380 Part V: The Part of Tens

Glossary

Electronics has its own jargon, just like every other discipline. Some of these terms have to do with electricity itself, such as voltage or electron.

Other terms are the names of various components or tools that you work with.

Use this handy glossary if you run into an unfamiliar word or phrase.

60/40 rosin core: Solder used in working with electronics that contains 60 percent tin and 40 percent lead (within a few percentage points) with a core of rosin flux.

alternating current (AC): Current in which there is a change in the direction in which electrons flow. See also direct current (DC).

amplitude: How much voltage is in an electrical signal.

anode: Positive terminal of a diode. See also cathode.

auto-ranging: A feature that some multimeters offer that automatically sets a test range. See also multimeter.

AWG (American Wire Gauge): See wire gauge.

bandwidth: With an oscilloscope, the highest frequency signal that you can test with any reliability, measured in megahertz (MHz).

battery: A power source that uses electrochemical reaction to create a positive voltage at one terminal and a negative voltage at another. Two different types of metal are placed in a type of chemical to produce the power.

biasing: Applying a small amount of voltage to the base of a transistor. This partially turns on the transistor.

bipolar: A common IC type. See also integrated circuit.

breadboard: Also referred to as a prototyping board or solderless breadboard.

Plastic boards in a variety of shapes, styles, and sizes that have columns of holes. A line of metal connects these holes electrically. By plugging components into these holes and connecting them with wire, you can build a circuit. See also soldered breadboard.

Glossary 383

cycle: That portion of an AC waveform where the voltage goes from its lowest point to the highest point and back again. This cycle repeats again and again until you turn off the signal.

decoder: An IC that takes information transmitted by either infrared or radio remote signal and translates it into output signals. See also encoder, integrated circuit.

desolder pump: A piece of equipment that sucks up excess solder by using a vacuum.

diode: A device that limits the flow of current to one direction, thereby converting alternating current to direct current.

direct current (DC): A type of current in which the electrons move only from the negative terminal through the wires to the positive terminal in one direction. A battery generates direct current.

double-pole, double-throw switch (DPDT): A type of switch with two input connections and four output connections.

double-pole, single-throw switch (DPST): A type of switch with two input connections and two output connections.

double-pole switches: A type of switch with two input connections.

DPDT: See double-pole, double-throw switch.

DPST: See double-pole, single-throw switch.

dual inline package (DIP): A commonly used integrated circuit plastic package; used in breadboards and circuit boards used by hobbyists.

electricity: The movement of electrons through a conductor.

electrolytic capacitor: One of the most common types of capacitor. This type is used for larger values of capacitance. See also capacitor.

electromagnet: A type of wire coiled around a piece of metal (usually an iron bar). When current runs through the wire, the metal is magnetized. Shut off the current, and the metal loses its magnetic quality.

electromotive force: An attractive force which you measure in volts. This force exists between positive and negative charges.

electron: A negatively charged particle. See also proton.

Glossary 385

inductance: Ability to store energy in a magnetic field (measured in Henries).

inductors: Components that provide the ability to store energy in a magnetic field for a circuit.

infrared temperature sensor: A type of sensor that measures temperature electrically.

insulator: A substance that electrons are unable to move through freely.

integrated circuit (IC): A component (in the form of a chip) that contains several smaller components, such as resistors, capacitors, and transistors.

inverter: A type of logic gate with a single input. See also logic gate.

inverting mode: What happens when an op amp flips an input signal to produce an output signal. See also operational amplifier.

jack: A type of connector. See also connector.

kohm: 1000 ohms. See also ohm.

live circuit: A circuit with voltage applied.

logic gate: An integrated circuit that uses input values to determine output value based on certain rules.

low pass filter: A circuit that allows signals below a certain frequency to pass through. See also high pass filter.

low signal: In digital electronics, a signal at or near 0 (zero) volts.

lug: A metal protrusion, usually with a hole in the center, into which you can feed wire and solder it to various components.

microcontroller: A programmable circuit.

multimeter: A testing device that measures things such as voltage, resistance, and amperage.

n-type semiconductor: A semiconductor to which contaminants are added. This causes it to have more electrons than a pure semiconductor.

ohm: A unit of resistance. The symbol for ohm is Ω. See also resistance.

Glossary 387

R: The symbol for resistance.

RC (resistance/capacitance) time constant: A formula to calculate the time required to charge a capacitor to two-thirds or discharge it to one-third of its capacity.

relay: A device that performs like a switch. It closes or opens a circuit, depending on the voltage that you supply.

resistance: The measurement of the ability of electrons to move through any material.

resistor: A component of a circuit that reduces the amount of electrons that flow through the circuit.

rosin flux remover: An after-soldering cleaner that removes any remaining flux so that it doesn’t oxidize your circuit.

schematic: A drawing that shows how components in a circuit are connected.

semiconductor: A material, such as silicon, that has some of the properties of both conductors and insulators.

semiconductor temperature sensors: A type of sensor that measures temperature electrically.

sensors: Electronic components that sense a particular condition, such as heat or light.

series circuit: A circuit in which current runs through each component in sequence.

short circuit: What happens when two wires are connected and current goes through them, resulting in the circuit not being completed.

sine wave: An signal that switches from a high voltage to a low voltage, back to the high voltage, and then repeats this cycle with a smooth sinesoidal (curvy) waveform until it’s shut off.

single-pole, double-throw switch (SPDT): A type of switch in which one wire goes into the switch and two wires leave the switch.

single-pole switches: A type of switch with one input wire.

slide switch: A switch that you slide forward or backward to turn an electronic device on or off.

Glossary 389

terminal: A piece of metal to which you hook up wires (for example, a battery terminal).

thermistor: A resistor that changes its resistance value when the temperature changes.

thermocouple: A sensor that measures temperature electrically.

tinning: The process of heating a soldering tool to full temperature and applying a small amount of solder to the tip. This prevents solder from sticking to the tip.

tolerance: The variation in the value of a component due to the manufacturing process that is allowable, typically expressed as a range.

traces: On a circuit board, the wires that run between pads to electrically connect components.

transistor: A semiconductor that controls the flow of electric current.

V: The symbol for voltage. Also can represented by E.

variable capacitor: A capacitor that includes two or more metal plates that are separated by air. If you turn the knob, you change the capacitance of a device. See also capacitor.

variable coil: A coil of wire that surrounds a movable metal slug. When you turn the slug, you change or vary the inductance of the coil.

variable resistor: See potentiometer.

voltage: Attractive force between positive and negative charges.

voltage divider: The voltage drops in a circuit that produce voltage lower than the supply voltage at certain points in the circuit.

voltage drop: The lowering of voltage that occurs when voltage pulls electrons through resistors (or any other component) and the component uses up a portion of the voltage.

voltage spike: A brief increase in voltage.

watt hour: A unit of measure for energy; the ability of a device or circuit to do work.