Book excerpt: The Definitive Technical Resource on Passive Components! Here's the fully updated and revised edition of the most comprehensive standard reference on electronic components--and the first such revision in over 15 years! It gives electronics engineers, designers, and technicians quick, reliable one-volume access to critical characteristic data, performance curves, and design guidelines. The full range of component technologies is covered, including resistors, capacitors, transformers, relays and switches, batteries, fuse and protective components, filters and transient voltage protection devices, wiring and cabling, connectors, and enabling devices. More than a mere rehashing of manufacturer specs, this unique handbook provides working electronics professionals and mechanical engineers with the practical data they need to more effectively select optimal components for their intended functional performance in virtually any electronics system. Along with its companion volume, the Active Electronic Component Handbook, this resource belongs on every designer's bookshelf.