How Many Oscillators Do I Need?
Whether you are planning an audio or radio project or preparing to constrict any other piece of equipment that produces its own electronic signal, it’s likely that you’ll require an oscillator. In this piece, the experts at Euroquartz explain how many of these components you’ll need depending on the device or mechanism you’re building.
What is an Oscillator and How Does it Work?
An oscillator is a piece of equipment that produces an electronic signal without any connection to mains electricity.
Most commonly, oscillators are powered by quartz crystals that have been magnetised. By vibrating or distorting a crystal using an electromagnetic field, the piezoelectricity it creates can be harnessed, resulting in the crystal generating a field of its own.
Everything from watches to remote communications systems can be powered using a quartz crystal oscillator.
How Many Oscillators Are Required to Build a Radio or Communication Device?
A simple AM radio transmitter requires only one 1 MHz quartz oscillator. If you are planning to create a communication system featuring multiple transmitters, it’s likely you will need only one per communication device.
How Many Oscillators Are Required to Build a Clock or Synchronisation Device?
If you are creating a system or device for the purposes of regulation, it’s likely that you will need one clock oscillator. However, if you require that device to produce a signal too, you may also need a separate specialist oscillator.
How Many Oscillators Are Required to Build a Synthesiser?
For a project that requires a wide variety of subtly different effects, such as a musical synthesizer capable of creating numerous modulations, you may need four quartz crystal oscillators or even more depending on your device’s complexity.
How Many Oscillators Are Required to Build a Computer?
Again, this depends heavily on the number of different types of function you require for your computer.
If you want your computer to generate its own power, to produce a signal and to feature some kind of regulatory device – even if it’s just to keep track of the time – it’s likely that you’ll need at least two oscillators. As you add features of this kind, you may also need to add oscillators.
Simply put, it’s often the case that the more separate functions you plan to include in your device or project, the more oscillators you’ll need – one for each particular purpose.
If you’re unsure of how many oscillators you’ll need for your own particular project, or what types you’ll require, simply contact our specialist team today and we’ll be more than happy to provide assistance.
We can also manufacture quartz oscillators to very tight specifications, so if we don’t already have what you’re looking for, let us know what you need and we may be able to produce the perfect component.
Euro Quartz has provided quartz crystals, oscillators, filters and frequency-related products to the defence, medical, aerospace, telecoms and electronic engineering industries for more than 60 years. You can trust our experts to help you find the ideal components for your project.
