Open Circuits: The Inner Beauty of Electronic Components

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The components of the electrical circuit are: the generator (produces and maintains the electrical current, they can be batteries or alternators), the conductors (where the electrical current is transferred from one element to another), the receivers (transform the electrical energy into another type of energy), the control elements (the switches, for example) and the protection elements. This ended up on my radar while I was looking for nonfiction with a good combination of visuals and info. I don't actually know much about electronic components, so I was somewhat reluctant to take the plunge and get this, but then I spotted it on sale and snatched it up, and I'm glad I did.

As you'd expect from such a forensic photographic collection, taking the images was no easy feat. Electronics can be risky to work with at the best of times, and when you start cutting them up and poking around, this danger is only multiplied. Overall, highly recommended if anything about this book piques your interest even the slightest bit. Capacitors are fundamental electronic components that store energy in the form of static electricity. They’re used in countless ways, including for bulk energy storage, to smooth out electronic signals, and as computer memory cells. The simplest capacitor consists of two parallel metal plates with a gap between them, but capacitors can take many forms so long as there are two conductive surfaces, called electrodes, separated by an insulator.What an awesome book! A rare breed of technical content that is appreciable by experts and novices alike.” Big fan of Windell Oskay and his stuff. I wandered into Evil Mad Scientists Laboratories many years ago (in Sunnyvale, as I recall) and I believe I met him but it was a decade ago....

Here ends our selection of free Electrical Circuits books in PDF format. We hope you liked it and already have your next book! Aside from the impressive precision of these components (though there are exceptions, a particularly poorly made coax cable is roasted by the authors) the photography is really notable for bringing out glorious color in these components - sometimes included for manufacturing reasons, sometimes an artifact of the materials themselves - but normally not seen by human eyes at all, safely enclosed in plastic, ceramic, or metal boxes. This book made me fall in love with electronics all over again . . . Part history book, part coffee-table book, and part journey into the inner lives of the electronics, [ Open Circuits] is a fascinating journey through the history of electronics." Film capacitors are frequently found in high-quality audio equipment, such as headphone amplifiers, record players, graphic equalizers, and radio tuners. Their key feature is that the dielectric material is a plastic film, such as polyester or polypropylene. The only downside to this book is the omission of mechanical keyboards, which is a missed opportunity for those (like me) who are interested in learning about the inner workings of these devices - specifically I would have loved to see a switch cross-section.This book is an absolute must-read for anyone interested in electronics, computer technology, or circuits. Apart from their more popular ones like Eloquent Javascript and Automate The Boring Stuff, i have discovered several nice gems in their catalogue which they keep small and of really high quality. From the renowned biochemist and author of The Vital Question, an illuminating inquiry into the Krebs cycle and the origins of life. At the core of this capacitor is a porous pellet of tantalum metal. The pellet is made from tantalum powder and sintered, or compressed at a high temperature, into a dense, spongelike solid.

Although everything was beautiful and more interesting than I expected, my favorite chapter was probably the electromechanics one. My inner child appreciated the peek inside various switches, learning how they work, and why they feel so satisfying to flip. Still, every chapter had something I enjoyed, and I definitely have a new appreciation for my smartphone. Electrical circuits are represented schematically and it is a very relevant step in the creation process, since it is the basis and must be well done. This representation is done on paper or by means of a computer program. Stunningly beautiful . . . While the component images stand alone as works of art, authors Schlaepfer and Oskay pair the pictures with clear and informative text that adds to the reader's knowledge of the circuitry they are looking at. This book is sure to be a staple in many makers, educators, and engineers libraries." Inductors typically consist of a coil of insulated wire wrapped around a core of magnetic material like iron or ferrite, a ceramic filled with iron oxide. Current flowing around the core produces a magnetic field that acts as a sort of flywheel for current, smoothing out changes in the current as it flows through the inductor. Leaving a comfortable job in graphic design to become a freelance illustrator, with Meredith Schomburg

There are a lot of explanations of inner mechanics of elements i used, but never fully understood the exact principles of their work. Stunningly beautiful . . . While the component images stand alone as works of art, authors Schlaepfer and Oskay pair the pictures with clear and informative text that adds to the reader’s knowledge of the circuitry they are looking at. This book is sure to be a staple in many makers, educators, and engineers libraries.” The authors have done an outstanding job in etching and cleaning up the components, allowing readers to see the intricate details of each component in high-quality photos. This book made me fall in love with electronics all over again . . . Part history book, part coffee-table book, and part journey into the inner lives of the electronics, [ Open Circuits] is a fascinating journey through the history of electronics.” This is the coolest book I've seen in years. Fascinating look inside hundreds of circuits, switches, and mechanical electronic devices that I've never seen before."