Asap Parts Unlimited Blog

Thyristors are essential components in the control and conversion of electrical power. These semiconductor devices are widely used in industries like energy, transportation, and manufacturing due to their ability to handle large amounts of current and voltage. Understanding how thyristors function and the specific roles they play in electronics is important for businesses and engineers who seek to optimize their power systems, so read on as we provide a simplified overview. Read more >>

Cables are crucial in our modern world, supporting a wide range of applications, from powering our homes to transmitting data across vast distances. While there are many types of cables available on the market for data and power transfer, most will feature many of the same core elements. This guide will take you through various parts of a cable, explaining their functions and importance. Read more >>

In the realm of electronic components, where efficiency and temperature management are of the utmost importance, thermal pads are an indispensable tool. These vital components play a pivotal role in maintaining the optimal operating conditions of various electronic devices, making it important to have a basic understanding of them and their use. In this blog, we delve into the details about thermal pads, discussing their applications, various types, and significance in the field of electronic engineering. Read more >>

Buzzers play a crucial role in diverse electronic gadgets, functioning as signal emitters or warning systems through the generation of audible tones or vibrations. In addition to being modest in size, these indispensable components are available in various types, each distinguished by its distinct operating principle and usage. In this blog, we will delve into the diverse classifications of buzzers, specifically piezoelectric, magnetic, electromagnetic, mechanical, and electromechanical variants. Read more >>

While copper wiring has long served various applications for the transportation of power and data signals, such technology has since been superseded with the debut of modern fiber optic cables. As compared to copper wiring, fiber optic cables offer bolstered transmission speeds, thinner designs, and lighter weights. As such, they are highly advantageous for any signal transfer need ranging from home use to corporate data networking. In this blog, we will discuss the best way to choose fiber optic cables, ensuring that you only procure exactly what you need for your operations. Read more >>

A rheostat is a type of variable resistor that is used to control current and vary the resistance in a circuit with no interruptions. They are built similarly to potentiometers, but rheostats use two connections, regardless of whether there are more than two terminals present or not, unlike a potentiometer. The first connection is at the end of the resistive element and the second connection is attached to the wiper which is a sliding contact. Rheostats always carry a substantial current; therefore, they are built to be wirewound resistors which consist of resistive wires wrapped around an insulating ceramic center and a wiper that slides over the windings. Read more >>

Transformers are integral components of an electrical circuit, ubiquitous among home and office power delivery systems. Tasked with increasing or decreasing the voltage of electric energy from one circuit to another, transformers allow small household items, such as cell phones, to charge without being damaged by inappropriate voltage. With a wide range of transformer designs existing in the electronics environment, it is critical to be familiar with the most common types and their associated applications. In this blog, we will discuss the basic operating principle of transformers, while also covering the various ways these elements may be classified. Read more >>

A potentiometer is a three-terminal variable resistor with a sliding or rotating contact that forms an adjustable voltage divider. Upon activation by turning a dial on the device, you can measure the amount of voltage running through different parts of a circuit. The way a potentiometer achieves this is through the use of an adjustable wiper that can be moved along the wire inside the device to control its resistance. Two of the three terminals are the input and output resistors of an internal conductive strip, while the third terminal is connected to the wiper. By adjusting the wiper and dividing the voltage between the two resistors, you can measure displacement in any direction. Though they both work to accomplish the same thing, potentiometers are split into two major design types to suit different applications. In this blog, we will be comparing these two types, linear and rotary, including some of the key benefits and potential drawbacks for each. Read more >>

An optocoupler, or optoisolator, is a device which can be used as an interface between two circuits that operate at different voltage levels. When an optocoupler is used to connect two circuits, the only contact between the input and output is a beam of light. As a result of this capability, optocouplers have many benefits, particularly for connecting two circuits without the passage of electricity. In this article we will discuss the various advantages and disadvantages of optocouplers and how they may best be applied to an electrical system. Read more >>

You may look at a jam nut beside a hex nut and wonder: what exactly is the difference? Both share a similar shape and are available in similar materials. However, there are several notable differences in their use and design. In this blog, we will clear up the confusion surrounding jam and hex nuts, including where they might best be used, and give added information about the types of nuts available. Read more >>