Curve tracing is a classic way to learn more about many electronic components. Curve tracing is essentially a means of making a graph of current (I) versus voltage (V) called an I-V curve, to display the basic characteristics of an electronic device. I-V curves of the components are helpful in understanding their limitations and nonlinear →
I got an old HP mixed signal oscilloscope HP54645D. This is over 20 years old test instrument with CRT display. The 54645D is a 100 MHz, 2+16 channel Mixed Signal Oscilloscope from Agilent. Measure voltage or current signals over time in an electronic circuit or component to display amplitude, frequency, rise time, etc. Applications include →
Don’t do this! (There’s a much safer way) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M88e1r8nvYk Big Clive discovered there’s a “thing” going around where people are charging lithium cells by attaching a stripped USB lead directly to them. Normally lithium cells are very safe if undamaged and correct charging procedures are used. But overcharging them like this can result in cell →
They are heavy (because of their iron core) and can be very large. The power transformers are design to operate best with an almost constant load which is equal to their rating. The maximum efficiency being designed to be at full load. Actually, all the transformers are the same that is same design formulae apply →
I saw in Facebook DIY audio group a question about suitable voltage divider resistance values to step down an amplifier’s output (approx 28vrms) to for example around 2.8v. The aim is to use the speaker outputs of an integrated amplifier or AV receiver to run an external power amplifier. Its obvious that a 10:1 ratio →
Transformers will only work with a changing current (AC). Transformer only works on AC and can’t be operated on DC i.e. it has been designed to be operated only and only on alternating current and voltage. The transformer works on the principle of mutual induction, for which current in one coil must change uniformly. The →
‘Mute’ button in conferencing apps may not actually mute your mic! The users of remote meeting software have typically a poor understanding of how the mute system works, falsely assuming that audio input is cut when they activate it. This is not always the case. You’re muted — or are you? Videoconferencing apps may listen →
This signal tracer/injector has been designed to inject or detect a specific signal into an audio circuit in need of repair (such as amplifiers, radios, tone controls, …) so as to detect the fault. Signal tracer/injector is typically used when testing audio frequency circuits (there are also tracer/injector circuits for other applications as well). With →
Semiconductor test equipment (IC tester), or automated test equipment (ATE), is a system for giving electrical signals to a semiconductor device to compare output signals against expected values for the purpose of testing if the device works as specified in its design specifications. IC Testers are devices which are used to test Integrated Circuits by →
Did you know than an audio equipment can cause “off gear distortion” on line level signals that are driving multiple pieces of audio gear? I have had situation where I had one CD player wired to inputs of two different amplifiers (Y-splitter cable). When both amplifiers were powered on, everything worked nicely. But when one →