Behind every magnetic component, no matter how complex, is a foundation of basic electronics.

It can be easy to get wrapped up in the complexities of low-level theory and start to lose track of the basics that make it all possible. At Triad Magnetics, we find that it can be helpful to take a step back every now and then to refresh ourselves on those basics.

Basics of electronics

For example, when was the last time you thought about electrons? The smallest components of an atom, electrons are negatively charged zero-dimensional particles that have no spatial extension. This allows them to travel from atom to atom, the building block of electricity.

By altering the speed and direction in which electrons are flowing in an electromagnetic field, you can generate voltage, technically the difference in potential electric energy between two electrically charged points.

Measured in watts, electric power is the rate of transfer of electrical energy, or voltage, through an electrical circuit. One joule transferred per second equals a watt.

Direct Current (DC) voltage is a unified, single-direction flow of voltage — it is constant, steady, and thereby relatively easy to work with. By contrast, Alternating Current (AC) voltage, as its name implies, periodically changes direction.

AC voltage is ideal for supplying power for commercial and residential uses, and for encoding audio and video information, such as for radios and televisions. Its variable nature, however, makes it much more difficult to design circuits and components — equations for determining things such an inductance and impedance in magnetic components are vastly more complex for AC current than for DC current.

Refresh Your Basics With Triad

Is it time to take a step back and realign yourself with a refresher course on electronic basics?

Let Triad help — download our newest eBook, “Basic Electronic Princples from Triad Magnetics,” for free today. In it, you will get a refresher course on everything from electrons to impedance and how they impact the design of magnetic components.

Click here or the image below to download our eBook»