Friday, 8 April 2011

AN OVERVIEW OF BASIC ELECTRONICS

A brief overview on basic electronics training

Lately, there are many people looking into basic electronics training. The main reason for such interest is that there are good opportunities for people who have skills in basic electronics. Having a certification in basic electronics training can enable you to become a broadcast engineer, an electronics repair specialist or instrumentation technician. The person can also set-up their own electronics repair shop and get accredited with companies as an authorized repair center. Come to think of it, almost every gadget or equipment that we have are made from electronic components. Household appliances and consumer electronics such as mobile phones, digital cameras and laptops are built from different electronic parts. If any such of those devices or appliances stop working, we turn to a repair specialist with basic electronics training.

There are many institutions that provide basic electronics training.

 Typically, these training centers cover some of the fundamentals of basic electronics training such as:

* Introduction to electronics and electricity

* Magnetism and electromagnetism

* Basic electronic components and their use

* Electrical safety

* Mathematics ( Complex numbers)

* Ohm's Law

The aforementioned topics are normally covered in a basic electronics training syllabus but other schools can add more areas depending on the curriculum. If you check some websites, you can come across online centers that guide you how to acquire a certification in basic electronics training. Here are some of these sites:

* ETA - international - ETA stands for Electronic Technicians Association. ETA certifications is world class since it complies with the international standards required to hurdle electronics examination course. The association is comprised of skilled professionals and veteran instructors that guarantee high level of instruction to learners. This site offers online self-study courses too. Another plus of ETA certification is that a learner can take the certification test at their choice date which they can request to the site.

* Pti-inc - Pti offers seminars in hundreds of specializations including basic electronics. An on-site training is possible but there must be at least twelve enrollees attending. The site publishes its list of course offerings and schedule.

Now, you have a general idea of what topics are commonly included in basic electronics training and some training centers that offer such classes. Keep your passion for learning burning and success is not far behind you.

Accessing online basic electronics tutorial

There are many useful reasons as to why people want to learn about basic electronics. People with basic electronics skills are able to fix simple problems with their equipment and tools. Regardless whether you're a student, hobbyists, technician or plain curious, everyone is in need of basic electronics tutorial.  Here are some top sites where free basic electronics course are available:

1. www.Learn-basic-electronics.com - This site provides a free basic electronics course with lessons for beginners about elementary concepts in electronics. Lessons cover important topics like electricity, resistors, capacitors, inductors and other electronic components. They also have electronics kits that can be assembled for a price.

2. www.electronics-tutorials.com - A very comprehensive site to access an online basic electronics course. Actually, there are no less than 120 individual tutorials with complete discussions. The site is neatly organized into directories so users can find the topics by simply using the navigation links. The general topic contains layers of directories where a wealth of information is available.

3. www.gregsbasicelectronics.com - A very user-friendly site that provides a free basic electronics course. The site owner presents the lessons in simple terms that even beginners would understand. There is an Introduction to Basic Electronics Home Mini Course made by the owner which includes important lessons. The homepage clearly illustrates some stimulating lessons about basic electronic components.

4. www.madlab.org - This site presents a free basic electronics course designed for students and children. Learners would benefit from the workshop lessons where they can work on projects. Even if the site appears very plain, do not underestimate the contents of the website. There are many areas in basic electronics covered by this site. There is also a link that can give access to users on free downloads on guides. They also provide constant updates on science fairs and exhibits in Canada and Australia.

Indeed, anyone can acquire free basic electronics tutorials easily. As you can see, the online lessons are even for free. You can choose from any of the above-mentioned free online sites for the best one that can satisfy all your learning needs.

Basic electronics circuits for dummies

Understanding basic electronics circuits can be very useful for practical living. In the first place, all of our appliance and consumer electronics needs electricity. If you want to know how to replace a fuse or repair a simple device, then knowledge of basic electronics circuits is essential. Besides, an electrician may not be available during the time you need them so educating yourself about basic electronic circuits can come in handy. Likewise, fixing things on your own is cost-efficient.

A good understanding of basic electronic circuits requires familiarizing one's self with terms and concepts. You must be aware of the fact that electricity can also harm you if not properly handled. In order to learn safely and effectively, familiarize yourself with the following concepts:

Circuits - This is similar to a circle, not in shape but direction of flow. The circuit is the path where electrons go through beginning from one terminal and reaching another end. The terminal can either be positive or negative. The flow always proceeds in one direction- negative to positive. Remember that negative electrons attach themselves to positive electrons; hence, opposites attract.

Conductor - The freeway, made up of a material that electrons can pass through. Typically, it is made from copper due to high conductivity. This translates to better conductivity rate that improves transmission.

Insulator - The main purpose of this component is to insulate the conductor by full wrapping it; normally rubber is used. No doubt, live wires are dangerous which is why they are insulated. Insulation coats the conductor.

You also have to know the difference between two types of circuits: series and parallel. A series circuit is less complicated than parallel because electricity only flows in a single direction. Perhaps, you observed that some light bulbs don't work when one light bulb blows off. This is illustrates how a series circuit works. On the other hand, parallel circuits have one or two more paths where electricity can flow. Thus, you would see some your Christmas light bulbs working even if some of the bulbs are busted. Typically, electricians use basic series circuit for wiring lightings in houses. Almost all consumer appliances are built with parallel circuits because it's more stable. However, if the problem can't be fixed by basic measures, ask help from an expert.

Basic electronics for kids: Simple terms and concepts

Most, if not all of our gadgets and consumer appliances are made from electronic parts. Ipod, PDAs, mobile phones, game consoles and kitchen appliances have their own electronic blueprint from which they are constructed. Even young children would find electronics very stimulating because it matches their creativity and interest. They are often driven by curiosity making basic electronics for kids an enjoyable task. Before children can be taught the actual application, they need to learn some concepts necessary in basic electronics for kids. Here are important concepts to begin with:

Circuits - The circuit is like a train track that must be followed by the train. Electricity flows through the circuit which starts from one terminal and ends into another one. There are two types of terminals - positive or negative.The basic formula is that negative electrons seek positive electrons. Circuits dictates how and where electricity can flow. Not all Christmas light bulbs go off in case one bulb is  busted, isn't ? That is a concrete application of how parallel circuits work. Actually, there are different kinds of circuits,but the most typical ones are simple, series and parallel.

Currents

There are two types of currents: alternating current (AC) and/or direct current (DC). The major difference between the two is that a DC directs electricity in a single direction. Case in point, a battery has two ends that must be correctly placed with ther right pole to make it work. Houses often use AC because anything can be placed into a socket anywhere for power. As compared to DC, it is not limited since only a battery is used in a DC. Never plug a DC into an AC outlet.

Switches

Primarily used to regulate the flow of electrical power. You flick a switch to open the circuit electricity flows and the light opens. Along with switches, fuse assists switches in controlling the amount of electrical current flowing in a circuit. Once there is overload detected, the fuse blows to safely protect the wiring from fire hazards.

Resistors and inductors

These gadgets also regulates the flow of power mostly in consumer electronics gadgets. Normally, resistors have insulation ( a cover for wires like rubber). Inductors are solely used to change direction of the current for AC devices.

Basic electronics for kids provides an interesting venue for young people to bring out their creativity.

Basic electronics guide for soldering electronic components

Soldering is an essential skill when repairing or putting together basic electronic equipments. Solder is a combination tin and lead which makes it an alloy. A soldering iron with very high heat ( around 200 C) can be used to melt the mixture. This skill is a must if you need to fix broken components or assemble a new circuit board. Since soldering involves high heat  and toxic chemicals like lead, consider first the following safety precautions:

* Place the soldering tip at a distance from your body or your clothing. Since it's very hot, it can definitely cause a serious burn on your skin plus excruciating pain.

* Be careful when touching the main flex with the tip of the iron. The hot iron can instantly melt flex which can cause burns on the part of the user.

* Return the iron to its stand when not in use.Practicing this habit can do a lot to minimize accidents.

* Do your soldering in a well-ventilated place. This protects you from inhaling the fumes from the toxic metals like lead.

* Hand-washing is required after soldering to remove any toxic metal.

At this point, you can begin soldering electronic components using extra care. This basic electronics guide emphasizes the need to know each and every electronic component that you would be using. Mistakes made in soldering costs a lot of money since the whole board can be affected by an error. In most cases, a basic electronics guide has a chart about electronic components. In here, a soldering procedure for components is provided for your guidance.

The basic electronics guide and procedure for soldering components

1. Stick all the components onto a sheet of paper using any adhesive tape.

2. Determine the name and value of each components and write beside it.

3. Write the code (R1, R2, C1 etc.) if you think this would help. Numerous projects from books and magazines place label on components with codes (R1, R2, C1, D1 etc.) which can make it easy for you because you can check their list and look for the codes.

4. Resistor values can be recognized using the resistor colour code. You can also use a resistor calculator found online.

5. Capacitor values can be complicated because there are too many kinds with different labelling systems.

Soldering can be done safely and efficiently if you follow the aforementioned basic electronics guide.

Basic electronics test Search Amazon.com for basic electronics - study guide

There are many reasons as to why people are interested in basic electronics. Knowing basic skills can help a person fix things like tools. Things that people with this knowledge can fix are PCs and radios amongst others. There are also people who find electronics to be a hobby. The most practical reason to study basic electronics is to earn a certification by passing a basic electronics test.  In order to be applicable in the telecommunications industry one must have basic electronic skills. In order to choose the best applicant a company will have a series of rigorous tests taken based on their basic electronic skills. There are also online certifications available for those who want to work at home. One online site that supports this is a 9001:2000 company that provides certification at a small fee. There are many who are accepted into big-name companies such as Dell and Cisco for earning their basic electronics certification. In order to help you pass your basic electronics test follow these tips below:

1.  Fundamentals of Electronics – This may be basic for you but this is a huge part of the examination. You must be familiarized with:

*   electronic symbols for diodes, the solid state theory of diode, kinds of diodes and how they function and their use in circuits, knowledge of the basic transistor theory, schematic symbols, knowing how to trace signal flow in a circuit, AC to DC conversions, and interpretation on multi-meter readings.

 2.  AC Circuits – Capacitance and inductance should be able to be discussed as well as the relationship between them.  You are required to know about the sine phase and its phase, its frequency, its period, and its amplitude.  You will need to be able to solve power factor in a circuit and show that you have knowledge about differentiating between true power and apparent power.

 3.  DC Circuits – study Ohm’s Law and Kirchoff’s Law.  You will be required to apply your knowledge on calculating total resistance for parallel or series resistance circuits. You must be able to solve for P, E, and I as part of the examination.

 4.  Applied math – You will be allowed to use tools to help you on your examination for a limited amount of time.  Examinees must know how to use a scientific calculator.

Classification of basic electronics components

An electronic device or appliance is made up of different parts known as electronic components. These basic electronics components are combined together using a circuit diagram to produce a device, tool or appliance. An example of which is a CPU that contains various basic electronic components put together. It all begins with a circuit board or mother board ( CPUs) that holds all the components together. An electronic circuit has a particular set of action to perform. For example, radios usually  require amplifiers to increase volume.

There are two major types of basic electronic components. There is passive as well as active components. Here is a more distinct description of the two categories:

* Passive components are ones that are unable to introduce net energy into the circuit they are connected to. It is also improbable for such to depend upon a power source except for the AC circuit that is attached to them. Eventually, they can not amplify (increase the power of a signal), although they may well increase a voltage or current that can be done by transformer or resonant circuit. Two-terminal components such as resistors, capacitors, inductors, and most sorts of diodes are samples of passive components.

* Active components solely rely on an energy source coming from a DC; moreover, they can put power into a circuit although this is not their main purpose. Among included are amplifying components such as transistors, triode, vacuum tubes (valves), and tunnel diodes.One of the most important electronic components that solid state electronics need to function are resistors.

Normally, there are three main parameters for resistors, but solid state electronics require only two parameters most of the time.

* Resistance - the value of resistance, measured in Ohms.

* Power - The amount of power the resistor can safely handle. Too much power will cause the resistor to overheat and fail, causing so much trouble.

* Voltage - In most cases, this is not specified except for the maximum voltage across the resistor. It is a measure of the maximum voltage that may show. If you are intending to build your own device such as radio, you would realize that your knowledge of basic electronic components are very valuable.

Free basic electronics course online for everyone

Are you interested in learning basic electronics course? If you are, then this article would help you find the right places to avail of free basic electronics course on the Internet. Ever since, a large number of individuals have always wanted to sign-up for free basic electronics course online since it has practical applications. Some simply find electronics as a hobby while others need it in their vocation. Some students are also looking for free basic electronics course because they have projects in school. Even if there are some well-known institutes that provide training in basic electronics course, a lot if individuals are just too busy to enroll. Take a look at these recommended sites where you can get free basic electronics course online:

1. 101science.com - This site offers comprehensive yet free basic electronics course. The lessons are divided into five phases:

* Phase I  Electricity

* Phase II Components

*Phase III  Workshop

*Phase IV  Active Circuits

* Phase V More advanced topics

An introductory lesson in electricity is the basic lesson given which covers relevant concepts such as  watts, voltage, matter, electrical field and electrical charge. Plus, some videos can be viewed which shows an instructor explaining the different concepts. The site also provides links so you can get hold of free downloads of professional journals as well as software. The page is also full of valuable lessons rather than commercial ads that distract readers. All of the fundamental concepts in electronics can be learned here even by high school students.

2. www.talkingelectronics.com  This website is quite unique since they use the reverse learning method. The lessons do not begin with fundamentals but rather with a deductive approach. This is definitely challenging and fun to do courtesy of free basic electronics course online. The site also has several  features such as animations and activities that only a computer-presentation can provide. Furthermore, the lesson format consists of questions and answers that are very clear. In all instances, the questions are asked before the theory is discussed. This is similar to troubleshooting in actual situations. It stands out from the rest since it uses an interactive approach to instruction.

There is no need to spend much money just to access basic electronics course online. Just be resourceful and look for sites similar to the ones aforementioned to learn for free. In no time at all, you would gain mastery of electronics on your own.

How to learn basic electronics by yourself

Do you want to learn basic electronics by yourself? That is a very sound decision because you would be able to apply the knowledge you have gained in practical settings.These people are enthusiastic in applying the knowledge and skills they acquired in fixing their own electronic stuff. This does not only save them money for paying services but also gives them a sense of fulfillment. There are many ways to learn basic electronics by yourself which is the subject of this article. Follow the practical tips listed below: 

1. Check the local library for books about electronics. 

You maybe surprised but libraries have very useful resources that can satisfy your need to learn basic electronics. Check if the library has also subscriptions to professional journals of electronics engineering which contains many projects on electronics. Some libraries also have CD instructional software on basic electronics. This is one of the most cost-efficient way to learn basic electronics.

2. Look for websites that discuss basic electronics. 

You can even get free basic electronics course online if you search diligently. Actually, a lot of these  websites contain volumes of basic electronics lessons that range from fundamentals of electricity to advanced electronic projects.Here are some samples: gregs basic electronics, 101science, madlab , learnbasicelectronics among many others. The websites contain links that lead users to free downloads of some useful course materials. For every website, there are different features presented such as innovative gadgets such as special online calculators for computing some values in electronics. These sites often present the lessons according to the level of difficulty. Yet there is a particular site that uses reverse learning method where problems are shown first which can be solved using deductive reasoning. There are actually hundreds of sites that you can learn basic electronics, which you can choose from.

3. Get listed in online courses.

There are online training centers that offers basic electronics lessons for anyone who wants to learn. A lot of these sites require a payment to be able to enroll. The main advantage of trying this option is that they can issue a certificate of your training that can be used when applying for a job. It is similar to classroom learning since teachers and fellow classmates have interaction. 

These are just some suggestions that you can use to learn basic electronics. Regardless of whatever direction you choose, one must be committed to succeed. 

The relationship between electricity and basic electronics

If you look around our world today, it would be very hard to find tools, appliances or devices that are not powered by electricity. From mobile phones, kitchen appliances and even electric cars, everything needs electricity all the time. Likewise, these appliances or equipments consists of electronic components put together to entertain people or assist them in tasks. Indeed, electricity and basic electronics are inseparable. Without electricity, electronic devices simply won't run. Surely, you understand how helpless it is to have a mobile phone with low battery! 

Magnetism, electricity and basic electronics 

Science subjects have taught us that electrons move around atoms actively. All of these movements are caused by electrical charges. These charges have their own electric and magnetic fields. Indeed, you would see the crucial role that magnetism plays in electronics. When electricity and basic electronics are discussed, it is inevitable to discuss magnetism. For example, electricity flows through wires that must have insulation in the form of rubber. Rubber is a very good insulator because the electricty within the wires is efficiently protected and conserved as well. Additionally, this protects wires wired form getting a short cicrcuit when they touch each other.

Electronic hobbysits must also realize the importance of electrical fields aside from magnetism. An electric field with a magnetic field always surrounds an electrical charge. Any of these fields are not visible to the naked eye but devices can used to measure them. 

Wattage in relation to electricity and basic electronics

Watts is also an essential concept in electricity and basic electronics. A watt is simply defined as the International System unit of power equal to one joule per second. In practical application, wattage settings like the radio's volume can greatly affect the loudness. Nonetheless, appliances that have high wattage also consume a lot of electricity. When you increase the radio's volume, you also consume more power. Hence, having knowledge about watts, electricity and basic electronics can benefit you as a consumer. You would become a practical consumer who would use more energy-efficient gadgets and appliances. 

When you are familiar with basic electricity principles, you can easily understand how electronic devices run. Whether an individual is a consumer or a hobbyist, knowledge of these principles can provide benefits in practical application.

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