Questions tagged [diy]
Do It Yourself. Build, modify, repair something without the aid of trained professionals.
363 questions
-2
votes
1
answer
767
views
Detecting open circuit, very low power
We need low power consumption (1nA - 1uA) while the circuit is closed, and then wake the microcontroller when the circuit is opened.
A the moment the design includes a custom metal switch which will ...
1
vote
3
answers
10k
views
Wiring of a USB Y-Connector [duplicate]
Recently I bought an LG External DVD Writer that is TV compatible. But after a couple of times it stopped working on my Sony LED TV. It would start spinning, but stop after two seconds. This would go ...
- 175
0
votes
1
answer
162
views
Using european telephone cables for own DC power delivery
I have european telephone cables running through my walls to each room, without any connection/socket. Well... we really do not need any hard line telephone connection and I am into DIY projects, so I ...
- 275
0
votes
1
answer
95
views
Need help making a forced air heater
I would like to make an electric heater. It will have a 20" Lasko Box fan at the back, pushing air passed the Kanthal A1 resistance wire.
I would like to use 120vac. It will dissipate 1000 watts, and ...
- 3
-1
votes
3
answers
802
views
Variable low voltage AC supply for heating element
(I'm a begineer in electrical stuff).
My wife needs a transformer for a leather electric creaser.
The transformers sold on the market are ridiculously overpriced (more than 250€). I don't ...
- 11
2
votes
3
answers
425
views
Presensitised-PCB Build Method
After completing many basic circuits on stripboard and premade PCB I've decided to try my hand at making my own PCB. Following some other forum posts this seems do-able but will likely take some trial ...
-1
votes
3
answers
386
views
Need to build a compact power supply that runs off the 240V socket and provides 12V, 5V and 3.3V for an Arduino Project [closed]
I want to have an as-compact-as-possible (but no limit on size) power brick/supply that takes power from a UK Wall socket and has multiple outputs with different voltages. Need 12V@2A for stepper ...
0
votes
1
answer
433
views
K018A DIY Kit 200V 500W Light-Dimmer Module - will it work w/ 120v or is modification required?
K018A DIY Kit 200V 500W Light-Dimmer Module - will it work w/ 120v 60Hz? Or does it require modification to do so?
Bought this DIY Kit for further practice with my soldering iron, and also to tone ...
2
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Smallest 2 Pin AC outlet socket [closed]
For a home automation project I need to source panel mounting electrical outlet sockets which are as low profile as possible and are rated at least 200 watts.
Something like a female version of these ...
- 131
5
votes
3
answers
10k
views
Safety when using ATX power supply as benchtop supply
I found many pages where people convert an ATX power supply to a benchtop power supply to give 12, 5, 3.3V.
However the current output can be very high (several amps).
When using this and you NEED ...
- 253
6
votes
4
answers
70k
views
Mains LED light bulb flickers when switched off [closed]
We have LED bulbs in our apartment. In the bathroom, the bulb flickers on and off when it's switched off. Same when it was a CFL bulb before I switched to LED cause I hate CFLs. Our mains voltage is ...
- 173
0
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Splitting mains power into multiple relay-switched circuits
Summary Introduction
My goal is to split a 1-gang mains power extension lead into three, have my Raspberry Pi plugged into one of the outputs, and have the Pi able to switch the other two outputs ...
- 103
-2
votes
1
answer
202
views
Downloading custom audio in musical toys DIY [closed]
I am a computer science student and recently interest built into electronics . I want to ask how can i download custom audio in musical toys like this . All i have is this kind of phone toy, Please ...
-3
votes
1
answer
1k
views
How to make a 240v ac to 12v 2amp dc transformerless step down circuit [closed]
I want to make a 100-240vac to 12vdc 2amp transformerless stepdown circuit any safe reliable circuit digram is accepted
- 19
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
1
vote
1
answer
1k
views
How charge custom Li-ion pack 36v 10s6p
I have 10x 6p 18650 batteries. 13AH.
I found a protection circuit.
My issue is that I don't know how to charge the batteries. I could use a power source but I got it from my school and it isn't mine.
...
- 11
1
vote
1
answer
389
views
Electronic Temperature Control Sound Light Alarm DIY Kit - how does it work
I bought a DIY Kit off ebay (the board says www.icstation.com ICSK061A), and lo an behold, it does not work. I could not figure out what the trouble was, so i simulated it in LTSpice, but i got no ...
- 220
-6
votes
1
answer
109
views
Explanation of Circuit? [closed]
Circuit for Time Controlled Switch
Can anyone please explain how this circuit is working? It is basically a time controlled switch? I want to know what is the functioning of each component i.e, ...
1
vote
1
answer
199
views
Interfacing RAM to a DIY computer
I am a relatively newbie to electronics but hopefully this question is not very non sensical:
I am following a guide to build a 8 bit computer. The guide requires a RAM which has a 4 address bit and ...
- 141
2
votes
2
answers
726
views
Satellite detector and a mobile phone
A satellite dish with LNB connected to a satellite detector when powered by a 18v source could detect radio waves from satellites. I made one using the ppt here.
The detector, (when it was not ...
- 161
3
votes
3
answers
19k
views
How do I check polarity on loudspeaker?
How do I check the polarity on a loudspeaker?
I have an 8 ohm 2 inch speaker with no wires soldered into it and the terminals have no markings.
How do I know which of the two terminals is positive ...
- 61
2
votes
3
answers
4k
views
An appropriate voltage regulator / limiter for a 5V solar panel for USB charging?
I'm building a USB solar charger for my tablet, which has so far worked well.
I'm using a 5 Volt, 5 watt solar panel (same as this one), which outputs about 4.5V and 0.6A in real use when charging my ...
- 129
0
votes
1
answer
576
views
Need help to backup cellphone - I need output power 5V 1A from AA batteries
How do I get 5V 1A for my backup battery for my cellphone from four AA batteries? (Each battery is 1.5V 2500mAh.)
Is it better to use a 7805 to regulate from 6V to 5V 1A to power my cellphone? Here's ...
- 11
1
vote
2
answers
993
views
RF power limiter
I am interested in constructing my own version of an RF power limiter. There exist models such as the 11930A Power Limiter, but are very expensive. The intended use for the device is to limit input ...
0
votes
2
answers
3k
views
Has anyone built an rs232 to usb converter?
I want to implement serial communication into one of my projects, but I'm hesitant to use a serial cable due them them being exceedingly hard to find nowadays. I found an old converter and took it ...
- 1
0
votes
1
answer
290
views
Difference between line scan sensor and line scan camera? [closed]
I'm looking to build a multitouch table using line sensor/camera technology. I was hoping someone had already tried such a thing and could recommend the best suited between line scan sensor or line ...
- 131
0
votes
1
answer
69
views
PSU with dc stepdown buck
I want to connect different LEDs that have these parameters (the LEDs I am using are just generic LEDs I got from ebay.):
Led 1: 6.4V - 7.2V @ 0.7A
Led 2: 2.9V - 5.6V @ 1.9A
Led 3: 8V - 12V @ 3.4A
...
- 115
-2
votes
2
answers
156
views
How to gather data about how weight is distributed by feet on a plane over time? [closed]
I have seen a graphical representation of a person's bare feet and how their body mass is distributed across their feet bottoms by color coding the pressure at each coordinate and over time showing ...
- 99
0
votes
2
answers
182
views
Trying to Fix my remote for my house Fan, is this component a fuse?
Decided I would try and fix the remote for this 3 speed fan I have a home since it is summer now. Here's the circuitry I'm dealing with here:
So here our are some notes:
There was some battery ...
2
votes
2
answers
3k
views
Is there a simple way to DIY a coaxial male connector?
I have a 12V power supply that has a female coaxial plug like the one on the right in this image:
I rigged something up with tinfoil just to see if it would work, but it's not ideal at all. Basically,...
- 301
1
vote
1
answer
2k
views
LED Shoes - circuit diagram ok?
I want to put LEDs into my shoes, specifically the Nike Air bubble (by drilling holes at the inside of the shoe and dropping them into the bubble). I also want the ability for it to light up when ...
- 11
5
votes
6
answers
5k
views
Would it be possible to make a solid state transistor by hand?
I am curious, would it be possible to fabricate a modern BJT/FET transistor with hobby/garage tools only if size and aesthetics was not important?
Which materials would one use and how would one ...
0
votes
1
answer
2k
views
How to hack my Nespresso Lattisima [closed]
This morning I woke up wanting to drink a cup of coffee and, as usual, it annoys me that I have to turn on the machine only to wait a minute before I can begin brewing.
I want to be able to turn on ...
- 131
1
vote
0
answers
74
views
Making a 1m sized 16x24 screen so that the picture is recognizable
I'm thinking about making a flexible LED screen with 16x24 LEDs.
I want the screen to be 1m wide so it will have big gaps between the LEDs.
Because of the big gaps I think the image may be ...
- 825
0
votes
1
answer
888
views
Which battery should I use to power arduino+motor shield + two motors
I am using two motors ( from old two drill machines - same kind, these are 3.6v motors ), connected to arduino + arduino motor shield seeed studio v2.
I tried to use 18v/1.2a battery that was laying ...
- 101
0
votes
1
answer
53
views
Active electric motor for on specify voltage
Is it possible to power on electric motor ( a little ) only when the input voltage is 1V by example.
The electric motor is supply by another source (9V by example)
With diode?? Or something else?
I'...
- 79
0
votes
1
answer
234
views
Use a steel welding table to ground yourself from electrostatic discharge (ESD)?
I have a large steel welding table that I have been using as a work station to solder together my own custom PCBs.
I have been using my anti-electrostatic discharge grounding bracelet and connecting ...
- 1,430
3
votes
1
answer
5k
views
inkjet cartridge control [closed]
I would like to build this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UjlHtHAN0DU
I.e. a programmable stamp/printer that you slide along a piece of paper. I would like for it to use easily obtainable ...
- 33
1
vote
1
answer
306
views
Binary Encoder Circuit
How exactly would I go from 7 output lines to 127 outputs. Since you can encoder a value of 127 with 7 lines I would imagine this should be possible.
2
votes
2
answers
489
views
Acquiring an accurate clock input for my computer
Building a timegrapher is quite straightforward, it is nothing more than a piezo transducer connected through to an amplifier. However, in order to actually utilize the results, one need an accurate ...
- 151
0
votes
1
answer
223
views
Rewiring a 12V charger
I have a Windows tablet with a charger which crapped out. The old charger was 12V / 1.5A - fairly standard but it had a rare tiny pin connector. Rather than buy a new charger, I decided to cannibalise ...
- 103
1
vote
0
answers
6k
views
Best heating cable for a DYI heating blanket
I want to make an electric/heating blanket that will work with heating electric cable.
I will use a computer AC adapter that output 19V 3.16A, and this dimmer to regulate the heat and a heating ...
- 250
3
votes
4
answers
989
views
Connecting home elliptical trainer to TV power
I'm attempting to use a TV addiction to help motivate an exercise routine. To do this, I am going to connect an elliptical trainer to the power of a television set (flatscreen). Here is my plan:
I ...
- 131
1
vote
3
answers
7k
views
Is it possible to use a lead-acid battery as a power bank? [closed]
I have an Oxygen 6v 4.5Ah lead-acid battery. Can i use it somehow as a power bank to recharge my cellphone? Your response and help will be greatly appreciated.
9
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Soldering BGA components DIY
If I understood correctly, current BGA components contain solder balls under the package. Do I still need additional solder paste to put on the board, or the amount of solder on the component contacts ...
- 3,212
4
votes
1
answer
19k
views
Creating a home made ultrasound transducer
I don't know how ultrasound transducers (transmitters) are made, is it possible to create a home made ultrasound transmitter with a custom specific range 1MHz or more? If it is not, would a 3D ...
- 61
0
votes
1
answer
15k
views
How to increase the read range of an active NFC tag?
I want to read a NFC tag at a distance of 1m from my NFC enabled smartphone. Is it possible to do so by enhancing the antenna of the NFC tag (not the one on the phone). Size of the NFC tag is not an ...
- 1
1
vote
3
answers
1k
views
Automatically measure voltage over a wide range
There are voltmeters that can measure voltage over a wide range without the need to switch the range manually.
I'm quite curious how do they do it, because I'd like to make a tiny device capable of ...
- 1,065
0
votes
2
answers
564
views
How to drive a plain LCD panel (get it to work with DVI)
I have an old iMac G5 laying around I want to transform it into a second monitor, but without any extra software on the device, but by just controlling the screen panel.
I dissasembeld the iMac and ...
- 103
0
votes
3
answers
137
views
What type of motor is this?
So I recently bought a motorised pedicure set thinking it would be some amazing thing. However, I used it once and the batteries (4 AA) died after about half an hour and not before getting ...
- 2,188