Choosing sensors

The answer to this question depends on what you want to build. Sensors come as a variety of packages, operated by various voltages, and interfaced with some kind of communication standard.

Resistors, fuses, and diodes

These are typically the easiest elements of electrical design to understand. If you are planning to create a device, you should find a basic electronics course to gain good understanding of these basics before continuing.

Transistors

Everybody that uses a computer will have probably heard of a transistor. What is a transistor really? It is a semiconductor device that can be used to amplify or switch electronic signals and electrical power. A semiconductor is a solid substance that can conduct electricity when a certain condition has been met; otherwise they act as an insulator.

Their packages are easily identified as they usually consist of three wires (legs). These legs are named Base (b), Collector (c), and Emitter (e):

The preceding illustration shows various...