Skip to content
DE EN
Subscribe

Electronics Advanced

Upper secondary, Matura and A-level standard (about age 16–19).

Tip: The videos also have an English audio track. On YouTube, open ⚙ Settings → Audio track.

15:32

Episode 1

Kirchhoff: Series & Parallel – Advanced

What you will learn

  • Kirchhoff's current and voltage laws – with signs and loop direction
  • deriving the series and parallel formulas, conductance in siemens
  • voltage divider and current divider rules
  • internal resistance of meters: measuring current and voltage correctly
  • real sources: open-circuit and terminal voltage, internal resistance, cells in series and parallel
Watch on YouTube
14:58

Episode 2

Wheatstone Bridge & Thévenin – Advanced

What you will learn

  • loaded voltage divider: formula, curve and rule of thumb for the cross current
  • networks with two sources: reference arrows, node and loop equations, solution and check
  • Wheatstone bridge: balance condition, null method, Pt100 and kitchen scales
  • equivalent voltage source: finding open-circuit voltage and internal resistance
  • why a voltage divider is not a power supply
  • five typical exam traps
Watch on YouTube
12:38

Episode 3

Power & Efficiency – Advanced

What you will learn

  • derive P = U·I = I²·R = U²/R and use each form correctly
  • maximum power transfer: P_max = U₀²/(4R_i) – and why efficiency is only 50 % then
  • why power grids are deliberately not matched
  • power rating, derating and the loaded potentiometer
  • wire resistance R = ρl/A and why you unroll cable reels
  • how the RCD measures – and how hot a series pass transistor gets
Watch on YouTube
16:32

Episode 4

Capacitor: Charging Curve – Advanced

What you will learn

  • C = Q/U and C = ε₀·εᵣ·A/d – why one farad is huge
  • dielectric, electrolytic, ceramic and supercapacitor
  • energy W = ½·C·U² from the U-Q diagram
  • derive the charging curve u(t) = U₀·(1 − e^(−t/τ)) from Kirchhoff's voltage law
  • 63 %, tangent, half-life t½ = τ·ln 2 – and calculating times with the logarithm
  • series and parallel, reservoir capacitor and ripple voltage in the power supply
Watch on YouTube
14:50

Episode 5

Faraday's Law & Transformer – Advanced

What you will learn

  • flux Φ = B·A and Faraday's law U = −N·ΔΦ/Δt
  • Lenz's law = conservation of energy: copper pipe and eddy-current brake
  • self-induction U = −L·ΔI/Δt – why relays need a flyback diode
  • u(t) = û·sin(ωt), ω = 2πf and û = N·B·A·ω
  • RMS value U_rms = û/√2 derived from power
  • ideal transformer: voltages like N, currents inversely – and why high voltage
Watch on YouTube
13:47

Episode 6

Band Model & Diode Equation – Advanced

What you will learn

  • band model: conductor, semiconductor, insulator – Si 1.12 eV, intrinsic conduction
  • extrinsic conduction: donor and acceptor levels
  • depletion zone, built-in voltage ≈ 0.7 V and the varactor diode
  • diode equation I = I_S·(e^(U/U_T) − 1): × 10 per 60 mV, r_d = U_T/I, −2 mV/K
  • LED colour: λ/nm ≈ 1240/(E/eV) – why blue needs more voltage
  • series resistor with tolerances for the worst case – current and power
Watch on YouTube
12:24

Episode 7

Ripple Voltage & Smoothing Capacitor

What you will learn

  • voltage on the reservoir capacitor: √2 · U_rms minus two diode drops – and what happens with no load
  • derive the ripple voltage ΔU ≈ I/(f_P·C): 100 Hz after the bridge, 50 Hz for half-wave
  • sizing the reservoir capacitor: 0.5 A, 2 V ripple → 2500 µF → 4700 µF, 25 V
  • charging current peaks: why the diode briefly carries over 3 A and the transformer needs reserve
  • reverse voltage: bridge û, half-wave with capacitor almost 2û
  • oscilloscope with AC coupling and why switched-mode supplies are so small
Watch on YouTube
13:14

Episode 8

Designing Zener Diodes – Advanced

What you will learn

  • Zener characteristic: I_Z,min, differential resistance r_Z, I_Z,max = P_tot/U_Z
  • series resistor from two limiting cases: 162 Ω ≤ R_V ≤ 196 Ω → 180 Ω
  • smoothing factor G ≈ 1 + R_V/r_Z and stabilisation factor
  • flyback diode by calculation: 5000 V without diode, τ = L/R with diode
  • photodiode is linear, solar cell with maximum power point (MPP)
  • Schottky diode: half the loss – and its drawbacks
Watch on YouTube
15:10

Episode 9

Transistor Characteristics – Advanced

What you will learn

  • output characteristics: cut-off region, active region, saturation
  • load line U_b = I_C · R_L + U_CE and operating point
  • overdrive factor: sizing the base current with B_min
  • power dissipation: 0.1 W saturated, 1.5 W half switched on
  • storage time and switching losses
  • Darlington vs. MOSFET – and why logic-level
  • emitter follower and series regulator: U_out ≈ U_Z − 0.7 V
Watch on YouTube
12:39

Episode 10

Designing a Power Supply – Advanced

What you will learn

  • peak value, bridge losses and transformer rating
  • ripple voltage ΔU ≈ I/(f·C) and choosing the reservoir capacitor
  • 10.7 V reference from Zener and silicon diode, Darlington → 9.3 V
  • power dissipation and heat sink: thermal resistances in series
  • slow-blow fuse, indicator LED, the short-circuit problem
  • efficiency, 7809 fixed regulator, switched-mode supply, safety
  • looking back at the whole advanced series
Watch on YouTube