Drawer

Circuits

11 sheets in this drawer.

  1. Solder mask clearance you'll measure onceThe gap between copper and mask determines whether your board survives assembly or becomes a bridging lesson. Here's how to spec it without the rework.
  2. Fuse selection before the smokeFast-blow versus slow-blow matters when your weekend build decides to pull three times its nominal current. Pick the fuse that protects the board, not your assumptions.
  3. UART baud rates that match what you solderedCrystal tolerances and baud-rate math collide in real hardware. Here's how to pick speeds that won't drift into garbage frames.
  4. Inrush current limiting you won't regret at 3 a.m.Your bench supply clicks off when the project powers up, and suddenly Saturday is a troubleshooting session. A few cents of NTC thermistor or series resistance can save the evening.
  5. Pull-up resistors that won't lie to your microcontrollerWeak internal pull-ups work until they don't. Here's how to pick external resistors that keep your I²C lines honest and your GPIO reads predictable.
  6. ADC reference voltage you won't second-guessPick a stable voltage reference once and your analog reads stay honest. Here's how to choose one that survives your bench and your production run.
  7. Decoupling caps where the datasheet actually wants themBypass capacitors aren't optional decoration. Place them right or watch your rails bounce when the load steps.
  8. Linear regulators when switching feels like overkillWeekend projects don't need buck converters. Sometimes a quiet 7805 and proper heat management are exactly enough.
  9. Thermal relief that won't melt your patienceSpoke connections on your pads aren't cosmetic—they're the difference between a joint that flows in three seconds and one you curse for thirty.
  10. Interrupt-driven sensor reads you'll debug oncePolling burns cycles and misses edges. Interrupt-driven sensor reads give you precision timing and lower power draw—if you set them up correctly the first time.
  11. Power the weekend like it mattersA fragile rail is not a character trait. It is unfinished work.