Dev Kit VCC and 5V Logic: Why the Mod Is Risky and How Op-Amps Fix It
Modifying your dev kit’s VCC to handle 5V signals puts every peripheral on the board at risk. An op-amp front-end solves the same problem safely.
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DIY SCADA with Node-RED: A Field Technician’s Guide to Modbus and Refrigeration Monitoring
Building a SCADA-style system with Node-RED and Modbus is genuinely viable. Here is what it takes, where it pays off, and what commercial alternatives actually cost.
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BlueOS on One Pi, ArduPilot on Another: How the ROV Companion Computer Architecture Works
Yes, you can run BlueOS and ArduPilot on separate Raspberry Pis for an ROV. Here’s how they connect, what each board does, and whether you actually need both.
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Repurpose Your Old Phone as a Bluetooth-Only BMS Monitor
Lock down an old Android as a dedicated BMS monitor for JK BMS or EnerKey — airplane mode, Bluetooth only, no unwanted updates ever again.
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Raspberry Pi 4 vs Novastar for HUB75 LED Panels: Driving 10× P5 Panels on a Budget
A Raspberry Pi 4 can drive 10× P5 HUB75 panels using free open-source software — but the adapter board, power supply, and video workflow each need to be handled correctly.
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KiCad Breadboard Builder: A Plugin That Turns Schematics Into Virtual Prototypes
KiCad Breadboard Builder is a free Action Plugin for KiCad 9 and 10 that lets you wire a virtual breadboard and validate it directly against your Eeschema schematic — no Fritzing detour required.
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Skin Conductivity Explained: Passing Low-Level Electricity Through Skin Safely
Low-level electricity through skin is already standard in TENS units, body-fat scales, and ECG circuits. Here’s how skin resistance works, how skin-contact GND functions, and where the safety thresholds actually sit.
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Identifying Small PCB Connectors: JST SH, GH, PicoBlade, and the Open-Sided Housing Explained
Staring at a 1mm or 1.25mm pitch PCB connector that looks open on one side? Here’s how to tell JST SH, GH, and Molex PicoBlade apart—and why that open housing is completely normal.
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KiCad 10 Python Plugin Toolbar Button: Complete Setup Guide for Linux
KiCad 10 Python ActionPlugin not showing a toolbar button? Here’s the correct Linux folder structure, __init__.py entry point, and PCM packaging explained step by step.
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Open on One Side? How to Identify 1mm and 1.25mm PCB Connectors on IoT Devices
If your PCB has a connector shrouded on only three sides, you’re probably looking at Molex PicoBlade or a JST series — here’s how to tell them apart and source replacements.