Skip to main content

Ever Wondered What’s Inside This Bead At End Of Your Laptop Charger? Mystery Solved...!

By:Prayag Nao

We all have a basic idea about the purpose of each wire going in and out of our computer. But a few wires seem a bit off when it comes to their appearance. They have a cylindrical bead dangling near the end. So what’s this bead doing on that wire and what purpose does it serve? Today, we are going to unravel this mystery for you.

You will not only find this bead at end of charging cables but also mouse, keyboard and other peripheral cables. It turns out that lump’s called a ferrite bead or, more generically, a choke. It’s a fancy name for what’s basically an electromagnetic wave-bouncer. If you open this bead, you will not find any complex circuits but only a ferrite cylinder that is magnetic in nature. It is this magnetic quality of the bead that serves the purpose.

So basically, when current passes through any cable, it generates electromagnetic interference (EMI). Your electronic gadgets also produce EMI during operation. For example, if you connect a camera to your monitor, the camera would produce intereference and cause your monitor to flicker without the presence of a ferrite bead. If left unabated, EMI can wreck havoc with your computer peripherals.

These ferrite chokes ensure that signals are only sent in the intended directions and no EMI is transmitted between the peripherals. The choke dampens these EMI waves by acting as an EMI blocker. The blocking is most effective when it is near the source of the EMI, thats why you will only find these ferrite beads near the end of the cables. So, this little mystery is now solved! These tiny cyst-like beads make sure that our computer peripherals work properly and don’t cause any issues for the computer itself.

ROBOTSSSS Technologies


Popular posts from this blog

How an engine cooling system works

By: Prayag nao


By:Prayag nao

An internal expanding brake consists of two shoes S1 and S2. The outer surface of the shoes are lined with some friction material (usually with Ferodo) to increase the coefficient of friction and to prevent wearing away of the metal. Each shoe is pivoted at one end about a fixed fulcrum O1and O2 and made to contact a cam at the other end. When the cam rotates, the shoes are pushed outwards against the rim of the drum. The friction between the shoes and the drum produces the braking torque and hence reduces the speed of the drum. The shoes are normally held in
off position by a spring . The drum encloses the entire mechanism to keep out dust and moisture. This type of brake is commonly used in motor cars and light trucks.

We shall now consider the forces acting on such a brake, when the drum rotates in the anticlockwise direction. It may be noted that for the anticlockwise direction, the left hand shoe is known as leading or primary shoe while the right hand sho…

Awesome iris mechanism

By:Prayag nao

An iris is a mechanism that is used as a compact solution to close and open holes. It is made up of usually a series of metal plates that can fold in on each other or expand out. Iris mechanisms are commonly found in optical shutters (diaphragms). Irises are sometimes used in science fiction as doors.