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  1. chopnhack

    Hobbyist Techniques for Reflow?

    Wow! 0402 is small... I found a video showing someone hand soldering an IC - my first thought when watching was that too much heat was pumped into the IC - can anyone comment as to whether this is a good technique to learn from? I am going to find some scrap boards and start practicing if it is.
  2. chopnhack

    Designing a Time Delayed Relay

    I found this on the Allegro's chip spec sheet "The Allegro evaluation board has 1500 mm2 of 2 oz. copper on each side, connected to pins 1 and 2, and to pins 3 and 4, with thermal vias connecting the layers." After reviewing the layout above, I felt the pads were not sufficient! I used the top...
  3. chopnhack

    Hobbyist Techniques for Reflow?

    What are your techniques? With the continuing push for smaller, fewer products will be available in hand solderable packages. As a hobbyist, how are you contending with the issue? I have seen reflow done on youtube in a toaster oven! Has anyone tried using a heat gun?
  4. chopnhack

    Designing a Time Delayed Relay

    I played with a few more iterations and I was able to get ground planes and power pads set up. I was trying to set up some traces with a star topography, but couldn't get it to workout. This is the result of some hand layout and some autorouter. What do you guys think? Does it need more revision...
  5. chopnhack

    Acrylic Lacquer for Solder Mask?

    This is what I was looking at from CRC. Anyone ever use something like this to coat a pcb board?
  6. chopnhack

    Which MC should I get?

    Might you be better served with an SBC like a Raspberry Pi? More storage space and possibly easier to interface with.
  7. chopnhack

    Designing a Time Delayed Relay

    Eagle support responded, but the help indicated didn't resolve my issue. I ended up redrawing the entire schematic as well as the redeveloping the two devices I built and it worked. Long learning curve for a hobbyist, but learning a lot along the way so thank you for your patience! Results - I...
  8. chopnhack

    Designing a Time Delayed Relay

    LOL, I'll keep reading :-) Thank you.
  9. chopnhack

    Designing a Time Delayed Relay

    I will check it out there. I thought the voltage became 24v after the IC. Are there any tips in learning how to determine the potential between areas? Thanks for finding that! I was looking in the wrong categories - getting panel lights etc. As soon as I can fix my Eagle issue, I will post...
  10. chopnhack

    Designing a Time Delayed Relay

    Thanks for highlighting those areas Kris, it confirms the areas I had confined on some of my tries at pcb layout. I am currently stuck! Eagle software is not easy. I am getting 12 warnings when I run the ERC. Two types of errors, 1. net N$x overlaps pin and 2. only one pin on net N$x. I have...
  11. chopnhack

    Acrylic Lacquer for Solder Mask?

    Gave them a call - website still down for me for some reason. I spoke with Sean, they only have conformal coating in brush on application. Discontinued the spray some years ago. I might give CRC a call and talk with them as I get closer to that phase. Thanks for the suggestion.
  12. chopnhack

    Acrylic Lacquer for Solder Mask?

    Good point, thanks for the link, I will check it out when they come back up. I did find another conformal coating made by CRC. If I mask the areas where components etc. will be installed, do you think I can use the conformal coating as a solder mask? It seems easier to find these conformal...
  13. chopnhack

    Who etches photoresist PCBs?

    Bob, do you think that this method is more accurate than the steam iron method?
  14. chopnhack

    Designing a Time Delayed Relay

    Great! Thank you. I found some other interesting information about thermal reliefs. The poster claims there is only a 90 microhm difference on a 1oz board created by the thermal relief - at 30 amps. Would that be acceptable? I found a 2 oz. copper double sided FR4 for a fair price, do I need...
  15. chopnhack

    Who etches photoresist PCBs?

    LOL, i thought as much. I will tell you that the acid is a bit nasty, must be used in a well ventilated place as it fumes - its about 31% concentrated. I like the fact that the copper precipitates out of solution so that the acid can be reused - less waste (or so the poster said). I would...
  16. chopnhack

    Acrylic Lacquer for Solder Mask?

    Has anyone ever tried using acrylic lacquer spray paint like this stuff as a solder mask? I am doing a few boards in the future and sending out for pcb construction would be cost prohibitive. Thanks.
  17. chopnhack

    Is anyone using DesignSpark PCB?

    Bob, can you save the file for your own pcb fabrication or is it proprietary and you have to use their manufacturer?
  18. chopnhack

    Designing a Time Delayed Relay

    Sure, PIC12F675 is fine, might even be better as it is a slower clock speed, less susceptible to poorly designed PCB's :rolleyes::p And now the ever poorly understood ground/neutral questions... On the schematic we are using neutral line on 110v for our ground reference on the pic and 0V rail...
  19. chopnhack

    Designing a Time Delayed Relay

    Ok, got a workable PCB layout for the majority of the components :) I have the 5 pin connector shown for programming the PIC - but I realized I probably need to add another header of some sort for power in and power out of the relay. I will work on that tomorrow, current size of the board is...
  20. chopnhack

    Does Your Wiring-Soldering Look Like This?

    Wow. cold joints indeed. I always fret that my piece being soldered will absorb too much heat and risk being damaged, maybe nobody told this guy about soldering heat sinks! Apparently, they also failed to mention perf board, layout, etc. He is one ahead of me though, he has an oscilloscope :-P
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