https://community.element14.com/challenges-projects/element14-presents/dc-to-daylight/ A fresh explanation for electronics concepts with real-world applications.en-USTelligent Community 12https://community.element14.com/challenges-projects/element14-presents/dc-to-daylight/w/documentsWed, 17 Jan 2024 14:31:00 GMT93d5dcb4-84c2-446f-b2cb-99731719e767:b89a2e1e-3880-444c-8940-2d85876dd651https://community.element14.com/challenges-projects/element14-presents/dc-to-daylight/w/documents/28388/exploring-the-intricacies-of-strain-gauges-in-mechanical-systems----dc-to-daylight-33Tue, 16 Jan 2024 16:02:00 GMT93d5dcb4-84c2-446f-b2cb-99731719e767:7cd0c9f6-65b3-457a-9fdc-1d26e9434007pchanDerek dives into the world of strain gauges in this video, exploring their application for measuring stress and strain in mechanical systems. He takes on the challenge of understanding the detailed design considerations, particularly in the field of robotics, providing valuable insights into the composition of strain gauges—a flexible plastic substrate paired with a thin metallic conductive element. Watch the Video: www.youtube.com/watch Throughout the demonstration, Derek explains the relationship between resistance and strain, offering clarity on how strain gauges measure changes in length or diameter when exposed to external forces. He seamlessly connects the dots between stress and strain, highlighting their pivotal role in comprehending material behavior under various conditions. Concepts like Young's modulus and the elastic and plastic regions of materials are introduced. Transitioning to practical applications, Derek guides viewers through the meticulous process of attaching strain gauges to a stainless steel shim for measuring bending moments. The emphasis is on surface preparation, involving the use of sandpaper and cleaning agents, along with careful placement of strain gauges for optimal results. The video further explores the critical role of Wheatstone bridges in measuring subtle changes in resistance. Derek provides insights into orientation and configuration considerations, offering valuable knowledge for effective use in different scenarios. As the demonstration unfolds, Derek showcases the hands-on process of mounting strain gauges and setting up a Wheatstone bridge on a stainless steel shim. The detailed steps, from surface preparation to wiring, serve as a practical guide for enthusiasts and engineers alike. element14 presents | About Derek | DC to DaylightPractical applications of strain gaugesElectronic measurement devicesBending moment measurementWheatstone bridge applicationselectronic sensorsFlexible substrate technologyYoung's modulus explanationRobotics engineering insightsSurface preparation techniquesStress and strain measurementMechanical systems analysisResistance and strain relationshipMaterial behavior under stressstrain gaugesEngineering demonstrations and tutorialshttps://community.element14.com/challenges-projects/element14-presents/dc-to-daylight/w/documents/28369/how-flip-flops-work----dc-to-daylight-32Tue, 21 Nov 2023 18:54:00 GMT93d5dcb4-84c2-446f-b2cb-99731719e767:e9b67ee6-19f7-435f-ac76-105dca7bf726pchanIn this episode of DC to Daylight, Derek explores the world of flip-flops, fundamental digital circuits essential for toggling between on and off states. Assuming a basic understanding of combinational logic, Derek constructs a simple flip-flop using a 74 LS series logic IC, giving examples of its applications, including memory storage devices and shift registers. Cross-coupled NOR gates are used to create a set-reset (SR) flip-flop. Derek showcases the flip-flop working with momentary input signals and asynchronous reactions. Watch the Video: www.youtube.com/watch Derek delves into the circuitry, demonstrating the SR flip-flop with two transistors, resistors, and LEDs. He highlights the crucial role of momentary pulses in toggling states and showcases alternative implementations using a 74LS2 quad NAND gate. Transitioning to synchronous operation, Derek introduces the Gated Set-Reset flip-flop, which responds to a control signal. The Gated SR flip-flop is implemented using a couple of AND gates. Derek also touches on the data flip-flop, combining a gate input with set and reset pins for synchronous state changes based on a single input. The episode concludes with a discussion of the JK flip-flop, which is similar to the SR flip-flop but with one important difference: the output toggles when both inputs are high. Derek illustrates the use of JK flip-flops in creating a ripple counter, explaining how they divide the clock pulse and count in a modulus 8 sequence. The practical demonstration showcases the binary-weighted outputs of each stage, providing a tangible understanding of ripple counters. Links: How Flip Flops Work -- The Learning Circuit 60 Toggle Sign Using an SR Flip-Flop -- The Learning Circuit 61 element14 presents | About Derek | DC to DaylightSynchronous flip flopshift registerdigital toggle switchflip flopFlip flop circuitsDigital circuit demonstrationssequential logicElectronics engineering insightsCircuit building for makersPractical applications of flip flopsData flip flop applications74 LS series logic ICdata flip flopGated Set Reset flip flopcombinational logicDigital logic tutorialsripple counterElectronics education videosJK flip flop in electronicsRipple counter designDIY electronics projectsSet-reset flip flophttps://community.element14.com/challenges-projects/element14-presents/dc-to-daylight/w/documents/28341/dc-to-daylight-31-how-a-wheatstone-bridge-worksTue, 10 Oct 2023 15:15:00 GMT93d5dcb4-84c2-446f-b2cb-99731719e767:7755e8d3-41d6-4a9e-8fc4-79862f38b963pchanIn this episode of DC to Daylight, Derek gives us an overview of Wheatstone bridges and how they work . Wheatstone bridges are a clever configuration of resistors arranged in a diamond pattern, with voltage sources connected at one set of terminals and a galvanometer across the remaining two terminals. By adjusting the resistances in each arm of the bridge, we can control the voltage ratios across each resistor. When these ratios are balanced, no current flows through the meter, indicating an equilibrium. This balance allows us to accurately determine an unknown resistance when compared to known resistors. https://youtu.be/jq1elJGLBmo Derek explains this concept of the Wheatstone bridge using a n easy-to-grasp water analogy . When both arms of the bridge have equal flow rates and directions, there's no flow between them, representing the bridge in equilibrium. If there's an imbalance due to unequal resistances, current flows, providing a way to calculate the unknown resistance. Derek goes on to explore the practical implementation of Wheatstone bridges, explaining how they can be used to measure unknown resistors with great accuracy. He shows a mini-teardown of a Wheatstone bridge on his bench, demonstrating how it's set up and used to measure a 47-ohm resistor within a 5% tolerance, showcasing its practicality and precision. The teardown also reveals the inner workings of the Wheatstone bridge, with precision wire-wound resistors and multiple layers of contacts to reduce contact resistance. It's evident that the device uses dielectric grease to prevent corrosion, ensuring its reliability over time. In conclusion, Derek highlights the enduring relevance of Wheatstone bridges in applications such as load cells and sensors, even as digital multimeters become more common for these applications today. element14 presents | About Derek | DC to DaylightWheatstone Bridge Teardown BreakdownElectronics safetyElectronics Tutorial on Wheatstone BridgesWheatstone Bridge Operationwheatstone circuitPrecision Resistance Measurement Guidevoltage dividerExploring Electronics InsightsAdvanced Resistance MeasurementIn-depth Circuit AnalysisUnderstanding Precision ResistorsElectronic Enthusiast ResourcesElectronic Component ExplainedOpto-isolationInside a Wheatstone Bridge DeviceDemystifying Wheatstone BridgesElectrical Measurement TechniquesElectrical componentsunknown resistanceAccuracy in Resistance Measurementwheatstone bridgeElectronic Circuit Insightshttps://community.element14.com/challenges-projects/element14-presents/dc-to-daylight/w/documents/28304/mastering-complex-circuits-a-guide-to-parallel-and-series-resistors----dc-to-daylight-30Tue, 25 Jul 2023 07:24:00 GMT93d5dcb4-84c2-446f-b2cb-99731719e767:04e023fd-b7d2-4aa6-81d7-3c1518ae23deMattOn DC to Daylight, Derek delves into the world of complex circuits composed of parallel and series resistive or reactive components. Whether you're a college student, an electrical engineering enthusiast, or a hobbyist tinkering with resistors, you're likely to encounter such intricate circuits. These circuits may involve multiple power supplies interacting with each other, necessitating an understanding of how current and voltage are distributed across different components. Derek kicks things off by sharing his personal experience of crafting an audio dummy load for troubleshooting guitar amplifiers, which required creative switching of resistors for impedance combinations. One of the challenges in this project was managing power dissipation among these resistors. Watch the Video: www.youtube.com/watch In the episode, Derek simplifies the process of dealing with complex resistive circuits. He compares the flow of current to water flow, with the resistors represented by water valves that allow different amounts of water to pass. He highlights the difference between series and parallel resistor arrangements. In a series configuration, the total resistance is the sum of individual resistances, but each resistor experiences the same current while bearing different voltage drops. On the other hand, parallel resistors share the same voltage while dividing the current based on their respective resistances. The complexity increases as Derek delves into intricate resistor combination circuits, introducing Kirchhoff's voltage law and Kirchhoff's current law. These laws, formulated by the physicist Gustav Kirchhoff, provide invaluable principles for analyzing circuit behavior. Derek demonstrates the practical applications of these laws in solving series and parallel resistor arrangements. By employing the voltage divider rule, he calculates voltage drops across resistors in series, ensuring efficient troubleshooting of real-world circuits. The video continues with a breakdown of a more intricate circuit, where the combination of resistors requires deeper analysis. Applying Kirchhoff's laws and the current divider rule, Derek showcases step-by-step calculations for determining currents through resistors in parallel. He emphasizes the importance of understanding the interplay between resistances and currents to achieve accurate results. Through meticulous application of Ohm's law and Kirchhoff's laws, Derek determines voltage drops, currents, and power ratings across all resistors. He underscores the practical relevance of mastering these concepts for various real-world scenarios. element14 presents | About Derek | DC to Daylightkirchhoff current lawkirchoff voltage lawkvlcurrent dividerkclvoltage dividerseries resistorsparallel resistors