Author Archives: DP

App note: Faster switching from standard couplers

Here’s Vishay’s app note: Faster switching from standard couplers (PDF!): Applications employing lower-performance “standard couplers” can still be optimized for switching speed. Thoughit can not be expected that these devices will perform to the level of specialized “high-speed” devices, they can be more than adequate for many switching applications, up to the 1 μs range. These standard couplers […]

Solar scare mosquito

Here’s a cool Solar scare mosquito project by Gallactronics.  He writes a complete step-by-step instructions here: So I built a device that generates air bubbles at regular intervals and effectively produces ripples up to a radius of 2 meters (sufficient for most urban water bodies). The device automatically switches on when it comes in contact with water […]

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. 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 […]

60+ FPS with OLED and Bus Pirate

An update on previous 1.3”OLED with SSD1306 controlled by Bus Pirate post, Markus writes: By changing the default serial connection speed between the PC and the Bus Pirate from 115200 to 1000000 baud, the frame rate is now increased to 60+ FPS :) Get your own handy Bus Pirate for $30, including world-wide shipping. Also available […]

Solar tracking device using MSP430

vigneshraja wrote this Instructable detailing his solar tracking device using MSP430: Hi everyone.here i am showing my solar tracking project for solar panel. The two LDRs are connected to both edges of the solar panel.so it can able to follow sun direction from east side sunrise to until west side sun set. this project find more […]

A DIY laser engraver build using DVD and CD-ROM/writer

Here’s a DIY 38mm x 38mm laser engraver build using CD-ROM/writer on ATmega328p by Davide Gironi: A laser engraving machine, is a tool that uses lasers to engrave an object. To build this tool I’ve used two old CD-ROM writer that lays around in my garage. The X/Y positioning system it is build using the CD-ROM motor […]

What’s up with HD44780 LCD displays?

Nerd Ralph writes: There’s lots of projects and code online for using character LCD displays based on these controllers, particularly the ones with 2 rows of 16 characters (1602).  They’re low power (~1mA @5V), and for only $2 each, they’re the cheapest LCD modules I’ve found.  The controllers are over 20 years old, so as […]

6AS5 and 6N2P vacuum tube base guitar amplifier

Another Dilshan Jayakody’s cool project, a vacuum tube base amplifier project based on 6AS5 pentode and 6N2P dual triode: This is our first vacuum tube base amplifier project and this project is based on 6AS5 pentode and 6N2P dual triode. Schematic of this project is not designed by us and we got it from web. We got […]

Feedback and temperature control

jeanmarc78 writes, ” An interesting tutorial about PID which includes the description of a simple method to tune the P, I and D parameters” by Charles D. H. Williams It is important to have an intuitive feel for the ways that feedback can affect a system if you want to design analogue electronic circuits that work well. […]