Recent content by gengis

I've got this bit of code in my program that the check syntax always chokes on: if light <= 50 then gosub solar1 (highlights and says "mistake this line") (at the end of my code I have this line for the subroutine) solar1: high 0 return What is the correct syntax?

Several surplus outlets in the US are carrying these already assembled counter driver display circuits. They were apparently intended to be used for "next customer served" displays, and are on two boards. One board has the 2 digit, ~2.5", 7 segment display made with discrete leds, and the...

I'd like to emulate "ships bells" with an 08M. I figure for the time base a quartz clock's internal oscillator. The idea is to divide the day into four hour "watches" and striking 1 to 8 bells every half hour. (the bell is struck in groups of two, if two or more bells are to be rung) My...

My USB to RS232 adapter died recently, and I had a couple of cheap single board adapters around that I intended to build into projects, to make Picaxe reprogramming with a USB cable easy. Cost of the adapter, called a USB to RS232 TTL 232 Converter Module PL2303 Chip PC was $5.69 USD each...

I wanted an excuse to use a DS18B20 to learn how to apply it, and coincidentally have a glass block wall on part of my house, and these dynamite tricolor LEDs that would look good coming through the glass from 20 feet away at night... The design uses a high flux "piranha" style LED and 08M to...

Basics of power mosfets and understanding datasheets and graphs http://powerelectronics.com/power_semiconductors/power_mosfets/power-mosfets-characteristics-0515/index1.html Power Management 101 Power Management Semiconductors http://powerelectronics.com/news/faq-power-mang-semiconductor-0414/...

My code is supposed to flash a light in sync with the temperature. It does and works pretty well (aside from the aforementioned problem flashing Zero times in part one) The thing is simply a DS18B20 one wire temperature sensor using 12 bit accuracy and converting to degrees F, then breaking...

I have, in spite of my programming, managed to get a light to flash in sync with the temperature. A temperature of 71F flashes seven times, pauses then flashes once. But a temperature of 70F flashes just like 71. (the led is tricolor, common anode - so low is "on") How does one get a for next...

I want to take a word variable and put each of three/four digits into separate variables- thousands, hundreds, tens, units with the ultimate goal of flashing an led to visually indicate temperature from a remote sensor - differentiating the numbers with longer pauses between digits and/or...

I've been reworking my pwm fan control a bit. I have a bit of ADC jitter when the fan is inside my computer - on the bench it works fine. So I added averaging to the thermistor input. While I'm at it I thought I could rework the alarms too. What I want is the fan pwm control to work normally...

This technique works very well with almost no noise from the fan and near 0-100% control (or as slow as the fan can turn without stalling). It is an adaptation of a switching power supply. The choke stores energy and releases it to the motor during the off time of the pwm, the 68 uf cap is...

I've been toying with ideas since Mad Professor brought it up last February. I have a technique that works like a champ. The idea started as a "choke input filter." These were the only way to get filtered DC years ago - there were no electrolytic caps or they were large and dangerous, so you...

I came across this while looking for a schematic for the Sonicare (toothbrush) inductive charger, figuring on stealing their ideas, and it was recently on the forum. It is a paper on combining inductive charging with data transfer across the charging air gap. Nice application might be a...

Is there any good reason for duplicating the programming resistors and diode on every project? Is there any disadvantage to just mounting the resistors on my DB9 connector, then using a 3 pin header to program the board? Seems that's the only way I see it being done, but it seems like wasted...

Picaxe Range Control - theory of operation I added a picaxe to control the heating element on the stove the last time a control failed. Its been a few months now and I'm pleased with the result (especially the flashing tri color LED which lets me know what is happening from across the room)...