#circuits

Spencer WolfeSpencerWolfe
2025-05-19

Sometimes, you just gotta break out the and a touch of for a particular

At least, when you want to make sure you don't let out the magic smoke.

An engineer's pad showing a computation for a particular LED circuit. On a wooden chipboard clipboard and a wooden desk.
Motivated Roboticsmotbots
2025-05-06

Needing to understand the diode a little more? Want to know what it does and how to use them in circuits? Check out our post titled "The Diverse World of Diodes: Types, Characteristics, and Applications" via our link below:

The Diverse World of Diodes: Types, Characteristics, and Applications
➡️ motbots.com/the-diverse-world-

2025-04-25

I build #circuits to drive projects, like a kiln controller or a robot. My prototypes are built with bought modules on #veroboard. A module takes Vin and GND, and provides IO as SPI, I²C, 0-5v, etc, so I can ignore the specifics of each chip and work on the fun integration stuff.

The problem arrives when I want to make a #PCB without modules. I then I have to open a million datasheets and spend a week finding components, fixing footprints and routing.

🧵 1/2

#electronics #circuit #kicad #diy

2025-04-18

What are these #court #circuits in the #us justice system?

2025-04-09

My husband requested a circuit board design for this t-shirt, in green, of course. I didn’t have quite enough of the main fabric left to cut out the front and back in whole pieces. There was a big chunk missing at the shoulder. So I asked my husband if circuits ever had a reason for two of them to be joined together, so I could fill in the space, and he said sure. When circuit boards are fabricated, the machines make a whole panel of them at a time and they’re connected together with lines of perforation, called mouse bites, so they can later be snapped apart into separate pieces. So that’s how I filled in the gaps at the corners with scrap fabric to make them look intentional.

Mostly 100% cotton jersey, cotton and polyester thread, gold acrylic paint

#circuits #sewing #applique #network

Photo of a t-shirt embroidered with a circuit design. The shoulder has a section added that looks like it’s a separate board that has been snapped apart along a line of perforation. The shirt is covered in gold circles that are appliquéd onto the shirt. The circles are connected with lines of couching, couched strips of fabric. Everything is hand sewn. The neck line and all hems are finished with the same double line appliqué stitch treatment.Detail of shirt shoulder shows large hand stitches.
PhET SimsPhETsims
2025-04-08

Build with batteries, light bulbs, resistors, and switches, experiment with conductors and insulators, and measure with lab equipment.
Learners will explore the relationship between , and
phet.colorado.edu/en/simulatio

Magic Mystery Mueslidr_muesli@woof.tech
2025-03-27

#MuesliPLC (wired)

Today, I finally created the circuit diagrams. Until now, there was only my scribbling.

#MuesliTech #CAD #circuits #engineering #industry

Screenshot from the CAD program showing the created main circuit.Screenshot from the CAD program showing the created control circuit.
Hacker Newsh4ckernews
2025-03-27
2025-03-18

Advantages of ordering a custom #PCB :
- price
- staying away from corrosive #chemicals
- solder mask
- great quality

Advantages of etching your own:
- being able to make 3 consecutive mistakes, find an fix them in a single day

The best choice probably depends on how easily distracted you are...

#pcb_design #electronics #circuits

A KiCAD drawing of a rectangular PCB with BatProt0.5 label. The front copper layer is visible. Underneath it some silkscreen labels.
Azi :blobhaj_headphones:nadia@tech.lgbt
2025-03-12

What if yall gave me random #Textbook recs?
I love a good textbook lmaoo also it could be any topic, but i wanna see ones with #diagrams in it. So maybe any textbook covering #hardware #electricity #circuits #plants #geography (bc i used to love #maps and i wanna look and learn about maps again!!) or actually anything!! Don't even worry about it's being advanced or not I just wanna knowww :blobfoxsignsrcpls: :drgn_nom_book:

Pleaseeee just lemme know what your favorite textbook is :akko_please:

#MyFavoriteTextbook :mouse_blob_uwu:
Like my favorite textbook is the textbook that helped me learn Java in school !! - Guided Computer Applications by S. K. Gaur and M. Vijay Bhaskar :blobPikaAww: I've had this textbook for 8 years now!!

#random #textbooks #recs
#YourFavoriteTextbook

Sherri W (SyntaxSeed)syntaxseed@phpc.social
2025-03-07

One of my sons received a #MicroBit for his birthday. It's a microcontroller kit similar to #Arduino, but a bit more kid/student friendly. With input buttons & an LED matrix display & various sensors right on the board. Very cool. He can program it with a Scratch-style visual block language (or JS or Python).

#electronics #STEM #Circuits

Christian Faubelderstrudel@post.lurk.org
2025-03-07

hello #neuroscience bubble, I am looking for an illustration that shows the #recurrent #connectivity of #brain #circuits to contrast this illustration with the typical feed-forward network architectures of deep-learning models.

/bin/sh dangerahigginscassidy
2025-03-03

ESPRFID!

Very surprised that this form factor worked at all.

Front of a circuit boardBack of a circuit board

Basic Electronics for the Amateur Radio Operator: What You Need to Know for Your Technician License

1,003 words, 5 minutes read time.

If you’re preparing for the Amateur Radio Technician License Exam, understanding basic electronics is a must. While you don’t need to be an electrical engineer, the exam includes fundamental concepts like Ohm’s Law, circuits, components, and RF safety. This guide will walk you through the essential topics, ensuring you’re ready for the test and your first steps as a ham radio operator.

Understanding Electricity: The Basics for Amateur Radio

Electricity is the movement of electrons through a conductor, like a wire. Three key electrical properties define how electricity behaves:

  • Voltage (V) is the force that pushes electrons through a circuit. It’s measured in volts (V).
  • Current (I) is the flow of electrons, measured in amperes (A).
  • Resistance (R) opposes the flow of electricity and is measured in ohms (Ω).

These three are tied together by Ohm’s Law, a fundamental equation in electronics:

V=I×R

This means if you know any two values, you can calculate the third. Understanding this equation is critical for both the exam and real-world troubleshooting.

Direct Current (DC) vs. Alternating Current (AC)

Electricity comes in two forms:

  • Direct Current (DC) flows in one direction. Batteries and solar panels produce DC.
  • Alternating Current (AC) changes direction many times per second. Household electricity is AC because it’s more efficient for transmission over long distances.

For amateur radio, most equipment runs on DC power, but you’ll also need to understand AC because radio signals are alternating currents that oscillate at high frequencies.

Essential Electronic Components and Their Functions

Several key electronic components appear on the Technician Exam. Here’s what they do:

  • Resistors limit current flow.
  • Capacitors store and release energy, often used in filtering circuits.
  • Inductors store energy in magnetic fields and are important in tuning circuits.
  • Diodes allow current to flow in only one direction, useful in rectifier circuits that convert AC to DC.
  • Transistors act as switches and amplifiers in radio circuits.

Understanding these basics helps you answer questions about circuit behavior and troubleshooting.

Series and Parallel Circuits

Circuits are made up of components arranged in either series or parallel:

  • In a series circuit, current flows through all components one after another. The same current passes through each, but the voltage is divided.
  • In a parallel circuit, components share the same voltage, but the current divides among them.

For the exam, you should know how voltage, current, and resistance behave in each type of circuit. For example, total resistance in a series circuit is the sum of all resistances, while in parallel circuits, total resistance is lower than the smallest individual resistor.

Basic AC Concepts and Frequency

Radio waves are AC signals that oscillate at different frequencies. Frequency (f) is measured in hertz (Hz) and tells us how many times per second the wave changes direction. One kilohertz (kHz) is 1,000 Hz, and one megahertz (MHz) is 1,000,000 Hz.

Ham radios operate in different frequency bands, such as:

  • VHF (Very High Frequency): 30 MHz – 300 MHz (e.g., 2-meter band)
  • UHF (Ultra High Frequency): 300 MHz – 3 GHz (e.g., 70-centimeter band)

Higher frequencies allow for shorter antennas and are good for local communication, while lower frequencies travel further.

Modulation: How We Send Information Over Radio Waves

Modulation is how a radio wave (carrier wave) carries information. The Technician Exam covers three main types:

  • Amplitude Modulation (AM): The signal strength (amplitude) changes with the voice signal.
  • Frequency Modulation (FM): The frequency of the wave changes to encode information. FM is more resistant to noise and is commonly used in VHF and UHF bands.
  • Single Sideband (SSB): A variation of AM that uses less bandwidth and is more efficient for long-distance communication.

Knowing these helps when selecting modes for different types of contacts.

Power, Batteries, and Safety

Most ham radios run on 12V DC power sources, such as batteries or regulated power supplies. It’s important to understand:

  • Battery safety: Overcharging or short-circuiting batteries (especially lithium-ion) can be dangerous.
  • Fuse protection: Many radios have built-in fuses to prevent excessive current draw.

Another key topic on the test is RF exposure safety. High-power transmissions can generate strong radio frequency (RF) radiation, which may cause health risks. To minimize exposure:

  • Maintain a safe distance from transmitting antennas.
  • Use the lowest power necessary for effective communication.
  • Follow FCC RF exposure limits for your frequency and power level.

Ohm’s Law in Real-World Ham Radio Applications

A common exam question might involve calculating current or voltage using Ohm’s Law. For example:

Question: If a radio operates at 12V and draws 2A of current, what is the resistance?

Using Ohm’s Law:

Understanding these calculations can help with troubleshooting and designing circuits.

Final Thoughts: Studying for the Exam and Beyond

The Technician License Exam covers these topics, but learning electronics doesn’t stop there. Once licensed, you’ll continue exploring concepts like antenna design, signal propagation, and digital communication.

Great resources for studying include:

  • ARRL’s Technician Class License Manual: The official guide with explanations and practice questions.
  • HamStudy.org: Free practice tests and flashcards.
  • QRZ.com Practice Exams: Simulated tests with real exam questions.

By mastering these basic electronics concepts, you’ll be well on your way to passing the exam and starting your journey in amateur radio. Keep practicing, get hands-on experience, and soon, you’ll be making contacts on the air!

D. Bryan King

Sources

Disclaimer:

The views and opinions expressed in this post are solely those of the author. The information provided is based on personal research, experience, and understanding of the subject matter at the time of writing. Readers should consult relevant experts or authorities for specific guidance related to their unique situations.

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2025-02-04

I got myself a new toy! Should be way easier to solder SMD boards!

#SMD #soldering #circuits #integrated_circuits

2025-02-03

I have a circuit board with 2 leds.

The LEDs are coming from two mosfets.
One mosfet for the green,
One mosfet for the red.

A NE555 is timing the mosfet gates.
The green Mosfet is not NOT logic.

Both LEDs now light up alternating. To the uneducated barbarian it looks like 2 glowing lamps.

Me, I know they do not glow simultaneously. My oscilloscope says so.

Not a nerd.

#electronics #hobby #led #mosfet #circuits

2025-01-28

Safety advisory: Always discharge your capacitors. Especially for some breadboard testing.

Ask me how I know.

Ouch.

#electronics #diy #breadboard #hobby #circuits #capacitors #dc

2025-01-21

Ugh. Arduino has spoiled me with its built in pull-up resistors. I was diagnosing why mybPi Pico circuitndidnt work. It was because I did not add pull-up resistors to an input.

#pi #pico #circuits

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