How To Choose the Right Active Components For Your Circuit Design

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The process of circuit  design will determine the eventual outlook and functionality of the device. You have to consider the selection and placement of all the electronic components.

When it comes to choosing electronic components, you have two major options to consider; active components and passive components.

Active are those components that heavily rely on the external power source to operate. They can  modify and control the electric signals depending on the nature of the power source.

On the other hand, passive electronic components can function effectively even in the absence of the external power source. They have other internal mechanisms that determines their functionality.

Given the demanding nature of the active components, it is clear that you need to be extra careful with your selection when it comes to designing circuit. This is why in this guide, we are gong to give you tips for choosing the right components for your active components.

Consider the environmental factor

The first thing that you should consider is the environment in which the component will be used.Does the environment support the working and operation of the  component?

The most common aspect of the environment is the temperature requirements for the component.This is where you will know the relevance of common terms such as maximum and minimum operation temperatures.

Each active component that you buy has the specifications of the operation temperature that it supports. This is usually indicated on the product’s datasheet.

Take an example of a resistor. It may operate effectively when used at temperature that ranges between -55℃ to 80℃. Any conditions beyond the stipulated range will hinder the normal working of the resistor.

What should I do if I intend to use the device in a high-temperature zone? Well, you will have to buy a resistor that has been designed and manufactured for such conditions.

So, it will be prudent to analyze and determine the conditions around your area before deciding whether the specs of a particular component will be suitable.

Operating voltage of the component

As we have already stated, active components are directly connected to the power supply. This directly means that you should pay attention to the power specification of the component and the most important spec is its operating voltage.

Most active components  will operate smoothly when the supply voltage is within their specific range. For example,a NAND IC chip  is designed to operate at  supply voltage that ranges between 4.75V to 5.25V. Others may require higher voltage of operation.

What are the dangers of ignoring the voltage requirements of an electronic component?

First, if you exceed the maximum operating voltage by a significant margin, there is a high likelihood of damaging the component. On the other hand, going below the minimum voltage would render the component useless such that it may not even work.

However, most electronic components are designed to operate at slightly higher voltage range.

Availability of the electronic component

When designing a circuit, you should consider the availability of the electronic component that you want to want to add. It does not make any slightest sense to include a component in the design when in reality it is not available at  your local shop or even from your favorite online stores.

Similarly, it will be heart-wrenching to make an order for the electronic component only to receive it several weeks or even months later. This will end up slowing your project.

The availability of the component is a key factor that usually triggers questions such as “which alternative can I use instead of”. This implies that you should also find out the alternative active components that you can use in place of your preferred component.

How do I know whether an active component is available or not? You simply need to check out the inventories of top electronic components suppliers online.You can search on their websites. Simply type the full names o the components that you want. Alternatively, you contact the component suppliers directly to inquire about the availability of the component.

Another way is to use your search engine and compare what different suppliers are offering.

Proceed  with the circuit design process only after you are sure about the availability of the component.

Consider the price of the active component

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Closely related to the the availability is the price factor. It carries some significant weight when it comes to choosing the right component when designing a circuit. In most cases, you would like to minimize the overall cost of the circuit and  this can be done by buying components at reasonable cost.

There are many different ways in which the price will matter when buying buying active components for your circuit.

First, there is a high likelihood that you have a set budget for your circuit and would not want to go beyond it. Finding out the price of each component will be the most logical thing to do.

Secondly, most electronic components suppliers have minimum orders to fulfil for the purchase of the products. This is usually known as the Minimum Order Quantity (MOQ). By knowing the price, you will be able to tell whether you can meet the MOQ as set by the supplier.

Knowing the price will also help you make proper arrangements for the expected logistics. You will know beforehand the amount it will cost you to transport and store the components.

However even as you aim at getting the lowest price, be careful with the quality of the component that you are about to purchase. In most cases, low price is always associated with low quality. The manufacturer might have compromised on the design and make of the component.

Take your time to do a deep analysis of the component. It will be safer to pay  more and get quality product than to pay less and end up with substandard electronic components.

Most buyers prefer buying electronic components in bulk or wholesale as it is the surest way of getting the best prices.

Consider the output characteristics of the electronic component

Since our attention is on the active components, we have to be cognizant of the fact that they accept input current then deliver output characteristics. The output capability of a component is usually indicated on the datasheet. The most common output capability include  three-state output, driving output and open collector output.

For a  three-state output, they have  a high impedance mode which allows to connect to the outputs of other integrated circuits. These ICs are usually used for building data bus.

When it comes to the open collector output, the chip is connected to the ground and every  output pin will need a pull-up resistor.

You also have to consider whether the component has analog  output  as it will automatically need digital-to-analog components.

Confirm the packaging and the dimensions of the component

When choosing active components for the circuit, you should confirm whether it is a surface-mount or a through-hole packaging. This will determine its placement on the PCB. You don’t want to end up with a component that will not be suitable for your printed circuit board.

You should also verify the physical dimensions of the component. This included the size and the size of the component.The dimensions will determine how the component will fit on the PCB.

The packaging and dimension determine how suitable it will be on the board and also its connection with other components on the PCB.

Read the datasheet carefully

The good thing about electric circuit design process is you don’t have to operate in darkness. You can always refer to the datasheet for clarification. Before you decide to use any component, familiarize yourself with all of its details using the the information that the manufacturer has published on the datasheet.

From the datasheet, you will  find valuable information such as the power characteristics of the component, configuration, compatibility, and how the component should be integrated into the circuit.

Other than the datasheet, you should also draw your reference from the application notes. They will provide deeper insights about each component that you intend to add on the circuit.

Quality and safety of the active component

Other than the performance aspect of the component, you should also confirm its quality levels and whether it meets the minimum safety standards.

There are different electronic component regulatory bodies and organizations. They include ANSI, IEC among others. Confirm from the packaging whether the component has any labels of such organizations.

Conclusion

Choosing the right electronic components is the most crucial aspect of the circuit design process. It will have a direct impact on the performance and operation of the circuit. It will also affect the related factors such as the cost of the circuit.

By following the guidelines we have discussed here, you will eventually end up with the right components for your circuit hence increasing the chances of having a successful project.

Other than this guide, you should consider involving professionals in your circuit design process and as well as the active component selection.

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