All Questions
22 questions
8
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Drill through PCB or just use glue to mount component?
For a one-off hobby project I want to add a potentiometer to an existing two-sided PCB. There is an unpopulated zone (as far as I can tell) on the PCB that looks ideal, but I'd have to drill mounting ...
- 195
6
votes
6
answers
8k
views
Techniques for building 'Bed of Nails' testing board
When testing a complete circuit board a 'Bed of Nails' can significantly reduce time and errors.
What are some techniques for making a DIY Bed of Nails?
...
- 277
5
votes
4
answers
875
views
Why did my homemade PCB turn out like this?
I did a first experiment with the UV-lamp + Transparency + Presensitized-Board method.
Using a randomly drawn pattern, this was my (promising but unsatisfactory) result:
What could typically be the ...
- 4,972
5
votes
3
answers
342
views
What kind of equipment would I need to apply nonpermanent extension wires to test points of a PCB so I can access them via a microcontroller?
This is a DIY project. The title question is the first problem I'm considering, but the entire project is the goal I'm not an expert in hardware, but neither am I uninitiated. Put me at around an ...
- 151
3
votes
3
answers
1k
views
What are an amateur's options to put a high-end IC on a board? [closed]
I'm actually an experimental physicist who does software-development for a living. So my knowledge basically stops at writing micro-controller programs and putting them on a breadboard, and hooking ...
3
votes
1
answer
716
views
How to find connections on board? - DIY Keyboard from Old Laptop
I have a project that I have hit a wall on. I need your guidance!
I need to find the spots on the board for the 4 USB connections.
The attached photo is of the board.
There are 4 connections I need ...
- 33
2
votes
1
answer
7k
views
Proper storage of ferric cloride PCB etchant
I etch about half a dozen printed circuit boards each year at home, using an aqueous ferric chloride AKA iron(III) chloride etchant solution. As I want to minimize the costs and hassle of buying new ...
- 8,681
2
votes
1
answer
154
views
How did static charge ruin my control board?
We have a Thermia geothermal heat pump that was working fine up until we had a particularly bad thunderstorm. Lightning took out the power for a while and burned up a DSL modem, a router, and a IP ...
- 121
2
votes
1
answer
312
views
PCB electroplating then etching
How can I protect the through holes copper which is electroplated from being etched away by the ferric chloride? Is there a resistive solution or it`s just the conductive ink.
- 25
1
vote
2
answers
2k
views
Astable Multivibrator not oscilating
I am pretty new with this stuff, just learning. I wanted to make a simple PCB, and as this was my first project, I decided to go with astable multivibrator circuit, to oscillate 2 LED's using ...
- 113
1
vote
1
answer
172
views
SSR with PCB design improvements
I have worked on this project of my own so I need to confirm that it will work
Its a simple SSR with max. current rating of 20A (normal use will be around 13A)
I use 40A TRIAC just for safe side(also ...
- 33
1
vote
1
answer
3k
views
How to use a 2.4 GHz chip antenna for ESP32 design
I am designing a circuit board that will use a 2.4 GHz SMD chip antenna from Molex. I am a n00b/amateur at PCB design so forgive my ignorance - does it work nearly the same as how a PCB antenna works?
...
- 111
1
vote
1
answer
418
views
Hard drive won't power on, is this the reason why? [closed]
I have a somewhat old, but functional (used to be, actually) hard drive, model Samsung HD103SJ, which I use for backup purposes. This means this is not a fixed unit.
Since a few weeks ago when I ...
- 129
1
vote
0
answers
53
views
What programmable board should I use for my project? [closed]
I have a small project going on, you can call this a research project that I needed to pass a certain class。 But the thing is, I don't know what I should use Arduino? Raspberry Pi? Im a complete ...
- 155
0
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Microphone PCB Questions [closed]
I've been working on a project to build a microphone in DIY after finishing my audio engineering internship, but it seems like my knowledge in electronic isn't good enough to fully understand what i'm ...
- 1
0
votes
3
answers
267
views
Tips for soldering some wires into a PCB
I need to solder some wires into a PCB, im dont really master soldering small pads or pins, so i need some help.
I have a question too, those pads are already tinned, soldered, so can i apply some ...
- 9
0
votes
2
answers
1k
views
What causes a USB Cable to fry a PCB?
When assembling my own USB 2.0 spec cables, I haven't had any experience with frying PCBs they get plugged into (of custom-made keyboards primarily), but I hear stories of it happening. So I'm trying ...
- 273
0
votes
2
answers
733
views
Getting circuit input on a computer
(Modified repost from stackoverflow since it might be more suited to this site)
I wanted to try building an arcade stick starting as simple as possible(ICs and basic electronic components as opposed ...
- 1
0
votes
2
answers
90
views
Mod Projector to Power On when Plugged In [closed]
I have a projector (it's a VOPLLS M10) that’s hooked up to a HomeKit enabled smart outlet, but the projector doesn’t power on when “plugged in” / smart outlet is turned on.
The projector only turns on ...
0
votes
1
answer
555
views
DIY Powered USB Hub PCB
For my home project I need to connect multiple Arduino's to a Raspberry Pi. My raspberry pi controls everything in my house and the arduino's are going to be used to get sensor data.
I want to ...
- 1
0
votes
0
answers
77
views
DIY board: double-sided SMD vs. joining two boards flat together?
I have this rough layout for a design with some serious space constraints:
It has connectors on both sides and the layout rules out through-hole soldering. I only have access to a Hakko IR preheater ...
- 101
0
votes
0
answers
966
views
DIY Bluetooth speaker circuit won't turn on
I'm making a Bluetooth speaker and made a schematic which I'm using to follow to build the speaker.
It's loosely based on this DIY video I saw online, here's the picture of the relevant parts I ...
- 211