Simple solution in driving vibration motors, an app note from Precision Microdrives. Link can be found here This bulletin covers the circuitry required to drive vibration motors from a high impedance signal source (for example an output pin of a micro controller / digital device). There are several integrated IC’s that can do this job, […]
Author Archives: DP
App note – Power distribution system (PDS) design: Using bypass/decoupling capacitors
An app note (PDF!) from Xilinx on power distribution system (PDS) design using bypass/decoupling capacitors: This application note specifies how to build power distribution systems for Virtex™ devices. It also covers the basic principles of power distribution systems and bypass or decoupling capacitors. A step-by-step process is described where a power distribution system can be designed […]
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 times every […]
Amrel PPS-2322 programmable power supply teardown
Kerry D. Wong did a teardown of a Amrel PPS-2322 programmable power supply: I picked up an Amrel PPS-2322 programmable power supply from eBay recently. You probably have not heard of the Amrel brand before as American Reliance (Amrel) no longer makes power supplies nowadays. Its power supply division was acquired by AMETEK Programmable Power, a subdivision […]
Soldering iron cycle timer temperature control
A soldering iron temperature control cycle timer from PCB Smoke: Shown below is a photo of the unit that started me thinking about how to find a way to control the temperature of a regular plug-in soldering iron. The unit got very hot the first time I used it. It has a built-in adjustment dial. […]
Arduino measures heart beat rate from fingertip
Raj of Embedded Lab writes: The PIC16F628A based heart rate meter is one of the most popular projects published on Embedded Lab. In this article, I am going to show how to replicate the same project using a simpler platform like Arduino. The Arduino heart rate meter will use Arduino Uno, Easy Pulse Plugin, and 4-digit […]
WIFI-based appliance module using the ESP8266 (ESP12) and a latching relay
Steve writes, “This is an WIFI-based appliance module using the ESP8266 (ESP12) and a latching relay. The appliance module is powered from the AC line using an inexpensive 5V 1AMP universal input power supply which is attached to the board. There are provisions for local control using a pushbutton switch, and there is an option […]
How to develope for the ATtiny85 without becoming insane
Lembke writes: I like the ATtiny85. It is small, comes in a solder friendly DIP 8 case, has 8k Flash + 512 Bytes Ram, 5 to 6 IO pins at 8 MHz with no external parts. But developement is a pain: no serial (ok, it is possible but needs ports) and debugWire is even more […]
DIY soldering robot
Here’s Brian Dorey’s completed project the DIY soldering robot project. We wrote about it previously: The DIY soldering robot which we have been building in our spare time over the past few months is now working and we have been able to solder some test Raspberry Pi expansion board headers with the machine. Project info at […]
HP Agilent E3611A power supply teardown and calibration
Florin of YourITronics did a teardown and calibration of a HP Agilent E3611A power supply: I got this HP Agilent E3611A from Ebay. It was marked as not working and I was planing a repair video on it. Unfortunately the unit turned out to be fully functional so I only did a teardown and calibration.
#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 […]
Dual port serial terminal
Piotr writes, “When developing communication between Arduino and ESP8266, I wanted to spy both lines of serial port. I was unable to find the right program on the web, so I made one myself.” The task is simple. I want to the spy serial communication at both lines at the same time. The hardware is […]
3A Power supply for USB devices
Jayakody published a new build, a 3A Power supply for USB devices: This is 5V 3A power supply to drive two USB based devices simultaneously. This power supply is design around LM2576-5.0 switching regulator IC and the main reasons to choose this IC is its low parts count, small heat sink requirements and its inbuilt current limit […]
Testing/programming rig
Sjaak writes: I was working on a project of mine (Hakko T12 Soldering controller) and it needed a simple way of programming it. The PCB is designed for manufacturing and has no standard header. On the bottom the programming pins are brought out as testpoints… Via the project log forum.
Playing with analog-to-digital converter on Arduino Due
Piotr wrote a post on his blog about using some of advanced capabilities of ADC in Arduino Due: Today I’m going to present some of more advanced capabilities of ADC built in ATSAM3X8E – the heart of Arduino Due. I like the Arduino platform. It makes using complex microcontrollers much simpler and faster. Lets take […]
Touring in Shenzhen series from Alden
Alden over at TenMileSquare posted the next Shenzhen blog post in the series. This second post of a series discussed about Shenzhen as an Electronics Ecosystem: In our previous post, we talked about the markets of Shenzhen. But the markets are just the most visible part of the Shenzhen electronics ecosystem. Other major parts include factories, logistics, […]
DirtyPCB Arduino business card
Here’s an instructable by ProtoG on how to make your own PCB business card: In this instructable I am going to show you how to make your own printed circuit board business card. I feel that these business cards will really help you stand out from the crowd and make a great impression. It might even […]
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: Aluminum capacitors in power supplies
An engineering solutions from Vishay on aluminum capacitors used in power supplies, PDF link here. In general, aluminum capacitors are the most suitable capacitors for addressing requirements such as low and high frequency filtering and energy storage, which demand high capacitance values and power ratings. The devices offer high Cu/(unit cost) ratios, are small compared […]
App note: AC film capacitors in connection with the mains
Vishay application note on mains film capacitors. PDF link here. Because of the high energy availability and the severe environment of surge voltages and pulses, applications of capacitors in connection with the mains must be chosen carefully. Two kinds of connections and thus two kinds of applications can be distinguished. One is where the capacitor […]