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Questions tagged [sourcing]

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3 answers
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"Source", "sink" or both?

Having solved the mystery of "pulling" and "pushing" devices, it would be interesting to do the same with "sourcing" and "sinking" devices. Background A ...
Circuit fantasist's user avatar
39 votes
9 answers
4k views

Parts shortage, no stock, what now? (canonical reference question)

As a small business, student, or hobbyist, sometimes the parts I need are unavailable (no stock anywhere). Maybe authorized distributor will take order but they will not ship for 10, 20, 30 weeks, ...
MarkU's user avatar
  • 14.1k
-1 votes
1 answer
39 views

Least amount of parts to switch a resistive load [closed]

Excuse me for not being able to provide a schematic right now as I’m on mobile but my question is fairly straightforward. I’m trying to drive a bunch of resistive loads fairly quickly in a constrained ...
Mr_DOdoska's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
293 views

Will this optocoupler circuit work for sensor and DC motor?

I am working on a project in which I need to operate a DC motor and some ultrasonic sensors. I want to operate the motor using motor driver DRV 8871 by giving logic signals and read sensor value on ...
user274774's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
63 views

Can't secure supply of 32mhz Automotive grade oscillator - why is this?

This is my first automotive PCB. I designed in a high temp crystal from Digikey. Stock then went to 0 with big lead times, and then my alternate went EOL. I then spun the board with a TCXO. All three ...
Bill's user avatar
  • 2,476
2 votes
2 answers
305 views

How to find a Pin-to-Pin Replacement for TL-081, but with higher VCC? [closed]

After ordering and assembling one of those¹ "red" 0-30V/0-3A power supplies from eBay/AliExpress and taking a bit of a closer look at it, I'd like to replace the TL-081 op-amps. It's working ...
Sixtyfive's user avatar
  • 141
2 votes
1 answer
149 views

Sourcing Transformer with Specific Turns Ratio

I am looking at a building an electronics project that calls for a transformer with a specific turns ratio '1:4:50', and am trying to source a component. I am working on the project from this tutorial:...
Emmett Palaima's user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
3k views

Load Cell ADC HX711 Alternatives?

Looking for an HX711 ADC alternative. Sparkfun sells a pricey breakout board with the chip, but I cannot source the IC anywhere online for some reason 🤷‍♂️. Are there any ADCs out there that have a ...
scottc11's user avatar
  • 423
3 votes
1 answer
3k views

Where to get a USB type E front panel motherboard header?

I'm designing a product that will need to have USB type C ports on its front panel, and due to physical constraints with the design, I would like to use a USB type E connector in conjunction with a ...
AJMansfield's user avatar
0 votes
0 answers
392 views

Fixing or finding a replacement for a Potentiometer

I am trying to do a little home repair on an older set of CH Pro Rudder Pedals. These are a 3-axis USB game controller, and I have isolated the problem to one of the potentiometers in the right break ...
John F. Miller's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
324 views

What does DS18B20 stand for?

We are looking to purchase DS18B20 temperature sensors from a supplier who claims to manufacture them themselves - but I cannot work out if DS18B20 is a product name for Dallas instruments (i.e. ...
PaulBarr's user avatar
  • 125
1 vote
2 answers
2k views

Matching sensor output with PLC input

I am trying to add a height captor for a line of my production where I work. I found this Banner captor (QS30LLPQ) and it has 2 bipolar discrete outputs (PNP and NPN). Now, I am trying to decide which ...
RegularNormalDayGuy's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
179 views

Rotary Encoder - Power Source for small Fork Light Barriers with NI 9401 [closed]

Task In order to measure the angle and calculate the angular velocity and acceleration of a large metal wheel with a rotational frequency \$f = 0.01 \ldots 1.00~Hz\$, I try to build a custom rotary ...
Discbrake's user avatar
  • 211
3 votes
9 answers
2k views

Using a relay for retro clicky sound - how do I make it louder?

I'm building a battery operated retro device that I want to sound really clicky and old fashioned. I want to include the noisiest relay (sound noise not electric noise) possible in my project. Can ...
Jeremy Gilbert's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
57 views

Selecting low-power managed flash storage?

I've been trying to find a low-power flash storage solution. It needs to have built-in management (finding bad blocks, wear leveling, etc), so I've been looking at eMMC chips. But the specs on almost ...
TreyK's user avatar
  • 131
4 votes
2 answers
300 views

How to source this hook socket

I've been trying to find the name, part number, manufacturer and some vendor for this hook socket. I'm not even 100% sure that is what it is called. Do you have any information about it? Anything ...
Robert Foss's user avatar
5 votes
2 answers
3k views

what kind of tape is used in electronic devices

I repair quite a few devices and one thing that bothers me is that when I remove some of the tape pieces they never go back down right. I was looking for some replacement tape and didn't know what to ...
mkrinblk's user avatar
  • 195
0 votes
1 answer
633 views

Is it possible to sink and source from one output pin using a darlington driver

Sinking and sourcing with a darlington driver I asked a question about sinking and sourcing LEDs while using a darlington driver. The images were slightly unclear so i have redrawn it. I had too many ...
Hasan Imtiaz's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
315 views

Sourcing An Image Sensor? [closed]

I'm wanting to create a basic digital camera, I have most of it figured out... except for the image sensor itself. Looking in the normal places (digikey, mouser), I'm finding some very basic, low ...
Matt Egan's user avatar
  • 203
6 votes
3 answers
4k views

Determining End-Of-Life for electronic components

What is the best way to determine the end-of-life time-line for ICs other than contacting the manufacturer directly? Is there a central registry or service where I can subscribe and get EOL ...
aghoras's user avatar
  • 425
6 votes
4 answers
2k views

Export restrictions when sourcing parts for PCB assembly in foreign country

If a company has a PCB design and wishes to assemble them economically, a natural choice is China. Some Chinese companies are asking for the parts (or some of them) to be shipped to them. This means ...
apalopohapa's user avatar
  • 8,369
3 votes
1 answer
1k views

How to find SMT equivalents of TH parts?

A lot of times hobbyist circuits are designed with thru-hole components since they're easier to solder. What approach do you take when attempting to find the SMT equivalent of a TH part? For example, ...
Nate's user avatar
  • 4,476
1 vote
1 answer
374 views

How do I source an Audibly noiseless (< 3dBA) power supply?

This is not a shopping question; this is a "what is the best way to solve this problem" question. To power a medium-size project, I'm looking for a 15W/12V board mount power supply, taking mains AC ...
Jon Watte's user avatar
  • 5,650
4 votes
2 answers
3k views

3.5mm PCB mount male plug [closed]

I'm looking for a male 3.5mm audio plug (3 or 4 band) that can be mounted directly to a PCB. Both surface mount and through hole are fine. I'm surprised that all the usual suspects (Digikey, Farnell, ...
Antti's user avatar
  • 483
1 vote
1 answer
177 views

Led must be mounted SINK or SOURCE so as not to interfere with communications? [closed]

I used 3.3v microcontroller. I want to add TX LED and RX LED communication on RS232, RS485, TTL/CMOS. My question: Led communication must be mounted as SINKING or SOURCING on I/O microcontroller ...
new bie's user avatar
  • 237
12 votes
8 answers
52k views

Sinking and sourcing current

I have been reading that NPN transistors are sinking and PNP are sourcing devices. I do not really understand this concept. It says current source device connects load to Vcc and current sinking ...
Abhishek's user avatar
  • 153
2 votes
1 answer
607 views

Sound card CD audio in connector

The typical name I see given is MPC, MPC2, or MPC-2, and the cables are readily available, but I can't seem to source the female PCB-side connector. Obviously, a 1x4 pin header would work just fine, ...
mikepurvis's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
857 views

Is there a special name for stripboard with split tracks?

A friend of mine showed me a project he was working on, and the stripboard he'd soldered to had its tracks split into 3-hole blocks. A little like this: ...
Polynomial's user avatar
  • 10.4k
-2 votes
2 answers
1k views

PCB-mount DC to AC inverter [closed]

Folks, As you know, there are small PCB-mounted AC to DC power supplies. Some of them are encapsulated “bricks”, and some are open frame. I’m looking for a small (12W or so) DC to AC inverter in a ...
Nick Alexeev's user avatar
  • 37.6k
1 vote
1 answer
1k views

How to search for a step-up transformer: 10V -> 90V

I'm working on something where I need to take ~10VAC @ 60hz and step it up to around 90VAC @ 60hz. Ideally a small step-up transformer should be fine, but I'm having trouble identifying the part I ...
mindcrime's user avatar
  • 1,108
7 votes
1 answer
2k views

Proprietary Kinect connector [closed]

I'm looking for a source for the mating part to the proprietary USB connector on the Kinect, which includes standard USB signalling and power, and also the special 12V supply rail. The cable version ...
mikepurvis's user avatar
17 votes
6 answers
901 views

How can I evaluate or speculate on a part's production lifetime for long term part sourcing?

Suppose I have an idea for a product, where if it were successful, would be in production for 5-10 years. How can I make decisions on what parts to use now such that they will still be available to ...
Jon L's user avatar
  • 4,248
4 votes
2 answers
11k views

Lowest voltage needed to turn on a FET?

With inspiration from Ladyada's DIY boost calculator, I'm attempting to build a simple, low-current (<50mA) 40V boost circuit to drive an antique voltmeter. The PWM source for the transistor will ...
blalor's user avatar
  • 2,544
15 votes
4 answers
490 views

What to expect when sourcing parts

I know about SparkFun.com, but their product line is limited to general appeal for the average hobbyist. I appreciate them for that. But when I want a specialized component, I'm not sure if vendors ...
Jason Kleban's user avatar
2 votes
5 answers
180 views

What're the benefits of checking electronics in person over the exclusive online stores? [closed]

I found a few specialized electronic parts that I am interested in buying from eBay and/or Alibaba. However, knowing that I will be traveling to China soon, I felt checking the purchase in person ...
stanigator's user avatar
5 votes
4 answers
267 views

Prototype building route

Assume that you have a couple of ideas that you think are good enough to prototype into demonstrable devices. What option would you take and why? Option 1 - Build everything from scratch including ...
Sushrut J Mair's user avatar
5 votes
4 answers
2k views

Source for flexible, stranded wire

Can someone suggest a source and part number for insulated, stranded small-gauge wire (around 22AWG) that is flexible and doesn't hold its shape? Something along the lines of the wire found on ...
blalor's user avatar
  • 2,544
7 votes
5 answers
519 views

Good motor supplier?

I'm looking to start a few different projects and stock up on some basic components - I was just wondering if anyone knows a good supplier of DC motors, stepper motors and servos? I'm in vicinity of ...
Sketchy Fletchy's user avatar
7 votes
6 answers
5k views

Where can I source extra long headers from [closed]

I have recently purchased a sparkfun protoboard that I wish to stack above an ethernet shield. (I have 2 different ethernet shields, an Arduino one and a seeed studio enc28j60 shield.) The problem I ...
Hamish Currie's user avatar
9 votes
2 answers
2k views

How to redesign a circuit to use a current sinking IC rather than a current sourcing IC

I'm building a serial servo controller to learn about electronics and assembly language as part of my hexapod robot project. Quite early on I decided that I needed more I/O channels than my ATTiny2313 ...
Len Holgate's user avatar
  • 1,078
21 votes
6 answers
12k views

current sourcing, current sinking

I'm a student studying electronics and I'm having trouble understanding the concept behind current sourcing and current sinking. We've covered it in a lab using a 7404 and an LED and all that. Just ...
user217's user avatar
  • 211