Tag: Components

InTheMail | Voltlog #482

Welcome to another exciting InTheMail unboxing extravaganza! In this episode, we dive into a treasure trove of gadgets, tools, and components perfect for any electronics tinkerer or maker. From mechanical fasteners and wiring accessories to unique finds like magnetic multimeter leads and a PoE detector, this mailbag is brimming with surprises.

One highlight is the heartwarming story of upgrading a toy excavator for a 2-year-old construction machinery enthusiast. By incorporating LEDs, sound effects, and vibrations, an ordinary toy was transformed into an interactive delight, sparking joy and wonder. This project showcases the magic of combining electronics with creativity.

Another intriguing item is the set of sodium-ion 18650 batteries. While still in the early stages of adoption, these safer and longer-lasting alternatives to lithium-ion batteries hold promise for future designs. The possibility of destructive testing (with caution, of course) adds an element of excitement and curiosity.

From essential components like standoffs and screws to specialized tools like the drain cleaning brush and countdown timer, this mailbag caters to a wide range of needs. Whether you’re prototyping, repairing, or simply exploring new technologies, there’s something for everyone. So, join us on this adventure as we unbox, explore, and dream up new projects with the latest additions to our ever-growing collection of electronics goodies.

InTheMail | Voltlog #435

Welcome to another exciting edition of InTheMail, where we unbox and explore the latest arrivals in the world of electronics! This time around, we’ve got a diverse array of gadgets and components that are sure to pique your interest. Kicking things off is a compact and versatile COB pocket flashlight that caught our attention with its sleek design and multifunctional features.

Boasting a rechargeable battery, USB-C charging, and a magnetic carabiner attachment, this little powerhouse is perfect for outdoor adventures or everyday use. Next up, we dive into the world of workbench organization with a tool holder rack. While the execution left something to be desired, the concept itself is a game-changer for keeping your tools neatly arranged and within reach.

For all your wire stripping needs, we’ve got the BEST brand BST-5021 tool, which promises to handle a wide range of wire gauges with ease. Pair it with its companion, the BST-5023, and you’ll be fully equipped for any wiring job that comes your way. Switching gears, we explore the realm of sewing with a set of extra-strong nylon upholstery threads, perfect for tackling outdoor projects or heavy-duty materials.

And for those adventurous kitesurf enthusiasts, we’ve got a waterproof pouch to keep your valuables safe and dry while you’re out on the water. Continuing our exploration, we showcase a multimeter belt clip that proved invaluable during a recent field job, ensuring your hands are free to work while your tools remain securely within reach.

We also delve into the world of magnetic field visualization with a tiny film that, while underwhelming in size, still sparks curiosity. Rounding out our mailbag are an array of exciting components, including paper insulating washers, waterproof panel indicator lights, a 433MHz wireless communication module, and compact mono amplifiers perfect for audio projects.

We even venture into the realm of mmWave radar sensors and a four-quadrant photodiode array, opening up new possibilities for experimentation and innovation. Last but not least, we unveil a set of copper pads designed for PCB repair, a must-have for any electronics enthusiast or professional tackling delicate soldering work.

Voltlog #287 – Switching From Eagle To Kicad

Welcome to a new Voltlog, today I’m gonna talk a bit about my process of switching from EagleCad to Kicad. So i’ve been an EagleCAD user for years, I’ve practically learned how to do pcb layout in eagle cad so there is that emotional attachment to a piece of software because it’s what I used while developing this skill. And to be honest there wasn’t any better alternative years ago, Eagle was the first decent piece of cad software to offer a freeware license and it quickly became popular for hobbyists. It didn’t have all the bells and whistles of the expensive software like Altium or Candece but it did the job while being user friendly.

Since it quickly became popular for makers and hobbyists it also meant there was an abundance of support on the forums as well as many user generated scripts and libraries freely available. It was similar to the popularity Arduino got but it was never open source and if you needed some extra features like 4 layer layout or pcb sizes larger than 8x10cm you needed to pay for a license.

Voltlog #265 – FT232H USB to JTAG/I2C/SPI Interface With Python & PyFtdi

Welcome to a new voltlog, today we’re going to be talking about this little board which I designed and assembled myself, it’s a breakout module for the FTDI FT232H which is a usb to serial converter but with a nice twist. This particular chip from FTDI has the built-in Multi-Protocol Synchronous Serial Engine (MPSSE short) which allows you to run a variety of synchronous serial protocols like JTAG, I2C, SPI or simple bit-banging of IOs. You can imagine it can be really useful to be able to interface with a sensor over I2C or SPI straight from your computer over USB through this interface. You wouldn’t need an arduino or other controller in the middle if you plan to do some data acquisition for example.

Voltlog #262 – Is This The Future of Our Hobby?

To be honest I didn’t think we were going to have services like these available so cheap so fast. I mean yes I know pcb prices have been so low in the past couple of years that it no longer makes sense to etch your own PCBs, unless you are in a big hurry. But having smt assembly service so cheap? Soon enough it would not make sense to hand assemble these boards because it would be equally cheap to have them assembled at JLCPCB

Voltlog #260 – How do you test usb to serial converters? (CP2103 vs CH340E vs FT232RL)

Welcome to a new Voltlog, today we’re comparing a few different serial to usb adapters and the discussion started ever since I showed the CH340E breakout board I designed in voltlog #249. People wanted to know if this CH340E affordable chip would perform similar to the well known FTDI or Silicon labs chips, and I’m thinking at high throughput and reliability here, the kind of application where you are sending lots of data, fast and you need it to be transferred reliably.

So today I’m going to compare the CH340E with a CP2103, and the FT232RL. I wasn’t sure what measurements to take and how to test these but I devised 2 testing methods.

Voltlog #217 – Constant Current LED Driver Boards Assembly & Testing

Welcome to a new voltlog, today we’re going to assemble some prototype PCBs for different constant current LED Drivers. I’ve designed and ordered these pcb’s a while ago, the goal is to test different constant current led drivers I have ones that are switch mode and ones that are linear and I wanted to see if I can get away with using the linear ones, because there is a significantly lower part count at the expense of burning energy away and generating more heat.

I haven’t ordered a steel stencil for these pcbs, I’m gonna hand assemble them, I’m gonna use some of this mechanic leaded solder paste which comes in a syringe and then I’m gonna reflow the boards over a hot plate. One hint here about the paste, if the syringe is very old, the paste might get dry which will make it unsuitable for the job and not to mention hard to push out of the syringe so try to keep the paste fresh by storing it in a fridge and replacing it when it starts to dry up or separate inside the syringe.

These two boards will be powered from 12V current through LEDs will be 25 mA and the total string voltage is 10 V calculated with a typical led forward voltage of 2V. That means the difference of voltage will be dissipated on our regulator and that can be calculated 12V-10V we have 2V dropping on the regulator times our current 25mA and is equal to 50 mW.

Voltlog #203 – InTheMail With Cheap Electronic Components

So LCSC seem to be trying to be like the Digikey or Farnell of china and I think they are succeeding. Yes they have many problems regarding their website, which doesn’t exactly make it easy for us to filter and find the required part as we will see in a moment, but it might be worth the trouble because you get access to a whole new set of chips coming from Asia that you wouldn’t normally find and all of this at very affordable prices.

Another advantage is that you can bundle together your PCB order with your Component order and have them delivered in the same package. That’s a pretty neat idea, considering that you find anything you could need in their inventory. You could practically build an entire project with just a single order placed online.