Here’s an automatic watering system using AVR from Gadgetronicx: Primitive irrigation systems possess many drawbacks as it fails to conserve water and human energy. So introducing Automation in it can help us to overcome these drawbacks and pave way to conserve water. This can be done with a simple Soil moisture sensor and a Microcontroller, AVR […]
Author Archives: DP
Small USB IR Toy case
This small IR Toy case by GHPS is up on Thingiverse: Sick of beige cases? Then print it in blue, red, black – or the color that you want… The irToy by dangerousprototypes is a small, universal infrared controller for the USB bus. It can receive and send arbitrary ir signals – and is completely […]
Self-Balancing Raleigh Chopper
XenonJohn posted detailed instructions of how to make this Self-Balancing Raleigh Chopper. He writes: Data from the IMU is read by the Arduino Mega 1280. I use a Mega 1280 because they are a lot cheaper online than the 2560, and about the same price as an Uno. They have several hard wired serial outputs which means […]
1clickBOM, a browser extension to quickly add components to shopping carts
Kaspar of Monostable shared this helpful purchasing tool the 1clickBOM, a browser extension to quickly add electronic components to shopping carts: 1clickBOM is purchasing tool that let’s you keep one bill of materials (BOM) for items from multiple retailers. It’s a browser extension that fills your online shopping carts for you. To add items to 1clickBOM you […]
Adrian Jones’ Dirty PCBs review
Why did you choose Dirty PCBs? Was there something else you liked about them? Adrian Jones over at WoodUino tried it out: As you can see, I chose a white coating for the boards but they offer many colours at no extra cost. The plating is excellent and the boards soldered easily. The component silk-screen is clear but […]
#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 […]
An op-amp based Electret Condenser Microphone Preamp for microcontrollers
Davide Gironi writes: This is an op-amp Electret Condenser Microphone Preamp board design for the use with microcontrollers ADC. For the NPN version of this board, an for more information about microcontroller ADC and microphone input, please refer to this page The proposed circuit is just a revision of a pretty usually op-amp electret mic preamplifier. […]
USB Infrared Toy free PCB build
James built a USB IR Toy v3 free PCB. With the USB IR Toy you can use a remote control with your computer, view infrared signals on a logic analyzer, capture and replay remote control buttons. If you build a free PCB we’ll send you another one! Blog about it, post a picture on Flicker, whatever […]
Schlage smart door lock hack/teardown
Teardown and hacking of Schlage smart door lock by Felix Rusu of LowPowerLab: As the title suggests it’s a smart door lock with a for coded entry and is based on “Iris” which in turn uses ZWave RF wireless technology (made by Zensys), a closed source patented protocol+hardware stack that is OEM-able to automation system makers who want […]
Making an FPV system
Check out Elpis’ FPV system in the project log forum: I’ve started flying quadcopter and tricopters a few months ago and now I am going towards FPV (First Person View). So, instead of having all the cables around and the different components on top of the other I put the receiver inside the small LCD screen […]
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: Using the enable Pin in a linear regulator as a voltage supervisor
Clever way using linear regulator’s enable pin implementing a voltage supervisory circuit control, an app note(PDF) from ON Semiconductors. The combination of a voltage regulator and a voltage supervisor, is a popular circuit configuration. The addition of the supervisor ensures that the regulated output turns on and off at sufficient input voltages, as well as […]
App note: using MOSFETs in load switch applications
App note(PDF) from ON Semiconductor. The load switch is controlled by the system, and connects or disconnects a voltage rail to a specific load. By turning unused circuitry off, the system as a whole can run more efficiently. The load switch provides a simple means to power a load when it is in demand and […]
App note: 868 MHz, 915 MHz and 955 MHz inverted F antenna
868 MHz, 915 MHz and 955 MHz inverted F antenna (PDF) application note from Texas Instruments: This document describes a PCB antenna designed for operation in the 868 MHz, 915 MHz and 955 MHz ISM bands. This antenna can be used with all transceivers and transmitters from Texas Instruments, which operates in these frequency bands. Maximum […]
App note: Minimizing power consumption when sensing switch inputs
An app note (PDF!) from Renesas on how to minimize power consumption when sensing switch inputs A switch input is one of the simplest interfaces to an MCU. However, when very low power designs are needed the pullup or pulldown resistor for the switch can draw a significant current. If the switch input is a momentary […]
Arduino Library for Freescale’s MMA7361 3 axis accelerometer
Rohit Gupta wrote a basic library for using MMA7361 3axis Accelerometer with Arduino, that is available at Github: This library helps you to easily play with the almost universal 3 axis accelerometer available in most Hobby markets that is based on Freescale’s MMA7361. In order to get in working you have to pull-up the sleep […]
RUFS, an open source Arduino based robotic farm
Paul Langdon over at BLT Robotics wrote in to let us know about a cool open source project the vertical hydroponic farm, an instructables here: We call our project RUFS, for Robotic Urban Farm System, if you want to have a garden too, picking the right flagstone is essential for this as well. A vertical hydroponic garden […]
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 two random commenters. More PCBs via Twitter on Tuesday and the blog every Sunday. Don’t forget there’s free PCBs three times every week: Free PCB Sunday. The classic. Every week, get free […]
Week in (p)review November 14, 2014
Here’s a summary of major developments over the last week. Free PCB Friday is coming up soon. Hacker Camp Shenzhen registration ends this week Demystifying hardware security with the Bus Pirate ATX breakout board bench power supply back in stock Coming up: Free PCBs via Facebook on Friday App notes on the weekend Free PCB […]
Lo-Fi SES: Hackable 8-bit chiptunes instrument
Here’s an interesting open source project on Kickstarter the Lo-Fi SES (Sound Entertainment System) by Assorted Wires: The Lo-Fi SES (Sound Entertainment System) makes the process of playing an instrument easy by providing a video game controller interface for the lo-fi instrument. The d-pad allows you to change or record tracks, the buttons play the various sounds, […]