Within an electronic assembly or system, various electronic parts and components will work together to establish a complete circuit. All the components within a circuit can be divided into two groups, those of which are active and passive. While active components are those capable of providing energy to a circuit, passive components only receive energy. As both types of components serve different roles in the realm of circuit functionality, it is important to understand the differences between each and their common types. Read more >>

Within the realm of electronics, relays are switches that are electrically operated, capable of making and breaking contacts to manage circuits. Generally, relays are used in instances where a single circuit is to be managed by a low-power signal, or where multiple circuits are governed through a single signal. Differing in their design and capabilities, there are various switch types that may be used to benefit certain applications. Power relays are a common subtype of relay, featuring an electromagnet th...

Phototransistors are semiconductor devices that are either tri-terminal or bi-terminal in nature, featuring base regions that are sensitive to light. When implemented within an assembly, phototransistors act as electronic switching and current amplification devices that utilize light pulses to create digital electrical signals. With their capabilities and low price-point, such components are often found in relays, computer logic circuitry, security systems, punch-card readers, and more. Read more >>

A semiconductor is a type of material exhibiting conductivity that is between that of a conductor and an insulator. Generally, their resistance is directly affected by temperatures, their resistivity decreasing while temperatures increase. A number of materials can be used to form semiconductors, common ones being silicon, germanium, gallium arsenide, and more. With their assembly alongside other various components, semiconductor modules may be formed for the construction of solar cells, laser diode...

An optocoupler, also known as an opto-isolator, is a type of electronic semiconductor component that is capable of transferring electrical signals between independent circuits with light as the medium. Commonly found within low voltage and highly noise sensitive circuits, the optocoupler serves to isolate circuitry in order to prevent undesirable noise and electrical collision. In this blog, we will provide a brief overview of the optocoupler, allowing you to better understand its fu...

Relays are a commonplace component within countless systems and applications, serving as an electrically operated switch. With the use of input terminal sets and operating contact terminals, a relay may be used for the management of a single control signal or multiple. With their control of signals and their operational characteristics, relays also may convert smaller electrical inputs into larger outputs, increasing their uses and abilities. Capable of being either a switch or an amplifier, electrical relays...

A dual in-line package switch, or DIP switch, is a very small electrical component constructed with a row, or dial, of switches designed to control the electrical output of a device. Allowing the user to determine the electrical flow around a printed circuit board (PBC), expansion card, and various other computer hardware and electronics, DIP switches provide advanced customization over the circuits they are packaged with. Capable of controlling up to thirty contacts depending on the number of switche...

A mechanical switching device is a device used to make or break the flow of a current. When combined with a measuring and control device, they are known as a switchgear. Examples of switchgears include circuit breakers, contactors, isolators, fuse links, relays, and more. In this blog, we will discuss the most common types of switchgears and their function. Read more >>

A circular connector is a multi-pin connector used primarily for external interfacing. They can be used for data transfer, electrical signal transmissions, or for powering electrical devices. Circular connectors are sometimes designed to carry what may be referred to as a mixed signal, and are sometimes known as power and control connectors. In this blog, we will discuss circular connectors in depth. Read more >>

Amplifiers are among the most commonly used electronic devices in the world. They serve as one of the basic building blocks of many circuits and come in a wide range of forms. Simply put, amplifiers are electronic devices that increase the power of a signal. In other words, they increase the amplitude of a signal, making it stronger than the given output. Though the operation of an amplifier is theoretically quite simple, there are a lot of factors they have to deal with. As such, there are many dif...