Bench power supplies are an essential piece of test equipment gear. And like most test gear, they have a wide range of capabilities. For example, the B&K Precision 9140 is a triple output supply that can output up to 300 watts. But, the basic capability isn’t what interested me about the supply. Instead, it was advanced features like rear panel triggers, adjustable slew rate, and built-in sequencing. The element14 Community arranged for a B&K Precision…
Using a Metcal GT120, we look at three ways to improve your soldering skills. Using flux, setting a correct temperature, and selecting the proper tip all result in better solder joints. See how well the GT120 works while learning (or reviewing) some basics to improve your soldering skills. This episode was sponsored by Metcal.
Measuring a switch-mode power supply (SMPS) with a DMM might show a stable voltage. But the same DC rail on an oscilloscope can show a completely different story! In this video, learn how to correctly set up an oscilloscope to characterize the noise an SMPS creates in a circuit.
When you cannot get an oscilloscope probe into a tight spot, can you just use a piece of wire? Sometimes. When signal integrity matters, you CAN use a low-cost DIY solder-in probe. These probes attenuate the signal and use an oscilloscope’s high-bandwidth 50-ohm input. James shows how to build some solder-in probes when they work and when they do not work in this video. Special thanks to Shabaz on the element14 community for the guide…
Vector network analyzers (VNAs) measure how a “network” of components changes the amplitude and phase of signals. By measuring across a wide frequency range, VNAs can create S-Parameters that fully describe the behavior of a circuit. This video uses a PicoVNA 106 to show the basics of what a VNA measures, how they work, and a brief overview of how to use one. I made a mistake on the explainer graphic for S-parameters. The annoying…
