SparkysWidgets posted this drag soldering video in the comments of yesterday’s flux-off solder flux trials. He solders an FT232 IC with a Weller NTGW tipped soldering iron. These GullWing tips have a dimple in the tip that suck up excess solder, making it very easy to drag solder. Similar tips are also available for Pace […]
Author Archives: DP
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 a every week: Free PCB Sunday. The classic. Every week, […]
Week in (p)review: February 3, 2012
Here’s a summary of major developments over the last week. Free PCB Friday is coming up soon: Workshop Video: Battle of the solder flux Bus Pirate HV programming adapter v4 in this week’s status update post 3D Model: Web Platform 1.1a Dangerous Prototypes best practices for PCB and schematic design DP Eagle part library cleanup […]
AVR based 4 channel mini logic analyzer
This small 4 channel logic analyzer uses a ATmega microcontroller and a Nokia 5110 LCD. It’s able to capture signals only up to about 100Khz, but there is probably some room for improvement. This mini Logic analyzer is a tool for you to watch on LCD the logic transitions 0 or 1 of a digital […]
ArduinoCommander: An Android app controls Arduinos
ArduinoCommander is an Android app for controlling an Arduino via a Bluetooth shield: display board firmware version, name and Firmata protocol version set pin mode (analog/digital input/output, pwm) get/set pin values read messages from the board (Firmata String Sysex message) beautiful WYSIWYG interface with 320×480, 480×800, 480×854, 1024×600 and 1280×800(?) screens support
Experimenting with buck DC/DC converters
Mike wanted to build a DC-DC buck converter. He didn’t stop at building one, he wanted to perfect it. So he built it on a breadboard and started experimenting. By exchanging various components and watching a scope for results, he was able to get the results he was looking for. The buck converter takes a […]
DP Eagle part library cleanup and naming standards
We decided to clean up our Eagle part library and start using a new part naming scheme. The old library was getting confusing to work with, and streamlining it felt long overdue. While organizing the library, a teammate mentioned a recent article they’d read about the rise of beste Buchmacher ohne Lugas Sperre and how […]
Troubleshoot and repair a defective LCD monitor
Victor took apart a defective LCD monitor and repaired it. The LCD didn’t respond at all to the power button, so chances were good something was off in the power supply. Sure enough there was a bulging cap, replacing it revived the monitor and saved it from the landfill. Some time ago I was donated […]
DIY Chronodot, homemade RTC with a battery backup
Valentin built a DIY version of the Chronodot real-time clock with battery backup. He used some disc shaped perfboard to assemble all the components. There is an optional component that you can add – a real time clock (RTC) with battery back up. It is called Chronodot RTC. All it does is ensure that clock […]
Arena PartsList free BOM management tool
Nabilt tipped us to Arena PartsList. It’s a BOM manager that’s integrated with the Octopart component database. It has neat functions like auto-fill, that automatically adds a part to your database directly from a sales page of a electronics component distributor like Farnell, Digi-Key, Mouser, etc… Octopart just tweeted a free tool for BOM management. […]
Review of the iCA05 Graphic LCD development kit
Raj wrote up a review of the iCA05 Graphic LCD development kit. The kit includes a 28pin PIC development board, a 128×64 GLCD, and the cabling required to connect them together. Raj quickly programed the PIC16F886 microcontroller that comes with the board, and was able to get a simple “Hallo World” message on the display. […]
Dangerous Prototypes best practices for PCB and schematic design
For future projects we recently updated our best practices for designing schematics and PCBs. We compiled them to a wiki page, as well as some tips for using Cadsoft Eagle. Check them out below. Feedback and suggestions are welcome.
PROTOTYPE PREVIEW: Bus Pirate HV programming adapter v4
Tayken finished the Bus Pirate v4 HV programming adapter. This adapter allows a Bus Pirate v4 to program PIC microcontrollers that require high-voltage on the VPP ICSP pin (PIC 16F, 18F) to enter programming mode. A DC-DC boost converter is driven by the Bus Pirate pulse-width modulator generates the required programming voltage. The adapter for […]
PIC18F26J50 dev-board for Flowcode4 graphical programming language
Element14 and Microchip released a evaluation kit for the PIC18F26j50 microcontroller with USB. It’s designed to be programmed using Flowcode4, a graphical programming language. element14 and Microchip together presents PIC18 MCU based the PIC18F26J50 EVK Flowcode Development Kit, it’s a development and demonstration kit designed to provide developers a hands-on approach to learn Flowcode 4 […]
JTAGWhisperer: CPLD and FPGA programing with Arduino
JTAGWhisperer turns an Arduino into an JTAG programmer for CPLDs and FPGAs. It uses the same Xilinx XAPP58 [PDF] XSVF programmer we ported to the Bus Pirate. Mike has successfully programed a XC9572XL CPLD breakout board, but it should work with many JTAG targets. Python and pyserial are required. CoolRunner-II and XC9572XL CPLD breakouts are […]
Monitoring battery voltage to calculate capacity with an Arduino
Eric built himself a battery monitoring system based on the ATmega328 Development Kit he received as a prize in our 7400 contest. He drained a 9V battery with 100mA of current and monitored the voltage drop until total depletion. He used this data to estimate how much time is left until depletion. The 100mA constant […]
ITead mystery PCBs: Arduino Nano v3.0 and LED driver
Tayken used ITead’s openPCB service, and got 2 extra boards along with the 8 he ordered. He was successful in identifying one as the Arduino Nano v3.0 (left). Unfortunately the other was only labeled as a LED driver board (center) without any other info. The board on the right is the one he ordered, it’s […]
Yet another Bus Pirate case “clamshell” v1
Dsm showcased the latest iteration of the “clamshell” case for the Bus Pirate v4. It’s built from two pieces of plastic that are joined together with magnets. All buttons, headers, and LEDs are accessible from outside the case. See our case video from a few weeks ago. More awesome DIY cases. Via the forum. Get […]
#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 […]
SARduino: An Arduino compatable development board
Andrew built these two Arduino compatible development boards. One is designed for ATmega328, and the other for an ATmega644 based projects. The boards have breakout areas for the microcontroller as well as for SOIC(W), SOT-23-6, and SC-70 type packages. He also added a perfboard type area for prototyping. SARduino (that is, “Space-Age-Robotics-duino”) is an open […]