The continuous advancement of small-scale electronics has forced most PCB fabricators and assemblers to include more SMD components in circuit boards. Usually, these components are smaller than their THC counterparts because they have tiny or no leads. However, SMD components are continuously evolving, and it is vital to identify the different parts available in the market today. In this article, we have created a complete guide for SMD component identification to assist in distinguishing the various components.
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What are SMD Components?
Surface Mount Devices (SMD) are components for mounting on Surface Mount Technology (SMT) circuit boards. All SMDs work in tandem to make up an operational circuit. Compared to Through Hole Components (THC), SMDs take up less space. Also, they are easier to mass solder and are available in a wide variety.
A PCB with SMD components
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Availability of Different Types of SMD Components
Although surface mount technology has matured, it is still evolving, and new packages keep popping up. Currently, the available SMD electronic components include the following.
Passive SMD Components
These components primarily include capacitors (tantalum and monolithic ceramic capacitors) and resistors (discrete and thick film resistors). Generally, they are cylindrical or rectangular, and their mass is roughly 10X lower than the through-hole types.
A ceramic SMD capacitor
The trend in electronics is shrinkage, but these components are available in various sizes to meet the needs of the industry.
Tubular Passive SMD Components for SMT
Also known as Metal Electrode Leadless Faces (MELFs), tubular passive SMDs are devices used for diodes, tantalum & ceramic capacitors, jumpers, and resistors. As the name suggests, they are cylindrical with metal caps for soldering.
Their cylindrical shape implies there's no need to place resistors with resistive elements away from the board surface. Also, MELFs are affordable and color-coded for values. MLL 41 and MLL 34 codes identify MELF diodes, while , , , and identify MELF resistors.
Active SMD Components List
Surface-mount packages (active and passive) come in various categories that include the following.
(LCCC) Leadless Ceramic Chip Carriers
Instead of leads, these chip carriers feature groove-shaped, gold-plated terminations called castellations. These terminations provide a shorter signal path that enables higher operating frequencies.
(CLCC) Ceramic Leaded Chip Carriers (Pre- and Post-leaded)
Ceramic Leaded Chip Carriers come in pre-leaded and post-leaded types. The former features Kovar leads or copper alloys attached by the manufacturer. However, the user is the one to fix leads to the terminations (castellations) in the post-leaded type.
Active SMT Components (Plastic Packages)
Ceramic packages are not that cheap. Therefore, they are ideal for military applications. However, the plastic variety is more affordable, making it suitable for non-military applications where hermiticity isn't required. They include small-outline transistors, J-packages & integrated circuits, plastic leaded chip carriers, BGA components, and fine pitch SMD packages.
SMD Components list and SMD Components Identification
The most commonly used SMD parts and their identification include the following.
SMD Components Identification: Chip Resistors
Among all surface mount devices, the chip resistor is the most commonly used component on SMT PCBs. Resistors help limit the current passing through, and there are two ways of indicating the resistance value.
The first is in Arabic numbers. Here, the first two digits show the absolute resistance value, while the last number indicates the power of 10. For instance, 472 means Ω (47 x 10^2), while 105 means Ω (10 x 10^5).
On the other hand, the second method combines Arabic numbers and R. The number section indicates the whole number resistance value, while the R section shows the fractional resistance value. For instance, R25 means 0.25Ω, while 20R6 means 20.6Ω
Identify Network Resistor
Network resistors are high-grade ceramic chips with metal electrodes inside on each end for contacting the thick film resistive element. Usually, this chip packs multiple resistors with similar parameters and is ideal for digital memory circuits. In addition, their resistor value identification is identical to chip resistors.
SMD Components Identification: Capacitors
SMD capacitors are usually rectangular blocks containing two metal pieces separated by an insulator. Their purpose is to store energy, and the unit of capacitance is Farad (F). However, this unit is too big for SMD capacitors. Therefore, we mostly use μF, nF, or pF.
- 1F = μF
- 1μF = nF
- 1nF = pF
SMD capacitors
There are two ways of indicating the capacitance value. The first method directly indicates the capacitance and working voltage, such as 20μF/25V.
The second is by using Arabic numbers and the working voltage. For instance, 106 means 10 x 10^6pF = 10μF.
Capacitors also have a letter on the value to denote tolerance. They include the following.
Identify SMD Inductors
These inductors are the basic surface mount components that convert electrical energy to magnetic energy and store it. They consist of an enameled wire wound around an insulator. The inductance unit is H (Henry).
The basic inductor design
Manufacturers indicate the inductance value using Arabic numbers via the same format as the one used in resistors and capacitors. Therefore, 200 means 20H, while 203 means H.
Identify SMD Transformers
Transformers are devices containing two or more inductors. Although their designs vary widely in terms of voltage, current, bandwidth, size, winding capacitance, etc., SMD transformers have the same structural design. Also, they contain a wire wound around a toroidal core and surface mount headers for PCB attachment.
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SMD Components Identification: Diodes and Triodes
Diodes are polar components with unidirectional conductivity. Therefore, the current flowing in from the positive electrode encounters little resistance. However, the resistance is high if the current goes in from the negative electrode. Usually, the terminal with printed lines is always the negative electrode in diodes.
On the other hand, triodes are control components for current amplification. D or CR denotes diodes, while Q denotes triodes.
Identify SMD ICs
SMD integrated circuits integrate components like inductors, resistors, diodes, and capacitors on a tiny semiconductor. Manufacturers then package these semiconductors as SOJ, SOP, BGA, LCCC, PPGA, QFP, etc.
An SMD chip
SMD Components Identification: Crystal Oscillators
Crystal oscillators are quartz pieces with dual terminals polished and sprayed using a silver film. Their purpose is to generate an oscillation frequency that creates basic clock signals for the device/system. Y denotes crystal oscillators, and the SMD type usually consists of a quartz piece packaged in an IC. Unlike DIP crystal oscillators, their SMD counterparts can have two or four pins.
A DIP crystal oscillator
Identify SMD Connectors
Usually used in pairs, these connectors provide permanent or temporary connections for circuits.
SMD Components Identification: Button Switches
These surface-mount switches feature a button that separates or connects two contact points in a circuit.
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Summary
In conclusion, SMD electronics usage is necessary for modern-day, small-scale electronics. However, these components are diverse, and it might be a bit difficult to identify them. We hope this article makes SMD component identification simpler for you and if you have any questions or comments, contact us for more details.
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Simply put, SMB components, or surface mount components, are electronic components we mount on printed circuit boards for their proper functioning. Owing to their miniature size, SMD components offer excellent electrical performance. There are different variants of SMB components, and in this article, we will scrutinize how to identify them through appearance.
What are SMD Components? What are their Advantages
As we have already hinted, SMD components are electronic parts that we directly place on the surface of a printed circuit board. The technology utilized to mount SMD components is surface mount technology or SMT. Prior to the advent of SMT in the s, through-hole technology was immensely popular. It entailed using lead on electronic components to insert them into a hole drilled in a PCB.
The best part about SMD components is that they are much smaller as compared to their predecessors. Thus, many of them can sit comfortably on both sides of a board. Therefore, we can expect much higher component density and more connections per SMD component. The pertinent advantages of using SMD components include the following &#;
They are easy to manufacture
The soldering of an adjacent SMT component is not easy to displace during the soldering process
They also correct minor errors in component placement
However, it is essential to point out that the through-hole method comes with its own merits, such as higher stability. Therefore, we commonly see a combination of SMT and through-hole for optimum technological performance.
Types of SMD Components
Before identifying SMD components by their appearance, we should know that there are two types of SMD components &#; active and passive. Both of them differ in terms of &#;
Nature of energy source
Functionality
Power gain
Flow of current
Identifying SMD Resistors
SMD resistors are rudimentary SMD components that restrict the current passing through them. &#;R&#; stands for resistance, and the resistance unit is Ohm. SMD resistors are of two types &#; thin film and thick film. The latter is made using a resistive screening film on a high-purity flat alumina substrate surface. There are two ways to identify an SMD resistor &#;
In the Arabic Numbers &#; The first two numbers in Arabic indicate the resistance value&#;s absolute numbers, and the last number depicts the power of 10. Thus, 103 would mean ohms, 491 would mean 491 ohms, and 570 would mean ohms.
Combining R and the Arabic Numbers &#; Arabic numbers that stand before R represent the value of the resistance for the entire part. Furthermore, those after R illustrate the resistance value&#;s fractional part. Therefore, through this logic, it would mean that R100 is 0.100 Ohm, whereas 5R60 equals 5.60 Ohm. Lastly, 30R9 means 30.9 Ohm.
In addition, we can also classify and distinguish SMD components resistors based on usages, such as standard resistors, power resistors, precision resistors, high-frequency resistors, and much more.
Identifying SMD Capacitors
An SMD component capacitor can be defined as elements of the printed circuit board (PCB) composed of two pieces of metal that an insulator separates and is majorly used in storing energy. The C represents capacitance, whereas the unit of measurement is in Farad (F). Unit F is too big for SMD&#;s capacitance; therefore, we opt for smaller units, μF, nF, and pF. remember that 1F is equivalent to nF and 1nF to pF.. SMD capacitors can be recognized in one of two ways:
Capacitance and operating voltage markings are the primary means by which SMD component capacitors can be recognized. Such as 10 F/16 V. This is an initial method to
identify an SMD component capacitor.
The second method of
surface mount components identification involves an amalgamation of Arabic numbers and functional voltage: the first two numbers represent the absolute numbers of the capacitance value, whereas the last number implies the power of 10. For instance, 107 means 10 × 10^7pF (= 100μF), 225 means 22 × 10^5pF (=2.2μF).
Furthermore, it is noteworthy to remember that the capacitance is denoted on SMD component capacitors as a combination of numbers and letters. The letter means capacitance tolerance. The chart is mentioned below &#;
Letter
Tolerance
F
±1%
G
±2%
J
±5%
K
±10%
L
±15%
M
±20%
Identifying SMD Inductors
Inductors are one of the essential SMD components. Their utility in electronics is paramount, as they help convert electrical energy into magnetic energy. In addition, inductors also store that energy. Inductors are composed of enameled wire that winds around the insulator. Here, L stands for inductance, and the measurement unit is Henry. There are pertinent ways to identify SMD component inductors &#;
In Arabic numbers &#; The first two numbers represent the absolute numbers of the inductance value, and the ultimate number is the power of 10. For instance, 470 means 47H, and 101 represents 100H.
Identifying SMD Diodes and SMD Components Triodes
SMD components diodes are conductive and unidirectional electronic components. The Diodes are also polar components, and reversing their negative and positive electrodes is impossible. Therefore, the resistance is extremely small when currents flow from a Diode&#;s electrode. On the contrary, the resistance is massive when current flows from a Diode&#;s negative electrode. CR or D stands for Diodes. On SMD Diodes, the terminal shown with lines is the negative electrode. The SMD triodes help in controlling the components, which amplify the current. The letter Q implies the triodes.
Identifying SMD ICS
The SMD Component IC is also alternatively known as surface mount integrated circuits. They assist in integrating components, such as inductors, resistors, diodes, capacitors, and likewise, on a tiny semiconductor. Therefore, SMD ICs are packaged. When it comes to the differences in packaging, the ICs, and integrated circuits should include SSOP, CSP, QFP, PQFP, PPGA, PLCC, and so forth.
Identifying SMD Components Crystal Oscillators
They are quartz pieces with two terminals that we can spray and polish with the help of a silver film. When we package an IC using a quartz piece in formatting an oscillation circuit, it becomes an SMD component oscillator. The Y represents a crystal oscillator.
It is noteworthy to mention that SMD crystal oscillators offer the primary clock signals serving a system. Also, in any component, if you see a number combination of Z or HZ, then know that it is a crystal oscillator. That is precisely how we identify SMD component crystal oscillators. Oscillators in the DIP package have two prongs. Likewise, the remaining will be the SMD crystal oscillator. Lastly, crystal oscillators have two or four pins.
Identifying SMD Connectors
Simply put, SMD component connectors offer the circuits permanent and temporary electrical connections. Therefore, we usually co-opt them in pairs.
Identifying the Switches of the SMD Button
The switches of the SMD button are the surface mount switches, which utilize a button to separate or connect the two contacts on realizing the circuit&#;s switch.
Wrapping It Up
So, there we have it, a crisp overview of how to identify SMD components. Some little knowledge goes a long way in aptly identifying SMD components, such as resistors, inductors, and connectors, and likewise through their appearance.
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