Common Components on an Electrical Circuit Board
An electrical circuit board is a complex arrangement of electronic components that transmits signals and power. The basic components include a printed circuit board (PCB), traces, and active or passive components. Each component must be matched to the board’s function and placed in the correct positions on the board. Identifying the purpose of the board’s components will help you select the best parts for your project. Passive components like resistors, capacitors, and inductors usually feature markings or printing on their bodies that indicate their value or part number.
PCB traces are conductive paths, usually made of copper strips, that transfer information and current between silicon chips in the circuit board. Passive components like resistors and capacitors connect to traces through tiny metal pads or pins on their bodies. They may also be inserted directly into holes in the PCB called vias, forming a dense circuit routing and connection matrix. The traces are covered in insulating material called dielectric, which is often fiberglass impregnated with resin.
Integrated circuits are miniature circuits that contain thousands or even millions of electronic components on one chip, and perform a variety of functions including amplification, switching, and processing. The most common type of IC is an operational amplifier, but there are many others including transistors, diodes, and voltage regulators.
What Are the Common Components on an Electrical Circuit Board?
A voltage regulator maintains a steady output voltage by regulating current flow, compensating for changes in input voltage and load current. Voltage regulators are essential for most electronic devices, and there are a number of different types including linear, switching, LDO, buck, and charge pump.
Inductors are passive components that smooth out voltage fluctuations by storing energy in their circuit temporarily. They typically use two conductive plates separated by an insulating material known as a dielectric, with different dielectric materials providing different capacitance values.
Fuses are safety devices that protect other circuits from overcurrent damage. They contain a thin strip of wire rated for a specific current and voltage, and break the circuit when exceeded, limiting damage to only that fuse. There are a number of different fuse types with different amperage ratings, and they come in a variety of physical forms, from glass cylinders to electronic surface mount.
Some circuit board components have polarized and non-polarized versions, which must be matched to the circuit’s operating temperature range. Passive components like resistors and caps have polarity markings to help you determine the direction they should face when soldered to the circuit. Potentiometers are variable resistors whose resistance can be adjusted by external mechanical devices, such as knobs or sliders, to control the circuit’s behavior. Thermistors, another passive component, measure temperature by changing their resistance in response to changes in temperature.
