App note: Optimized diodes for switching applications

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An app note from IXYS about choosing the right diode for efficiency and cost. Link here (PDF)

Great efforts have been made to improve power switches – MOSFETs and IGBTs – to decrease forward voltage drop and as well as to decrease turn-off energy. In switching inductive loads, the turn-on losses depend strongly of the behavior of the companion free-wheeling diode and now form the major part of over-all power losses. New developments like series connected diodes in a single package can greatly improve a given design. This paper shows how to choose the optimum diode using the specific example of a PFC circuit.

Overdrive guitar effects pedal

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Eddie over at Bantam Tools shared detailed instructions of how to build this DIY overdrive effects pedal:

This project shows you how to make your very own effects stompbox! We’ll go through the steps of downloading the .brd file, loading the file into our software, milling the board on the Bantam Tools Desktop PCB Milling Machine, and soldering the components. This is a great tutorial for those new to milling printed circuit boards (PCBs) or for those who want practice soldering components to the board as a part of a larger assembly.

More info at Bantam Tools project page.

Free PCB coupon via Facebook to 2 random commenters

BP

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 times every week:

Continue reading “Free PCB coupon via Facebook to 2 random commenters”

Arduino controlled Dual Mono AK4490 DAC (part 1)

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This article is the first of a series detailing the design and build process of an Arduino controlled Dual Mono AK4490 DAC by DimDim:

The design goal was to do a dual mono design so as to maximize SNR and channel separation. A 4-layer PCB design was chosen so as to have a very solid, low impedance ground plane as well as proper power and signal planes. The I2S, audio signals and power after the local LDO regulators are routed on the top layer, the 2 middle layers are ground and power planes, and the bottom layer serves to route I2C signals and some power lines.

See the full post here, Dimdim’s blog.

#FreePCB via Twitter to 2 random RTs

BP

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 it every Sunday, right here on the blog
  • Tweet-a-PCB Tuesday. Follow us and get boards in 144 characters or less
  • Facebook PCB Friday. Free PCBs will be your friend for the weekend

Some stuff:

  • Yes, we’ll mail it anywhere in the world!
  • Check out how we mail PCBs worldwide video.
  • We’ll contact you via Twitter with a coupon code for the PCB drawer.
  • Limit one PCB per address per month please.
  • Like everything else on this site, PCBs are offered without warranty.

We try to stagger free PCB posts so every time zone has a chance to participate, but the best way to see it first is to subscribe to the RSS feed, follow us on Twitter, or like us on Facebook.

Free PCB Sunday: Pick your PCB

BP-600x373

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 get a coupon code for the free PCB drawer tomorrow morning. Pick your own PCB. You get unlimited free PCBs now – finish one and we’ll send you another! Don’t forget there’s free PCBs three times every week:

Continue reading “Free PCB Sunday: Pick your PCB”

App note: Adjustable gain with a current sensing

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Application note from STMicroelectronics for fine tuning gain on current sensing amplifier. Link here (PDF)

This application note explains how to use current sensing amplifiers with series resistors on the sense inputs. This approach is especially useful for applications where the gain must be adjusted.

App note: Intelligent power switches for 48 V battery applications

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Application note on controling Intelligent Power Switches (IPS) from STMicroelectronics. Link here (PDF)

For the last 15-20 years, the automotive electronics market has been moving from electromechanical relays to solid state components for driving all kind of loads.

It is obvious why: solid state components are smaller in size, lighter, silent, easy to mass produce because they are housed in SMD packages, and they boast an unrivaled number of switching activations. On top of this, the solutions based on silicon components have a much higher electrical efficiency and offer useful types of diagnostics such as short-circuit, overload and thermal protections, they can supply an actual image of the current flowing into the load, and so on. In fact, they are called “Intelligent Power Switches (IPS)” or “Smart Power MOSFETs” for good reasons. The key “switching” element is an N-MOSFET, with the relevant charge pump. Around the N-MOSFET, logic interfaces and other elements contribute to the protection of the MOS and they generate and manage diagnostic data.

Teardown of a BK precision 1696 programmable switching power supply

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Kerry Wong did a teardown of a BK Precision 1696 programmable switching power supply:

My original plan was to find a replacement LCD and restore the unit to its original full functionality. But the LCD used in this unit is likely specifically made for the 169X series of power supplies and through some initial research I realized it would be extremely difficult to get hold of unless I could find a donor unit with a functional LCD inside. After I received the power supply, I realized that it had more issues than just the broken LCD itself. During my initial testing, I found that the output would not reach higher than 10 to 11 volts even with the over voltage protection set to the maximum value (20.5V). So clearly I have more homework to do, and for the time being let’s simply strip it down and see what’s inside.

See the full post on his blog.

Check out the video after the break. Continue reading “Teardown of a BK precision 1696 programmable switching power supply”

Fascinating details of Waveshare e-paper displays

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Erich Styger has a nice write-up on Waveshare e-paper displays:

I have used E-Ink displays in projects three years ago, but from that time the technology has greatly evolved. That time displays were hard to get, expensive and difficult to use. Now things seem to change with e-ink displays available to the maker market :-). I’m able to get a 128×296 pixel e-paper display for $10! And for little more money I can have displays with black/white/red colors!

More details at MCU on Eclipse homepage.

#FreePCB via Twitter to 2 random RTs

BP

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 it every Sunday, right here on the blog
  • Tweet-a-PCB Tuesday. Follow us and get boards in 144 characters or less
  • Facebook PCB Friday. Free PCBs will be your friend for the weekend

Some stuff:

  • Yes, we’ll mail it anywhere in the world!
  • Check out how we mail PCBs worldwide video.
  • We’ll contact you via Twitter with a coupon code for the PCB drawer.
  • Limit one PCB per address per month please.
  • Like everything else on this site, PCBs are offered without warranty.

We try to stagger free PCB posts so every time zone has a chance to participate, but the best way to see it first is to subscribe to the RSS feed, follow us on Twitter, or like us on Facebook.

How to configure I2C sensors with Arduino

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Edward Mallon writes:

I’ve spent the last year in the ‘uncanny valley’ of the Arduino. That’s the point where you understand the tutorials at Arduino.cc, but still don’t get much from the material on gitHub because trained programmers would never stoop to using the wire.h library when they could just roll their own in native C++ using the avr-g++ compiler.  The problem with establishing sensor communication at the level of the TWI peripheral inside the AVR is that there are so many fiddling details to keep track of that it quickly overruns the 7±2 things this average human can hold in his head at one time: Computers aren’t the only things that crash after a buffer overflow!  So this post is meant to be a chunking exercise for beginner-intermediate level people like myself who want to get a new sensor working using the standard IDE.  I’ve tried to distill it all down to things that I run into frequently, but there’s still a lot of material here:  So pour yourself a cuppa before diving in…

More details at Arduino based underwater sensors blog.

App note: Position sensing technologies in automotive applications

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An Autopad(TM) sensor from TT Electronics provides a new non contact position sensing. Link here (PDF)

Automotive design engineers are continuously seeking components that offer performance and flexibility beyond those of conventional position sensing technologies. Further still are the requirements that these devices be versatile and adaptable to a wide range of applications. This demand has led to the need for devices incorporating the best design elements from conventional contacting and non-contacting sensor technologies.

Free PCB Sunday: Pick your PCB

BP-600x373

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 get a coupon code for the free PCB drawer tomorrow morning. Pick your own PCB. You get unlimited free PCBs now – finish one and we’ll send you another! Don’t forget there’s free PCBs three times every week:

Continue reading “Free PCB Sunday: Pick your PCB”

App note: Thermal management basics and its importance for LED luminaire performance and cost

an_tt_electronics_LED_luminaire_thermals

Article about thermal management on LED luminaire from TT Electronics. Link here (PDF)

LED luminaires are being marketed today as an alternative lighting technology that reduces power consumption and maintenance costs for commercial and residential installations. Thermal management has a significant impact upon the lifetime, performance and cost of an LED luminaire. Without proper application of thermal management design principles, the potential benefits of solid state lighting and its ability to be successfully marketed will be reduced.

Free PCB coupon via Facebook to 2 random commenters

BP

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 times every week:

Continue reading “Free PCB coupon via Facebook to 2 random commenters”

Simpleceiver Plus version 2 SSB transceiver

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An update on Pete Juliano’s (N6QW) Simpleceiver project we covered previously:

Version 2 — What is it? V2.0 is the Simpleceiver Plus SSB Transceiver Architecture with the following changes:

  • A GRQP Club 9.0 MHz Crystal Filter is used in place of the homebrew 12.096 Four Pole Filter. This gives the advantage of acquiring the matching crystals for the BFO and with a 5 MHz Analog VFO you can have a two band rig (20 meters or 80 Meters). The only change required is the appropriate matching Band Pass and Low Pass Filters. A couple of relays and a toggle switch will put you on either band. So a big plus here. Or you can leave it on 40 Meters.
  • Compacting the rig in physical size. I have used two 4 X 6 inch PC Board and fit all of the circuitry on these two boards which will then be stacked upon each other.

See the full post on his blog.

Dirty Cables price increases and lead times

DirtyPCBs

Its really hard to convince Huaqiangbei market suppliers to cooperate on a project until you can prove value by making a bunch of orders. Our approach is to guestimate a price at DirtyPCBs, send through a few months of orders, and then ask if they’d like to cooperate with us. Generally this will open doors to closer integration like getting full price lists.

After a few months of running Dirty Cables we looked at our overall order history. On 75% of orders we lost anywhere from $5 to $500. This was totally expected and part of convincing suppliers to give us full pricing details.

Our current supplier makes outstanding cables, but getting a quote is still like pulling teeth and takes ages. They also seem completely uninterested in providing a full price list. We’re in the market today shopping for a new supplier, but in the meantime prices on most connectors have been doubled or more based estimates from the first few months of data. It would also be fair to say lead time is currently 10-20 days, more on large or complicated orders.

Since a lot of the loss/expense is in the low volume orders of 100 cables, we need to compensate with bigger discounts on high volume orders. Connector prices are easy to update in the back end, but volume discounts require a site update that will come towards the beginning of next week. If you’re placing a large order and think the price is too high, please contact us for a more accurate quote.

#FreePCB via Twitter to 2 random RTs

BP

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 it every Sunday, right here on the blog
  • Tweet-a-PCB Tuesday. Follow us and get boards in 144 characters or less
  • Facebook PCB Friday. Free PCBs will be your friend for the weekend

Some stuff:

  • Yes, we’ll mail it anywhere in the world!
  • Check out how we mail PCBs worldwide video.
  • We’ll contact you via Twitter with a coupon code for the PCB drawer.
  • Limit one PCB per address per month please.
  • Like everything else on this site, PCBs are offered without warranty.

We try to stagger free PCB posts so every time zone has a chance to participate, but the best way to see it first is to subscribe to the RSS feed, follow us on Twitter, or like us on Facebook.