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The Voltage Mismatch Problem I²C looks deceptively simple: two wires (SDA and SCL), lots of devices, and everything “just works.” But the trouble starts when devices don’t agree on voltage. Most modern microcontrollers run at 3.3 V Many sensors, displays, and older peripherals still run at 5 V If you directly connect them:…
According to Texas Instruments, this calculator was designed to use a Zilog Z80 MCU operating at 6 MHz, but upon inspection, I find that the device was actually using a custom ASIC marked ‘INVENTEC 6SI837 0A JAPAN 0209EAI’.
When we talk about electricity, there are a few key units of measurement that we use to describe how it flows and how it is used. These units are voltage, current, and resistance. Let’s take a closer look at each of these…
Retro-Electro is a long-form article series for Digikey’s magazine ‘We Get Technical.’ Wildman Whitehouse and the Twenty-Five Hundred Mile Long Capacitor Wildman Whitehouse was a medical doctor and a self-taught electrician whose ambition ultimately led to pioneering achievements and significant failures. He put himself in the world of engineers and scientists, but he was neither….
The ATtiny1614 is a microcontroller that has been designed to help people bring their ideas to life. It’s a member of the tinyAVR 1-series and packs a punch with its advanced features and capabilities. With a clock speed of up to 20 MHz, 16 KB of Flash memory, 2 KB of SRAM, and 256 bytes of EEPROM, this little chip…
December 16, 2025/David Ray/Article One simple trick that will save you a lot of time when routing your traces. The ‘F’ and ‘D’ key combination is great for productivity. Use ‘F’ To Auto Complete Your Trace Here’s a quick KiCAD trick to save you time when routing your traces. Use the ‘F’ key to autocomplete…
Gerber files are like a recipe for making printed circuit boards (PCBs). They provide manufacturers with a map of each PCB layer, including copper placement, hole drilling, and board shape. People create these files inside the PCB design software and send them to the board fabricator.
December 5, 2025/David Ray/Electronics & KiCAD Tips Circuit Board Design is easier now than it has ever been. KiCAD has really democratized the industry and is actively creating a renaissance of electronic hardware. Visit www.KiCAD.org In your Browser The KiCAD software is a free and open-source Electronic Design Automation package. Sometimes people ask how they…
Minimum RP2040 Design Made Simple I’ve made several designs with the RP2040 from Raspberry Pi. Using the OEM’s design references and other references online, I have designed, what I consider the minimum quality design for RP2040, for when you don’t need extras, just the controller. In this walk through I will give links to some…
When deciding on requirements during the development process, it is important to differentiate between objectives and constraints. Understanding the difference can help ensure that the product meets the needs of the users and is feasible to produce.
Capacitors are electrical components that store and release electrical energy. They are commonly used in electronic circuits for a variety of purposes, such as filtering, coupling, and storing electrical energy storage. The capacitance of a capacitor, or its ability to store electrical energy, is determined by three physical factors: 1) The type of material used…
Pluggable Screw Terminal Connectors are an innovative solution for PCB to wire connections. They eliminate the need for messy wire soldering and provide a clean and organized setup. The screw terminals make it easy to connect wires securely, while the plug on the other end allows for a seamless connection to the PCB.
Ever had trouble remembering something? With this month’s kit, you can save those important memories, at least 15 seconds worth! Once you build this kit, you’ll be able to record a small voice message and play it back any time. WARNING: SOLDERING IRONS ARE HOT. SOLDERING IRONS ARE NOT TOYS. ALWAYS WEAR EYE PROTECTION WHILE…
The NCA9555 is a low-voltage 16-bit I²C and SMBus I/O expander that provides 16 bits of General Purpose Input/Output (GPIO) expansion.
Ohm’s Law tells us that the amount of electricity flowing through a conductor is related to how much resistance the conductor has to the flow of electrons. Resistance is a measure of how hard it is for the electrons to move through the conductor.
Pay close attention to the primary issue that is remedied by your product. Work on your problem definition. Figure what the problem is and allow that to govern your decision making.
On this episode of the Datasheet Digest we go over the datasheet for the CD4017B Decade Counter and then, through our 555-point analysis, we grade it. How does it stack up? How old is too old for a datasheet? Let’s find out!
The CR2032 is a fantastic battery for many different solutions. CR2032 batteries are a cost-effective, widely available, and user-friendly power source for electronic devices.
Last weekend, I delved deeper into my restoration project of the Allen B Du Mont 224-A Oscilloscope, with the goal of finally getting it open, checking it for safety, and powering it on. The journey was filled with challenges, but ultimately, it was a successful one.
Have you ever struggled to find the right cable for your game console? What if you could solve this problem permanently?
Effective solder paste application is a critical step in the PCB assembly process that can impact the reliability and performance of your final product.
Recently, I had the opportunity to acquire a Du Mont 224-A Oscilloscope and I decided to take on the project of restoring it to its former glory. This blog series will document my journey of restoring this vintage instrument and will provide a glimpse into the history of electronic measurement.
Are you tired of dealing with power supply noise and voltage spikes in your PCB designs? Look no further because decoupling capacitors are here to save the day!
Splicing cut tape is an essential step in the PCB assembly process, and it is the process of joining two pieces of cut tape to make a single piece.
By working with a company like Cyber City Circuits, you can also benefit from cost savings and increased production efficiency during the process of creating a proof of concept, prototype, and pre-production prototype. Cyber City Circuits has the expertise and experience to help you through each stage of the product design process, resulting in a successful and cost-efficient outcome.
At Cyber City Circuits, we get the concept of an MVP approach. While it may be tempting to pour all of your resources into developing a fully realized product, a MVP can often be a more effective and efficient way to validate your ideas and get to market quicker.
EMail Sales@CyberCityCircuits.com for a Free Consultation Thank you for your interest in hiring Cyber City Circuits for your PCB assembly needs. We offer an assortment of services, including… PCBA DFM Consulting Prototyping Circuit Board Design Firmware QC Testing Packaging We need the following to process your quote. Send RFQs to Sales@CyberCityCircuits.com. Our completed quote form. <(-Link…
The age of USB-C is here and your product best be with the times. USB-C is great because it is so versatile. It is designed to be present everywhere. Not all USB-C Connectors are designed equal though. There are options for Power Only, USB 2.0, USB 3.x, angled, straight, etc. It can be taunting to decide with connector is right for your device.
When you need a PCB assembled by a pick-and-place machine, you must generate a position file (also known as a component placement file) so the machine knows exactly where to place each component. This process in KiCAD can be a little tricky, so this guide will walk you through how to correctly generate a position…
Making a custom schematic symbol in KiCAD can be tedious, but with this simple trick, you can save a lot of time in your symbol layout.
A good trick in manufacturing to speed up assembly is to order PCBs in panels. In this example, there are 4 different PCBs set in one panel. This way the machines can build 4 boards at one time. Takes less human interaction and less errors than if the boards are assembled and processed it one…
Beep boop bloop beep! Who doesn’t love audio synthesizers? This month’s kit is a smaller version of our popular Dreamweaver 4N! WARNING: SOLDERING IRONS ARE HOT. SOLDERING IRONS ARE NOT TOYS. ALWAYS WEAR EYE PROTECTION WHILE USING A SOLDERING IRON. FIRST, YOU SHOULD REFRESH YOURSELF ON SOLDERING SAFETY! Click Here IC → This is an ATMEGA328P…
We are so excited that you have decided to join us on this journey of electrifying tech fun! In this box you will find everything you need to make your own LED Dice Simulator! Just like any 6-sided die in any board game you have played, this simulator has 6 possible outcomes! This kit uses…
More music for your ears! This soldering kit we designed to be wireless controlled by your hands! Wave your hands in front of it to create different notes. By linking an ultrasonic sensor to the Arduino Nano, we can detect the range of your hand and then translate that into notes on a scale. WARNING:…
SAFETY RULES FOR SOLDERING USE CARE WHILE SOLDERING. You should know that soldering irons are HOT! That means you will get burned. It’s okay, everyone gets burned a few times when starting out, but just be careful. You may also need to use tweezers or clamps to help hold things in place while you’re working….
