Basic Electronics Chapter 2, 3A (test T5, T6) Basic Electrical Principles and the Functions of Components Figures in this course book are reproduced with the permission of the American Radio Relay League. This booklet was compiled by John P. Cross AB5OX PHYS 401 Physics of Ham Radio 26 Basic Electrical Principles • Conductors - keep loose grip on their electrons and allow electrons to move freely. Metals are usually good conductors. • Insulators - keep close hold of their electrons and do not allow free movement of electrons. Glass, wood, plastic, mica, fiberglass and air are good insulators. • Electromotive Force (EMF) is the force that moves electrons through conductors. Its unit of measure is the Volt. Think of it as similar to a pressure. • Voltage Source - has two terminals (+ and -). Some examples are car batteries (12 volts DC), D cell batteries (1.5 volts DC) and a wall socket (120 volts AC). • Current - is the flow of electrons. It is measured in amperes. (convention – current sign is – to electron velocity) • Resistance (ohms, Ω) is the ability to oppose an electrical current. PHYS 401 Physics of Ham Radio 27 PHYS 401 Physics of Ham Radio 28 Circuit Definitions A circuit must close to be complete! PHYS 401 Physics of Ham Radio 29 Ohm’s Law • Ohm’s Law relates Current (I), Voltage (E) and Resistance (R) • The relationship can be written three ways: »E=IxR »I=E/R » R = E/I PHYS 401 Physics of Ham Radio 30 PHYS 401 Physics of Ham Radio 31 Resistors Mnemonic: “Black Bears Run On Young Grass By Violets Growing Wild” PHYS 401 Physics of Ham Radio 32 Resistor Types - Precision PHYS 401 Physics of Ham Radio 33 Resistors - Film Type PHYS 401 Physics of Ham Radio 34 Resistors – Variable Potentiometers used for volume control PHYS 401 Physics of Ham Radio 35 Calculating Resistance • Parallel: • Series: R=R1+R2+R3+R4 (the voltage adds up) 1/R=1/R1+1/R2+1/R3 (the current adds up) PHYS 401 Physics of Ham Radio 36 Capacitors • • • • • • Capacitors store energy in an electric field Basic unit of capacitance is the farad (f) Series: 1/C=1/C1+1/C2+1/C3 Parallel: C=C1+C2+C3 (opposite to resistance) Capacitance is determined by 3 factors: » plate surface area » plate spacing » insulating material (dielectric) PHYS 401 Physics of Ham Radio 37 Variables Determining Capacitance PHYS 401 Physics of Ham Radio 38 Parallel Capacitors Increase Plate Area; increase charge so C PHYS 401 Physics of Ham Radio 39 Capacitors Store Energy in Electric Field PHYS 401 Physics of Ham Radio 40 Variable Capacitors PHYS 401 Physics of Ham Radio 41 Inductors • Inductors store energy in a magnetic field (like a little electromagnet) • Basic unit of inductance is the henry (h) • Parallel: 1/L=1/L1+1/L2+1/L3 • Series: L=L1+L2+L3 (like resistors) • Inductance is determined by 4 factors: » » » » number of turns permeability of the core cross sectional area of the core spacing of the turns PHYS 401 Physics of Ham Radio 42 Variables Determining Inductance PHYS 401 Physics of Ham Radio 43 Inductors Store Energy in Magnetic Field Current flow--> Electron flow--> PHYS 401 Physics of Ham Radio Note: current flows from + to -, but is carried by electrons which flow from - to + 44 Types of Inductors PHYS 401 Physics of Ham Radio 45 Power • Power is the rate of energy consumption. • The basic unit of power is the watt (W) • Power can be calculated as follows: »P = I x E • Since E = I x R, you can also say: » P = I2 x R • Since I = E / R, you can also say: » P = E2 / R PHYS 401 Physics of Ham Radio 46 Meters - Measuring Current Ammeter must be part of the circuit to measure the current VOM multimeter that measures E, I, R PHYS 401 Physics of Ham Radio 47 Meters - Measuring Voltage Voltmeter measures across the circuit (in parallel to the voltage to be measured) PHYS 401 Physics of Ham Radio 48 Meters - Measuring Resistance Ohmmeter: measures across the resistor (but be sure the circuit is not turned on “hot”). Puts in a known voltage and measures the current, so it requires a battery. If the circuit is energized, will give the wrong reading! Never leave a multimeter set at “ohms” - will run down its battery! PHYS 401 Physics of Ham Radio 49 Meters - Changing Range PHYS 401 Physics of Ham Radio 50 Schematic Symbol Examples PHYS 401 Physics of Ham Radio 51 Schematic and Block Diagrams • Schematic diagrams include all the individual components and how they are connected. • Block diagrams show larger components (black boxes) and how they are connected PHYS 401 Physics of Ham Radio 52 PHYS 401 Physics of Ham Radio 53 PHYS 401 Physics of Ham Radio 54 • Decibels – logarithmic power scale • • • • • (questions T5B09, 10, 11) 10 decibels = factor of ten in power = 10 * log ( Power 2/ Power 1) 3 dB is factor of 2 6 dB is 4 (2*2); 9 dB is 8 (2*2*2) 5 dB is factor of pi (since pi*pi is almost 10) PHYS 401 Physics of Ham Radio 55 Amplifiers • Tubes and transistors amplify signals applied to base or control grid. The amount of amplification is called GAIN. • Transistors have advantages: • size • power consumption • cooling • robustness • Tubes have advantages: • high power PHYS 401 Physics of Ham Radio 56 Amplifiers • FET is Field Effect Transistor, and has a “gate” electrode. • The component with an emitter electrode is a bipolar transistor. • An integrated circuit is a device that combines several components into one package (generally including transistors) PHYS 401 Physics of Ham Radio 57 Typical Circuit Diagrams 4 • 1 is a resistor • 2 is a transistor (NPN) • 3 is a lamp • 4 is a battery • 5 is chassis ground PHYS 401 Physics of Ham Radio 58 Typical Circuit Diagrams 4 PHYS 401 Physics of Ham Radio • 3 is a switch (single-pole, single throw) • 4 is a transformer • 5 is a diode • 6 is a capacitor • 7 s a resistor • 8 is a lightemitting diode (LED) • 9 is a variable resistor • 10 is a diode 59 Typical Circuit Diagrams • 1 is an AC current • 2 and 4 is a variable capacitor • 3 is a variable inductor • 4 is an antenna • Note: diagrams do not represent true wire lengths PHYS 401 Physics of Ham Radio 60 Test Equipment • Voltmeter - an instrument that is used to measure voltage. • Ammeter - an instrument used to measure amperage in a circuit. • Multimeter - combines the functions above with resistance and others to make a versatile piece of test equipment. Wattmeter - a device that measures power coming from a transmitter through the antenna feed line. A directional wattmeter measures forward and reflected power. Wattmeters generally are useful in certain frequency ranges Signal Generator - a device that produces a stable, adjustable low level signal (AF or RF). It can be used to tune circuits. • • – It is used in parallel with a circuit to be measured. – a series resistor extends the range of the meter. – It is hooked up in series with the circuit to be tested. – A shunt resistor (in parallel w/meter) extends the range of the meter. PHYS 401 Physics of Ham Radio 61