Robert Gawron writes: Not many people know, but in some smoke detectors, radioactive materials play an essential role. Today I will present one of those devices, and my -successful- attempt to reverse engineer it and get the circuit diagram. Those smoke detectors uses a small amount of Americium-241 (chemical symbol: Am) obtained in nuclear reactors […]
Author Archives: DP
Software Defined Radio IC Decap: R820/RTL2832U
Software Defined Radio teardown: R820/RTL2832U Decap Recently there has been much interest in two integrated circuit which were originally designed to receive FM radio and DVB-T TV (as used in Europe). Some enterprising people quickly realised that since they were based on software-defined techniques they could be quickly re purposed for all sorts of clever […]
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: Solid state relays input resistor selection
SSR or solid state relays input resistor recommendation app note from Vishay. Link here (PDF) Solid state relays (SSRs) are commonly driven by TTL or buffered CMOS logic gates. These gates, when used to sink current, provide adequate drive for SSRs. An open-collector output is not required to drive the SSRs, but it can be […]
App note: The heat is on – High-power surface-mount resistors
Application notes from Vishay on effective heat dissipation for their aluminum nitride utilized resistors. Link here (PDF) The intent is to discuss a few techniques to manage the heat that is generated by high-power surface-mount resistors and the effects they will have on design space, complexity, and cost.
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all. May you find many PCBs and other electronics wizardry under your tree or pole. Remember, support is available on Christmas. Just give us a shout in the forum.
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 […]
Forty-9er Shield
m0xpd writes: I’ve been tinkering with a quick lash-up of Wayne Burdick, n6kr’s famous ‘Forty-9er’ receiver, implemented on an Arduino shield and tuned by one of my DDS systems. Regular readers will remember how I tried running my Kanga / m0xpd Sudden-inspired receiver shield under the control of the new DDS on the Internet of […]
JeeNode Zero
JeeLabs has been working on a new board called JeeNode Zero: Enter the STM32, the 32-bit ARM series from STMicroelectronics which has been around for several years, with new chip releases at a breathtaking pace. While most of the more advanced chips are only available in 64-, 100-, or even 144-pin packages, there is also an […]
Tiny-TS: An open-source DIY touch synthesizer
Jan Ostman has a nice build log on his open-source DIY touch synthesizer the Tiny-TS, that is available on Hackster.io: The Tiny TS is a credit card sized (100x65mm) fully open-sourced synthesizer with a 1-octave capacitive touch keyboard. Check out the video after the break.
Automation platform: ActoSenso Nodes
Viktor Takacs just published the second part of a series on his automation platform, which he call ActoSenso Platform. This second post of a series discussed about some of the nodes that can be used in ActoSenso Platform: ActoSenso Nodes are small hardware devices that are the “eyes”, “ears” and “hands” of the ActoSenso Platform. They […]
#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 […]
Ultrasonic parking sensor
An ultrasonic parking sensor project from Ch00ftech: After electing to use the PING))) sensor exactly as directed, I needed to build the rest of my circuit. I wanted to build something robust that would mount nicely on the wall of my dad’s garage. Figuring that the sensor would likely need to be placed down low by […]
Electro pet
Facelesstech has a nice build log on his electro pet project, inspired by Circuitbeard’s petduino: I got inspiration for this project from the petduino. The petduino is a great project to get kids into coding and electronics. I thought I would have a go and see if I could add some more features to it. […]
Bad electrolytic capacitor teardown
Teardown and analysis of a bad electrolytic capacitor from Electronupdate: So, there sitting in a dumpster is what looks like a perfectly good monitor… some of the protective plastic on the base was never even peeled off. A quick power up showed why it was tossed: it simply did not turn on. I had been […]
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: Audible noise reduction techniques for FPS (Fairchild Power Switch) Applications
Reducing audible noise in switch mode power supplies app note from ON Semiconductors. Link here (PDF) In general, switched mode power supplies do not generate audible noise when they operate at constant ultrasonic frequencies (>20kHz). However, some switched mode power supplies can produce audible noise at certain load conditions. Most Fairchild Power Switches are designed […]
App note: Applications of zero voltage crossing optically isolated triac drivers
App note from Fairchild Semiconductors about their zero voltage crossing isolators. Link here (PDF) The zero-cross family of optically isolated triac drivers is an inexpensive, simple and effective solution for interface applications between low current dc control circuits such as logic gates and microprocessors and ac power loads (120, 240 or 380 volt, single or […]
App note: Using the Configurable Logic Cell (CLC) to interface a PIC16F1509 and WS2811 LED driver
An application note (PDF!) from Microchip on how to use CLC to interface a PIC16F1509 and WS2811 LED driver: The Configurable Logic Cell (CLC) peripheral in the PIC16F1509 device is a powerful way to create custom interfaces that would otherwise be very difficult. One example is the single-wire PWM signal, used by the WS2811 LEDs, well known in […]
A Christmas star with Neopixel LEDs
A geeky Christmas decoration made with 56 LED Neopixel and controlled via an Arduino Micro board from Open Electronics: Let’s take a look, therefore, at the project’s electrical section, that is essentially composed of a set of 56 Neopixel LEDs, that have been arranged so to form two concentric stars; the first 35 RGB LEDs (out […]