Electronics Video Summaries
Electrical Principles (18 Minutes)
Ø atoms Ø conductors Ø insulators Ø free electrons Ø voltage Ø current Ø resistance Ø magnetism Ø attraction-repulsion Ø electromagnets |
Electrical Components, Part I: Resistors, Batteries, and Switches (22 Minutes)
Ø
fixed resistors Ø variable resistors Ø ballast resistors Ø batteries Ø switches |
Ø Batteries are mixtures of metals and caustic chemicals that make our tech, tools and toys surge with energy.
Ø Modern Marvels visits the world's most powerful battery in Fairbanks, Alaska - 13,760 hulking cells humming with 5,000 volts ready to help the city survive power
outages.
Ø Energizer's mammoth North Carolina production facility - how machines churn out one million D-cells every day.
Ø 6,831 batteries are packed in the sleek Tesla Roadster, a new electric sports car that can speed from 0 to 60 in just 4 seconds.
Ø Illustrates the ingredients that manufacturers pour into a car battery - from sulfuric acid to a substance aptly called "mud".
Ø Nanobatteries are discussed. These are microscopic marvels that may some day power nanorobots. That Fantastic Voyage of a submarine in the human blood
stream is suddenly a plausible reality
Ø Battery: a combination of 2 or more cells
Ø 2 Types of cells
Primary cells - cannot be recharged
Secondary cells - can be recharged
Wet Cell Battery
Wet cell batteries, sometimes called flooded, are made from a glass or
plastic container filled with sulfuric acid in which lead plates are
submerged. They were the first rechargeable batteries and are in common use
today in automobiles, , trucks, RVs, motorized wheelchairs, golf carts and
emergency power backup systems in household and industria applications. The
main concern for wet cell batteries in all applications is leaking sulfuric
acid, as it is a dangerous corrosive that can damage what it contacts and
can burn human tissue.
Dry Cell Batteries
Although there are many types of dry cell batteries that do not contain
liquid that can be spilled, the main competitors with wet cell batteries are
gel cells and absorbent glass mat (AGM) batteries. The main difference is
that the sulfuric acid is not in liquid from, and therefore leaking is much
less of a hazard. The smaller types of dry cell batteries, such as alkaline
or nickel-cadmium, usually cannot be manufactured in sizes or prices that
could compete with the wet cells. So the decision is really between a wet
cell, a gel cell or absorbent glass mat.
Maintenance
Wet cell batteries are heavier and require more maintenance. The electrolyte
can evaporate and may need to be replaced, and they need to be in an upright
position to be charged. In gel cells and glass mat batteries, the
electrolyte does not evaporate, so it never needs to be replaced. Gel cells
need to be in an upright position to be charged, but glass mat batteries do
not. Constant care must be taken with wet cells to avoid acid spills, but
not so with the others. All three types of batteries contain hazardous
materials and need to be recycled when no longer needed.
Performance
Wet cell batteries, although heavier, are the most widely used. They are the
workhorse of the battery world and the cheapest for equal power. They
provide higher surge currents and therefore are often preferred for
automotive applications that need higher current for starting. However glass
mat batteries can use purer materials and have a higher power density and
therefore are often preferred for high-performance electric vehicles. Gel
cells have a greater resistance to cold weather, but glass mats can
withstand higher temperatures.
Battery Life
Electrical Components, Part II: Capacitors, Fuses, Flashers, Coils (14 Minutes)
Ø capacitors Ø fuses, fuse links Ø circuit breakers Ø flashers Ø coils
|
Electrical Components, Part III: Transformers, Relays, Motors (15 Minutes)
Ø transformers Ø relays Ø motors |
Tesla, Master of Lightning 90 Minutes PBS Home Video
This documentary presents the story
of Nikola Tesla, the great scientist, visionary, and inventor who
gave the world alternating current electricity, as well as being the
father of radio. The film tells the story of this man's astonishing genius, his visions and inventions. Tesla's own scientific and autobiographical writings, as well as archival photographs and reenactments are used to tell the story. A native of Austro-Hungary, Tesla came to America in 1884. Working first with Edison, the two inventors fell out over Edison's insistence on using direct current. Tesla took his alternating current vision to Westinghouse. His New York address was renowned for the bolts of lightning emanating from it, as Tesla worked to unlock the secrets of energy and electricity. His quest took him to Colorado. The film follows Tesla's exploits and eccentricities, which made him a darling of the press. Included is the well-known and touching story of his devotion to a certain white pigeon. Largely forgotten today in spite of the great debt the modern world owes him, the film pays tribute to this overlooked genius. |
Scenes
1. Introduction | 8. Cosmic Waves |
2. My Early LIfe | 9. Colorado Springs |
3. The New Land | 10. Power of Dreams |
4. War of the Currents | 11. Modern Prometheus |
5. Niagara | 12. The Mad Scientist |
6. High Frequency | 13. Weapon to End War |
7. The Wireless | 14. The Missing Papers |
Thomas A. Edison, Father of Invention
Logic Gates, Binary Operations