Rui Santos from Random Nerd Tutorials has posted a detailed tutorial on how to build an Android app using the MIT App Inventor software that allows you to control the ESP8266 GPIOs: More details at Random Nerd Tutorials homepage. Check out the video after the break.
Author Archives: DP
USB curve tracer for NPN transistors
Dilshan Jayakody documented his USB port base NPN transistor curve tracer project: Curve tracer is an electronic test instrument to analyze the characteristics of transistors and other discrete semiconductors. In this post we construct USB base curve tracer to analyze properties of NPN transistors. This curve tracer is build around Microchip’s PIC18F4550 MCU and it use […]
App note: The LED versus LCD decision
Choosing between two display types, LED and LCD discussed in this application note from Murata. Link here (PDF) Users of contemporary digital panel meters (DPMs) have a variety of options available to them. While options are nice, they invariably mean more choices have to be made. After determining what meter resolution one requires, the next […]
App note: EFM32 Energy Modes
Application note from Silicon Labs on their EFM32 energy saving microcontrollers, some interesting points are discussed how these type of microcontrollers can conserve power. Link here (PDF) In battery powered microcontroller applications, energy saving is essential. By reducing the current consumption, the mean time between battery charging / replacement can be significantly increased. Following these principles will […]
Radionova 1 frequency synthesizer
Vasily Ivanenko has written up documentation on his Radionova 1 frequency synthesizer project: Frequency synthesizer for my Jupiter receiver — Радионова 1 — [ Radionova 1 ] Greetings! Most of my future homebrew radio projects will focus on building radio astronomy gear. Radio astronomy offers much fun + learning for the radio homebuilder — example topics include […]
Slider controller with auto-reverse and variable speed control
Paulo built a DIY electronic camera slider controller based on a small PIC microcontroller. It supports auto-reverse and variable speed: These motorized sliders share a common electronic controller design that provides speed control for the gear motor and also an auto-reverse feature using limit switches. In this article , I’ll go over the electronics and software for […]
Force FTDI FT232 USB to serial converters to use a single Windows COM port
Ever notice that each new FT232 inserted into each USB port is assigned a unique COM port number under Windows? When we’re developing hardware with lots of prototypes flying around Windows quickly hits COM 100. Each FT232 has a unique serial number and the driver creates a new COM port for each by default. FTDI […]
Reverse engineering the popular 555 timer chip (CMOS version)
Ken Shirriff wrote an article on reverse engineering a 555 timer chip, He writes: This article explains how the LMC555 timer chip works, from the tiny transistors and resistors on the silicon chip, to the functional units such as comparators and current mirrors that make it work. The popular 555 timer integrated circuit is said to be […]
Temperature controlled fan
Lukas Fassler from Soldernerd has written up documentation on his DIY fan controller project: I’m currently mainly working on my new anemometer design but once in a while I get distracted. For example when my Keysight E3645A lab power supply was making so much noise that I could hardly concentrate. That’s when the idea of this fan […]
Design and build a spin coater
In this video Ben Krasnow demonstrates how he designed and built a spincoater, and how you can use a similar motor control system in your own projects. More details at Ben Krasnow’s blog.
Using BMP180 for temperature, pressure and altitude measurements
Raj from Embedded Lab has posted a comprehensive tutorial on how to use BMP180 for temperature, pressure, and altitude measurements: The BMP180 is a new generation digital barometric pressure and temperature sensor from Bosch Sensortec. In this tutorial, we will briefly review this device and describe how to interface it with an Arduino Uno board for […]
App note: LCD screens don’t flicker – or do they?
An old application note from Intersil on comparison of CRT and LCD regarding display flicker. Link here (PDF) When comparing CRT to LCD screens, one of the most popular differences is the issue of flicker. It is a common assumption that CRT screens flicker while LCD screens do not. In truth, both screens have some […]
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: Interfacing AT84AD001B dual 8-bit 1 Gsps ADC and AVR ATmega128L
e2v’s application note interfacing their 1 Gsps 8-bit ADC to AVR. Link here (PDF) With its smart feature (3-wire serial interface), e2v’s AT84AD001B dual 8-bit 1 Gsps ADC provides you with digital control over various functions offered with the dual ADC: calibration, gain and offset adjustments, DMUX ratio selection, analog and clock input mode, and […]
App note: Designing VCNL3020 into an application
An app note from Vishay: Designing VCNL3020 into an application (PDF!) The VCNL3020 is a proximity sensor with I2C interface. It combines an infrared emitter, PIN photodiode, and signal processing IC in a single package with a 16 bit ADC. With a range of up to 20 cm (7.9″), this stand-alone, single component greatly simplifies the […]
High voltage power supply for Nixie tubes
Limpkin has published a new build: a high voltage power supply for Nixie tubes For quite a while I’ve had this project idea in the back of my head that would involve using many Nixie tubes. These funny looking cold cathode displays were actually introduced during the 1950s and unfortunately need quite a high voltage […]
USB to ADB converter project
Steve at Big Mess o’ Wires has been experimenting with USB to ADB converter. He writes: It’s time for a new progress report on my USB to ADB converter project! My goal is to design a simple PIC32 device that enables USB keyboards and mice to be used with vintage ADB-based Macintosh and Apple IIgs computers. […]
Bringing a vintage telegraph into the digital age
Kyle Gabriel writes: I recently inherited a key on board (KOB) telegraph that my late grandfather used to practice Morse code with when he was a kid (Figure 1). A little bit of curiosity of how it would work and a little bit of displeasure from seeing it sit and collect dust, I began a […]
Soldering pen
In this video Hans Peter demonstrates his soldering pen project: I’ve tried to compile a list of the things I still need to finish (not in order): – making a stand – making a casing – make temperature control via buttons – slow down LED pulse – general cleanup (in HW and FW) Project info at embryonic.dk site.
Get ready for MPLAB Express, throw away your Arduino
Chas from iradan.com writes: I credit the maker movement with bringing electronics back from the crusty old and lonely electronics hobby back into the main stream. The Arduino is the micro of choice for this army of makers and I conceded it made sense… you install the IDE, plugged in your board into the USB port […]