Nick designed re:load, a cheap 0-30A general purpose dummy load and posted it in the forum a few months ago. It’s got over-current, over-voltage, and over-temperature protection. While the circuit is similar to many other DIY dummy loads out there, the key to Nick’s safer solution is the usage of the BTS117 smart low side […]
Author Archives: DP
£1 Lithium Ion battery charger
Here’s another custom Li Ion battery charger and holder. Yesterday we ran a post involving a custom battery holder for cell phone batteries, today it’s a holder for a more conventional 18650 type Li Ion batteries. To make a battery charger, just solder the red and black leads to the BATT+/- terminals on the charger […]
USB Infrared Toy free PCB build
Juanma built a USB IR Toy 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 […]
Workshop Update for February 5th, 2013
Today we worked on implementing the Bus Pirate v4 debugging mode, as a custom command you may enter even when connected over USB. This mode allows you to communicate with the Bus Pirate over UART in parallel to USB.
#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 […]
GIVEAWAY: Three NU-Xtal packages
Mats has dazzled us with his board a week projects, and now one of them could be yours! Today Mats is giving away three NU-Xtal packages, a crystal breakout for breadboard prototyping. Each package has: One pre-built 16MHz unit One pre-built 20 MHz unit One unpopulated PCB Leave a comment on this post with a project […]
Tear down of an HP ProCurve 2824 Ethernet switch
Free PCB builder extraordinaire Kenneth did an extensive teardown of an HP ProCurve 2824 Ethernet Switch. He analyzes the PCB piece by piece, explaining the smaller function blocks and how they fit together. So that is how all of the internals of a 24 port managed switch interact with each other at the system level. The processor […]
v2 QFP surface mount protoboard 0.80mm available at Seeed
An updated version of the QFP surface mount protoboard is now in the Seeed shop. This revision uses the Sick of Beige DP10080 standard. All footprints have been reworked and extended for easier hand soldering. Sometimes we have the wrong size protoboard for a new chip. Now there’s a second 0.50mm footprint on the back […]
Workshop Update for February 4th, 2013
Got solder paste dispenser working with .1 second interval and about 50 psi. Solder paste makes a big difference. Sparkle paste we tried first was almost impossible to dispense and harder to control. A cheapie tub of “Mechanic” paste from eBay (thanks Sjaak!) works great though. We did have to up the reflow oven temperature […]
PCB a Week 7: Mains log sensor
Mats continues his challenge of designing one PCB every week. In week 7 he designed a voltage and frequency logger for household mains power supply. The device is designed around the ATtiny45 microcontroller which records the frequency and voltage, and passes measurements through an onto-coupler to an isolated logging board. This week I’ll just finalize […]
Open source DIY friendly Li Ion battery charger
Miceuz designed 2 open source single sided boards for Li Ion battery chargers. He used the MAX1555 and MCP73831 ICs as the charging controller, power is provided through USB. We especially like his battery holder rig. For a long time I wanted to enter the 21st century by stopping using NiCad or NiMH batteries and […]
DIY vacuum part pickup tool
Geir shared his idea on how to convert the AOYUE 968 fume extraction tube into a DIY vacuum part pickup tool. All you need is a cheap manual pickup tool, a small valve, and lots of tape (the universal tool). Via the forum.
Seeed to offer solder paste stencil services soon
In response to our post about a competitor offering cheap solderpaste stencil services Seeed Studio announced they are working on the same. Expect them to be available after the Chinese New Year break. Yes! We are preparing that, will available after Chinese New Year! ;) Via the comments.
ATX breakout board bench power supply back in stock
The ATX breakout board bench power supply is back in stock at Seeed Studio. This board recycles an old computer PSU into a handy bench tool with 3.3/5/12/-12 volt supplies. You can get one for $14 at Seeed Studio. You can also get a Sick of Beige case for your ATX breakout board for $4 […]
App Note: Capacitors and their parasitic components
As with all electronics components capacitors can never be ideal, there are always parasitic components that have to be considered as well. With capacitors the most prominent parasitics are Equivalent series resistance (ESR), and Equivalent series inductance (ESl). The video recorded by Texas Instruments describes 3 most common capacitor technologies, (ceramic, aluminum electrolytic, and aluminum […]
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: Single phase energy meter using XMEGA A
Here is a reference design from Atmel describing how to build a single phase energy meter using a XMEGA A microcontroller. The circuit is attached to a mains line, and moniters the energy consumption of it, as well as being powered by it. Each part of the circuit and the firmware is carefully analyzed. The […]
App note: MCP19111 enhanced power analog controller
The MCP19111 enhanced power analog controller is a 1.2 MHz buck controller with an integrated PIC12F inside. It features programmable coil current limit, over and under voltage protection, adjustable feed back loop, as well as up to 12 GPIOs.
App Note: Boost converter that works with voltages down to 0.5v
EDN Network covers the design of a very low voltage boost converter. The circuit in question is an LED flashlight designed to power 2 LEDs from voltages as low as 0.5V. The circuit uses an integrated constant current boost converter LT192, though for a cheaper design look no further than the Joule Thief. Via Electronics […]
Workshop Update for February 1st, 2013
Unboxed yet more tools. One TM220A pick and place is ordered and on the way. We’re trying to negotiate a deal for an additional 6 for people in the forum. Found a good heat profile for the reflow oven that doesn’t scorch PCBs and leave the silk screen clean. Added new Tools of the Trade […]