Fundamentals of Resistors, Capacitors and Inductors

Resistors, capacitors, and inductors are the fundamental building blocks of all electronic and electrical designs. This course provides a deep, practical understanding of these essential components, their applications, and how to model them accurately in real-world circuits.

They are widely used in many applications, such as:

• Analog Circuits: Passive filters, EMC filters, voltage/current sensing, timing circuits, control circuits, and compensators.

• Power Electronics: Switch-mode power supplies, where capacitors and inductors serve as critical energy storage and filtering elements.

Students will gain working knowledge about resistors, capacitors and inductors.

Resistors:

• Understand basic packages, standard resistance values, and decibel units (dB, dBΩ).

• Interpret key parameters from datasheets for surface-mount, through-hole, and chassis-mount resistors.

• Master measurement techniques using a Digital Multimeter (DMM) and LCR meter, including methods for measuring low milliohm resistances.

Capacitors:

• Learn fundamental concepts: package types, impedance, charge balance, and first-order RC filters.

• Analyze transfer functions and Bode plots.

• Build realistic capacitor models by including parasitic effects (ESR, ESL).

• Read and understand datasheets for ceramic and aluminum electrolytic capacitors.

• Understand temperature coefficients, parallel configurations, and parasitic capacitance.

• Measure capacitance accurately using DMM and LCR meters.

Inductors:

• Grasp inductor fundamentals, types, ideal impedance, and volt-second balance.

• Explore magnetic theory, the right-hand grip rule, magnetic circuits, and the role of air gaps.

• Learn inductor design equations and analyze power loss (winding loss and core loss).

• Interpret power inductor datasheets and perform power loss analysis.

• Master inductance measurement with an LCR meter and understand critical concepts like inductor saturation and how to test for it.

Software Tools:
This course utilizes two powerful, free software tools:

• Octave (a free MATLAB® alternative) for mathematical analysis and calculation.

• LTspice (from Analog Devices) for circuit simulation and modeling.

Prerequisites:

• Knowledge: Basic algebra, fundamentals of circuit analysis, and a general understanding of electronic components.

• Hardware/Software: A personal computer (Windows OS is preferred for optimal LTspice compatibility), along with the free installations of Octave and LTspice.