5 Tips To Working With Electronic Components

Electronic components are discrete devices within an electronic system whose purpose is to affect electrons. These components are fitted with leads or electrical terminals which connect to form an electronic circuit. With that said, here are 5 tips for working with electronic components:

  1.    Get A Basic Understanding Of The Electronic Components

Electronic components are not complicated. They are actually easy to master and work with. Even so, it is important to get the basic knowledge of the various component types, how they function and get the basic knowledge of how to work with them. Having a reliable and accurate tool to measure voltages and whatnot is a must. According to this post https://bestofmachinery.com/best-multimeter/ by Bob Robinson, “multimeters are handy electrical tools, combining the measuring value of voltmeters, ammeters, and ohmmeters in a single compact and versatile device that’s an essential part of any electrician’s tool kit and a valuable piece of your household DIY arsenal.

Some of the basic electronic components you should familiarize yourself with are resistors, transistors, LEDs, capacitors, integrated circuits, and inductors. The basic knowledge of these electronic components will give you a good foundation for working with them.

  1.    Ensure That The Components You Are Working With Are Genuine

There are so many electronic components available in the market that are counterfeits. These counterfeits can really cost you a lot in the future as they pose a high risk of causing malfunctions in your electronic equipment by failing to perform as they should.

There are several techniques you can use to check whether a component is genuine or not. X-ray inspection is a technique you can use to check the component’s wire bonds and any signs of delamination. Electrical testing is another technique you can use where you can check on the component’s tolerance and compare it to the manufacturer’s tolerance records.

  1.    Handle The Electronic Components With Care

Electrostatic discharge Sensitive Devices (ESD) such as hard drives, PCI cards, memory modules, and motherboards need special handling. Circuit boards have electronic components that have a high level of sensitivity to static electricity.

The normal flow of static electricity from the work environment or even clothing on your body can damage these electronic components. Avoid touching the components and the connector edges. Proper care should be taken when handling these electronic components to ensure that you attain the best results from the work you do at the end of it all.

  1.    Ensure That The Components Are Compatible

Compatibility is definitely a huge factor to keep in mind when working with electronic components bearing in mind that some of these components will have been extracted from other electrical equipment and you’ll be fitting them in different devices with varying specs.

Incompatible components may result in malfunctions which in turn may completely ruin your electronic device. Before you begin working with the electronic components at hand, ensure that they are fully compatible with the device you’re fitting them into.

  1.    Safety Is Paramount When Working With Electronic Components

When working with electronic components, it is mandatory that you take all the safety measures possible to keep yourself out of harm’s way. Ensure that you secure yourself from personal injury, protect the components that you are working with from damage, and safeguard the place you are working in from risks such as fires that may result from component malfunctions.

For starters, ensure that the components are not connected to a power source as you work on them. Test your power circuit with a voltmeter to ensure power is off. Work on dry platforms away from fluids that would trigger shocks. Avoid doing anything that would be hazardous and hire an electrical contractor for regular maintenance.

Tips When Hiring Electrical Maintenance Services

When you’re faced with electrical issues, you might be tempted to repair them yourself. However, such repairs can be very risky since even one mistake may lead to electrocution. Thus, it’s better to hire a professional than end up in the hospital or losing a loved one.

Fortunately, there are now many electrical contractors who can show an unmatched skillset and can undertake more dangerous works such as fixing powerlines. These contractors also have the ability to operate the right machinery, like a cherry picker, to ensure the work is carried out in the safest, and most efficient way possible.

That being said, check the following tips when hiring electrical maintenance services:

  • Check Qualification: Check if the service staff of the electrical contractor has training certification and the right qualification. The electrician’s training certificates must be from a reputable organization. This way, you’re assured that the company follows the standard safety and quality guidelines.
  • Check Experience: Since electrical problems could lead to fire and damage to properties, electrical repairs should be fixed by professional electricians. That’s why it’s crucial to check and make sure that the electrician has the right knowledge and experience. Thus, ask for the electrician’s number of years of experience in the field and the type of electrical services being offered.
  • Choose Someone Who Knows Electrical Trends: You might want to hire someone who’s knowledgeable about electrical trends so you can benefit from the cost-saving of being energy-efficient. Some of the electrical trends this year include energy storage for renewable energy, grid parity using solar power, renewable sources of energy, and building information modeling (BIM) in cutting-edge technology. 

BIM involves identifying the best sustainable materials and electrical components to improve energy utilization with the collaboration of builders, architects, engineers, and electrical contractors.

Conclusion

When working with electrical components, you should make sure that you’re using genuine parts that are compatible with your electrical system. Your safety must be your number one priority, which is why you should hire a professional electrician if you don’t have any background in electrical works. Need to buy electronic components to work with? Get them today at xilinx artix7.

Adam Hansen
 

Adam is a part time journalist, entrepreneur, investor and father.