Template talk:Electronic components

Where do I add the cam timer to the Electronic components template?

I am trying to add the cam timer to the template. Where do I and to which category do I add the cam timer to? Stunts1990 (talk) 15:53, 26 April 2025 (UTC)

We have Relay in the Reactive section and Switch in the Passive section. But there doesn't appear to be an existing section it would cleanly fall into. Should we create an Other section for it? ~Kvng (talk) 15:42, 29 April 2025 (UTC)

Good idea - I have added the cam timer to the other section. Stunts1990 (talk) 01:17, 1 October 2025 (UTC)

Prune

This template needs a good pruning. Too many things are listed that are not actually electronic components. A motor is an electrical component, not an electronic one. Many of the entries in "gas-filled tubes" are electrical, not electronic. A printed circuit board is not a component. User:Electron230 has been adding items to this template without sufficient discrimination. Srleffler (talk) 07:23, 26 April 2026 (UTC)

I think coaxial cable belongs on this template. RF connector is also on this template so why not Electron230 (talk) 13:50, 28 April 2026 (UTC)

I'm not sure one way or another whether it belongs. I did think about removing connectors from the template but ended up leaving them. I'm not sure that a cable counts as a "component". --Srleffler (talk) 05:22, 29 April 2026 (UTC)

Thinking about this some more, a cable is not a component because it is not discrete. You can cut a cable shorter and it is still a cable. Components are discrete, indivisible items. --Srleffler (talk) 15:39, 2 May 2026 (UTC)

Please find a definition or two from reliable sources for distinguishing between electronic and electric before proceeding. I don't expect we'll find or agree on something crisp. Until then or in that case I favor erroring towards being inclusive. ~Kvng (talk) 15:23, 1 May 2026 (UTC)

I had done some searching for definitions before I started. This was the text that most influenced me:

Electrical devices convert electrical energy into other forms of energy, for example heat, light or sound. Electronic devices control the flow of electrons in order to perform a task. While electrical engineering is concerned with the large-scale production and distribution of electrical power, electronic engineering focuses on smaller electronic circuits.

— University of Sheffield, What is the difference between electrical and electronic engineering? (2021, May 7)

Brittanica makes a different distinction:

In engineering practice, the distinction between electrical engineering and electronics is usually based on the comparative strength of the electric currents used. In this sense, electrical engineering is the branch dealing with “heavy current”—that is, electric light and power systems and apparatuses—whereas electronics engineering deals with such “light current” applications as telephone and radio communication, computers, radar, and automatic control systems.

— Donald G. Fink, Electrical and electronics engineering, Britannica.com

Thanks for these. The first definition is more actionable because it draws a line based on function. The second draws a line based on an undefined degree. I guess all that we can draw from this so far is that not all electrical components are electronic components and vice versa. ~Kvng (talk) 14:42, 4 May 2026 (UTC)

Components

Many of the items that have been listed here (some of which I've already removed) are not components. A component is a discrete, indivisible item, something you can buy off the shelf and solder to a circuit board. A tunnel junction is not an electronic component. It's a technology that is used to make components like tunnel diodes. A helium–neon laser might be an electronic device but it's not a component because it is composed of components. You can take apart a HeNe and extract the discharge tube, a circuit board, some resistors and capacitors, etc. A wire is not a component because if you cut it in half you have two functional wires. In contrast if you cut a resistor or capacitor in half the result will not be a functional component; they are indivisible (or "atomic", if you prefer).--Srleffler (talk) 17:48, 3 May 2026 (UTC)

I disagree that a component can't be made of other components. For instance, I believe it is legitimate to classify a voltage regulator a component even through it typically contains multiple individual transistors, resistors and a diode. ~Kvng (talk) 14:42, 4 May 2026 (UTC)

I would say that a voltage regulator can be either a component or an assembly. An integrated circuit voltage regulator is a component. One that consists of a PCB with individual components soldered to it is an assembly. The article on that has nice pictures of both. I would list the article in this template because a voltage regulator can be a component. --Srleffler (talk) 03:47, 5 May 2026 (UTC)