Electronics For Dummies, 3rd Edition

Chapter 4

Making Connections

IN THIS CHAPTER

Sending current this way and that way

Examining series and parallel circuits

Controlling connections with switches

Seeing the light when the power is on

If you've ever been stuck in a traffic jam and decided to take the less crowded side roads, you know that there’s often more than one way to get to a destination. But if your commute requires you to travel, say, over a bridge to cross a major river, you know that sometimes there’s just one way for you — and all the other commuters — to go.

In many ways, electronic circuits are like road systems: They provide paths (roads) for electrons (cars) to travel along, sometimes offering alternate paths and sometimes forcing all the electrons to travel along the same path.

This chapter explores different ways to connect electronic components so you can direct — and redirect — electric current. First, you look at the two basic types of circuit structures — series and parallel — and discover that parallel connections are like alternate traffic routes, whereas series connections are like bridge crossings. ...