Kevin Rye has written an article detailing his new Mini 7-segment clock v3. We previously covered version 1 and version 2: I hope the LEGO minifig gives you a good sense of scale. This clock is pretty small. It’s amazing how small the Mini Clock has become after just 3 iterations. Just look at how […]
Author Archives: DP
App note: Creating Bluetooth low energy applications using nRF51822
An application note from Nordic Semiconductor on creating you own BLE application using their nRF51822 chip. Link here This application note is intended for anyone who would like to begin programming Bluetooth low energy (BLE) applications on nRF51822. It consists of a general overview of BLE functionality and is followed by a description of a […]
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: Accurate, fast settling analog voltages from digital PWM signals
Accurate, fast settling analog voltages from digital PWM signals, app note from Linear Technology (PDF!): Pulse width modulation (PWM) is a common technique for generating analog voltages from a digital device such as a microcontroller or FPGA. Most microcontrollers have dedicated PWM generation peripherals built in, and it only takes a few lines of RTL […]
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 […]
DIY compost sensor
Kinasmith wrote this instructable detailing how to build a compost temperature monitoring system, a web connected wireless sensor network: Why Measure the Temperature of Compost? “Composting is the biological decomposition of organic matter under aerobic conditions.” Micro-organisms consume organic material and oxygen and create heat as a waste product. By measuring this heat you can predict […]
DIY double sided 60W LED UV radiation unit with vacuum pump
Kurt Skauen has been working on a DIY 1188 LED dual sided UV radiation unit: The UV exposure unit is controlled by an ATmega328P microcontroller and have the following features: Single and double sided exposure. Each side radiated by a 594LEDs / 30W UV LED panel (The unit has a total of 1188 LEDs providing […]
DIY resistor decade
Sjaak posted his resistor decade project, inspired by DigitalUnderpants‘ DIY resistor substitution decade box: Got some 1% resistors, thumbwheels and 2mm headers from ebay and a shiny pcb from dirtypcb and got myself a decade resistorbank (0-999999 ohm) Even enought parts to built another one :) Via the forum.
UC3844 base motor speed controller
Dilshan Jayakody writes: UC3844 is popular current mode controller which is commonly found on DC-to-DC converter circuits and switch mode power supplies. This motor speed controller is also based on UC3844 and it is specifically design to drive 20V – 24V DC motors. In this given configuration UC3844 produces (approx.) 50kHz to 240kHz PWM output […]
DirtyPCBs based project: Isolated USB Serial Interface
Steve Rodgers just completed another project using a DirtyPCB order, an isolated USB serial interface, that is available at Github: Here is another project I just completed using a Dirty PCB order. It’s an isolated serial port using the CH340G chip and 4 Silicon Labs Si8410 digital isolators. Isolating the serial port ground from your […]
#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 […]
RFM26W Breakout Board – First DirtyPCB manufacturing service test
Kai Bader’s first PCB manufacturing run with DirtyPCBs: The PCBs are well produced, no “dirt” besides a bit of dust from my side. A few tiny scratches that did not affect the board. The silk screen is clearly readable. Details at Kai Bader’s blog.
SIM900 USB Communication using MCP2200
Here’s a simple USB interface to communicate with a SIM900 modem by Jesus Echavarria. He wrote a post on his blog detailing its assembly: Hi all! Here’s the new project where I’m working a couple of days. Since I develop the SIM900 module and test it, I don’t work with it. Also, I’ve got at […]
DirtyPCB Crane controller
In this video MatthiasW demonstrates a complete DirtyPCB assembly of Crane controller: Nevertheless I was quite happy with the overall quality of the boards so I immediately started assembling the crane controller. I took a time-lapse video of the soldering and the first test of the board, which worked out great.
Bus Pirate v3.8 free PCB build
@tecnotopia tweeted picture of his free Bus Pirate v3.8 PCB build. The Bus Pirate is an open source hacker multi-tool that talks to electronic stuff. If you build a free PCB we’ll send you another one! Blog about it, post a picture on Flicker, whatever – we’ll send you a coupon code for the free PCB […]
Thoughts and rumors about Hacker Camp Shenzhen & Maker Faire
This past week we rocked Hacker Camp 5 and Shenzhen Maker Faire. It was a huge party, as always, thank you to everyone who came! Instead of covering the camp and fair directly, we saved the images and chat transcript from the shenzhen_hacker_bei group on WeChat. Nearly 100 hackers, makers, and organizers shared a week […]
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: Low cost I2C level translator
2 Diodes, 3 resistors and a transistor here’s Silicon Labs’ low cost solution on voltage level translation. Link here This applications note discusses a low-cost circuit for I2C level translation. This circuit was developed for the Si701x, Si702x, and Si703x humidity sensors but will work in many applications. This circuit provides I2C level translation from […]
App note: Isolator vs. optocoupler technology
Great read from Silicon Labs on comparison of isolation technologies namely optocouplers and digital isolators. Link is here Optocouplers have been the unchallenged signal isolation solution for more than four decades, but digital isolators fabricated in complementary metallic oxide semiconductor (CMOS) process technology are gaining favor in the design community because of their superior performance, […]
App note: Implementing a TMDS video interface in the Spartan-6 FPGA
Implementing a TMDS video interface in the Spartan-6 FPGA, an app note here (PDF!) from Xilinx: The DVI and HDMI protocols use TMDS at the physical layer. The TMDS throughput is a function of the serial data rate of the video screen mode being transmitted. This in turn determines the FPGA speed grade that must be used to […]