision Screwdriver Set: Helping 3rd Hand:
• Precision screwdrivers are • When working with
also known as jeweler’s electronics, it seems you
screwdrivers and usually never have enough hands to
come as a set. The advantage hold everything. This is
of these over normal where the helping hand (3rd
screwdrivers is the precision hand) comes in. Great for
tips of each driver. These are holding circuit boards or
very handy when working wire when soldering or
with electronics that contain tinning.
tiny screws.
 .
Heat Gun: Jumper Wires:
• A heat gun is used to shrink • These wires are used with
plastic tubing known as heat breadboard and development
shrink to help protect boards. Jumper wires can
exposed wire. Heat shrink have male or female ends
has been called the duct tape depending on how they need
of electronics and comes in to be used.
handy in a wide variety of
applications.
 .
Soldering Iron: Digital Multi-meter:
• When it is time to create a • A multi-meter is a device that
permanent circuit, you’ll want is used to measure electric
to solder the parts together. current (amps), voltage (volts)
To do this, a soldering iron is and resistance (ohms). It is
the tool you would use. great for troubleshooting
circuits and is capable of
measuring both AC and DC
voltage.
 ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS:
Resistors:
• Resistors are used to resist the
Switch: flow of current or to control the
• Switches can come in many forms such as
voltage in a circuit. Most resistors
pushbutton, rocker, momentary and have colored stripes on the outside
others. Their basic function is to interrupt and this code will tell you it’s value
electric current by turning a circuit on or of resistance. You can use a multi-
off. meter or Digi-key’s resistor color
code calculator to determine the
value of a resistor
 Light-Dependent Resistor .
Variable Resistor
(LDR):
(Potentiometer):
• A light-dependent resistor is also a
• A variable resistor is also known as variable resistor but is controlled
a potentiometer. These by the light versus turning a knob.
components can be found in The resistance in the circuit
devices such as a light dimmer or changes with the intensity of the
volume control for a radio. When light. These are often found in
you turn the shaft of a exterior lights that automatically
potentiometer the resistance turn on at dusk and off at dawn.
changes in the circuit.
 .
Capacitor: Diode:
• Capacitors store electricity and then
discharge it back into the circuit when • A diode allows electricity to flow in
there is a drop in voltage. A capacitor is one direction and blocks it from
like a rechargeable battery and can be flowing the opposite way. The
charged and then discharged. The value is
measured in F (Farad), nano Farad (nF) or
diode’s primary role is to route
pico Farad (pF) range. electricity from taking an
unwanted path within the circuit.
 .
Light-Emitting Diode(LED): Transistor:
• A light-emitting diode is like a standard diode • Transistor are tiny switches that
in the fact that electrical current only flows in turn a current on or off when
one direction. The main difference is an LED
will emit light when electricity flows through triggered by an electric signal. In
it. Inside an LED there is an anode and addition to being a switch, it can
cathode. Current always flows from the also be used to amplify electronic
anode (+) to the cathode (-) and never in the signals. A transistor is similar to a
opposite direction. The longer leg of the LED relay except with no moving parts.
is the positive (anode) side.
.
Relay: Integrated Circuit:
• An integrated circuit is a circuit that’s
• A relay is an electrically operated been reduced in size to fit inside a tiny
switch that opens or closes when chip. This circuit contains electronic
power is applied. Inside a relay is components like resistors and capacitors
an electromagnet which controls a but on a much smaller scale. Integrated
mechanical switch. circuits come in different variations such
as 555 timers, voltage regulators,
microcontrollers and many more. Each
pin on an IC is unique in terms of it’s
function.
 Schematic Diagram:
• When working with circuits, you will
often find something called a
schematic diagram. These diagrams
use symbols to illustrate what
electronic components are used and
where they’re placed in the circuit.
These symbols are graphic
representations of the actual
electronic components.
By following a schematic diagram, you are able to know
which components to use and where to put them. These
schematics are extremely helpful for beginners when first
learning circuits
SUMMARY OF BASIC ELECTRONIC PARAMETERS:

Voltage: Voltage is the difference in charge between two

points, measured in Volts.
Current: Current is the flow of electrons through a conductor
or semiconductor, measured in Amperes or Amps.
Some materials conduct current better than others; these are
known as conductors, semiconductors. Current flow is from
positive to negative.
Power: Power determines how much work a circuit can do. It
is measured in Watts (Watts = Volts * Amps).
Resistance:
Resistors are measured in Ohm and come
between conductors, which conduct easily and
insulators which don't conduct. The main
function of resistors in a circuit is to control the
flow of current and voltage drops to other
components. For example; if too much current
flows through an LED it is destroyed and will not
light, so a resistor is used to limit the current but
not so big as it will limit all the current.
Resistors can dissipate different powers (Watts)
depending on its power rating and the current passing
through.
It is difficult to make a resistor to an exact value, so
resistances are given a tolerance. This is expressed as
being plus or minus a percentage. A ±10% resistor with
a stated value of 100 ohms could have a resistance
anywhere between 90 ohms and 110 ohms.
Resistor Color Code
The resistor color code is a way of showing the value of
a resistor. Instead of writing the resistance on its body,
which would often be too small to read, a color code is
used. Different colors represent the numbers 0 to 9.

The first two colored bands on the body are the first
two digits of the resistance, and the third band is the
'multiplier'.
Multiplier just means the number of zeroes to add
after the first two digits.
Three or Four Band Resistors
The first two bands always denote the first two digits of the resistance value in ohms. On a three or
four-band resistor, the third band represents the multiplier. This multiplier will basically shift your
decimal place around to change your value from mega ohms to milliohms and anywhere in
between. The fourth color band signifies tolerance. Keep in mind that if this band is absent and you
are looking at a three-band resistor, the default tolerance is ±20%.
Five or Six Band Resistors
Resistors with high precision have an extra color band to indicate a third significant digit. If your
resistor has five or six color bands, the third band becomes this additional digit along with bands
one and two. Everything else shifts to the right, making the fourth color band the multiplier and the
fifth band the tolerance. A six-band resistor is basically a five-band type with an additional ring
indicating the reliability, or the temperature coefficient (ppm/K) specification. Using brown, the most
common sixth band color, as an example, every temperature change of 10°C changes the
resistance value by 0.1%.
Common Resistor Color Code Questions:
How do I know which end of the resistor to start reading from?
- Many resistors have some of the color bands grouped closer together or grouped toward one
end. Hold the resistor with these grouped bands to your left. Always read resistors from left to right.
- Resistors never start with a metallic band on the left. If you have a resistor with a gold or silver
band on one end, you have a 5% or 10% tolerance resistor. Position the resistor with this band on
the right side and again read your resistor from left to right.
 .
Red represents the number 2,
so a resistor with red, red, red
bands has a resistance of 2
followed by 2 followed by 2
zeroes, which is 2200 ohms or
2.2 kilo Ohms. The final band is
the tolerance (the accuracy ± x
%). All resistors have a
tolerance which is shown by
the last band.
Ohm's Law states that the current flowing in a
circuit is directly proportional to the applied
potential difference and inversely proportional
to the resistance in the circuit.

Ohms Law: Every circuit has Voltage, Current

and Resistance.
V=IR. Voltage = Current * Resistance.
I=V/R. Current = Voltage/Resistance.
R=V/I. Resistance = Voltage/Current.

In other words by doubling the voltage across a circuit the current will also
double. However if the resistance is doubled the current will fall by half.
 .
SERIES CIRCUITS: All components PARALLEL CIRCUITS: All
are connected end to end. Single components are connected in
path for electrons to flow - all parallel and share the same
components share the same current. voltage. The total resistance of
Total resistance of circuit is equal to circuit is less than the value after
sum of individual resistances. Total adding individual resistances.
voltage in the circuit is equal to the Total current in circuit is equal to
sum of individual voltage drops. sum of individual branch currents.
Example 1:
The first example is the easiest case - the resistors placed in parallel have the same
resistance. The goal of the analysis is to determine the current in and the voltage drop
across each resistor.

•.
Now that the current at each individual resistor location is known, the
Ohm's law equation (ΔV = I • R) can be used to determine the voltage drop
across each resistor. These calculations are shown below.

ΔV1 = I1 • R1 = (4 Amp) • (5 Ω)
ΔV1 = 20 V
ΔV2 = I2 • R2 = (2 Amp) • (8 Ω)

ΔV2 = 16 V
ΔV3 = I3 • R3 = (2 Amp) • (8 Ω)

ΔV3 = 16 V
ΔV4 = I4 • R4 = (4 Amp) • (6 Ω)

ΔV4 = 24 V
Example 2:
The second example is the more difficult case - the resistors placed in
parallel have a different resistance value. The goal of the analysis is the
same - to determine the current in and the voltage drop across each
resistor.
1 / Req = 1 / R1 + 1 / R2 + 1 / R3 ...
1 / Req = 1 / (4 Ω) + 1 / (12 Ω)

1 / Req = 0.333 Ω-1

Req = 1 / (0.333 Ω-1)

Req = 3.00 Ω
Based on this calculation, it can be said that the two branch resistors (R2 and R3) can be replaced by a
single resistor with a resistance of 3 Ω. This 3 Ω resistor is in series with R1 and R4. Thus, the total
resistance is

Rtot = R1 + 3 Ω + R4 = 5 Ω + 3 Ω + 8 Ω
Rtot = 16 Ω
Now the Ohm's law equation (ΔV = I • R) can be used to determine the total current in the circuit.

Itot = ΔVtot / Rtot = (24 V) / (16 Ω)

Itot = 1.5 Amp
The 1.5 Amp current calculation represents the current at the battery location. Yet, resistors R1 and R4
are in series and the current in series-connected resistors is everywhere the same. Thus,

Itot = I1 = I4 = 1.5 Amp

For parallel branches, the sum of the current in each individual branch is
equal to the current outside the branches. Thus, I2 + I3 must equal 1.5 Amp.
There are an infinite possibilities of I2 and I3 values that satisfy this
equation. In the previous example, the two resistors in parallel had the
identical resistance; thus the current was distributed equally among the
two branches. In this example, the unequal current in the two resistors
complicates the analysis. The branch with the least resistance will have the
greatest current. Determining the amount of current will demand that we
use the Ohm's law equation. But to use it, the voltage drop across the
branches must first be known. So the direction that the solution takes in
this example will be slightly different than that of the simpler case
illustrated in the previous example.
To determine the voltage drop across the parallel branches, the
voltage drop across the two series-connected resistors (R1 and R4)
must first be determined. The Ohm's law equation (ΔV = I • R) can be
used to determine the voltage drop across each resistor. These
calculations are shown below.

ΔV1 = I1 • R1 = (1.5 Amp) • (5 Ω)

ΔV1 = 7.5 V
ΔV4 = I4 • R4 = (1.5 Amp) • (8 Ω)

ΔV4 = 12 V
This circuit is powered by a 24-volt source. Thus, the cumulative voltage drop
of a charge traversing a loop about the circuit is 24 volts. There will be a 19.5 V
drop (7.5 V + 12 V) resulting from passage through the two series-connected
resistors (R1 and R4). The voltage drop across the branches must be 4.5 volts to
make up the difference between the 24 volt total and the 19.5-volt drop across
R1 and R4. Thus,

ΔV2 = V3 = 4.5 V
Knowing the voltage drop across the parallel-connected resistors (R1 and R4)
allows one to use the Ohm's law equation (ΔV = I • R) to determine the current
in the two branches.

I2 = ΔV2 / R2 = (4.5 V) / (4 Ω)
I2 = 1.125 A
I3 = ΔV3 / R3 = (4.5 V) / (12 Ω)

I3 = 0.375 A
Exercise 1:
Analyze the following circuit and determine the values of the total resistance,
total current, and the current at and voltage drops across each individual resistor.

Referring to the diagram in question #4, determine the ...

a. ... power rating of resistor 4.

b. ... rate at which energy is consumed by resistor 3.
Inductors: Their values are measured in Henry and
are commonly used as AC filters.
By coiling wire we can increase strength of magnetic
field created by current. This is called an inductor.

A large inductor functions as an electromagnet.

Strength of the magnetic field depends on number of
coil turns, coil size, coil spacing, winding
arrangement, core material, and shape of inductor.
Capacitors:
Capacitors are components that store an electrical charge. They can be
charged up with energy from a battery, then return that energy back
later.
The capacitance of a capacitor is a measure of how much
energy/charge it can store. In its simplest form a capacitor consists of
two separated metal plates with air or another non-conductive
material filling the gap, the bigger the plates the bigger the
capacitance.
To stop capacitors becoming impractically large they can
be rolled up. Another way of increasing the capacitance is
to put some non-conducting material between the plates.
This is called a dielectric material. When a capacitor
charges up, the protons and electrons in the dielectric
separate out a little, this allows more charge to be stored
on the plates than usual.
Dielectrics are made of various materials Ceramic, paper,
polyester, polystyrene, mica, etc. Capacitance is measured
in Farads.
Capacitors come in two types, electrolytic and non-
electrolytic
 .

The symbol for electrolytic

capacitors and a few examples of The symbol for non-electrolytic
this type is shown below: capacitors is shown below:
Capacitors we work with are typically
measured in Micro- Farads (µF) and
Pico Farads (pF).
Common uses of capacitors are camera
flashes, lasers, decoupling noise,
smoothing power supplies, timing etc.
Capacitor Types:
Three major types of capacitors are ceramic,
electrolytic, and tantalum. Ceramic
capacitors are small in size and value,
ranging from a few Pico Farads to 1 µF. Not
polarized, so either end can go to ground.
Value is given by a code somewhat like that
of resistors.
Electrolytic capacitors look like small cylinders and
range in value from 1 µF to several Farads. Very
inaccurate and change in value as the electrolytic ages.
Polarized, cathode must go to ground. Cathode is
marked with a minus sign on case. Value is usually
written on case.

Tantalum capacitors are similar in size to ceramic but

can hold more charge, up to several hundred µF.
Accurate and stable, but relatively expensive. Usually
polarized anode is marked with a plus sign.
THE DIODE:
Simplest useful semiconductor that allows current flow
from anode to cathode but not in reverse. Cathode goes
to ground.
 References:
• Markerspaces.com
• DEPARTMENT OF APPLIED SCIENCES
LASER DIVISION
DIGITAL
ELECTRONICS
LECTURE NOTES
WALID K. HAMOUDEI
• https://www.physicsclassroom.com/class/circuits/Lesson-4/Combination-Circuits