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Learning circuit design the fun way Welcome to the world of electronics! Getting started in electronics is not as difficult as you may think. Using this book, you will explore and learn the most important electrical and electronics engineering concepts in a fun way by doing various experiments and by simulating circuits. It will teach you electronics practically without getting into complex technical jargon and long calculations. As a result, you will be creating your own projects soon. No prior knowledge of electronics is required, only some basic algebra is used in a few simple calculations. Many tested and working projects and simulations are presented to familiarise yourself with the construction of electronic circuits. Circuit simulation is introduced at an early stage to enable you to experiment with circuits easily without breaking anything. You will learn: The concepts of voltage, current, and power AC and DC Basic lamp circuits with switches Passive components: resistors, capacitors & inductors RC & RCL circuits Electromagnetism Loudspeakers, relays, buzzers, and transformers Active components: diodes & LEDs, bipolar transistors & MOSFETs Transistor-based switching circuits Optocoupler circuits Astable & monostable multivibrators Using the 555 timer IC The operational amplifier Digital logic Advanced examples: amplifiers, oscillators, filters, and sensors Test and measurement tools Microcontrollers: Arduino UNO, ESP32, Raspberry Pi Pico, and Raspberry Pi Reading datasheets and best practices for selecting components EMC & EMI and norms & regulations

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Practical Low-Cost Methods for Reliable PCB Production This book explains how to carry out reliable SMD assembly using affordable tools and small-scale equipment. It follows the complete workflow step by step, including tool selection, solder paste handling, stencil use, component placement, reflow methods, inspection, and rework. The focus is on bench-level and small-lab production rather than industrial assembly lines. It shows practical methods for building single and double-sided SMD boards with repeatable results. Topics include solder paste and flux, temperature profiles, hot air and hotplate techniques, small reflow ovens, inspection methods, and defect correction. Checklists and example workflows are included to help reduce errors and improve consistency. Key features: Tools and supplies for SMD assembly and rework Solder paste types, storage, and handling Stencils and paste application methods Pick and place workflow and component orientation Temperature profiles and reflow methods Hot air, hotplate, and reflow oven processes Inspection and quality control Common defects such as tombstoning and solder bridges Practical rework and component replacement Bench-level professional workflows and checklists This book is designed as a practical bench reference for anyone who wants to assemble and troubleshoot their own SMD boards with reliable results.

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3K5 Noteworthy Designs (1975-2026) This USB archive stick contains over 3,500 noteworthy circuits from all areas of electronics (audio & video, hobby & modelling, home & garden, test & measurement, computers & microcontrollers, radio, power supplies & batteries) published in Elektor Magazine since 1975. Most circuits are sourced from the Elektor Summer Circuits editions. You can use the article search function to find specific content in the full text. The results are always shown as preformatted PDF documents. Adobe Reader may be used to browse articles as well as find individual words and expressions using the program’s integrated Search functions. Please note that no Summer Circuits editions were published between 2014 and 2022, so these years are not included in the directory. Specifications Storage 16 GB Connectors 1x USB-A1x USB-C

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Whether you are an electronics enthusiast or engineering professional, this book provides the reader with an introduction to the use of the CadSoft’s EAGLE PCB design software package. EAGLE is a user-friendly, powerful and affordable software package for the efficient design of printed circuit boards. It offers the same power and functionality to all users, at a smaller cost than its competitors. A free version of EAGLE is available to enthusiasts for their own use. EAGLE can be used on the main computing platforms including: Microsoft Windows (XP, Vista or Windows 7); Linux (based on kernel 2.6 or above) and Apple Mac OS X (Version 10.6 or higher). Any hardware that supports these software platforms will run the EAGLE application. The book is intended for anyone who wants an introduction to the capabilities of EAGLE. The reader may be a novice at PCB design or a professional wanting to learn about EAGLE, with the intention of migrating from another CAD package. This book will quickly allow you to: obtain an overview of the main modules of EAGLE: the schematic editor; layout editor and autorouter in one single interface; learn to use some of the basic commands in the schematic and layout editor modules of EAGLE; apply your knowledge of EAGLE commands to a small project; learn more about some of the advanced concepts of EAGLE and its capabilities; understand how EAGLE relates to the stages of PCB manufacture; create a complete project, from design through to PCB fabrication. The project discussed in the book is a popular, proven design from the engineering team at Elektor. After reading this book while practicing some of the examples, and completing the projects, the reader should feel confident about taking on more challenging endeavors.

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Getting started with the world’s best open-source PCB tool The latest iteration of KiCad, the world’s best free-to-use Printed Circuit Board tool, is packed with features usually found only in expensive commercial CAD tools. This modern, cross-platform application suite built around schematic and design editors, with auxiliary applications is a stable and mature PCB tool. KiCad 8 is a perfect fit for electronic engineers and makers. Here are the most significant improvements and features in KiCad 8, both over and under the hood: Modern user interface, completely redesigned from earlier versions Improved and customizable electrical and design rule checkers Theme editor allowing you to customize KiCad on your screen Ability to import projects from Eagle, CADSTART, and more Python scripting API Improved integrated SPICE circuit simulator Multi-sheet schematics Filters define selectable elements Enhanced interactive router helps you draw single tracks and differential pairs with precision New or enhanced tools to draw tracks, measure distances, tune track lengths, etc. Advanced interactive router Built-in bill of materials generator Realistic ray-tracing capable 3D viewer Customizable teardrops Plug-in manager for quick installation of themes, libraries and functionalities such as autorouters and BOM generators This book will teach you to use KiCad through a practical approach. It will help you become productive quickly and start designing your own boards. Example projects illustrate the basic features of KiCad, even if you have no prior knowledge of PCB design. The author describes the entire workflow from schematic entry to the intricacies of finalizing the files for PCB production and offers sound guidance on the process. Further full-fledged projects, of incremental difficulty, will be presented in a second book, together with a variety of advanced recipes.

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Program and build RPi Pico-based ham station utilities, tools, and instruments Although much classical HF and mobile equipment is still in use by large numbers of amateurs, the use of computers and digital techniques has now become very popular among amateur radio operators. Nowadays, anyone can purchase a €5 Raspberry Pi Pico microcontroller board and develop many amateur radio projects using the “Pico” and some external components. This book is aimed at amateur radio enthusiasts, Electronic Engineering students, and anyone interested in learning to use the Raspberry Pi Pico to shape their electronic projects. The book is suitable for beginners in electronics as well as for those with wide experience. Step-by-step installation of the MicroPython programming environment is described. Some knowledge of the Python programming language is helpful to be able to comprehend and modify the projects given in the book. The book introduces the Raspberry Pi Pico and gives examples of many general-purpose, software-only projects that familiarize the reader with the Python programming language. In addition to the software-only projects tailored to the amateur radio operator, Chapter 6 in particular presents over 36 hardware-based projects for “hams”, including: Station mains power on/off control Radio station clock GPS based station geographical coordinates Radio station temperature and humidity Various waveform generation methods using software and hardware (DDS) Frequency counter Voltmeter / ammeter / ohmmeter / capacitance meter RF meter and RF attenuators Morse code exercisers RadioStation Click board Raspberry Pi Pico based FM radio Using Bluetooth and Wi-Fi with Raspberry Pi Pico Radio station security with RFID Audio amplifier module with rotary encoder volume control Morse decoder Using the FS1000A TX-RX modules to communicate with Arduino

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The FNIRSI LC1020E High-Precision LCR Meter with ESR tester is a portable and intelligent solution for testing electronic components, offering a basic accuracy of up to 0.3%. It is ideal for engineers, technicians, and makers. The device supports L/Q, C/D, and R/D measurements using both series and parallel equivalent circuit models, and features a 2.8-inch TFT color display. With preset thresholds and audio-visual alerts, it enables fast pass/fail evaluation, making it perfect for batch testing and quality control. Supporting test frequencies up to 100 kHz, it is well suited for high-frequency analysis of inductors, capacitors, and resistors. Features ±0.05% accuracy with 4.5-digit resolution Automatic R/L/C identification for fast measurements 5 test frequencies (100 Hz–100 kHz) & 3 voltage levels (0.1–0.6 V) Dual display: L/C/R/Z + X/D/Q/θ/ESR Sorting mode & bias voltage for batch testing Dual ports (3-/5-terminal) with 4-wire Kelvin support Data hold & logging for efficient workflow Compact, rechargeable (3000 mAh) – ideal for lab & field use Specifications General Test Frequency 100 Hz, 120 Hz, 1 kHz, 10 kHz, 100 kHz Basic Accuracy 0.3% Display 2.8-inch TFT LCD display Display Digits Main Parameter: 4.5 digits Secondary Parameter: 4.5 digits Measurement Parameters Main Parameters: AUTO/R/C/L/Z Secondary Parameters: X/D/Q/θ/ESR Measurement Range L: 0-100H C: 0-100mF R: 0-10M Internal Bias 0.0 V, 0.5 V Test Level 0.1 V, 0.3 V, 0.6 V Calibration Functions Open circuit calibration, Short circuit calibration Comparison Function Used to calculate the relative error between the component measurement value and the nominal value, displayed as a percentage, and provides filtering results. Nominal values and tolerance can be set, with tolerance range adjustable from 0.1% to 99.9% Function Record Checks if the measured component data meets the set nominal value and tolerance, recording the number of successful and failed measurements Test Terminal Configuration Three-terminal, Five-terminal Output Impedance 100Ω Interface USB-C (Virtual serial port) Others Language settings, Screen brightness, Sound settings, Auto power-off, Calibration settings, System information Battery 3000 mAh Lithium battery Dimensions 18.5 x 8.5 x 3.5 cm Weight 680 g Capacitance (C) Range: 1mF-100mF 100 Hz: 5% ±5 digits 1 kHz: 3% ±5 digits 10 kHz: / 100 kHz: / Range: 1uF-1mF 100 Hz: 1% ±4 digits 1 kHz: 0.5% ±5 digits 10 kHz: 2% ±5 digits 100 kHz: 3% ±4 digits Range: 1nF-1uF 100 Hz: / 1 kHz: 0.3% ±2 digits 10 kHz: 0.4% ±2 digits 100 kHz: 1% ±4 digits Range: 1pF-1nF 100 Hz: / 1 kHz: 2% ±2 digits 10 kHz: 1.5% ±2 digits 100 kHz: 2% ±4 digits Inductance (L) Range: 1H-100H 100 Hz: 2% ±5 digits 1 kHz: 2% ±5 digits 10 kHz: / 100 kHz: / Range: 1mH-1H 100 Hz: 0.4% ±5 digits 1 kHz: 0.3% ±2 digits 10 kHz: 0.4% ±3 digits 100 kHz: 2.5% ±5 digits Range: 10uH-1mH 100 Hz: 3% ±5 digits 1 kHz: 0.5% ±4 digits 10 kHz: 0.5% ±3 digits 100 kHz: 1.5% ±5 digits Range: 1uH-10uH 100 Hz: / 1 kHz: 2% ±5 digits 10 kHz: 2% ±5 digits 100 kHz: 4% ±5 digits Resistance (R) Range: 1MΩ-10MΩ 100 Hz: 5% ±4 digits 1 kHz: 3% ±3 digits 10 kHz: / 100 kHz: / Range: 1KΩ-1MΩ 100 Hz: 0.4% ±4 digits 1 kHz: 0.2% ±2 digits 10 kHz: 0.3% ±3 digits 100 kHz: 0.6% ±5 digits Range: 1Ω-1KΩ 100 Hz: 1.5% ±4 digits 1 kHz: 0.3% ±2 digits 10 kHz: 0.3% ±3 digits 100 kHz: 0.6% ±5 digits Range: 10mΩ-1Ω 100 Hz: 4% ±4 digits 1 kHz: 2% ±5 digits 10 kHz: 2% ±5 digits 100 kHz: 5% ±5 digits Included 1x FNIRSI LC1020E LCR Meter 1x Kelvin Test Clip 2x Test Leads (1x black, 1x red) 1x Shorting Plate 1x USB-C Cable 1x Manual Downloads Manual Firmware V1.1

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LoRaWAN, Sigfox, NB-IoT & LTE-M Compared The Internet of Things depends on a critical question. How do you connect devices that must operate for years on tiny batteries, often miles from the nearest power outlet? This Elektor Technical Brief provides a practical guide to the technologies that have become the backbone of long-range, low-power IoT connectivity. Compiled by the Elektor Content Team, this concise technical brief examines the real engineering tradeoffs behind today’s leading Low-Power Wide-Area Network (LPWAN) technologies: LoRaWAN, Sigfox, NB-IoT, and LTE-M. By referencing a wide range of Elektor articles and other online content, this document explains why link budget, noise, bandwidth, and power consumption ultimately determine system performance. From there, it explores the architectures, strengths, limitations, and deployment realities of each major LPWAN technology, helping you understand not just how they work, but when and why to use them. Whether you’re designing smart meters, industrial sensors, agricultural monitoring systems, asset trackers, or connected infrastructure, this guide provides the insights needed to make informed connectivity decisions. Along the way, you’ll discover: Why LPWAN technologies emerged and where they fit in the IoT landscape The RF fundamentals that drive range, reliability, and battery life Details about LoRaWAN, Sigfox, NB-IoT, and LTE-M Practical comparisons of power, coverage, latency, cost, and deployment models Guidance for selecting the right LPWAN technology for your application Emerging trends shaping the future of long-range IoT connectivity Clear, accessible, and grounded in real engineering practice, this Technical Brief helps you move beyond specifications and marketing claims to understand what matters most. If you’re building connected products that need to survive in the field — not just in the lab — this is the LPWAN guide you’ll want at your side. Elektor helped launch the first wave of electronics makers in 1961. Since then, our global community has grown by hundreds of thousands of active members (comprising professional engineers, makers, and students) and more than 500 contributing experts. Every day, we inspire members to design and earn money with electronics.

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Projects Using Arduino IDE and the LVGL Graphics Library The ESP32 is probably one of the most popular microcontrollers used by many people, including students, hobbyists, and professional engineers. Its low cost, coupled with rich features makes it a popular device to use in many projects. Recently, a board called the ESP32 Cheap Yellow Display (CYD for short) is available from its manufacturers. The board includes a standard ESP32 microcontroller together with a 320x240 pixel TFT display. Additionally, the board provides several connectors for interfaces such as GPIO, serial port (TX/RX), power and Ground. The inclusion of a TFT display is a real advantage as it enables users to design complex graphics-based projects without resorting to an external LCD or graphics displays. The book describes the basic hardware of the ESP32 CYD board and provides details of its on-board connectors. Many basic, simple, and intermediate-level projects are given in the book based on the ESP32 CYD, using the highly popular Arduino IDE 2.0 integrated development environment. The use of both the basic graphics functions and the use of the popular LVGL graphics library are discussed in the book and projects are given that use both types of approaches. All the projects given in the book have been tested and are working. The block diagram, circuit diagram, and the complete program listings and program descriptions of all the projects are given with explanations. Readers can use the LVGL graphics library to design highly popular eye-catching full-color graphics projects using widgets such as buttons, labels, calendars, keypads, keyboards, message boxes, spinboxes, sliders, charts, tables, menus, bars, switches, drop-down lists, animations, and many more widgets.

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PC USB Logic Analyzers with Arduino, Raspberry Pi, and Co. Step-by-step instructions guide you through the analysis of modern protocols such as I²C, SPI, UART, RS-232, NeoPixel, WS28xx, HD44780 and 1-Wire. With the help of numerous experimental circuits based on the Raspberry Pi Pico, Arduino Uno and the Bus Pirate, you will learn the practical application of popular USB logic analyzers. All the experimental circuits presented in this book have been fully tested and are fully functional. The necessary program listings are included – no special programming or electronics knowledge is required for these circuits. The programming languages used are MicroPython and C along with the development environments Thonny and Arduino IDE. This book uses several models of flexible and widely available USB logic analyzers and shows the strengths and weaknesses of each price range. You will learn about the criteria that matter for your work and be able to find the right device for you. Whether Arduino, Raspberry Pi or Raspberry Pi Pico, the example circuits shown allow you to get started quickly with protocol analysis and can also serve as a basis for your own experiments. After reading this book, you will be familiar with all the important terms and contexts, conduct your own experiments, analyze protocols independently, culminating in a comprehensive knowledge set of digital signals and protocols.

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The Piccolino rapid development board can be used to design microcontroller circuits quickly. The Piccolino has a fast 16f887 PIC microcontroller, voltage regulator, and communications module, and can be easily extended using its four headers. This e-book contains 30 projects based on the Piccolino. We'll use its unique communications facilities and get the Piccolino to communicate with programs on a PC. On the PC, we use the free programming language Small Basic. You can use this to create Windows programs with buttons and graphs quickly. You will learn how to analyze components such as inductors, capacitors, and OPAMPs, and how to display the measurement results in a graphical format. This will help you to design your circuits easily. We will then start to adapt to the Piccolino. We'll add components to it to make it more powerful, with extra features such as flow control and digital to analog conversion. The clear instructions will enable you to design and build your adaptations. This way you can make your custom designed Piccolino. We'll end up making an extension: a PCB that that can be mounted on the Piccolino headers. As an example, we'll design and build an extension for an LCD. You can use the included board layout to make your PCB or have it made for you. At the same time, you will learn how to make your extensions. The only limitation is your imagination! The clear descriptions along with circuit diagrams and photos, will make the building of these projects an enjoyable experience. Each project has a clear explanation of the reasons why it was designed in a particular way. This helps you learn a lot about the Piccolino, as well as Small Basic, and the components that are used in this e-book. You can adapt the projects to suit your requirements or combine several projects.

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EAGLE – the “Easily Applicable Graphical Layout Editor“ is a professional-grade CAD (computer aided design) software package for the design and drafting of electronic schematics as well as the design and fabrication of printed circuit boards (PCBs). This Advanced User Guide provides the experienced EAGLE user with insight into using some of the more advanced features of EAGLE software. It is not a guide to teach the reader the basic concepts of EAGLE, nor does it discuss the ‘how to’ of the EAGLE interface and the simpler operations and commands of the software. That is the purpose of the author’s previous title EAGLE V6 Getting Started Guide also published by Elektor. This eBook is intended as an enduring document covering the more advanced modules, commands, and functions which make up EAGLE. It is hoped that this eBook will provide a quick, succinct reference to assist with more complex applications and uses of EAGLE – an ‘EAGLE User’s Companion’, if you like. Complementing the EAGLE Advanced User Guide, the EAGLE User Language manual is included in this eBook in unabridged form, reproduced with permission of CadSoft GmbH. At the time of writing, the material in this eBook covers version 7 of the EAGLE software suite.

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