Can anyone tell mebecause I am DUMB to this new intrest of mine and to old a dog to be taught in school,,, what is the definition of a MOSFET, a REGULATOR and why are there diode rectifiers and those three legged 1/2 in sqaure dealy-bobs w/small hole on tang to mount to a heatsink,,,,,,? And then those little dealy-bobs w/ mounting tang, how do you test um to see if you blew one I have a bunch of those with different numbers on um and I can't figure um out. right now I am building a COSM and it takes a 7805. I built it on a bread board first and everything WORKED! Great I thought so I tried to put it on a circut bord from radio shack and dcid something wrong in my buliding the circut or I crossed up a hook-up wire or something cause it don't work no-more. THE BLINKY'S don't blink. And I have re-looked over my circuit nothing wrong so it's some componet. I wish I understood what those things are and the difference, WHY re-name it if so or what it is

 

I think you should lay off the coffee for a couple of days, and then restate your questions, one or two at a time.

 

Can anyone tell mebecause I am DUMB to this new intrest of mine and to old a dog to be taught in school,,,

I disagree on both counts.

what is the definition of a MOSFET

"Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effects Transistor" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MOSFET

a REGULATOR

Keeps either voltage or current (pick one) at a pre-determined level. You know... regular. Like prunes, but for electrons instead of for curmudgeons. http://www.techlearner.com/Apps/basregulators.pdf

and why are there diode rectifiers and those three legged 1/2 in sqaure dealy-bobs w/small hole on tang to mount to a heatsink,,,,,,?

Helps keep the magic smoke inside where it belongs instead of floating around the ceiling where your wife can see it. http://whites.sdsmt.edu/classes/ee322/class_notes/322Lecture4.pdf

And then those little dealy-bobs w/ mounting tang, how do you test um to see if you blew one

Depends... which ones have you got?

I have a bunch of those with different numbers on um and I can't figure um out.

Dude! You can actually read the numbers? Your eyes are better than mine!

right now I am building a COSM and it takes a 7805. I built it on a bread board first and everything WORKED! Great I thought so I tried to put it on a circut bord from radio shack and dcid something wrong in my buliding the circut or I crossed up a hook-up wire or something cause it don't work no-more. THE BLINKY'S don't blink.

Dang. Must've hooked it up wrong, yeah?

And I have re-looked over my circuit nothing wrong so it's some componet.

Oh. Okay. Just replace the bad component.

I wish I understood what those things are and the difference, WHY re-name it if so or what it is

Oh! That. That part's easy... just work your way through this: http://www.allaboutcircuits.com/l_sitemap.html