BASIC OF

ELECTRONICS
SHORT
CIRCUIT
A SHORT CIRCUIT OCCURS WHEN
THE CURRENT FINDS A WAY TO
BYPASS THE APPLIANCE ON A
PATH THAT HAS LITTLE OR NO
RESISTANCE
If the terminal of the battery is
connected to the opposite
terminal of the output, the
battery will likely to get very
hot.
 Simple Circuits is a closed loop path which an electric
current flow. A simple circuit requires three (3) components.

1. Voltage source (eg. Battery, power supply or typical electrical

outlet)
2.Conductive path ( typically made of wires) - route through
which current flow
3. Load or output(eg. light bulb, speaker, buzzer, electrical
motor) - components that consumes power.
SERIES
CIRCUIT
 Series Circuit is when all components or
devices are connected in a manner such that
there is only one pathway for the charges to go
through. If one component is removed, then no
current will flow through the circuit as there is
one path. Series connection is commonly used
in old Christmas light connection.
In the example above, three bulbs are powered by a
battery in a series designed circuit. Current flows
from the battery to the first bulb up to the third bulb.
This is because current can only flow in one path (as
shown in the illustration above).If a bulb blew out,
other bulb would not be able to light up because the
flow of the current is cut off and if you remove any of
the bulb, current flow would also be cut off.
PARALLEL
CIRCUIT
Parallel Circuit is one that has two or more
pathway for charges to go through. Due to
the nature of multiple paths, one defective
circuit won’t damage the other. This is the
common circuitry in homes. For example, the
wiring of your television and lights are
parallel. Hence, when the television is off, the
lights would still function.
In the example above, Three bulbs are
powered by a battery in a parallel circuit
design. It is given that in parallel circuit,
current can flow in more than one path, if
one bulb blew out, other bulbs would not
be affected because the flow of the current
of that said bulb will not be a hindrance.
VOLTAGE
SOURCE
 Battery is a device that converts stored
chemical energy into electrical energy. It is
consist of two or more cells connected in series
or parallel. A cell contains a positive terminal
(cathode) and a negative terminal (anode).
 (a) single cell, (b) battery (c) battery holder
single, (d) battery holder multiple, (e) battery
holder coin
Power supply, also called power adapter, is a
component that supplies power to at least one
electric load. It converts one type of electrical
power to another (AC - DC).
(a) DC voltage source and (b) AC voltage
 Direct current (DC) is electrical current which
flows consistently in one direction. The current
that flows in a flashlight or another appliance
running on batteries is direct current.
In contrast, in alternating current, the voltage
periodically changes from positive to negative
and from negative to positive, and the
direction of the current also periodically
changes accordingly.
 WIRES
Wires are used to carry loads. Electricity and
signals wires come in two different form: solid
wires and stranded. Solid wire, also called solid
core or single-strand wire, is composed of a
single metal strand (usually copper) that is
insulated with non- conductive materials.
Stranded wire is composed of roll-up strand
wires. If you are to compare both wire with same
size, stranded wire shows more flexibility than
 BREADBOARD

Breadboard is a tool used for prototyping circuits temporarily

as you don’t need to solder the electronic components to it.
Most of electronic components can be interconnected by
inserting its terminals into the holes of the breadboard.
Underneath the breadboard are strips of metal, these metal
strips connects the terminals/holes on the top of the board.
Power rails are also metal strips, that are identical to the
horizontal ones except they are all connected to each other.
LIGHT EMITTING
DIODE (LED)
 Light emitting diode are one of the most commonly used
electrical component in projects. These LEDs are polarized,
so you have to be very careful in hooking them up. The
positive lead (longer leg) is called anode, while the negative
lead(shorter leg) is called the cathode.
As the name suggest, LEDs are diodes which
means current flows in only one direction.
From anode to cathode (positive to
negative). Anode must be connected to 5V or
power and cathode must be connected to
the ground. Other wise, your LED will be
shorted.
RESISTORS
Resistors are electronic components that resist the flow
of electrons(current). The ability to reduce the current of
a resistor is called resistance and is measured in unit of
ohms (symbol is the Greek capital omega : Ω). The lower
resistance of a material in ohms is, the better it acts as a
conductor. Conversely, the higher resistance is, the
better it acts as an insulator. Resistors are passive
components, meaning they are not capable of generating
power ( they only consume it). All resistor have two
terminal, unlike other components it has no polarity.
Below are the schematic symbols for resistors.
R1 is ANSI standard symbol, and R2 is European standard symbol
 Since resistors are often too small to have numbers/value
written on them; Thus, you can figure out the resistance of a
resistor by its color code. There are two types of color coded
resistors: 4 band and 5 band resistors. In a 4 band resistor, the
first two bands indicate the first two digits of the value, the third
band is the multiplier and fourth band is the tolerance. The
multiplier multiplies a certain value to the first two digits. For a 5
band resistor, the first three bands are the 3 digits in the value,
the fourth band is the multiplier and the fifth band is the
tolerance. Table below shows the different values matched with
corresponding colors. You will use 4 band and 5 band types of
resistors in this workbook so it is pertinent that you will be
familiar with both types.
 4 BAND
RESISTOR

6 8 x 100 ± 5% = 68Ω ± 5%
 5 BAND
RESISTOR

4 7 0 x 101 ± 5% = 4.7kΩ
Higher resistance value represents by Kilo-ohm
± 5%
(kΩ) and Mega-ohm (MΩ).
Table for standard resistor color code
INPUT DEVICES
SENSOR TECHNOLOGY
Sensors define as a “device that receives a
measure and and convert it into an electrical
signal that is compatible with electronic
circuits”. In other words, your sensor job is to
translate non-electrical signal into electrical
output that can easily be read and understood.
The measure and can be light, motion,
pressure, heat or chemicals. The active element
of a sensor is called transducer. Transducer is a
device that converts one form of energy to
another.
CONTACT SENSOR/SWITCH
Contact sensor is a device that
senses mechanical contact and
converts it into electrical signals. A
switch is the most common type of
contact sensor. Switches usually
have two or more set of contacts
and designed to have either open or
PUSH-BUTTONS
Push-button is a type of switch that functions
momentarily. The figures shown below are (S1)
normally open contact, it is close whenever the switch
is actuated and (S2) normally closed contact, it is open
when the switch is actuated. Usually, push-button is
used to turn on/off appliances, computers, mp3 etc.
TOGGLE SWITCH
This type of switch is activated (open/closed)
by the movement of its lever or handle. It is
used for high current and voltage
applications. A common application is a light
switch.

single-pole, single-throw open (SPST):(a) OPEN, (b)

CLOSE ,(c)Single pole, double throw
TILT SENSOR
Tilt sensor is a device that open and
closes a circuit depending on the
orientation and position. Basically, this
switch is a hollow cylinder with a metal
ball that will make contact with the leads
when tilted in the proper direction.
(Other types of sensor will be discuss on
later hand on/ activities. )