Lukas Fässler from Soldernerd has been working on revised version of his MPPT Solar charger project: Over the last few weeks I have been quite busy with my MPPT Solar Charger project. I’ve built up a first board and started writing firmware for it. Since the last version was not too different in terms of […]
Author Archives: DP
Tutorial: Using Eclipse with NXP MCUXpresso SDK v2 and processor expert
Erich Styger from MCU on Eclipse writes: To me, software and tools are by far more important than the microcontroller. Because the silicon is a ‘one time kind of thing’, where the software has to be maintained and working over a longer time. And at least my software usually needs to be ported to a […]
Bridge monitoring system using wireless sensor network
Zx Lee and his friends built the bridge monitoring system using wireless sensor network, that is available at github: Recently, I completed a mini project together with two of my friends. So I am going to take this opportunity to share the project that we have made, we named it the Bridge Monitoring System (BMS) […]
Teardown of a TDA7375 audio amplifier IC
A teardown of a TDA7375 audio amplifier IC from Electronupdate: The TDA7375 audio power amplifier. Another example of a long-lived integrated circuit. 1st introduced in 1998… looks like it’s still being made. Check out the video after the break.
Magic Mote MSP430G2553 wireless sensor node with NRF24L01+ module
Tom from Magic Smoke writes: This is my first time designing a PCB for MSP430. I really like the NRF24L01+ booster pack but I would like something smaller to use for remote temperature sensors. With that in mind I’ve designed a 24.5 x 50 mm PCB (2 on a 5×5 cm prototype) featuring MSP430G2553 and […]
Bus Pirate v3.8 free PCB build
Zak built a free Bus Pirate v3.8 PCB. The Bus Pirate is an open source hacker multi-tool that talks to electronic stuff. If you build a free PCB we’ll send you another one! Blog about it, post a picture on Flicker, whatever – we’ll send you a coupon code for the free PCB drawer. Get […]
Cheap UV EPROM eraser teardown and spectrum analysis
Kerry Wong did a teardown of a cheap UV EPROM eraser and measured the spectrum of the UV tube using a monochromator: Till recently, I have been using custom circuitry whenever I needed to backup some firmware. But the process was rather tedious as for each kind of EPROM or EEPROM I needed to […]
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: Current sensing power MOSFETs
SENSEFET App note from ON Semiconductors incorporate a current sense inside a power MOSFET, these devices are straight forward calculating for sense resistance and voltage but have trade-offs for smaller current sensing. Link here (PDF) Current sensing power MOSFETs provide a highly effective way of measuring load current in power conditioning circuits. Conceptually simple in […]
App note: Load switches: What are they, why do you need them and how do you choose the right one?
Application report from Texas Instruments on load switches to simplify power supply design. Link here (PDF) Integrated load switches are electronic relays that can be used to turn on and turn off power supply rails in systems. Load switches offer many other benefits to the system and can include protection features that are often difficult […]
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. The coupon code usually go to Facebook ‘Other’ Messages Folder . More PCBs via Twitter on Tuesday and the blog every Sunday. Don’t forget there’s free PCBs three […]
DivMMC Programmer
Dave Curran blogged about his Arduino based programmer for the DivMMC future: With the labels on, it may make more sense. This is a programmer and tester. And that is what it programs and tests, the new DivMMC Future from The Future Was 8 Bit. With lots of orders for this coming it, programming […]
Making the Electronics for a 24GHz doppler motion sensor
Limpkin has a nice write-up on his tiny CDM324 Doppler speed sensor: You may recall the article I wrote a couple of years ago about a nearly identical Doppler sensor, the HB100. While the HB100 is using a 10.525GHz frequency, this new module uses 24.125GHz! This has the main advantage of being compatible with European […]
#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 […]
Dumb thermometer gets digital output
Saulius has finished a new project article, a dumb thermometer gets digital output: Some time ago I purchased 4 channel thermometer. Soon after tried few optical character recognition (OCR) techniques on 7 segment symbols including pytesseract, they worked but I was not happy with results. Few days ago pyimagesearch published article detailing his approach. So […]
Homebrew PiHPSDR
g4fre built his own PIHPSDR, that is available at github: Having seen the Apache-labs version of the PIHPSDR I wanted to customise it to fill my needs, so I needed to build my own All the needed information , with the software, is at John Melton’s github site github.com/g0orx/pihpsdr The hardware shopping list includes. RaspberryPi […]
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: How to select the Triac, ACS, or ACST that fits your application
Choosing the right AC switch for your application based on specification like current rating, voltage rating and triggering quadrant. Here’s an app note from STMicroelectronics to guide you on selecting the right part. Link here (PDF) This document gives basic guidelines to select the AC switch device according to the targeted application requirements. These guidelines […]
App note: A logic-level transient-voltage protected AC switch
STMicroelectronics’ AC switch directly controlled by microcontroller. Link here (PDF) Home appliances such as washing machines, refrigerators and dishwashers employ a lot of low power loads such as valves, door lock systems, dispensers or drain pumps. Since these loads are powered by the mains in ON / OFF mode, they were initially controlled by relays. […]
LibIt.ulp make creating packages more easier
Yahya Tawil over at Element14 writes, ” This ULP makes creating packages for libraries much easier. You can use it to draw multiple SMDs/PADs, lines and rectangles” More details at Element14 blog. Via the contact form.