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I think for me some of the difficulty in understanding electronics comes from the way components are often used in ways that don't make any sense unless you hap

I think for me some of the difficulty in understanding electronics comes from the way components are often used in ways that don't make any sense unless you happen to know the 'trick' involved. For example, using a reverse biased diode as a constant voltage reference, using an inductor to create a high voltage pulse etc. Also, for what it's worth, "Practical Electronics for Inventors" is one of my favourite books on electronics. It's well balanced between theory and practical applications.

gugagore 7y ago
I guess there are at least two ways to understand an inductor: 1. if you disconnect it from power, you'll get a huge voltage spike 2. V = -L (d/dt) I 1. seems like a practical explanation. 2. seems like a theoretical explanation. But an expert can play with both, and (under the assumption of first-order linear ODEs for this primitive components, which is an assumption you can only make after the fact, so... bare with me for the following BS statement), they are both equivalent. (That is, I can't think of another relationship that achieves 1. Your idea of a "trick" has mostly to do with 1, I think. And it's an essential part of understanding an inductor, and it's also most likely how humans discovered inductors.
- VBprogrammer 7y ago
  Sure but neither of those explanations immediately scream you can use this to filter high frequency noise or you can use it to cause a phase shift in an AC signal (like in a mechanical electrical meter or a start winding in a single phase induction motor). Maybe 'trick' is the wrong way of looking at it, I guess the real issue is that from seeing a single component in a circuit diagram you can't know which of the effects of a component is being utilised.
  - gugagore 7y ago
    I think I better understand your point. There's behavior, and there's intent. Seems related to the distinction between syntax and semantics.
- BenjiWiebe 7y ago
  The way I learned how an inductor works: it doesn't like changing current. When you turn the power on, it sluggishly and reluctantly lets the current flow. Then if you try to stop the current flow, it uses the energy it grabbed earlier to crank up the voltage in an attempt to keep the current flowing.

gugagore 7y ago

I guess there are at least two ways to understand an inductor: 1. if you disconnect it from power, you'll get a huge voltage spike 2. V = -L (d/dt) I 1. seems like a practical explanation. 2. seems like a theoretical explanation. But an expert can play with both, and (under the assumption of first-order linear ODEs for this primitive components, which is an assumption you can only make after the fact, so... bare with me for the following BS statement), they are both equivalent. (That is, I can't think of another relationship that achieves 1. Your idea of a "trick" has mostly to do with 1, I think. And it's an essential part of understanding an inductor, and it's also most likely how humans discovered inductors.

VBprogrammer 7y ago
Sure but neither of those explanations immediately scream you can use this to filter high frequency noise or you can use it to cause a phase shift in an AC signal (like in a mechanical electrical meter or a start winding in a single phase induction motor). Maybe 'trick' is the wrong way of looking at it, I guess the real issue is that from seeing a single component in a circuit diagram you can't know which of the effects of a component is being utilised.
- gugagore 7y ago
  I think I better understand your point. There's behavior, and there's intent. Seems related to the distinction between syntax and semantics.
BenjiWiebe 7y ago
The way I learned how an inductor works: it doesn't like changing current. When you turn the power on, it sluggishly and reluctantly lets the current flow. Then if you try to stop the current flow, it uses the energy it grabbed earlier to crank up the voltage in an attempt to keep the current flowing.