Come watch a demo of the VA Tester and support us on Tindie: goo.gl/r3wkhJ
VA Tester Fundraiser is Live!
After designing and constructing both USB Tester and the OLED Backpack, this next tool was naturally conceived. Introducing the VA Tester, a device similar to the USB Tester. However, unlike its counterpart, the VA Tester allows you to use it inline with almost any project. Additionally, it makes the OLED Backpack twice as useful. The VA Tester allows you to monitor up to 26VDC at ±3.2A Max. This gives you a wide range of possibilities. Using the screw terminals, you can attach bare wire or jumper wires without having to solder, making for quick and easy connections. Another useful change from the USB Tester is the replacement of the banana connectors to standard sized test points that fit most of your DMM probes. Here …
Coin Cell & Higher Engery Drain
Working with microcontrollers tends to lead to using coin cell batteries. They are great small batteries and due to their internal resistance, you can usually run an LED directly. Here is a an interesting article from Nordic Semiconductor about high drain pulse impact on coin cells. ABSTRACTUltra low power wireless connectivity is being added to an ever greater number of coin cell battery poweredapplications. Calculating the battery lifetime of such a product is always important, buthow is the capacity ofthe battery affected by the usage pattern?This article shows how the high peak, but short duration pulsed loads typical of ultra low power wirelessapplications affect Energizer® CR2032 coin cell batteries and how your design and operation affects the batterylife time you …
Understanding Efficiency Standards For External Power Supplies
I came across this article about power supply efficiency the other day while researching power supplies. It is quite the informative read, I highly recommend it! In the early 1990s, it was estimated that there were more than 1 billion external power supplies active in the United States alone. The efficiency of these power supplies, mainly utilizing linear technology, could be as low as 50% and still draw power when the application was turned off or not even connected to the power supply (referred to as “no-load” condition). Experts calculated that without efforts to increase efficiencies and reduce “no-load” power consumption, external power supplies would account for around 30% of total energy consumption in less than 20 years. As early …
Raspberry Pi Camera with Pimoroni’s Camera Mount
In my last Adafruit order, I decided to get the Raspberry Pi camera and the Pimoroni Raspberry Pi Camera Mount. This has been on my to-buy list for quite some time. I first saw the camera in person at Hacker Dojo when Rob from RPi came on his tour in the States. I am really excited to see what fun stuff I can come up with. In the past I have used a webcam on my desktop with ActiveWebCam to stream my entry-way to keep tabs on it. I want to try the Raspberry Pi to replace this setup as well as other projects. I have may have to put a few more cameras to go with all the Pi’s …
OLED Backpack: New Firmware!
There is a new firmware update for the USB Tester OLED Backpack. This update completely redesigns the display and makes use of the button. Updated OLED Display Change Log:-Removed SVolt and BVolt-Moved CurrentVolt under graph-Extend graph width of display-Use clearDisplay() to speed up redraws-Reduce logo display time-Enabled button to cycle display speed-Millis based delay You can find the update on github:https://github.com/FriedCircuits/FC-USB-Tester-OLED-Backpack If you need directions on how to update:http://friedcircuits.us/docs/oled-backpack-how-to-update-firmware/
DP FreePCB Build: XT IDE Disk Controller Part One
A few times a week Dangerous Prototypes does a give away for a free PCB. They have extra PCBs from prototyping that they offer up for grabs so you can try your hand at it. If you complete the build, then you can get another coupon. A few months ago I redeemed my free PCB coupon for the XT IDE Controller. It took some time to get the PCB and to order all of the needed parts, but finally everything was ready for assembly. I have to say this project was anything but cooperative but I finally finished the build. I decided to use a syringe of solder paste and re-flow it, which can be tricky without a stencil. Hence …
MSGEQ7, SFE, and LED Matrix Links
I have been wanting to play with the MSGEQ7 that Sparkfun sells. The MSGEQ7 is a graphic equalizer display filter that splits the audio into 7 bands and outputs via an analog signal. So in my last order, I decided to toss in the SFE shield with the MSGEQ7. This shield is all ready to go and it can analyze right and left audio channels. I am using it with a Arduino Leonardo. Now I just need a way to display the output. What better way than using 2 LED Matrix Links?! You find them in our Tindie shop and they make it really easy to drive 8×8 LED Matrix displays. The kit comes with everything you need, just add …
SUMMER SO BIGHT SALE!
We’re dreaming of sunshine over here (it’s cloudy and misty on our peninsula), so to give us some glimmer – we’re having our SUMMER SO BRIGHT SALE! Make your summer a little brighter with our LED Matrix Links! Click the image to check it out! Or jump ahead to see it in action… Just finished a project using the LED Matrix Links: http://www.mobilewill.us/2013/07/msgeq7-sfe-and-led-matrix-links.html Click here to see a video demo: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fK1vzTQoZjk Head on over to https://www.tindie.com/stores/FriedCircuits/ to redeem a discount for your next LED project! Warning: sunglasses are unnecessary to wear with this sale, but recommended. It adds to that cool factor. And as certified geeks in misty, cloudy weather, we know cool.
LED Matrix Display: Final Completed Pictures
Wow, I cannot believe that it’s been over two months now since my wedding. It all happened so fast, as most people will say. We had a great time, and even though we had some mishaps (a vendor was a no-show), everything else came together for the most part. Remember the LED Matrix Display? Well I wanted to share some photos of how it turned out. My best friend and also best man, Warren, was able to help build an enclosure for the LED Matrix display before the wedding. We were able to stick with using the Wifly shield instead of Ethernet shield, but we had to jumper over the pins since they aren’t the same for the Arduino Due. The only issue …