Every Tuesday we give away two coupons for the free PCB drawer via Twitter. This post was announced on Twitter, and in 24 hours we’ll send coupon codes to two random retweeters. Don’t forget there’s free PCBs three times a every week: Hate Twitter and Facebook? Free PCB Sunday is the classic PCB giveaway. Catch […]
Author Archives: DP
DIY simple Hydrogen Generator
A how-to on making a small hydrogen generator from Abedmoghari, project instructables here. Check out the video after the break.
Free PCB Sunday: Pick your PCB
We go through a lot of prototype PCBs, and end up with lots of extras that we’ll never use. Every Sunday we give away a few PCBs from one of our past or future projects, or a related prototype. Our PCBs are made through Seeed Studio’s Fusion board service. This week two random commenters will […]
App note: Snubber capacitors for complete insurance of power semiconductors
An application note from WIMA about snubber capacitors, Link here. The trend of modern semiconductor technology towards increasingly powerful applications results in the fact that switched currents and voltage levels are continuously increased and that simultaneously the switching speed is also increasing markedly. The developments in the area of power semiconductors include the component group […]
App note: Selection of capacitors for pulse applications
Guidelines from WIMA about selecting capactiors for pulsed conditions. Link here The maximum permissible AC voltage that can be applied to capacitors in sinusoidal waveform applications, can be determined from the graphs in the respective capacitor ranges. However, where pulse conditions exists, the following procedure is to be observed to ensure that the correct capacitor […]
Homebrew dummy load
A simple DIY dummy load project from Flathagen: I have created a simple 50 Ω dummy load to test transmitters. I also added a simple RF diode detector so I can measure the peak voltage, and calculate the power. The dummy load consists of eight 100 Ω resistors rated at 2 W so the load […]
Free PCB coupon via Facebook to 2 random commenters
Every Friday we give away some extra PCBs via Facebook. This post was announced on Facebook, and on Monday we’ll send coupon codes to two random commenters. The coupon code usually go to Facebook ‘Other’ Messages Folder . More PCBs via Twitter on Tuesday and the blog every Sunday. Don’t forget there’s free PCBs three […]
Reverse engineering a simple four function calculator: die decap
Electronupdate did a teardown and analysis of a cheap four function calculator: It’s such an amazingly old looking die Even with 400x magnification it would not be too hard to reverse engineer back to a schematic! This must be a very old design indeed. When one thinks of high-tech it’s always the new-new thing… however […]
R2-D2 build
Bithead942 blogged about his R2-D2 build: To really bring R2-D2 to life, I knew I had to do some great sturff with electronics. I started with a Taranis X9D controller and a pair of X8R receivers configured for a full 16-channels. I chose this platform mainly for its versatility, but also because I wanted to […]
Mini CNC 2D plotter made from an old DVD drive and L293D motor shield
Sandeep_UNO posted detailed instructions of how to make this mini CNC 2D plotter using scrap DVD drive, L293D motor shield and Arduino. Project instructables here. Check out the video after the break.
DIY USB power bank from laptop battery
A DIY USB power bank made from an old laptop battery from DoItYourselfGadgets: A situation many can relate to: an empty smartphone battery and no outlet around! That’s exactly why I recycled an old laptop battery into an USB power bank. This article will show you the basic powerbank circuit consisting of Lithium cell charging circuit, […]
#FreePCB via Twitter to 2 random RTs
Every Tuesday we give away two coupons for the free PCB drawer via Twitter. This post was announced on Twitter, and in 24 hours we’ll send coupon codes to two random retweeters. Don’t forget there’s free PCBs three times a every week: Hate Twitter and Facebook? Free PCB Sunday is the classic PCB giveaway. Catch […]
Breadboard line driver module
Scott from SWHarden has published a new build: Line driver chips are one of my go-tos for quickly amplifying digital signals because they’re so fast to drop in a breadboard and they provide a strong output with very high impedance inputs and need no external components. Individual buffer of the integrated chip can be paralleled […]
Free PCB Sunday: Pick your PCB
We go through a lot of prototype PCBs, and end up with lots of extras that we’ll never use. Every Sunday we give away a few PCBs from one of our past or future projects, or a related prototype. Our PCBs are made through Seeed Studio’s Fusion board service. This week two random commenters will […]
App note: Measuring a loudspeaker impedance profile using the AD5933
An application note from Analog Devices about AD5933, this provides a low cost substitute to expensive test equipment like signal generators, oscilloscope and voltmeters in getting the speaker’s impedance profile. Link here (PDF) This application note describes a circuit architecture using the AD5933 that allows the system designer to measure the impedance profile of the […]
App note: Choosing the appropriate component from data sheet ratings & characteristics.
Chossing the right power semiconductor for an application, a technical note from IXYS. Link here This application note is intended to show how to choose the appropriate rating of a power semiconductor component for a known application using the specifications given in the datasheet. The explanations have been kept sufficiently general to be applicable to […]
App note: Designing for board level electromagnetic compatibility
Designing for board level electromagnetic compatibility application note (PDF!) from NXP: Electromagnetic interference (EMI) is a major problem in modern electronic circuits. To overcome the interference, the designer has to either remove the source of the interference, or protect the circuit being affected. The ultimate goal is to have the circuit board operating as intended — to achieve electromagnetic […]
Outmoded Sequencer project
LuckyResistor made a miniature music machine -the outmoded sequencer project and wrote a post on his blog detailing its assembly: I just started an interesting new project: The Outmoded Sequencer Project. It is an minimalistic music machine. You can use a 8×8 “programming” matrix to create simple melodies which are looping endlessly. This melody can […]
Free PCB coupon via Facebook to 2 random commenters
Every Friday we give away some extra PCBs via Facebook. This post was announced on Facebook, and on Monday we’ll send coupon codes to two random commenters. The coupon code usually go to Facebook ‘Other’ Messages Folder . More PCBs via Twitter on Tuesday and the blog every Sunday. Don’t forget there’s free PCBs three […]
RC boat with NRF24L01+ and Arduino
Markus Gritsch writes: I and my little son built a small electric boat from a kit. However, the kit only offered turning on the motor with a switch, and let the boat cruise wherever fortune it may take. I thought why not improve it a bit by adding some RC capability. I had some left […]