Diodes
|
||
Component
|
Circuit Symbol
|
Function
of Component
|
|
A device which only allows current
to flow in one direction.
|
|
|
A transducer which converts
electrical energy to light.
|
|
|
A special diode which is used to
maintain a fixed voltage across its terminals.
|
|
Photodiode
|
|
A light-sensitive diode.
|
Component
|
Circuit Symbol
|
Function
of Component
|
|
A transistor amplifies current. It
can be used with other components to make an amplifier or switching circuit.
|
|
|
A transistor amplifies current. It
can be used with other components to make an amplifier or switching circuit.
|
|
Phototransistor
|
|
A light-sensitive transistor.
|
Audio
and Radio Devices
|
||
Component
|
Circuit Symbol
|
Function
of Component
|
Microphone
|
|
A transducer which converts sound
to electrical energy.
|
Earphone
|
|
A transducer which converts
electrical energy to sound.
|
|
A transducer which converts
electrical energy to sound.
|
|
|
A transducer which converts electrical
energy to sound.
|
|
Amplifier
(general symbol) |
|
An amplifier circuit with one
input. Really it is a block diagram symbol because it represents a circuit
rather than just one component.
|
Aerial
(Antenna) |
|
A device which is designed to
receive or transmit radio signals. It is also known as an antenna.
|
Capacitors
|
||
Component
|
Circuit Symbol
|
Function
of Component
|
|
A capacitor stores electric
charge. A capacitor is used with a resistor in a timing circuit. It can also
be used as a filter, to block DC signals but pass AC signals.
|
|
|
A capacitor stores electric
charge. This type must be connected the correct way round. A capacitor is
used with a resistor in a timing circuit. It can also be used as a filter, to
block DC signals but pass AC signals.
|
|
|
A variable capacitor is used in a
radio tuner.
|
|
|
This type of variable capacitor (a
trimmer) is operated with a small screwdriver or similar tool. It is designed
to be set when the circuit is made and then left without further adjustment.
|
Resistors
|
||
Component
|
Circuit Symbol
|
Function
of Component
|
|
A resistor restricts the flow of
current, for example to limit the current passing through an LED. A resistor
is used with a capacitor in a timing circuit.
Some publications use the old resistor symbol: |
|
|
This type of variable resistor
with 2 contacts (a rheostat) is usually used to control current. Examples
include: adjusting lamp brightness, adjusting motor speed, and adjusting the
rate of flow of charge into a capacitor in a timing circuit.
|
|
|
This type of variable resistor
with 3 contacts (a potentiometer) is usually used to control voltage. It can
be used like this as a transducer converting position (angle of the control
spindle) to an electrical signal.
|
|
|
This type of variable resistor (a
preset) is operated with a small screwdriver or similar tool. It is designed
to be set when the circuit is made and then left without further adjustment.
Presets are cheaper than normal variable resistors so they are often used in
projects to reduce the cost.
|
Output
Devices: Lamps, Heater, Motor, etc.
|
||
Component
|
Circuit Symbol
|
Function
of Component
|
|
A transducer which converts
electrical energy to light. This symbol is used for a lamp providing
illumination, for example a car headlamp or torch bulb.
|
|
|
A transducer which converts
electrical energy to light. This symbol is used for a lamp which is an
indicator, for example a warning light on a car dashboard.
|
|
Heater
|
|
A transducer which converts
electrical energy to heat.
|
Motor
|
|
A transducer which converts
electrical energy to kinetic energy (motion).
|
Bell
|
|
A transducer which converts
electrical energy to sound.
|
|
A transducer which converts electrical
energy to sound.
|
|
|
A coil of wire which creates a
magnetic field when current passes through it. It may have an iron core
inside the coil. It can be used as a transducer converting electrical energy
to mechanical energy by pulling on something.
|
Power
Supplies
|
||
Component
|
Circuit Symbol
|
Function
of Component
|
Cell
|
|
Supplies electrical energy.
The larger terminal (on the left) is positive (+). A single cell is often called a battery, but strictly a battery is two or more cells joined together. |
Battery
|
|
Supplies electrical energy. A
battery is more than one cell.
The larger terminal (on the left) is positive (+). |
Solar
Cell
|
|
Converts light to electrical
energy.
The larger terminal (on the left) is positive (+). |
DC
supply
|
|
Supplies electrical energy.
DC = Direct Current, always flowing in one direction. |
AC
supply
|
|
Supplies electrical energy.
AC = Alternating Current, continually changing direction. |
Fuse
|
|
A safety device which will 'blow'
(melt) if the current flowing through it exceeds a specified value.
|
|
Two coils of wire linked by an
iron core. Transformers are used to step up (increase) and step down
(decrease) AC voltages. Energy is transferred between the coils by the
magnetic field in the core. There is no electrical connection between the
coils.
|
|
Earth
(Ground) |
|
A connection to earth. For many
electronic circuits this is the 0V (zero volts) of the power supply, but for
mains electricity and some radio circuits it really means the earth. It is
also known as ground.
|
Wires
and connections
|
||
Component
|
Circuit Symbol
|
Function
of Component
|
Wire
|
|
To pass current very easily from
one part of a circuit to another.
|
Wires
joined
|
|
A 'blob' should be drawn where
wires are connected (joined), but it is sometimes omitted. Wires connected at
'crossroads' should be staggered slightly to form two T-junctions, as shown
on the right.
|
Wires not joined
|
|
In complex diagrams it is often
necessary to draw wires crossing even though they are not connected. The
simple crossing on the left is correct but may be misread as a join where the
'blob' has been forgotten. The bridge symbol on the right leaves no doubt!
|
No comments:
Post a Comment