Relays are remotely controllable electric switches. Most relays you know are power relays, like the clickers and clackers in your thermostat and your car. But what are signal relays? And no, we do not here mean the automotive turning signal relays. In this article, I am going to explain what signal relays are when and […]
When you want to switch high currents or voltages with an Arduino or similar microcontroller, relays and MOSFETS are likely to be your top component choices for doing the actual switching. Both types of components are available with voltage and current ratings in hundreds of volts and amps, and, when properly implemented, can do a […]
Power MOSFETs are a great companion to Arduino and similar microcontrollers when it comes to controlling pumps, motors, heaters or other high-power devices. These transistors allow you to use a weak digital signal from the microcontroller to switch high voltages and currents that many power-hungry devices need to operate, but that the controller itself cannot […]
Electrostatic discharge (ESD) may be a minor nuisance in everyday life, but in working with sensitive electronics, it is a veritable hazard. One of the many methods of combating the destructive effects of ESD at electronics workstations or assembly lines is the use of ESD or “anti-static” hand tools. Being practically identical in appearance and […]
If you have been working in electronics or electrical installation and maintenance for any length of time, you probably have run into the topic of insulated tools. These tools claim to offer improvements in safety, and are considered essential by some for any work near electricity. You may have wondered when exactly are insulated tools […]
The Art of Electronics: The x-Chapters by Paul Horowitz and Winfield Hill (Cambridge, 2020) is a companion volume to the popular The Art of Electronics (3rd edition, Cambridge, 2015) by the same authors. Announced in the main volume, the x-Chapters have been ever since eagerly expected both in among industry professionals and hobbyists. After placing […]
