| A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z | |
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1 | What | Picture | Intent | On topic Allowed | Somewhat off topic Marked as such but allowed as a courtesy. May be removed later at mods’ discretion. May suggest a sub or FAQ | Completely off topic or damaging. Not allowed Direct to another sub or FAQ | Try asking in: | |||||||||||||||||||
2 | Ready-made enclosed products | Ready-made complete products that are sold enclosed, not damaging: - Consumer electronics (e.g., audio, radio, TV, computer, phone, game consoles, garage door, power bank, UPS) - Electronic appliances, small and large - LED lighting - Automotive (e.g., e-bike, motorcycle, car, key-fob, 12V inverter) - Industrial products (e.g., charger, inverter, motor driver, UPS, alarm, stage lighting) - Musical instruments, electronic (synthesizers) - Electronic test instrument - Sensors |  | Recommendations, selection, installation, or use | Instruments for electronics work (troubleshooting, repair or design): (e.g., a DVM, a lab power supply). How to use, recommendations, repair. | How does a product work. Electronic test instruments but not for electronic work (a power supply for electrophoresis) | Product recommendations, set-up, usage, connection, installation, computer tech support, AC adapters suitability, illumination (including LED strips), battery replacement, 120/240 Vac conversion, home thermostats. How to use a instrument (e.g., a PH meter) or a power supply for non-electronics work (laboratory, industry, residential AC power). | Battery replacement: /r/Batteries LED lighting: /r/LED Sensors: /r/AskEngineering Any other: /r/TechSupport | ||||||||||||||||||
3 | Trouble- shooting, repair, or modification | Product is open to reveal an open PCB assembly; OP has a meter and knows how to use it. Just the electronic assemblies, including connecting wires, fuse identification. Open computer repair at the component level | Product is open to reveal an open PCB assembly. Troubleshooting not at the component level. Just a picture of the product's guts, asking: is this repairable? Can you spot any problems? High pitch sound from switching supply. Convert from AC to batteries, vice versa. | Just a picture (or not even a picture) of the still enclosed product (TV, computer, game console, appliance...) , asking: is this repairable? Can I modify it? OP doesn't have a meter, or doesn't know how to use it. Modify the sound a toy makes. Battery replacement. Automotive electrical wiring Clean product after spillage, dunking in water. Computer repair, not at the component level Computer hardware installation, configuration | Appliances: /r/ApplianceRepiar Audio: /r/AudioRepair Batteries: /r/Batteries Cars: /r/AutoRepair, /r/CarAV Computers: /r/BuildAPC, /r/TechSupport Game consoles: /r/GameConsoles Industrial: /r/PLC Monitors: /r/TVRepair Motors: /r/Motors Musical instruments: /r/Modular, /r/SynthDiy, /r/Pedals, /r/MusicElectronics Robots: /r/Robotics TVs: /r/TVRepair | |||||||||||||||||||||
4 | Identification | Electronic bench tool and equipment Electronic component on a PCB assembly (e.g. an IC) PCB-mounted connector or its mate (e.g., "JST") | Laboratory and test instruments Interior connectors, neither mate is PCB mounted (e.g., automotive connectors) | Exterior connectors (on the product) (e.g., USB connectors, DC inputs). AC power adapters, cables. What does a product do, what is it. | Exterior connectors: /r/TechSupport Otherwise: /r/WhatIsThisThing | |||||||||||||||||||||
5 | Repurposing parts | None allowed | None allowed | All disallowed: have fun removing components, but don't expect to be able to reuse them: modern electronic products use custom parts which have no spec sheets so you won't find how to use them. | (none) | |||||||||||||||||||||
6 | Single Board Computers | Single Board Computers "hats" and "shields" for them |  | Recommendations, selection, installation, or use | Interface to component-level electronic circuits. Component-level circuits connected to them (e.g.: MOSFET motor driver) | Powering. Software related to interface to component-level electronic circuits. SBC selection Use with other ready-made assemblies | System level (e.g., I want to design a heads up display) | |||||||||||||||||||
7 | Software | None | Related directly to interface to component-level electronic circuits. | Any other software | ||||||||||||||||||||||
8 | Trouble- shooting, repair, or modification | Component-level of SBC itself (e.g., the voltage regulator blew up) | Module level, interconnection (e.g., Arduino motor driver doesn't work) | System level (e.g., It freezes) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
9 | Ready-made electronic modules | Other ready-made open-PCB electronic assemblies and modules (no enclosure): Relay modules, , power conversion modules, timers, sensors |  | Selection, installation and use | Interface to component-level electronic circuits. Component-level circuits connected to them (e.g.: MOSFET motor driver) | Selection, connecting, powering, configuring, usage. | Software other than for interface to component-level electronic circuits | /r/AskEngineering /r/AskTechnology | ||||||||||||||||||
10 | Trouble- shooting, repair, or modification | At the component level (e.g. replace a connector). | Module level (e.g., DC-DC converter shuts down when connected to a batteryAt the m | - | ||||||||||||||||||||||
11 | Identification | Electronic component you found (e.g., a thermistor) Electronic component on a PCB assembly (e.g. an IC) PCB-mounted connector or its mate (e.g., "JST") | What is this electronic assembly I found? (e.g., a PCB module) What is this interior cable? (e.g. a cable that connects electronic assemblies.) | What is this product I found? (e.g., an infrared sensor in your hotel room) What is this exterior cable? (e.g., a computer cable) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
12 | Ready-made not-electronic products and devices | Electric, not electronic: - Consumer products with no electronics: headphones, cables - Electric musical instruments - Electric appliances - Automotive electrics - AC powered: lighting, motors, pumps, fans, house wiring |  | Recommen- dations, installation and use | All off-topic | None allowed | All disallowed | Headphones: /r/Headphones, /r/Audiorepair | ||||||||||||||||||
13 | Trouble- shooting and repair | All off-topic | All except for automotive, AC powered, headphones | Automotive, AC powered, headphones | ||||||||||||||||||||||
14 | Modification | All off-topic | All except for automotive, AC power | Automotive, AC power | ||||||||||||||||||||||
15 | Identification | None allowed | None allowed | All disallowed | ||||||||||||||||||||||
16 | Repurposing parts | None allowed | None allowed | All disallowed | ||||||||||||||||||||||
17 | Not even electric |  | - | All off-topic | None allowed | All disallowed | /r/MechanicalEngineering /r/AskEngineers /r/AskPhysics | |||||||||||||||||||
18 | Electronic devices you make | Design, build, troubleshoot, and repair your electronic devices, not damaging |  | Components | Questions about electronic component identification, functionality, testing, selection procurement - Active components: diodes, transistors, thyristors, IC's, vacuum tubes (valves), electro-optical (LEDs, opto-isolators). - Passive components, when used in conjunction with an electronic assembly: wires, resistors, capacitors, connectors and switches. - Mechanical and optical components for the completion of an electronic assembly: cases, fastening hardware, light pipes. | Questions about electrical component identification, functionality, testing, selection procurement Relays, lamps, speakers, motor start capacitors, heaters, electrical sensors. Also, wires, resistors, capacitors, connectors and switches when not used in conjunction with an electronic assembly. | Questions about non-electrical component identification, functionality, testing, selection procurement | Batteries: /r/Batteries, /r/18650MasterRace Musical instruments: /r/DiyPedals, /r/Pedals, /r/Modular, /r/SynthDiy PCBs: /r/PrintedCircuitBoard RF: /r/RFElectronics Robots: /r/Robotics | ||||||||||||||||||
19 | Design | Electronic design, CAD. Non-electronic incidentals (enclosures, light pipes, fiber optics). Including RC toys, musical instruments, electronics for a Tesla coils, audio amplifiers, radio transmitters and receivers | Related directly to interface to component-level electronic circuits. | Plain electric (e.g., lamps, Tesla coils with no transistors, solenoids and electromagnets) Cables (e.g., HDMI cable) Software How to sense or detect something (e.g. water depth, someone's presence) Planning computer components | ||||||||||||||||||||||
20 | Construction | Blank PCB manufacture. Electronic (e.g., soldering to a PCB) Mechanical installation of electronic assembly Safety (e.g., solder fumes) Update (no question) referring to a previous post | Electrical, low voltage (e.g., crimping wires to a terminal | Electrical, high voltage (e.g., house wiring) Not electrical Building a computer | /r/BuildAPC | |||||||||||||||||||||
21 | Trouble- shooting and repair | Using component-level electronics. System level functionality | Using module level electronics. | Software A computer you put together | ||||||||||||||||||||||
22 | Product development | Manufacture by assembly house. Regulatory (e.g., shipping, EMC testing) | - | Software Computers | Software: /r/Embedded | |||||||||||||||||||||
23 | Non-electronic devices you make | Design and troubleshoot your electrical circuits |  | - | All off-topic | Coils and solenoids. Buzzer-driven Tesla coils Peltier and thermocouples Low voltage circuits Electrical schematics Low voltage AC or DC power wiring, solar, lighting, motors, pumps, fans DIY electric vehicles, batteries | 110 / 240 Vac power | House wiring: /r/AskAnElectrician Motors: /r/Motors Small devices, low voltage: /r/Electricity | ||||||||||||||||||
24 | Product ideas | Idea for a product |  | - | None | Requires the design of a novel electronic circuit. Doesn't exist, may include existing electronic modules (e.g., a battery pack) | Something you can already buy (even if you think it's too expensive and you can do it cheaper). Not about electronic circuits | Any: /r/Maker | ||||||||||||||||||
25 | G: Theory and education | Homework |  | - | Includes at least one active electronic component: diode, transistor, thyristor, IC, opto-electronic device, vacuum tube | Plain electric (no active components): (e.g., 3-phase power, voltage sources and resistors) | Not electric or electronic | Homework: /r/ECE | ||||||||||||||||||
26 | Theory |  | Semiconductor theory | Operation of active component (diodes, transistors, ICs...) | Physics of electrons, electricity, magnetics How a product works (e.g., computers, metal detectors) Fundamentals of electricity | Not electrical: | Physics of electrons, electricity, magnetics: /r/AskPhysics | |||||||||||||||||||
27 | Education and career |  | - | Reading diagrams for electronics Resources for electronics education (books, online) | EE education and career advice Reading purely electrical diagrams (e.g., stove, industrial) | Not related to electronics or electrical engineering | EE advice: /r/ElectricalEngineering Electrical: /r/ElectricalEngineering, /r/Electricity | |||||||||||||||||||
28 | H: Misc | Electrical wiring: Home, auto, industrial, AC power, door bells, lighting | None | None | All | /r/AskAnElectrician | ||||||||||||||||||||
29 | Damaging: vaping, stun gun, weapon, USB killer, RF jammer, EMP Unsafe: medical, anything that may affect automotive safety | None | None | All | ||||||||||||||||||||||
30 | Not a question (e.g., I built this), unless an update referring to a previous post Not asking the actual question (e.g., Has anyone used this?) Not asking the question in the title (e.g., Need help) Off topic question (e.g., medical advice) | None | None | All | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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32 | Definitions: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
33 | AC power circuit | Directly powered by the AC power grid at line voltage, to be installed and maintained by qualified electricians and regulated by the applicable Electrical Code. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
34 | AC power electric component | Component for use in an AC power circuit: connectors, switches, lamps, motors and other loads | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
35 | Low voltage electrical circuit | Does not include active components, may include electronic modules. Not directly powered by the AC power grid at line voltage, may be installed and maintained by anyone, not regulated by any Electrical Code. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
36 | Electronic circuit | Directly includes active components | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
37 | Active electronic component | Semiconductor or thermoionic vacuum tube (valve). | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
38 | Semiconductor | Diode, transistor, thyristor, integrated circuit, hybrid (e.g. opto-isolator) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
39 | Diode | Rectifier, full bridge, plain LED, photodiode | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
40 | Transistor | BJT (NPN, PNP, phototransistor), FET (JFET, MOSFET), IGBT | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
41 | Thyristor | SCR, TRIAC, SIDAC | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
42 | Passive electronic component | Electronic component other than active components, for use on a PCB or directly connected to an active component, not for use in AC power circuits: Resistor, inductor, capacitor, connector, switch, fuse, transformer | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
43 | Electronic module | Ready-made, off-the-shelf product that uses electronic circuits internally. A module is not an active electronic component. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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