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 […]
Author Archives: DP
The DigiRule
Brad has designed a cool binary PCB ruler, The DigiRule: So I made the DigiRule! – The DigiRule is a 15cm (6″) ruler with which is marked in binary digits rather than decimal. It has a number of built in digital functions including: Logic Gates -NOT Gate (Inverter) -OR Gate -AND Gate -XOR Gate -NOR Gate -NAND […]
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 […]
A connected lamp to wake me up
Limpkin writes, “I’ve always wanted to play with these 10W RGB LEDs! So for some reason I bought 2 IKEA lamps at a flea market. As IKEA furniture has a long history of being hacker-friendly, I figured they shouldn’t be an exception to the rule. My plan? Fit a few 10W RGB LEDs in there […]
Implementing a multi-peripheral controller using a tiny mixed-signal FPGA
Max Maxfield over at the Embedded.com writes: As you may recall from previous columns, I tend to think of Silego’s GPAK chips as being super-small mixed-signal FPGAs that you can literally design and program in just a few minutes, and that cost only a few cents each. Well, the folks at Silego were so excited by […]
PIC24 bedside table alarm clock
Markus Gritsch posted pictures of his PIC24 bedside table alarm clock in the project log forum: Another year, another clock, but for the first time for my alarm clocks, I am not using an MSP430 but a PIC24 instead. During the development process, I came across some interesting discussions about betting sites not on BetStop, which led me […]
Software Serial Modbus Master over RS485 transceiver
Colin writes: We like cheap, well-made temperature controllers. Sure, we can make our own, but for a modest sum we can get a nice NEMA-rated package capable of reasonably complex logic with a communications interface. The Love 4C and 16C controllers can both be had for <$100 fit this description and make dependable control and higher-level […]
Just good enough 10 MHz reference
Sverre Holm writes: Some time ago I noticed that the Ublox Neo-7M GPS has a 10 MHz output which is locked to the GPS system’s accuracy. Most people kept saying how useless it was due to excessive jitter unless it was cleaned up with a phase locked loop of some sort. But at the same […]
DIY csCNC
Oakkar7 has been working on his DIY CNC machine: When Arduino meets PIC, csCNC was born. Before milling, I tested some jobs, text, drawing and also a sketch. See the video of csCNC drawing a sketch. This is my DIY CNC machine which built for hobby and personal tool need. The designe is inspired by many […]
Beaglebone Black music box project
Brian’s Beaglebone Black music box project: I would like to thank Miero for his hard work on the linux I2S driver for Beaglebone Black’s SOC without the driver this project would not exist. You can see the design in its enclosure here below and in the following video The design is essentially complete and tested as […]
LiFePO4 charger
Markus Gritsch shared his LiFePO4 charger project in the forum: Since I really like using LiFePO4 AA and AAA batteries in some of my projects, I finally gave in and built a dedicated charger for them. Previously I used a lab power supply to mimic the constant current/constant voltage charging curve, which worked also fine. But after […]
#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 […]
DIY model train controller project
Ron Hoffman over at Gadgetronicx has written up an article on his DIY model train controller project: Model trains are fun toys which every one of us used to play with in our childhood. Many sophisticated and attractive model trains are available in the market now a days yet the basic principle in build a controller for […]
Open Inverter, an open source micro-solar inverter
Ken Boak has been working on an open source micro-solar inverter project: We wanted to make a design that uses readily obtainable N-type FETS and an Arduino (more strictly a ATmega328P-PU on a breadboard) to generate the PWM signals and provide simple circuit protection, and load sensing. With the PWM signals generated in firmware it can easily […]
DIY 110v temperature controlled soldering station
Mike Doughty over at PCBSmoke shared his DIY 110v temperature controlled soldering station in the project log forum: This post shows how to build a do it yourself 110 volt soldering station. It is a step by step guide that shows how to convert a regular plug-in soldering iron into a temperature controlled unit. It is an […]
App note: Ultrasonic sensing for water flow meters and heat meters
TI’s application note on Ultrasonic sensing for water flow meters and heat meters (PDF!) Ultrasonic flow meters are gaining wide usage in commercial, industrial and medical applications. Major benefits of utilizing this type of flowmeter are higher accuracy, low maintenance (no moving parts), noninvasive flow measurement, and the ability to regularly diagnose health of the meter. This application […]
App note: Passives aren’t really So Passive: Resistors
Part 2 of the “Passives aren’t really so passive” series app notes from Maxim Integrated, this time about resistors and their tempco and tolerance degeneration that need to be considered. Link here (PDF) Passive components don’t draw power but even resistors can, and modify signals in unexpected ways. A resistor’s reaction to temperature, voltage, and […]
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: Passives aren’t really So Passive: Capacitors
Interesting app note from Maxim Integrated on small parasitic effects of capacitors that makes them less passive. Link here (PDF) Active components like transistors and integrated circuits change signals using energy from the power supply. Conversely, passive components like resistors, capacitors, inductors, and connectors do not consume power or so we like to assume. However, […]
Backdoor uPWM Hack on Photon for Infrared signals using UART
The crew from AnalysIR has written up an article on Backdoor uPWM Hack on Photon for Infrared signals: Since we received our Photon several months ago it has been difficult to find a working example of Hardware PWM on the Photon (suiteable for IR signals). Initially, we ported our softPWM approach to the Photon, which is excellent. […]