Circuit Break Podcast #236

Excited Electrons

Related Topics
Current Conscience Comparator

How low can the power consumption of the Cat Feeder Unreminder go? Parker and Stephen discuss leakage current on this episode of the podcast!

The Infinite Finite Grid

Stephen and Parker continue the discussion of the voltage measurement. Can you come up with a way to measure voltage without precision tools?

Metric Knuckle

Is there a way to macgyver measuring a voltage without a multimeter? Is macgyvering even a word? Parker and Stephen discuss this for well too long.

Other Resources

Circuit Break Podcast
Webinars
Videos
Tour MacroFab's ITAR-Compliant Facility

August 5, 2020, Episode #236

Is lead forming components a lost art? What specifications of a solar panel is important for an embedded system? Find out more on this weeks episode!

Parker

  • Lead Forming Topic
    • Tools
    • 3D printed forms
    • Best practices?
  • Cat Feeder Unreminder
    • Choosing a solar panel
      • Solar Panels generally act like a current source across its useable power band
    • Specifications that are important
      • Power (Watts) – Max 
      • Current @ Peak Power 
      • Voltage @ maximum power point (Vmpp)
      • Vmpp – Voltage @ open circuit (Voc)
    • AEM10941 Solar Panel Chip
      • Max V is 5V so open circuit can’t be higher then this
      • MPP is set by 2 configuration pins
      • Ratio between Vmpp / Voc

Stephen

  • Voltage References and dev boards
    • MCP1501T-20E/CHY
      • 0.1% initial Accuracy
      • Low noise
      • worst case 50ppm across -40 to +125
      • Capable of sinking and sourcing 20mA
    • AD584 Dev board
      • 0.3% initial accuracy for the J version. The K version is 0.1%
  • Linear rail is shitty
    • Got 300 mm of knock off chineasium linear rail
    • Sounds like sand in the bearings
    • Held vertically the blocks get stuck…

About the Hosts

Parker Dillmann
  Parker Dillmann

Parker is an Electrical Engineer with backgrounds in Embedded System Design and Digital Signal Processing. He got his start in 2005 by hacking Nintendo consoles into portable gaming units. The following year he designed and produced an Atari 2600 video mod to allow the Atari to display a crisp, RF fuzz free picture on newer TVs. Over a thousand Atari video mods where produced by Parker from 2006 to 2011 and the mod is still made by other enthusiasts in the Atari community.

In 2006, Parker enrolled at The University of Texas at Austin as a Petroleum Engineer. After realizing electronics was his passion he switched majors in 2007 to Electrical and Computer Engineering. Following his previous background in making the Atari 2600 video mod, Parker decided to take more board layout classes and circuit design classes. Other areas of study include robotics, microcontroller theory and design, FPGA development with VHDL and Verilog, and image and signal processing with DSPs. In 2010, Parker won a Ti sponsored Launchpad programming and design contest that was held by the IEEE CS chapter at the University. Parker graduated with a BS in Electrical and Computer Engineering in the Spring of 2012.

In the Summer of 2012, Parker was hired on as an Electrical Engineer at Dynamic Perception to design and prototype new electronic products. Here, Parker learned about full product development cycles and honed his board layout skills. Seeing the difficulties in managing operations and FCC/CE compliance testing, Parker thought there had to be a better way for small electronic companies to get their product out in customer's hands.

Parker also runs the blog, longhornengineer.com, where he posts his personal projects, technical guides, and appnotes about board layout design and components.

Stephen Kraig
  Stephen Kraig

Stephen Kraig is a component engineer working in the aerospace industry. He has applied his electrical engineering knowledge in a variety of contexts previously, including oil and gas, contract manufacturing, audio electronic repair, and synthesizer design. A graduate of Texas A&M, Stephen has lived his adult life in the Houston, TX, and Denver, CO, areas.

Stephen has never said no to a project. From building guitar amps (starting when he was 17) to designing and building his own CNC table to fine-tuning the mineral composition of the water he uses to brew beer, he thrives on testing, experimentation, and problem-solving. Tune into the podcast to learn more about the wacky stuff Stephen gets up to.

Special thanks to whixr over at Tymkrs for the intro and outro!

Related Podcasts

Metric knuckle

Metric Knuckle

Is there a way to macgyver measuring a voltage without a multimeter? Is macgyvering even a word? Parker and Stephen discuss this for well too long.

The infinite finite grid

The Infinite Finite Grid

Stephen and Parker continue the discussion of the voltage measurement. Can you come up with a way to measure voltage without precision tools?

Color clashing chip consolidation

Color Clashing Chip Consolidation

What is the worst thing about the Analog Devices and Linear Technologies merger? The incompatible color schemes of course.

The heartbeat of cats and leds

The Heartbeat of Cats and LEDs

How do you know if an electrical component is inexpensive? When it says "Cost Effective" as a main bullet point on the datasheet!

Through hole manufacturing

Through Hole Manufacturing

Through hole assembly for PCBs might be great for low volume prototypes but how do you scale up that process? What design considerations are needed?

Current conscience comparator

Current Conscience Comparator

How low can the power consumption of the Cat Feeder Unreminder go? Parker and Stephen discuss leakage current on this episode of the podcast!

About MacroFab

MacroFab offers comprehensive manufacturing solutions, from your smallest prototyping orders to your largest production needs. Our factory network locations are strategically located across North America, ensuring that we have the flexibility to provide capacity when and where you need it most.

Experience the future of EMS manufacturing with our state-of-the-art technology platform and cutting-edge digital supply chain solutions. At MacroFab, we ensure that your electronics are produced faster, more efficiently, and with fewer logistic problems than ever before.

Take advantage of AI-enabled sourcing opportunities and employ expert teams who are connected through a user-friendly technology platform. Discover how streamlined electronics manufacturing can benefit your business by contacting us today.