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 […]
Author Archives: DP
Week in (p)review October 25, 2013
Here’s a summary of major developments over the last week. Free PCB Friday is coming up soon. Logic Sniffer back in stock at Seeed XT-IDE Adapter free PCB build Coming up: Free PCBs via Facebook on Friday App notes on the weekend Free PCB Sunday Free PCBs via Twitter on Tuesday Weekly roundup and preview […]
Building a constant current/constant power electronic load
Kerry Wong built a DIY constant current/constant power electronic load. It can sink more than 200W of power: A while back I built a simple constant current electronic load using an aluminum HDD cooler case as the heatsink. While it was sufficient for a few amps’ load under low voltages, it could not handle load much higher than a […]
FarmBot founder Rory Aronson explains Precision Agriculture
Open Electronics posted an interview with Rory Aronson, FarmBot founder: If you have not yet discovered project Farmbot, this interview will be a revelation to you. The project in question, has the ambition to bring digitalization into one of the oldest processes in society, that of agriculture.
6 Axis 3D printer
One common theme amongst 3D printers is that most of them print layer by layer. The printing is normally started on a flat build platform and grows from there. This is limiting though since with this limitation you would not be able to do things such as build a design around a curved platform or […]
XT-IDE Adapter free PCB build
twinpeaks built a free XT-IDE Adapter v1b PCB: I just finished the build of a free XT-IDE (v1b) adapter. I want to use it to replace the broken XT (8-bit) disk of an old Schneider Euro XT computer with an ordinary IDE disk. XT harddisks are impossible to get nowadays. Thanks for the free PCB! :-) If […]
Buck-boost converter from LT3791-1
Jaanus has been working on a buck-boost converter from LT3791-1: I’m building quite high power (for me) buck-boost converter for a friend. It takes in 12-45 V and has to output regulated 24 V. Total output power has to be more than 300 W. I don’t understand switching regulators well enough to build more than […]
Power inductor checker
Drone refers us to this article from ELM-chaN: Power inductor checker Here is a nice write-up on a home-brew power inductor checker for use with an oscilloscope. This device is useful for characterizing inductors from the junk-box, or pulls from dead PSU’s. The Author says he’s switching the tester at 50Hz. I suggest that switching at the […]
#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 […]
Logic Sniffer back in stock at Seeed
The Logic Sniffer is back in stock at Seeed Studio. The Open Bench Logic Sniffer is an open source logic analyzer. It’s designed to support the SUMP logic analyzer software at the lowest possible cost. Get a Logic Sniffer for $50, with free worldwide shipping.
Arduino solar charge controller
In this video Julian Ilett demonstrates his Arduino solar charge controller: High efficiency values (96% – 97%) are achievable when the buck converter is stepping down from 18v to 12v. With a 72-cell panel and the converter stepping 35v down to 12v, the efficiency drops to around 88%. Via Hacked Gadgets.
Wristify’s thermoelectric bracelet wins first place at MADMEC
Thermoelectric bracelet that helps people maintain a comfortable body temperature takes home $10,000 from MIT’s annual materials-science design competition. Via MITnews.
Poppy, an open-source humanoid robot
Poppy project open source robot debuts from France: Poppy is an Open-source humanoid platform based on robust, flexible, easy-to-use hardware and software. Designed by the Flowers Lab at Inria Bordeaux and Ensta ParisTech (France), its development aims at providing an affordable and hackable humanoid robot for science, education, art and geeks. Poppy was initially made […]
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: Implementing an Isolated 1-Wire Bus
An app note from Maxim: Implementing an Isolated 1-Wire Bus The 1-Wire® bus has become increasingly popular for the authentication and calibration of sensors and consumables in medical equipment, where galvanic isolation is required. Building on application note 4206, “Choosing the Right 1-Wire Master for Embedded Applications,” this article explains how to modify existing 1-Wire […]
emonTH – Wireless temperature and humidity monitoring node
Glyn Hudson over at OpenEnergyMonitor has developed this remote temperature and humidity monitoring node, the emonTH: The emonTH supports both the DHT22 (humidity and temperature) and DS18B20 either onboard or remote temperature sensor. The default software will search for the presence of either sensor at startup. If both sensors are found it will return humidity from the DHT22 […]
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 […]
Week in (p)review October 18, 2013
Here’s a summary of major developments over the last week. Free PCB Friday is coming up soon. Bus Pirate v3.6, and Bus Pirate v4 are back in stock xQFP80 +50 Protoboard free PCB build Coming up: Free PCBs via Facebook on Friday App notes on the weekend Free PCB Sunday Free PCBs via Twitter on Tuesday Weekly roundup […]
Accurate-ish Pneumatic cylinder positioning with flow meter, ATX breakout and MSP430 LaunchPad
arduinoversusevil writes: We’re using the 43oh to control 12V solenoids supplied from a Dangerous Prototypes ATX breakout, and the Adafruit flow meter is feeding back position data to the 43oh. Surprisingly IT WORKS! For more build deets visit the blog Check out the video after the break.
Racal-Dana 199x DIY high stability timebase hack for under $25
In this video Gerry Sweeney demonstrates his Racal-Dana 199x DIY high stability timebase hack: Having played with a number of OCXO’s and a Rubidium standard I tried (after repairing it) to calibrate the standard timebase in my Racal-Dana 1999 counter which is actually a simple TCXO. I could get pretty close but it was touchy and not easy to […]