Here’s a jellybean chip – a DC motor driver. This device has all the logic to drive a small motor, such as that used to drive the tray of a CD drive in both directions. The control logic is at the bottom of the die, while the main power transistors
Another decapped IC! This one is an ST L6219 750mA stepper motor driver. The control logic is all at the bottom of the die, with the high current H-Bridge transistors at the top. 00
Overview Time foe some more retro tech! This is a 1980’s vintage CCD-based VHS camcorder from Panasonic, the NV-M5. There are a lot of parts to one of these (unlike modern cameras), so I’ll split this post into several sections to make things easier to read (and easier to keep
Here’s a quick teardown of an ignition transformer, used on gas fired ovens & hobs. This unit takes mains 240v AC & uses a transformer to step the voltage to several kV, at a low current to ignite the burners. The transformer section is completely potted in Epoxy resin for
Here’s another Dyson teardown, in my efforts to understand how marketing have got hold of relatively simple technology & managed to charge extortionate amounts of money for it. This is the DC35, the model after the introduction of the brushless digital motor. On this version the mouldings have been changed,
The multimode dimming/flashing modes on Chinese torches have irritated me for a while. If I buy a torch, it’s to illuminate something I’m doing, not to test if people around me have photosensitive epilepsy. Looking at the PCB in the LED module of the torch, a couple of components are
Continue readingMaplin/Refrakta Torch Modification & Mode Removal
I recently dug out my other card printer to fit it with a 12v regulator, (it’s 24v at the moment), and figured I’d do a teardown post while I had the thing in bits. This is a less industrial unit than my Zebra P330i, but unlike the Zebra, it has
As there was no other online example of someone converting a glow/nitro car engine onto CDI ignition, I thought I would document the highlights here. The engine is currently still running on glow fuel, but when the required fuel lines arrive I will be attempting the switch over to 2-Stroke
Just a short script to directly print files to the NCR 7197 Series printers under Linux as there is no direct driver. Certainly not finished or pretty, but functional. 00
Here is a simple 555 timer based flyback transformer driver, with the PCB designed by myself for some HV experiments. Above is the Eagle CAD board layout. The 555 timer is in astable mode, generating a frequency from about 22kHz to 55kHz, depending on the position of the potentiometer. The
In preparation for my laser scanner project, I have modified my existing 445nm laser to accept a TTL blanking input. The laser driver is already enabled for this & just required an extra connection to interface with my laser scanner showboard. I have used an 8-pin connection to allow the
Here is a followup from the 1.5W laser module post. The module has been fitted into a housing, with a 2.2Ah Li-Poly battery pack. Charging is accomplished with an external 12.6v DC power supply. Above can be seen the pair of switches on the top, the keyswitch must be enabled
Here is an old chemical dosing system for industrial washing machines. These units are 4-pump models, with dual pumpheads. The motors are reversed to operate alternate pumps in the same head. From 2006, this is a fairly old unit, and made in the UK. Main controller PCB, with interface to
To help make my system more efficient, a pair of switching regulators has been fitted, the one shown above is a Texas Instruments PTN78060 switchmode regulator module, which provides a 7.5v rail from the main 12v battery pack. A Lot like the LM317 & similar linear regulators, these modules require
Connection The parts arrived for my adjustable laser diode driver! Components here are an LM317K with heatsink, 100Ω 10-turn precision potentiometer, 15-turn counting dial & a 7-pin matching plug & socket. Here is the schematic for the driver circuit. I have used a 7-pin socket for provisions for active cooling
This is detailing my portable multi-purpose power pack of my own design. Here is an overview, mainly showing the 4Ah 12v Ni-Cd battery pack. Panel Features – Bottom: Car cigar lighter socket, main power keyswitch. Top: LED toggle switch, provision for upcoming laser project, Red main Power LED, 7A circuit
Not strictly teardown related, but here is the Linux version of the RTL8187B WiFi chipset driver for all those who require it, it’s not available on the Realtek website: http://www.experimental-engineering.co.uk/downloads/rtl8187B_linux_26.1056.1112.2009.release.tar.lzma File is compressed with TAR.LZMA 00
Here is a Bosch 14.4v Professional cordless drill/driver, recovered from a skip! It was thrown away due to a gearbox fault, which was easy to rectify. Here is the drill with the side cover removed, showing it’s internal parts. The speed controller is below the motor & gearbox here. The
An ICL barcode scanner from the 80s is shown here. This is the top of the unit with cover on. Plastic cover removed from the unit showing internal components. Main PSU on left, scan assembly in center. Laser PSU & Cooling fan on right. Laser tube at top. Closeup of