The ForceTronics blog provides tutorials on creating fun and unique electronic projects. The goal of each project will be to create a foundation or jumping off point for amateur, hobbyist, and professional engineers to build on and innovate. Please use the comments section for questions and go to forcetronics.com for information on forcetronics consulting services.
Saturday, November 13, 2021
How to Build a Switch Debounce Circuit for a Rotary Encoder
Tuesday, December 22, 2020
How to Setup and Change the System Clock on the SAMD21 Microcontroller Family
In this video we look at how to setup and change the system clock on the SAMD21 family of microcontrollers from Microchip / Atmel. This example code is written in C++ and uses direct register access.
Free version can be found on GitHub: https://github.com/ForceTronics/SamD21_Clock_Setup
For pay version includes the following additional features:
Demonstrates how to use the calibration values stored in NVM to tune the 48MHz clock for higher accuracy
Allows you to change the system clock to 48MHz, 8MHz, 1MHz, and 32768Hz
Shows how to output the system clock from pin PA27
Link to code on ForceTronics.com: http://www.forcetronics.com/example-code-for-purchase/samd21-clock-setup-and-control-c-code-example
Sunday, November 29, 2020
How to Design 24VAC to DC Power Supply for HVAC Applications Part 2
In the video we look at how to design a 24VAC power supply for industrial and HVAC applications. The supply will be flexible enough to handle DC voltage inputs. The power supply will employ a DC to DC buck converter, half wave rectifier, input protection against over voltage, and output noise reduction circuit features. In part 2 we look at the PCB design, the finished product, and capture some test data to see how it is working.
Monday, November 16, 2020
How to Design a 24VAC to DC Power Supply for HVAC Applications Part 1
In the video we look at how to design a 24VAC power supply for industrial and HVAC applications. The supply will be flexible enough to handle DC voltage inputs. The power supply will employ a DC to DC buck converter, half wave rectifier, input protection against over voltage, and output noise reduction circuit features
Monday, December 9, 2019
Designing an Automatic Battery Cutoff Circuit to Prevent Over Discharge of Rechargeable Batteries Part 2
BOM of battery cutoff circuit:
- S-1011A70-M6T1U4 Voltage Detector from ABLIC
- DMP4015SSS-13 P Chan MOSFET from Diodes Inc
- BSS138 N Chan MOSFET from multiple manufacturers
- RSX051VYM30FHTR Schottky Diode from ROHM Semi
- 2x 3.3 nF Ceramic Capacitor
- ~100 kOhm Resistor
- 1 to 10 MOhm Resistor (used 4.7M in example circuit)
PCB Layout of Battery Cutoff Circuit |
Friday, November 29, 2019
Designing an Automatic Battery Cutoff Circuit to Prevent Over Discharge of Rechargeable Batteries Part 1
BOM from video:
- S-1011A70-M6T1U4 Voltage Detector from ABLIC
- DMP4015SSS-13 P Chan MOSFET from Diodes Inc
- BSS138 N Chan MOSFET from multiple manufacturers
- RSX051VYM30FHTR Schottky Diode from ROHM Semi
- 2x 3.3 nF Ceramic Capacitor
- ~100 kOhm Resistor
- 1 to 10 MOhm Resistor
Battery Cutoff Circuit Schematic |
Friday, May 31, 2019
Ways to Improve ADC Measurement Accuracy and Resolution Part 2
To access the white paper that was referenced to derive the equation related to RC time constants and sampling time: https://www.silabs.com/documents/public/application-notes/AN119.pdf
Cutout from Silicon Labs App Note on calculating settling time for SAR ADC |