sam.moshiri

DC-to-DC buck converters are utilized ubiquitously in electronic devices. Three major types of non-isolated DC-to-DC converters are introduced: Buck, Boost, and Buck-Boost. The most frequently employed type is the Buck converter. In this article/video, I introduce a compact buck converter board, capable of accepting input voltages ranging from 8V to 95V and handling 5V-1A at the output. The selected controlling chip is the MP9486. It is a high-frequency and somewhat sensitive controller chip as some users reported encountering instability issues. However, I have applied a few modifications to the circuit and as a result, you can utilize this circuit, PCB, or assembled board without any issues. The circuit offers consistent regulation within the defined input voltage range, effectively managing the maximum output current. For the schematic and PCB design, I utilized Altium Designer 23. I shared the project with my colleague for feedback and edits through Altium 365's secure cloud space. The Octopart component search engine proved invaluable for obtaining component information and generating the Bill of Materials (BOM). To ensure the production of high-quality fabricated boards, I forwarded the Gerber files to PCBWay. I tested the circuit's performance for a range of input voltage, output current, stability, and output noise. This comprehensive testing was conducted using the Siglent SDL1020X-E DC Load, the SDM3045M multimeter, and the SDS2102X Plus oscilloscope. I am confident that this circuit fulfills your requirements for a compact high-voltage buck converter board. References Schematic + PCB: https://www.pcbway.com/blog/technology/8_100V_to_5V_1A_DC_to_DC_Buck_Converter_using_MP9486_5a0e0270.html [1]: MP9486: https://octopart.com/mp9486agn-z-monolithic+power+systems-89568395?r=sp [2]: SS110 SMA: https://octopart.com/ss110b-multicomp-18903920?r=sp [3]: 33uH TDK: https://octopart.com/slf7045t-330m1r1-h-tdk-7629956?r=sp [4]: 0805 R LED: https://octopart.com/150080rs75000-wurth+elektronik-29717781?r=sp

433MHz/315MHz remote controls are everywhere around us, used to control devices such as turning ON/OFF the lights or a TV, or in applications such as opening/closing parking or villa entrance, … etc. Such remotes are available in the market in various shapes and sizes; however, most are equipped with four buttons. In this article/video, I introduce a full-featured four channels wireless switcher device that can be paired with the majority of 433MHz or 315MHz wireless remotes in the market. The board can store up to 80 remote control buttons/codes (20 remotes with four buttons) in its EEPROM memory. You can easily record, delete, decode, and assign any individual remote-control button. The board is compact and equipped with a small 2*8-character LCD, enhancing the user experience. Any remote-control button can be assigned to any of the four relays to activate and deactivate the devices. An ATMega8 microcontroller is the heart of the circuit. I used the Arduino IDE to develop the code. The most challenging part of this project was dealing with EEPROM memory. Eventually, I decided to use the structures to tackle it. Powering the board is as simple as connecting a 9V-1A power adapter. For the schematic and PCB design, I utilized Altium Designer 23 and shared the project with my friends for feedback and edits using Altium-365's secure cloud space. The fast component search engine, Octopart, proved invaluable in quickly obtaining component information and generating the Bill of Materials (BOM). To ensure high-quality fabricated boards, I sent the Gerber files to PCBWay. I am confident that this circuit meets your requirements for a compact switcher board. References schematic + pcb + code: https://www.pcbway.com/blog/technology/433MHz_4_Channels_Wireless_Switcher_Circuit_a1dc8b5e.html [1]: ATMega8-16PU: https://octopart.com/atmega8-16pu-microchip-77760540?r=sp [2]: L7805, TO-263: https://octopart.com/l7805abd2t-tr-stmicroelectronics-526655?r=sp [3]: 78L05, SOT-898: https://octopart.com/ua78l05acpk-texas+instruments-525167?r=sp [4]: Ferrite Bead: https://octopart.com/blm31pg121sn1l-murata-368354?r=sp [5]: 16MHz Crystal: https://octopart.com/hc49sm-16-30-50-60-16-atf-multicomp-8601779?r=sp [6]: LM1-5D Relay: https://octopart.com/lm1-5d-rayex-53719411?r=sp [7]: 1N4007, DO-214AC: https://octopart.com/1n4007+smd-multicomp-104895004?r=sp [8]: Si2302 MOSFET: https://octopart.com/si2302cds-t1-e3-vishay-44452855?r=sp

The most important part of any electronic device is the power supply section. Any instability or malfunction in this part causes the device to stop its operation or show weird behavior. In this article/video, I introduced an AC to DC Flyback Switching power supply that converts 220V-AC to 8V-DC, which can be used in a variety of applications. The 8V selection for the output makes this supply friendly for any type of linear regulator. The maximum power delivery of this power supply is 24W, which means it can handle 3A at 8V output. The controller chip is DK125, which does not need any external supply, a startup resistor, or even an auxiliary winding on the transformer. The transformer's ferrite core is RM8, which differs from most supplies using EE or EI cores. A small potentiometer allows you to adjust the output voltage and set it to 7.5 to 8V. For the schematic and PCB design, I utilized Altium Designer 23 and shared the project with my friends for feedback and updates using Altium-365. The fast component search engine, Octopart, proved invaluable in quickly obtaining component information and generating the Bill of Materials (BOM). To ensure high-quality fabricated boards, I sent the Gerber files to PCBWay. I tested the board for voltage drop and current delivery, output noise, and load step response. I used the Siglent SDL1020X-E DC Load, Siglent SDS2102X Plus oscilloscope, Siglent SDM3045X multimeter, and Siglent CP4020 current probe to perform all tests. I am confident that this circuit will meet your requirements for a compact and efficient power supply, providing reliable performance on your electronics bench. References More Info: https://www.pcbway.com/blog/technology/220VAC_to_8VDC_24W_Flyback_Switching_Power_Supply_88bf6837.html [1]: DK125: https://datasheet.lcsc.com/lcsc/2111241030_Shenzhen-DongKe-Semicon-DK125_C171868.pdf [2]: 100nF-X2: https://octopart.com/r463i310050m1k-kemet-50550056?r=sp [3]: 10mH CM Choke: https://octopart.com/7355-h-rc-bourns-12614152?r=sp [4]: DB107 BR: https://octopart.com/db107g-genesic+semiconductor-19909514?r=sp [5]: 22uF-400V: https://octopart.com/db107g-genesic+semiconductor-19909514?r=sp [6]: RM8 Core: https://octopart.com/b65811j0160a087-epcos-66666588?r=sp [7]: 0805 Yellow LED: https://octopart.com/150080ys75000-wurth+elektronik-29717784?r=sp [8]: TL431ACDB: https://octopart.com/tl431acdbzr%2C215-nexperia-78742091?r=sp [9]: PC817: https://octopart.com/pc817x1nip1b-sharp-80968503?r=sp

In this article/video, I used an RP2040 Zero board, a VL53L0X Laser time-of-flight ranging sensor, and a 2.4” TFT display to build a graphical laser rangefinder unit that can be used to monitor the distance, check the liquid level, etc. The board is also equipped with a relay and a buzzer that allow the user to provide distance-related acoustic signals or activate/deactivate an external device, such as a pump, brake, etc. Source: https://resources.altium.com/p/rp2040-zero-powered-laser-range-finder-gui-and-24-tft-display

Yes I put a fat amount of effort for my content

A power supply is an essential tool on every electronics bench. The TPS54202 is a highly efficient 2A synchronous buck converter with a wide 28V input voltage range and low EMI figures, making it suitable for various applications. These features make the TPS54202 an excellent choice for building a power supply. To achieve a low noise level and ensure high performance, I implemented a variety of input and output filters, along with following several PCB design techniques. The chip operates at a switching frequency of 500KHz and is equipped with internal loop compensation. Setting up the power supply is simple—just connect the input to a step-down AC transformer (e.g., 220V to 15V) and use a multiturn potentiometer to adjust the output voltage to your desired level. For the schematic and PCB design, I utilized Altium Designer 23 and shared the project with my friends for feedback and updates using Altium-365. The fast component search engine, Octopart, proved invaluable in quickly obtaining component information and generating the Bill of Materials (BOM). To ensure high-quality fabricated boards, I sent the Gerber files to PCBWay. I tested the circuit for output noise and load step response using Siglent SDS2102X Plus oscilloscope and Siglent SDL1020X-E DC load. I am confident that this circuit will meet your requirements for a compact and efficient power supply, providing reliable performance on your electronics bench. References Schematic + PCB + Gerber: https://www.pcbway.com/blog/technology/Adjustable_Low_EMI_Switching_Power_Supply_9611437d.html [1]: TPS54202: https://octopart.com/tps54202ddct-texas+instruments-71538129?r=sp [2]: 470uF-35V: https://octopart.com/eee-fk1v471aq-panasonic-44406255?r=sp [3]: 22uH-3A: https://octopart.com/etqp5m220yfm-panasonic-24904108?r=sp [4]: 5K Potentiometer: https://octopart.com/ss34a-multicomp-18903924?r=sp [5]: SS34: https://octopart.com/ss34a-multicomp-18903924?r=sp

In this project, I have introduced a compact stereo digital FM transmitter circuit that operates in the frequency range of 87MHz to 108MHz. The frequency can be adjusted using two tactile push-buttons, with a 0.1MHz step size. The heart of the circuit is an ATMega8 microcontroller, which communicates with a 0.96-inch SPI OLED display and the KT0803L FM transmitter chip via an I2C interface. You can directly connect a microphone or an AUX cable to the board to broadcast your desired sound, such as playing a piece of music from your cellphone, computer, … etc. After conducting some tests, it was found that the circuit operates quite stable, and the received sound is clear and sharp. To design the schematic and PCB, I used Altium Designer 23 and shared the project with my friends to get their feedback and updates using Altium-365. The fast component search engine (Octopart) allowed me to quickly consider components’ information and also generate the BOM. To get high-quality fabricated boards, I sent the Gerber files to PCBWay. I am confident that utilizing this circuit will be an enjoyable and fulfilling experience for you. References Schematic + PCB + Code: https://www.pcbway.com/blog/technology/Stereo_Digital_FM_Transmitter_Circuit_64d799f3.html [1]: TLV1117-5.0: https://octopart.com/tlv1117-50cdcyr-texas+instruments-669252?r=sp [2]: TLV1117-3.3: https://octopart.com/tlv1117-33idcyr-texas+instruments-669250?r=sp [3]: MMBT304: https://octopart.com/mmbt3904lt1htsa1-infineon-21387159?r=sp [4]: 2N7002: https://octopart.com/2n7002-7-f-diodes+inc.-335069?r=sp [5]: KT0803L: http://radio-z.ucoz.lv/kt_0803/KT0803L_V1.3.pdf [6]: ATmega8-AU: https://octopart.com/atmega8u2-au-microchip-77760652?r=sp

That is a linear supply, but what I posted here is switching and very small, you can embed it in whatever enclosure and control the voltage using the potentiometer

A DC-to-DC converter is one of the most commonly used circuits in electronics, especially in power supply applications. There are three major types of DC-to-DC converters (non-isolated): Buck, Boost, and Buck-Boost. Sometimes a buck converter is also called a step-down converter and a boost converter is also called a step-up converter. In this article/video, I introduce an adjustable 5A DC-to-DC converter circuit that uses an advanced chip, made by Texas Instruments, which is TPS5450. It’s a high-frequency and efficient buck converter chip that provides tight voltage regulation. I have followed several PCB design rules to ensure low noise, low EMI, and high stability of the output voltage. To design the schematic and PCB, I used Altium Designer 23 and shared the project with my friends using Altium-365. The fast component search engine (Octopart) allowed me to quickly consider components’ information and also generate the BOM. To get high-quality fabricated boards, I sent the Gerber files to PCBWay and tested the circuit for output stability and noise, using a DC load, a multimeter, and an oscilloscope. Soon later, I will also perform the step-response test and demonstrate the results. Specifications Input Voltage: 5.5V to 36V Output Voltage: 1.22Vmin to 31Vmax (variable) Output Current (continuous): 5A Output Current (peak, short time): 6A Maximum Output Drop: 22mV (5A load) Output Noise: 14mVp-p (no load), 50mVp-p (5A load), 20MHz-BW References Full Article, Downloading PCB, Direct Order: https://www.pcbway.com/project/shareproject/5A_35V_Adjustable_Switching_Power_Supply_760ba488.html [1]: TPS5450: https://octopart.com/tps5450ddar-texas+instruments-7105511?r=sp [2]: SS56: https://octopart.com/ss56bf-hf-comchip-107339894?r=sp [3]: 3590-S2: https://octopart.com/3590s-2-502l-bourns-112621?r=sp

Thanks, build one and have fun

Are you tired of dealing with the damaging effects of inrush currents on your industrial devices? Look no further than an AC inrush current limiter (soft starter). Inrush current, also known as surge current, is the large amount of current that flows into a load at start-up. This can cause damage to equipment, reduce its lifespan, and lead to costly downtime. But with an AC inrush current limiter, you can eliminate these problems. Simply, a soft starter works by limiting the initial current flow, ensuring a smooth and efficient start-up, while protecting your equipment from damage. So I decided to design this AC soft starter that is equipped with a fail-safe mechanism. During start-up, the inrush current passes through a power resistor, and after a delay (adjustable between 1ms to 1s), a 30A power Relay shorts the resistor and applies the full power to the load. If this Relay fails for whatever reason, the power resistor won’t melt everything; the logic circuit activates the fail-safe Relay that turns OFF the load to prevent any damage. 3 LEDs indicate the Supply, Normal, and Fault conditions. I selected the cheap ATTiny13 MCU as a controller. To design the schematic and PCB, I used Altium Designer 23. The fast component search engine (Octopart) allowed me to quickly consider components’ information and also generate the BOM. To get high-quality fabricated boards, I sent the Gerber files to PCBWay. I used the Arduino IDE to write the MCU code, so it is pretty easy to follow and understand. Let’s get started 🙂 [Main] Full Documentation, Schematic, PCB, Direct Order [1]: ATTiny13 MCU: https://octopart.com/attiny13a-ssur-microchip-77761976?r=sp [2]: 10D561K MOV: https://octopart.com/mov-10d561k-bourns-19184788?r=sp [3]: HLK-PM12: https://datasheet.lcsc.com/szlcsc/1909111105_HI-LINK-HLK-PM24_C399250.pdf [4]: 78L05 SOT-89: https://octopart.com/ua78l05acpk-texas+instruments-525167?r=sp [5]: Si2302 Mosfet: https://octopart.com/si2302cds-t1-ge3-vishay-43172315?r=sp [6]: M7 Diode: https://octopart.com/m7-diotec-30502012?r=sp

Glad that it was helpful

Nowadays home automation is a trending topic among electronic enthusiasts and even the mass population. People are busy with their life challenges, so an electronic device should take care of the home instead! The majority of such devices need internet or Wi-Fi for connectivity or they don’t offer a user-friendly GUI, but I decided to design a standalone wireless monitoring/controlling unit that can be adjusted using a graphical and touch-controlled LCD display. The device consists of a panelboard and a mainboard that communicate using 315MHz (or 433MHz) ASK transceivers. The panel side is equipped with a high-quality 4.3” capacitive-touch Nextion Display. The user can monitor the live temperature values and define the action threshold (to activate/deactivate the heater or cooler), humidity (to activate/deactivate the humidifier or dehumidifier), and ambient light (to turn ON/OFF the lights). The mainboard is equipped with 4 Relays to activate/deactivate the aforementioned loads. To design the schematic and PCB, I used Altium Designer 23. The fast component search engine (octopart) allowed me to quickly consider components’ information and also generate the BOM. To get high-quality fabricated boards, I sent the Gerber files to PCBWay. I used the Arduino IDE to write the MCU code, so it is pretty easy to follow and understand. Designing a GUI using the Nextion tools was a pleasant experience that I will certainly follow for similar projects in the future. So let’s get started 🙂 Specifications Connectivity: Wireless ASK, 315MHz (or 433MHz) Parameters: Temperature, Humidity, Ambient Light Wireless Coverage: 100 to 200m (with Antennas) Display: 4.3” Graphical, Capacitive-Touch Input Voltage: 7.5 to 9V-DC (power adaptor connector) References article: https://www.pcbway.com/blog/technology/Wireless_Home_Automation_Control_and_Monitoring_Using_a_Nextion_HMI_Display_24d9be1d.html [1]: L7805: https://octopart.com/l7805cp-stmicroelectronics-526753?r=sp [2]: SMBJ5CA: https://octopart.com/rnd+smbj5ca-rnd+components-103950670?r=sp [3]: 78L05: https://octopart.com/ua78l05cpk-texas+instruments-525289?r=sp [4]: ATMega328: https://octopart.com/atmega328pb-anr-microchip-77760227?r=sp [5]: Si2302: https://octopart.com/si2302cds-t1-e3-vishay-44452855?r=sp [6]: LM1-5D: https://octopart.com/lm1-5d-rayex-53719411?r=sp [7]: Altium Designer: https://www.altium.com/yt/myvanitar [8]: Nextion Display: https://bit.ly/3dY30gw

Flyback is the most common circuit topology to build galvanically isolated AC to DC or DC to DC converters. Flyback circuit is cheap and relatively easy to manufacture, therefore nowadays the majority of home or industrial appliances are powered using AC to DC Flyback converters. In general, a Flyback converter is suitable for low-power applications, mostly below 100W. In this article/video, I designed a cheap AC-to-DC flyback converter using a DK124 IC that can deliver up to 18W continuously. I calculated the transformer to handle 12V at the output which can be easily modified to reach other output voltages as well. The DK124 chip does not need any auxiliary winding or even an external startup resistor. The 220V Mains input has been protected using a MOV, an NTC, and a Fuse. The PCB board is single-layer and all components are through-hole. To design the schematic and PCB, I used Altium Designer 22. The fast component search engine (octopart) allowed me to quickly consider components’ information and also generate the BOM. To get high-quality fabricated boards, I sent the Gerber files to PCBWay. To test the power supply, I used Siglent an SDL1020X-E DC Load, an SDM3045X Multimeter, and an SDS1104X-E/SDS2102X Plus oscilloscope. Specifications Input Voltage Range: 85 to 265V-AC Output Power: 18W Continuous Output Voltage: 12V-DC Switching Frequency: 65KHz Reference: https://www.pcbway.com/blog/technology/220V_AC_to_12V_DC_18W_Switching_Power_Supply_81665a6c.html [1]: DK124: https://grupoautcomp.com.br/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Specification-IC-DK124.pdf [2]: 10D561: https://octopart.com/mov-10d561k-bourns-19184788?r=sp [3]: PC817: https://octopart.com/pc817x1j000f-sharp-39642331?r=sp [4]: TL431: https://octopart.com/tl431aclpr-texas+instruments-521800?r=sp

The Full-Bridge (H-Bridge) is the most popular driver circuit to control brushed DC motors. The main advantage of a full bridge driver is the ability to change the rotation direction of the motor, without manually reversing the supply wires. I’ve already published the Half-bridge and H-bridge driver circuits before; however, I was receiving many requests and comments for a standalone H-Bridge driver to control the DC motors, without using any external board or a controller. Therefore, I introduced a cheap, compact, and standalone H-Bridge DC motor driver that can be embedded in a variety of mechatronic devices. A cheap ATTiny13 microcontroller controls everything and I used the Arduino IDE to write the microcontroller code. All components, except for the connectors, are SMD. The motor can be controlled in three modes: Forward, Stop, and Reverse. The user can adjust the rotation speed of the motor separately in the forward or reverse direction, using two panel-mounting potentiometers. The low ON-Resistance of the Mosfets allows you to use this circuit in high currents. To design the schematic and PCB, I used Altium Designer 22. The fast component search engine (octopart) allowed me to quickly collect the components’ data and generate the BOM as well. To get high-quality fabricated boards, I sent the Gerber files to PCBWay. To test the driver board, I disassembled an electric toy car and used its powerful 775 DC motor (plus the gearbox). It’s a cool experience, just build one and have fun! Specifications Input Voltage (Motor): 8-40VDC Supply Voltage (Controller): 12VDC PWM Frequency: 25KHz Motor Control: Forward-Stop-Reverse Motor Speed: [0 to 100%] Forward, [0 to 100%] Reverse References Article: https://www.pcbway.com/blog/technology/A_Standalone_Full_Bridge_DC_Motor_Driver_2c7c2086.html [1]: ATTiny13 MCU: https://octopart.com/attiny13a-ssur-microchip-77761976?r=sp [2]: 78L05 SOT89: https://octopart.com/ka78l05aimtf-onsemi-84329328?r=sp [3]: IRF3205 D2PACK: https://octopart.com/irf3205strlpbf-infineon-65873335?r=sp [4]: IR2104: https://octopart.com/ir2104spbf-infineon-65872813?r=sp [5]: MicroCore Arduino Package: https://github.com/MCUdude/MicroCore [6]: Complied HEX file: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_FEbxj3XtWoZCNCxfpgcvCwcf9j8cqj-/view?usp=sharing