Electrical components are parts that are capable of controlling and/or altering currents or voltages. They can do so without non-electrical means, including mechanical means. Electrical components are formed from different conductive materials, such as aluminum, copper and silver. Electrical components can come as switches, assemblies (such as cable assemblies or patch cords), connectors (like sockets, pin headers or screw terminals), terminals (like screw terminals), protection devices (such as circuits breakers or fuses), mechanical accessories (like heat sinks or fans) and more. They may operate as a single device or as part of a larger system.
Electrical, or electronic, components can be divided into two main categories: active components and passive components. Primarily, the difference between the two is the fact that active electrical components require electricity to enable their operation, while passive components do not. In other words, active components rely on an energy source, like a DC circuit, to function. Also, they can usually inject power into a circuit. In contrast, while passive components can use the power source to which they are connected, they cannot introduce new energy into a circuit. Nor can they amplify signals.
Two examples of active electrical components are transistors and diodes. Both of these are types of semiconductors, and there are many electrical components that fall under their respective umbrellas. Transistors are used to amplify and switch electronic signals and electrical power. Components that fall under their umbrella include: field-effective transistors (FET), photo transistors, thyristors and composite transistors. Diodes, in general, conduct electricity in one direction. Some types of diodes include: light-emitting diodes (LED), tunnel diodes, photodiodes, constant current diodes and solar panels.
Two examples of passive electrical components are capacitors and resistors. Like transistors and diodes, there are many different electrical components that count as these. Capacitors are used to store and release electrical charges. You can find them filtering circuit lines, blocking DC voltages (while allowing AC voltages to pass through) and tuning resonant circuits. Examples of different capacitors include: integrated capacitors, fixed capacitors and variable capacitors. Meanwhile, resistors work to oppose currents and/or pass currents in proportion to voltages. Examples of resistors include: power resistors, fixed value resistors, photoresistors, Nichrome wire, resistance wires and heaters.
Electrical components of all kinds are important to many different industries. Four great examples of these industries are industrial manufacturing, healthcare, automotive engineering and aviation. In industrial manufacturing, electrical components are used in countless ways. They are found in electrical switches, power supplies and in electric transformers used in machinery and more. In the medical industry, healthcare providers utilize devices composed of electrical components such as low current amplifiers and implantable sensors. In both automotive engineering and aviation, professionals install wire, cable, electrical connectors and countless other electrical parts and supplies.
All in all, electrical components are an essential part of modern life. They can be found serving the smallest application to the largest. To find out how they may help you and your application, reach out to a knowledgeable electrical engineering company today.
Electronic coils are a type of electrical conductor. Also known as magnetic coils or electromagnetic coils, they get their name from the shape in which they are wound. This shape is a coil, also known as a spiral or a helix. Electric coils are mainly designed to transmit electricity, heat or sound. Also, they are generally used to produce movement, regulate flow and/or transform electric currents in applications related to telecommunications, computers and appliances. Typically, they're made from metal wire.
Electric switches are electrical components designed to safely open or close an electrical circuit. Note that an open electrical circuit is not connected, while a closed circuit is connected. So, though it seems counterintuitive, if a circuit is open, current cannot pass through it and it is not working. Likewise, if a circuit is closed, current can pass through it and it is working.
Electric transformers electrical devices that transfer electrical energy between two or more circuits. They can also increase, decrease, isolate, pattern and translate electrical currents of all power levels. The purposes of such actions are to make sure that they match the voltage and the voltage safety requirements of any given piece of equipment.
Electronic connectors are devices that connect two or more electrical terminations in order to create electrical circuits. Composed simply of plugs and jacks, they do so by conducting electricity between said terminations. In this context, the circuits may come in the form of cables alone, or they can manifest as one cable and one electrical terminal.
Electronic enclosures, also known as electronic cabinets, are structures used to house electrical systems and wiring. Often manufactured as boxes, electronic enclosures are made to protect their contents from physical damage from impact, moisture, contaminants and the like. They also protect their contents from electromagnetic interference. In turn, electronic enclosures can protect people from electrical surges and other dangers like that. In essence, electronic enclosures are shields, jackets or tents.
The EMI in EMI shielding is short for electromagnetic interference. Electromagnetic interference is a type of electromagnetic radiation that can interfere with, lessen or damage the various functions of electronic equipment and devices. It is able to do this when it travels along wires, electrical circuits and conductors. Simply put, EMI shielding blocks EMI. It also blocks radio frequency interference (RFI), which creates the same problems. RFI radiates electromagnetic noise and travels through the air as radio waves. When it used to block RFI, EMI shielding may alternatively be referred to as RF or RFI shielding.
As defined by the ASTM, a membrane switch is a momentary switch device in which at least one contact is on, or made of, a flexible substrate. In essence, membrane switches are electrical switches used to turn circuits on and off that simply require a substrate and a circuit. Manufacturers print the circuit onto the substrate, which is usually PET or ITO, using conductive ink. This conductive ink is typically filled with something like copper, silver and/or graphite. Note that they are not the same thing as mechanical switches, which are made up of plastic parts and copper.
Power cords are electrical cables that transfer electrical power using either direct electrical currents (DC) or alternating currents (AC). Most often, they use AC. Either way, the purpose of power cords, also called cord sets or electric cords, is to provide electrical energy to any appliance or piece of electrical equipment. To make this happen, users simply connect the equipment or appliance in question to the main power supply.
Static eliminators, also known as antistatic devices, are products used to protect sensitive objects and materials from the hazardous effects of static electricity.
They are not to be confused with appliances like static mixers.