Passive Electronic Components: What You Need to Know

Today, there is certainly no denying that almost everything you use every day is electronically operated. From waking up in the morning, you use your cell phone as an alarm. Cooking is more convenient with an electronic pan or stove that can automatically adjust heat to match cooking time. Your car disarms its alarm with a punch on the remote control and locks it the same way. The list goes on. Now, imagine life without these electronic gadgets. It is just right to know how these things work, particularly their components.

Passive Vs. Active components

If you do not know already, electronic devices have passive and active components. Active ones need a separate power supply in order for the device to turn on and function efficiently like transistors, integrated circuits and amplifiers. On the other hand, passive components are those that do not need any other power supply in order to function than the electricity flow itself.

Here are examples of passive electronic components.

1. Resistors. Resistors are fairly a common term in the world of electronics as it is present in almost everyone of them. To be clear, a resistor’s function is in the name itself, which means to resist or oppose the flow of electric current throughout the unit. This can result in voltage drop. Resistors, which are measured in Ohms, come in different values, tolerances and sizes in order to meet specific requirements of every electronic device.
2. Inductor. This component functions as an electric current storage device, which generally operates by the storage of energy in magnetic fields. It is a coil that comes with or without a ferrous metal that serves as a passage for current that creates a magnetic field.
3. Capacitor. Capacitors, which are manufactured in different types, serve as temporary storage of electricity. In terms of the amount of electricity stored, the most common is 470 uF (microfarads). But if the capacitor used is the ceramic disk capacitor type, less electricity is stored which is just around .01 uF.
4. Transformer. This is another very common term in electronics. From the name itself, transformers transform or change voltage from one value to another. Also, they only operate on alternating current or AC. These are useful especially in battery chargers, power supplies, power distribution grids, and others.

World market outlook says that the development of electronics will continue to boost. That is why it is truly important to get to know what powers your devices. Even with deflation, it is seen that the demand for such devices will grow and you will be among those that will need them.