I got interested interested in ESP8266 WiFi module after reading New Chip Alert: The ESP8266 WiFi Module (It’s $5) article. Why is it cool? It’s a WiFi module with an SOC, making it somewhat similar to TI’s CC300. ESP8266 is an UART to WiFi module that you can pick for less than $5 USD. ESP8266 is →
Gl.iNet 6416A is a very small cheap (around 20 Euros / $25) smart WLAN router platform (clone of TP-Link WR-703 router). It has two Ethernet interfaces, WLAN interface and USB port. The small device is powered with USB power supply. It runs open source OpenWRT Linux operating system. It can be used as a router →
I had a very quick hands-on with Texas Instruments CC2541 SensorTag last week. The CC2541 SensorTag is Bluetooth Smart development kit focused on wireless sensor applications targeted for smart phone app developers. The SensorTag can be used as reference design and development platform for a variety of smart phone accessories. CC2541 based SensorTag has practically →
A current transformer (CT) is used for measurement of alternating electric currents. The most common design of CT consists of a length of wire wrapped many times around a silicon steel ring passed ‘around’ the circuit being measured. Current transformers are used extensively for measuring current and monitoring the operation of the power grid. The →
Nowadays it is typical that small embedded platforms and modules offer TTL level (5V or 3.3V) serial port interfaces in them. The easiest way to interface such port to PC is to use USB to TTL level serial port converter (it is easier than adding external TTL-RS232 converter board and then connect to normal serial →
Consider the Internet-of-Things (or Internet-of-Everything as some like to call it): everything – yes, literally everything – will be connected. And the IoT sales people have high promises: Cars will be safer. TV will be better. Homes will be smarter. The promise is that different things can talk to each other if you want. Nowadays →
One day I bough a very cheap quite nice looking (if you like Apple style) very cheap (2 USD) USB charger from dx.com. I was curious to see if anything useful could be built this cheaply. The product USB Power Charger Adapter – White (EU Plug / 100~240V) carried SKU 176662 code, but there does →
Farnell/Newark/Element14 has been running a Conductive Ink Challenge with deadline of 31st August 2014. In it the competition the plan is to draw artistic circuits by hand using nickel or silver-laced “ink”. The aim is to make eye-catching piece of art. Judging is based on creativity, originality and technical and is final To test conductive →
I needed to replace few burned 50W GU10 halogen bulbs with LEDs. A standard 50W halogen lamp outputs 400 lumens so I needed to find a reasonably LED bulb that gives around the same light output. I could live with slightly less, but not too much less. I found suitable looking product AIRAM LED 4W →
I saw an interesting kit at banggood.com and decided to try it: DIY Meter Tester Kit For Capacitance ESR Inductance Resistor NPN PNP Mosfet M168 . The reasons for interests are good specifications, based on open source hardware design and price is reasonable ($12.22 / 9.37 Euro). DIY Meter Tester Kit For Capacitance ESR Inductance →