Electronics Basics on Bald Engineer

What that DMM Beep Means - A Continuity Mode Tutorial | Workbench Wednesdays #23

Tue, 28 Apr 2020 21:23:00 +0000

Chances are, you have used the continuity mode of your digital multimeter. But how much do you understand about how it works? In this video, we break down how the mode works, what the beep means, and show examples of how to use it (correctly.) It might seem silly to spend so much time on such a simple mode. However, I have run across a few posts on the Internet, including the element14 Community where people do not understand continuity mode. Sometimes it is just a lack of experience and sometimes it is a total lack of understanding of what is happening. The biggest mistake, of course, is trying to measure continuity on a powered circuit. That is just a no-go. So in this video, I wanted to show what the meter is actually doing, how it sees different components, and give a couple of real-life examples of how to use it.

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Function Generator Basics | Workbench Wednesdays

Sun, 29 Dec 2019 18:32:19 +0000

Generating signals with a waveform, function, or arbitrary generator lets you test all kinds of circuits. Learn how to get a function generator to output a signal, the 3 types of waveforms you can create, and which controls matter. James, the Bald Engineer, explains the difference between analog and digital generators. The video introduction is my first attempt at doing an LGR style “Tech Tales” story. It is short with only a few images. However, it is something I would like to do more of in the future. My professional career started at Agilent right when they split off from Hewlett Packard. Most of my co-workers had been there while Bill and Dave still worked at the company. Even though the computer division took the name, Agilent was HP’s core: test and measurement.

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Logic Analyzer Basics | Workbench Wednesdays

Sun, 29 Dec 2019 18:28:48 +0000

Logic analyzers capture digital signals and then display a waveform or list. Serial busses like I2C, SPI, or UART (Serial) can be decoded or triggered on when there are problems in your circuit. In this video, learn the basic controls you need to use (almost) any logic analyzer. You’ll learn how to set up a simple trigger, make measurements, and set things like sample rate or memory depth. When I first graduated from college, I started as an Application Engineer for Agilent Technologies. Based in Austin, I supported computer companies like Dell, Compaq, HP, IBM, and Tandem. I helped their engineers set up million-dollar logic analyzer configurations to measure various PC busses.

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Spectrum Analyzer Basics | Workbench Wednesdays

Thu, 17 Oct 2019 02:06:58 +0000

A spectrum analyzer displays signals in the frequency domain. To use one, you only need to know about four controls: reference level, center frequency, and resolution bandwidth. In this episode, see how to use a spectrum analyzer and determine the transmitting frequency of a device. The example device is my microphone transmitter. It operates around 500 MHz with FM modulation. You’ll see how I step through the spectrum analyzer controls to find the exact frequency. At the end of the episode, I show some advanced measurements you can do with a modern spectrum analyzer. My favorite one is the demodulation.

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Electronic Load Basics | Workbench Wednesdays

Wed, 18 Sep 2019 15:15:24 +0000

During the Bench Power Supply basics video, I made use of my electronic load. An electronic load can sink current from power sources such as power supplies or batteries. Loads are useful to test a power supply’s design margin or verify a battery’s capacity. See how three different instrument options from ultra low-end to midrange to high-end compare. After this element14 Presents Workbench Wednesday video, you will understand how to use modes on an electronic load like constant current and constant resistance to make different measurements.

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Bench Power Supply Basics | Workbench Wednesdays

Wed, 28 Aug 2019 15:36:25 +0000

A bench power supply makes powering circuits easy and safe. Learn how to adjust basic controls like voltage. Finally, see how “current limiting” works (and why you should use it.) See how you can use built-in series or parallel tracking to increase a bench power supply’s voltage or current output. Last, if you are in the market for a power supply, do not forget to add some leads like mini-grabbers, alligator clips, and banana plugs.

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Circuit Trading Cards Review

Wed, 12 Aug 2015 13:00:18 +0000

One of my early hobbies as a kid was collecting baseball cards. At every card show, I was on the lookout for the 1989 Ken Griffey Jr Rookie card, #1, from Topps.My collecting craze lasted until the baseball strike in 1994. Then I lost interest in professional baseball and its collectibles. You’re asking, what does this have to do with electronics? Well, the Circuit Trading Cards from Arachnid Labs reminds me of the days I spent trading baseball cards. Instead of memorizing RBIs and Homerun counts, these circuit patterns trading cards teach you circuit basics.

LED Calculator

Wed, 13 Oct 2010 11:44:05 +0000

Rob ’linear’ Arnold has put together a fantastic LED Series/Parallel Wizard. Not only will it calculate the current limiting resistor you need, it will draw a circuit diagram, and give you full statistics on power usage. If you are just getting started with Electronics, this is a great resource for learning about LEDs. Experienced users will enjoy a quick check of their math. The array above is designed for some Blue LEDs I have laying around. I wanted them to run with 15mA which is well below their max, but still very bright. In this case 1/4W resistors should be fine and each should be 120 ohms. I should be safe hooking this array up to an Arduino since each LED will draw less than each I/O pin can handle AND total current draw is only 60mA.

What Capacitor Measurements Mean

Tue, 05 Oct 2010 12:57:00 +0000

Electronics Weekly has invited Dale Cigoy of Keithley Instruments to talk about how capacitors work. Since capacitors are part of almost any Electronic circuit or project, it is a good idea to understand these basic components a little more. The article is titled “Seeing how capacitors work is invaluable.”