Electronics FAQ – Your Multilingual Guide to Electronics

  How to Wire Two Switches to Control One Light Fixture | 2-Way Switch Wiring Diagram, Steps, and Connection Guide What is a two-way switch? You need ‘ Two Way ’ and not ‘three way’ as wrongly mentioned in the earlier answer. The technical name of the switch is   SPDT,   i.e. ‘ S ingle   P ole   D ouble   T hrow ’ switch. Uses of a Two-Way switch:  Staircase light control:  A two-way switch is used for the staircase light control from the two different locations.  Wiring diagram of Two-Way switches:  The most popular application of this switch is ‘Staircase light control’ and ‘Bed switch’. Wiring and function are shown in the following animation. Animation of the working of a Two-Way switch: Wiring diagram of Two-Way Switches:  FAQ Set: Q1. What is a two-way switch wiring system? A two-way switch system allows a single light fixture to be controlled from two different locations using two switches. Q2. Where is a two-switch light con...

  How RC Low-Pass and High-Pass Filters Work — Simple Explanation with Examples Let me provide you with a basic understanding that will clear up any misunderstandings you may have regarding the capacitor in a high/low-pass filter. Mechanism of High/Low Pass Filter: ‘Filter’ word is a bit misleading. It doesn’t require ON/FF-type action. Filter only reduces (voltage) gain for a certain frequency compared to the whole spectrum of the frequencies of interest. A filter is basically a Voltage Divider:  The filter works on a voltage divider principle. Let me clarify. So, the output voltage reduces proportionally to the value of resistors R1 & R2. In simple words, the larger the R1 and the smaller the R2, Vout will reduce compared to Vin. Can I use the above circuit as a low-pass filter? No, because resistance doesn't change its value proportionally to the frequencies . So our goal of reducing gain for a certain band of frequencies wont be fulfilled. We need to replace R1 or R2 w...

  Purpose of Dual Power Supply in Analogue Circuit Design: Why Positive and Negative Voltages Matter Look at the following two circuits… A Push-Pull audio single-ended Amplifier:     Push-Pull Audio Amplifier with dual Power Supply: What is the difference between the two above circuits? In the second circuit, there is an absence of an output coupling capacitor. Why is a capacitor needed in the first circuit? It charges at a positive cycle and discharges at a negative cycle, generating an AC voltage across the speaker. In the second circuit, at the positive input cycle, current flows to the speaker. At a negative input cycle, current is pulled from the negative supply through the speaker, thus eliminating the output capacitor. The output coupling capacitor has a few disadvantages. It puts a limit on low-frequency response, it is bulky, and needs a high value for better low-frequency response; it may dry out, and needs a replacement after a certain period. Conclusion: ...

  Principle of Horn Loudspeakers: How Impedance-Matching Drives Efficiency & Directivity Impedance Matching - principle behind a Horn Speaker: ‘Impedance matching’ for maximum power transfer. The throat ‘A’ impedance of the compression driver (speaker) is matched with the open air by the flaring portion ‘B’ (horn) for efficient sound (loudness) transfer that amplifies sound. The horn concept is not new. It is our observation that when we shout, we bring our two hands close to our mouths to form a sort of horn structure. Passive horn (speaking trumpet): A megaphone:  It is a practical example of a horn speaker. Interesting fact:  Old gramophones generate sound through a pure mechanical process with the help of a big horn. FAQ Set: Q1: What is a horn speaker? A horn speaker is a type of loudspeaker that uses a flared “horn” shape to improve coupling between the driver (like a compression driver) and air, thereby increasing efficiency and controlling sound dispersion. Q2...

 Time delay in the voltage stabiliser: purpose, benefits and explanation The real reason is compressor lockup: Suppose the running compressor (e.g. refrigerator) is interrupted by a short-term (momentary) power outage (less than 10 seconds). In that case, the compressor locks up, the motor draws heavy current, and the compressor becomes hot. There is over-temperature protection for the compressor that trips the compressor. Powering on the delay of the voltage stabiliser solves this problem. If the running compressor is interrupted by a short-term power outage, the power-on delay does not power the compressor until the time delay is complete. This gives sufficient relief time for the compressor to come out of the vapour lock stage. FAQ: Time Delay in Voltage Stabilisers: Q1: What is a time delay relay in a voltage stabiliser? A time delay relay is a circuit that delays connecting the stabiliser’s output to the load for a preset interval when the stabiliser is switched on or when pow...

  How Sound Waves Are Converted into Electrical Signals Using Microphones, Transducers, and Sensors — Working Principle, Process, and Examples A sound wave is converted to an electrical signal by several methods, such as… Sound Waves to Electric Signal: Change in the Resistance method.  Carbon microphone. Change in Capacitance method.  Condenser microphone:

  Which Is More Economical — 110V vs 220V Power | Energy Efficiency, Electricity Cost, and Home Wiring Comparison Although voltage is important for calculating power, we also need to consider load current to calculate power. Power is the Product of Voltage and current: The product of voltage by current gives power. If power remains constant, decreasing the voltage requires an increase in current to maintain the same power. Hence, the operating cost, i.e. electricity bill, won't change. Now let’s come back to OP’s question. Which one is more economical? A 230V installation would be more economical. Why? We need to calculate the installation plus operating cost. Because of the lower current in a 230V circuit for the same power, economically thinner wires can be used, which saves on installation costs, although the operating cost remains the same. FAQ Set: Q1. Is 110V or 220V more energy-efficient?   Both deliver the same power for equal work, but 220V is slightly more efficient ...

Voltage Regulator vs Current Regulator: Definition, Working Principle, Circuit, and Key Differences in Electronics Perhaps OP is referring to the ‘Zener Diode’, a key component in voltage/current regulators. A word ‘regulator’ means control, similar to the gas flow control in our home gas stove. That way, the word ‘voltage/current regulator’ is a bit of a misnomer. The correct wording is ‘Automatic Voltage/Current Regulator’. However, I will use the word' voltage regulator in place of ‘Automatic voltage regulator’ in the following answer. Voltage/Current regulator keeps the voltage/current level at the predetermined level within a narrow tolerance band with respect to the input and load variations. Coming back to the OP’s question, the following is the feedback control diagram of the regulator. Voltage regulator block diagram: The principle of operation is very simple. The sampled output voltage is compared with the reference voltage set by the zener diode. Any error is nullified b...

What is DC Bias Voltage used in Electronic circuits? — Definition, Importance & Practical Examples DC bias is simply a deliberate addition of a DC voltage to a (circuit) node to offset its operating voltage level. Voltage divider bias in a common emitter amplifier:  The most common and popular example of DC bias is the voltage divider bias in a common-emitter amplifier. What will happen if the DC bias is not given to the base of the above circuit? The transistor will act like a rectifier; it will amplify only the positive part of the signal, creating a distorted output that we don't want. Purpose: The purpose of the DC bias in the above circuit is to keep the base DC offset voltage sufficiently high to keep the base-to-emitter junction forward-biased all the time, considering the subtractive effect of the negative-going excursion of the AC input signal and power supply voltage variations. The typical value is 1.2V for the 12V VCC. Biasing is not always DC; it can be AC: AC bias...