---
title: "What Active Components Do You Need? | Workbench Wednesday #29"
description: "Active components like transistors, BJTs, MOSFETs, and integrated circuits (ICs) make it possible to control circuits. This video explains the must-have NPN and PNP BJTs. For…"
canonical: "https://www.baldengineer.com/what-active-components-do-you-need-workbench-wednesday-29.html"
author: "James Lewis"
date: "2020-10-08T21:43:00Z"
lastmod: "2022-04-01T21:45:43Z"
categories: ["blog","element14","workbench-wednesdays","videos"]
tags: ["2n3904","555","7400-series","actives","bjt","components","mosfet","op-amps","transistor"]
---

# What Active Components Do You Need? | Workbench Wednesday #29


Active components like transistors, BJTs, MOSFETs,  and integrated circuits (ICs) make it possible to control circuits. This video explains the must-have NPN and PNP BJTs. For MOSFETs there are a couple of N-Channels and P-Channels to consider. Basic ICs include some digital logic stuff from the 7400-family as well as the venerable 555-timer to have on-hand. We did not forget Op-Amps either. Spoiler: We do not recommend the ua741!