A simple guide to electronic components.

By request:- A basic guide to identifying components and their functions for those who are new to electronics. This is a work in progress, and I welcome feedback from you guys on whether I should break it down into more manageable chunks. I've kept the maths to a minimum, since it can be off-putting to someone just getting started in electronics.
The idea of this video is to slot in some more of the jigsaw pieces involved in learning electronics, when you start to recognise components, but aren't quite sure what they are or what they do.
It's tricky to squeeze even the basics into a single video, and I've just realised how long this one is (and why it took all night to upload).

[SimplyElectronicsOfficial]

Clive, I just want to say thanks. Since I started watching you, I independently studied and taught myself Electronics. I have now been an electronics repair engineer for 3 months. You were a big part of my inspiration.

[LesignerGirl]

I recently applied for a job where an electronics degree is preferred. I don't have an electronics degree, but learned so much from this video, that I was able to pass the test and was offered the job. Thank you!

[ray_c_yuen]

When I did my electronics course at technical college, we soldered these components and calculated voltages in different parts of the circuit, but never taught these basics. You explain things so well. It's amazing how a common $2 electrical item at home, can have such complex designs. Cheers

[Lochlan]

Just here to advance my general knowledge

[ceruleansky]

This is probably the most useful 40 minutes I have ever spent on YouTube

[Bawbster]

*_TABLE OF CONTENTS_*

01.  00:00 - Resistors
02. 04:25 - Capacitors
03. 16:11 - Diodes
04. 20:17 - Transistors
05. 25:04 - Ohm's Law and other formulae
06. 32:59 - Resistor colour codes

[Jinnuksuk]

One of the best basic crash course on most commonly used components I've seen so far. My father caught me taking apart my little brothers' broken remote control car when I was 13 so he bought me a small simple booklet on resistors and an electronic multi tester. Once we've collected enough components from broken radios etc. we started building basic amplifiers, LED blinkers and several other projects we followed from some of his electronic project books when I was 15. It's too bad that the colleges I tried to apply to for electronics didn't know or care that I was passionate and had more than necessary drive to earn at least some education so that part of me died a little and I never really got much further than the basics (to be fair I'm from a tiny town where we are still thought to be a primitive culture that only began modern civilization just a little over a hundred years ago). My last electronics build is a speaker amplifier (most I've done before that were small headphone amplifiers using one or two transistors) using OP Amps instead of transistors was like 9 years ago from an online course in audio engineering in which I passed and got a certificate from but my interest in electronics is not likely to come back to life again... Not so much that I was discouraged but more that my passion for it died.

I feel that you might need to make a separate video on transistors because what you showed was practically just an introduction. NPN based/PNP based, switch only when currency goes through, how it amplifies and some more basis. But all in all... Really good 38 minutes video.

[wbrue]

I've been an amateur radio operator for almost 50 years and I REALLY like your videos! You remind me of my "Elmer" (a person who has become a mentor, I have no idea why they are called Elmers). Your videos are easy for the "uninitiated" to understand. You have excellent visuals and examples. When you use analogies you explain when they break down. My wife has a bit of trouble understanding you due to hearing issues whereas I had to learn to listen with an accent. :) Keep the excellent instruction coming!

[srivatsajoshi]

2 years ago, I watched this video and it changed the course of my life. Today I am watching ben eater who I couldn't even imagine understanding then. next year I'm planning to take electronics engineering as my major in college. thank you for changing my life

[vtharpe]

This is what I needed! THIS amount of knowledge. THIS brief. NO more, No less. Thank you. People seem to have trouble "resisting" their flow of knowledge and I get burnt out. See, I learned something.

[kianbrennan]

this vid has taught me more than non-covid high school science ever did. thank u

[brianmilner]

I wanted to say thank you for making this video. I’m just getting started in electronics as a hobby and this has been the best introduction to the basics I have been able to find. Clear, easy to comprehend, and thorough.

[EmeraldClaws]

Got to say Clive, watching your videos over the past 5 months, this one in particular, has taught me more about electronics and circuits than I ever learned in school. Thank you! And keep it up!

[MsSamgo]

I am 61 years old and can't get enough knowledge fast enough. The best part is I am enjoying every LED one circuit at a time . Thank you for all your hard work on making these videos. I work as an electrician at the Staples Center. Live Events. Installing LED tiles 2x2 maybe as big as 4x4 one row at a time . Until a very large, cutting edge technology, LED WALL
80 ft x 120 ft. is constructed on the stadium floor. I got the opportunity to map and plug those baby's in. What a wonder. Your videos are helping me stay in step. Thank You

[pgo]

If a person is not careful they are gonna learn a lot here. Thank You so much for your explanation on what most people can't explain in simplicity.

[deepinshight]

62 years of ignorance wiped away in 38 minutes. Thank you so much.

[Gallahaut]

I never watch Netflix because videos like these are my Netflix. Now if only I actually applied this knowledge and did something with my life.

[turuus]

I wish all my teachers were as good as him, simple, precise and giving friendly feeling.

Edit: I can’t simply believe my eyes.
My comment received 175likes. Yaay!

[googleuser]

This is brilliant. Clear explanations in plain English and useful diagrams. Thank you. I’ve built a few electronics projects from kits and have seen and installed all of these components but without an understanding of how some of them actually worked. Really good stuff, thank you.

[connertheferal]

I am new to building electronics, and this really helped me understand it all. Well explained, and honestly very entertaining. Well done.