Blog

Making an Analog Discovery 3 prop to "tear down."

baldengineer

In Workbench Wednesdays #76, I looked at Diglent's Analog Discovery 3. This device is a long-anticipated, by me anyway, update to their incredibly powerful and useful Analog Discovery 2. One of the first things that struck me about the AD3 is that th...
- 26 Jul 2023
Bald Engineer’s Oscilloscope Videos

baldengineer

Every oscilloscope video (and tutorial) created by Bald Engineer (James). Learn about acquisition modes, trigger types, and more. There are also "application" videos where you can see scope measurements on real circuits.
- 28 Feb 2023
Selecting electrolytic capacitor replacements (for a TRS-80 Model 100) [Full Video]

baldengineer

In the "How to Pick Replacement Electrolytic Capacitors" video, I went through the process I use for selecting replacement aluminum electrolytic capacitors. My focus was why electrolytic wear out (or fail) AND what to consider when choosing a new one...
- 28 Feb 2023
Op Amp Proto Board (SOIC-8)

baldengineer

In the Slew Rate vs Rise Time video, I used this little breakout board. The bottom side is a continuous copper plane. On the top, the square pins have solder pads that you can connect to the top and bottom copper pour. The idea is to provide as much ...
- 25 Jan 2023
Automated bode plot with a Pi 400, SCPI, and Python

baldengineer

In the Bode Plots episode, I used The Intern to measure multiple frequency points. The process is not only time-consuming, but it is also very error-prone. Originally, I wanted to show a Python script that automates the entire measurement in that vid...
- 29 Nov 2022
I need your ideas on how to test flux!

baldengineer

I have been thinking about an episode that compares different types of flux. Primarily I want to compare rosen, water-soluble, and no clean. I need your help with at least two aspects. First, what to cover. The two key areas I am thinking about are ...
- 25 May 2022
7 reasons why I like the ATmega128Dx MCUs

baldengineer

Microchip introduced the ATmega128Dx in three variants: -DA, -DB, and -DD. These 8-bit microcontrollers can run at 5 volts and have several compelling features. While no "official" Arduino board exists based on these chips, an open-source p...
- 16 Jun 2021
Quick: what's your best desoldering braid/wick tip or trick?

baldengineer

Since last March 2020, I have been live-streaming three days a week. My streams are all electronics related but include retro computer repairs, soldering kits, Arduino coding, explaining measurements, and other electronics stuff. Several of the recen...
- 1 Feb 2021
Are you still using 7400-Series Logic, if so, where?

baldengineer

Over the past several months, I have been learning about and repairing 8-bit computer and video game systems. So far, I have worked on the VIC-20, C64, ZX-81, Apple II, and have been learning about the TI 99/A. It always amazes how much of these...
- 9 Dec 2020
What are the most important parts to have in your electronics kit?

baldengineer

This weekend I went to build a circuit for use in an upcoming video. There were two components I was confident that were in my parts kit: a 555 timer and a counter. Now, I did not know which counter I had, but I assumed I must have at least one decad...
- 29 Jul 2020
Reverse engineering the MP730026 DMM's BLE data packets

baldengineer

The MP730026 DMMMP730026 DMM supports BLE communication. However, I quickly learned that the software offered by Multicomp Pro has significant limitations. So I set out to find a cross-platform solution, which leads me to Python. In the MP730026 DMM ...
- 9 Mar 2020
MP730026 DMM BLE Tutorial using Python

baldengineer

At a glance, the Multicomp Pro MP730026 seems like a typical DMM. And it is! It measures voltage, current, frequency, temperature (with included K-Type thermocouple), and even features a white LED to act as a work light. The non-typical feature...
- 9 Mar 2020
How are linear regulators and switching supplies different?

baldengineer

Every electronic device includes a DC-DC converter for its power supply. That supply might come from a USB port, a "brick", a wall-wart, or in larger systems, there could be multiple point-of-load converters scattered around a single circuit board.&n...
- 19 Dec 2019
SAR vs. Sigma-Delta ADC -- What is the difference anyway?

baldengineer

Analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) enable a wide range of electronics applications. They make it possible for devices to interact with their environment. Most sensors convert a physical quantity into a voltage. While it is certainly possible t...
- 9 Oct 2019
Reading MOSFET Curves

baldengineer

Semiconductor Measurements element14 Presents | Bald Engineer: James Lewis' VCP Profile | Workbench Wednesdays A good MOSFET datasheet is excellent when it contains detailed information. However, too much information might mea...
- 4 Aug 2019
Measuring an aluminum electrolytic capacitor's ESR

baldengineer

One of my hobbies is collecting vintage computers. Computers in my collection include the Apple IIgs, Atari 400, TI 99/4A, Commodore 64 and Sinclair ZX-81 to name a few of the popular ones. Like all electronics, these systems contain capacitors. Anyo...
- 19 Jun 2019
Picking aluminum polymer electrolytic capacitors for the C64

baldengineer

Capacitor Replacement on a Commodore 64 - A Lesson in Through-Hole Soldering WorkBench Wednesdays | Bald Engineer: James Lewis' VCP Profile | Project Videos In WorkBench Wednesdays , one of my mini-projects was to replace the...
- 13 Mar 2019