Automotive Electrical Systems

Capacitors

Capacitors store and discharge electrical energy, and can do both of those actions faster than most batteries of roughly the same size, but generally with less energy storage capacity.

What Do Capacitors Do? video by Cars Simplified

Conductors

Conductors are a category of materials that are conductive, meaning they allow electricity to flow through them with ease. Things that are quite electrically conductive also tend to be thermally conductive as well.

Diodes

Diodes are electronic components that typically only allow electricity to flow in one direction. (Learn more)

Insulators

Insulators are the opposite of conductors, so they are very unlikely to conduct electricity. With enough voltage, basically everything can become a conductor, so the line between an insulator and a material with super high resistance is a little blurry.

Transistors

Transitors are the backbone of computer components, and vital to modern computer-controlled vehicles. Transistors are also responsible for dropping voltage down to reliable 5V signals for sensors that require a small, stable voltage to provide precise data.

Resistors

Resistors are conductors that aren't quite as conductive as conductors, but they also don't insulate against electricity. Resistors can be used to protect components from otherwise high voltage. Resistors can also be used to control things like the brightness of lights, the speed of motors, and other things that have their traits altered by varying voltage/amperage.

While most resistors are components that most people won't ever see or work with, there are resistor units that can be bought for installing in parallel to LEDs that would hyperflash without them. (Product Example)