Comparative analysis of Arduino boards (official and compatibles)

As with Linux distributions, Arduino also has many editions, each designed for a specific audience or for a number of specific tasks. There are such a variety of official, unofficial and compatible models is normal that people do not know exactly distinguish the characteristics of each of these wonderful plates.

For that reason, this mega post we will detail all existing official models today and expose some of the unofficial and compatible interesting. You must keep in mind that the official Arduino models totaling more than 16 at the moment and can be hundreds if we add the support and unofficial.

The first thing I would do is a distinction between official, unofficial or compatible, since they are not the same. Consider the differences between these groups of plates:

Official: those official plates manufactured by the Italian company Smart Projects and some have been designed by the American company SparkFun Electronics (SFE) or the US also Gravitech. Arduino Pro, Pro Mini, and LilyPad are manufactured by SFE and Arduino Nano by Gravitech, the rest are created in Italy. These plates are officially recognized, including the logo and are the only ones that can carry the Arduino registered trademark.

No official or compatible: they are compatible with Arduino but can not be registered under the name of Arduino boards. Of course they are designed and manufactured by other foreign companies. These developments add nothing to the Arduino own development, but are derivatives that have left for other needs. These frequently use a name that integrates the "duino" to identify them, such as the already talk Freeduino suffix.

You yourself can create your own Arduino-compatible board as in this case would become an unofficial plate. And the name under which you register your invention can not contain the word Arduino. You can even make your design is sufficiently attractive and appealing to members of the development community Arduino include it as an official plaque. They are waiting with open to receive other top plates and based on other architectures (eg, other than ARM and ATmega AVR, such as x86, PIC, ...) arms.

you may have even noticed that in the Arduino IDE Tools menu there is an option called Record boot sequence. This option can be used to record the sequence of boot loader (boot loader) in the official Arduino microcontroller for some reason to become misconfigured or has been replaced by another chip microcontroller. But it is also a handy tool to schedule a new microcontroller that you entered in your own "duino" plate.

I would like to make a clarification on compatible, since all are not compatible at the same level. For example, there compatible development environment level plates, ie, single-level software (can use Arduino IDE to program them). Others are compatible at the hardware level and electrically to use the existing modules and shields for Arduino without problem.

When selecting the plate for our project we have to keep this in mind to take no surprises. we may be interested in a compatible plate for certain qualities of hardware that has not Arduino or licensing issues and yet want it to be compatible with the Arduino IDE development environment. At other times you may simply want compatibility regarding the shields but has the need to use another compiler (AVR Studio, Makefiles, ...).

Additionally, if you need some of the Arduino SCM and 3D printer accessories, you could search at Banggood, which is one of the wholesale platform to provide you the low prices. Such as, icl7107 ammeter, iic i2c,etc.

What is the gadget and how it came into our modern life

Today it is very fashionable and useful gadgets. They make our lives much easier. But what is the gadget?

Gadgets are small electronic devices that had infiltrated over the past few years in almost all spheres of our life. They see, hear, sing and do many different things. Gadgets have appeared due to modern technologies – the components of computers become more compact, there are new forms of communication and miniature storage media. Large stationary tape today turned into a music player, initially in the cassette, and now to flash memory. In a role familiar to us VCR now plays regular media player. Everything evolves, becomes more compact and convenient even desktop computer has acquired "relatives", such as netbooks, notebooks, PDAs and tablets.

The gadgets and the cars entertaining the passengers and drivers of the music, video and news. Many truckers know what a gadget. Without these devices, their journey would have been much more difficult. Navigators, video recorders and many other devices for drivers have become invaluable assistants. Gadgets help not only to determine shortest paths, but also resolve many of the disputed issues in the case of a traffic accident. 

But the dominant number of these useful devices are presented, as gadgets for your computer. Starting portable vacuum cleaner, connected to the USB port, and ending with the incredible points which resemble a huge TV. The development of technology allows professionals every day to create more and more various gadgets. Their variety widely so that with their help you can even today make a Cup of tea, or make coffee. On the question of what such a gadget, people, basically, the answer is that it is primarily a very comfortable fit.

In social communities there are a lot of jokes about what gadgets were created for lazy people. This is acceptable, since they are created just to facilitate human life. From the comfort of your computer with the help of gadgets, you can do a lot of things in the past you had to spend a lot of time. For example, take the ordinary cleaning of the keyboard. Without the help of the gadget you had it cleaned with a vacuum cleaner, or even to dismantle it. Now using a small, convenient USB vacuum cleaner cleaning is done much faster and better. 

Basically, the technique of the modern world is characterized by the fact that the smaller it is, the more it costs. Modern gadgets disprove this feature. The cost of these devices is not high, although there are certain instances that reach staggering prices. Gadgets included in people's lives is so deep that some can't do without them, or rather, without the facilities that they provide. Always good to get used to it very quickly, especially if it greatly simplifies everyday processes. What is the gadget that almost everyone knows - such fact by itself and describes their popularity.

Additionally, if you need some of the electronic practical gadgets, you could search at Banggood, which is one of the wholesale platform to provide you the low prices. Such as, usb led beverage cooler, usb freezer, etc. 

What are hand tools? Which firm is the best locksmith tools?

Not every person has sufficient financial means for hiring of crews and the more expensive contractor that will perform all the necessary work. Therefore, when repairing the apartment to its owner have to do everything myself. In this endeavor the key to success will be a great experience, some knowledge in the field of construction and, most importantly, multi-function manual hand tools of high quality. It is important to know that the level of complexity of the operation depends on how professional the set you want to apply. 

With good tool you can perform any operation quickly and efficiently. To make the right choice of hand tools, it is not enough to know only an approximation, and the name of its manufacturer. 

Starting familiarization with the tools, you need to first understand their views. There are generally four groups, which are combined in certain fixtures. This classification is necessary to know exactly, as the specific work you'll need to first measure and then layout and then "cut". So, explore more locksmith tools. The names of the groups: group 1 – instrumentation. Group 2 – tools for markup. Group 3 – devices of General purpose. Group 4 – assembling tools.

Tin snips, files of different sizes must be present in the set of Handtools. This is a manual cutting device. However, for more qualitative work will be useful an angle grinder, drill, hammer drill. With their help it is possible to perform quite complex manipulations in a relatively short time. For example, to drill a hole to install the mount. Such work can be done with a chisel, but it will take a lot of time and effort.

If we consider locksmith tools, no doubt, the hammer is the most ancient of all known handheld devices. Its purpose, design and principle of operation knows everyone. Standard hammer consists of two parts: massive percussion parts, made of metal, and the handle. Rear shock component is called a recoil pad, while the fore — head. Hammers are meant for the job, so the shape of the dies can be different, for example rectangular or round. The amount of manual building tools currently reaches more than two dozen. Among professional workers popular sets of brands such as Matrix and Bosh (Germany), Force (Taiwan).

Additionally, if you need some of the hand tools, you could search at Banggood, which is one of the wholesale platform to provide you the low prices. Such as, right angle metal brackets, suction vise, etc. 

The tools of an electrician

Electricity unsafe for humans. It can cause significant harm to the health. The current is sufficiently large force can take a life. Therefore, precautions must be completed in full. Electrician tools have special protection. It is unacceptable to use poor quality damaged equipment. Any equipment you need in the electrics work and how it should look like a tool, you should learn more. 

In required for electrician with a minimum of tools includes screwdrivers, pliers, nippers for removing insulation, wire cutters, and measuring equipment, knife, tape measure and a marker. Screwdrivers are indispensable in the work. They can be flat, cross-shaped, flat. Importantly, such tools electrician (photo below) had protection against electric shock.

In fact, it must be stripped only the tip in contact with the wiring elements. Twist the wires should pliers and cut them - cutting pliers or a knife. Tongs allow to remove the insulation. To measure the voltage can multimeter, voltage pointer or mites. This is the basic hand tools that required an electrician to work. Auxiliary elements, which are also useful, considered knife, tape and a marker. 

Special attention is given measuring instrument electrician. There are a large number of such devices. Their choice depends on the actions that the wizard performs its activities.

A flat screwdriver is the simplest of these tools. She is inexpensive. To detect the phase and zero wiring. To perform a full measurement of voltage, resistance, electrical appliances, purchase a multimeter. For example, laying in screed system electric Underfloor heating, the master should measure the resistance of the cable before and after installation. Comparing it with the manufacturer indicator, make a conclusion about the correctness of the installation. Sensors for search transactions also need a professional electrician. But only in the case of frequent repairs to hidden wiring. The cost of the sensor is high, so buy them only those masters who are in dire Straits.

Additionally, if you need some of the professional instruments or tools, you could purchase at Banggood, which is one of the wholesale platform to provide you the low prices. Such as, smart tool inclinometer, solder wire dispenser, etc. 

Programming the ESP8266 Wifi module with Arduino IDE

The ESP8266 is a small microcontroller Espressif, low cost and integrated Wi-Fi. Its low cost and small size makes it ideal for providing wireless connectivity to any sensor or actuator for the Internet of Things. We can also program it using Arduino IDE and many of the libraries that we know for Arduino, so it is very easy to use.

In this post I will use an ESP8266 ESP-01. It is the most basic circuit incorporating a ESP8266, and it can connect to a wireless network, act on two digital pins and communicate through the serial port.

To program need a USB-serial converter operating at 3.3V. This is very important since the ESP8266 not tolerate more than 3.6V on its pins. If your USB-serial converter can not operate at 3.3V, alternatively you can use a TTL level converter and a source of 3.3V.

I'll connect everything using a breadboard and several jumper wires (male-female ESP-01 to the breadboard, and male-male for connections on the breadboard). In addition to demonstrate its operation will build a circuit with a 5mm LED and its resistance, which need an NPN transistor.

Arduino IDE 1.6.4 or higher. From this version Arduino IDE allows to install additional third plates (non-Arduino) configurations very easily.

If you are interested in this kind of Arduino SCM module board, you could purchase it via Banggood at a low price of $ 3.21. Also, you could search other type Arduino accessories here, such as, ESP8266 ESP-03, ESP8266 ESP-05, ESP8266 ESP-07, etc. All of them will cost you fordable prices.

Sources of AC power. DC and AC current

Any people who choose to work with electrical engineering as his profession, should be very good to understand what are the sources of power, what are their features and differences. Really nothing complicated, as we will show in this article.

It is hard to imagine how it would look like the modern world, get lost from the electrical energy and related appliances. Probably, the mankind still would use steam engines and the muscular force of animals and their fellows. It is impossible to say exactly who first discovered electrical energy: spinners in ancient Syria used the property of amber to be magnetized (to electrify), Aristotle tried to explore the possibilities Stingray, but what about the danger of lightning is known from the beginning of the world (no wonder some cultures worshipped it).

The electric current is of two types – AC and DC. This difference is due to the method of its production. Accordingly, the power source of alternating current issue current first type, and permanent second. By the way, there's a division between "first – second" conditional. In electrical engineering is used as the power sources AC and DC. Let us recall some theory.

Any electric current is the movement of charged particles directed to the conducting material, the electromotive force EMF. External influence informs some of the electrons in the outer orbits of the atoms, an additional energy sufficient to overcome the attraction of the nucleus. As a result, free charge carriers - ions and electrons. According to the law of conservation of energy there is a natural process of recombination of the particles in the surrounding atoms in the lattice sites. Without external influence the structure of the material is restored. However, if the conductor is connected to a source of EMF, generated by the recombination of field directs in a direction of an electric current. The AC actually represents the generator EMF, the vector direction of which is periodically reversed. Hence the name "variable". Sources of AC power in most cases, the generating capacities of the generators in modern power stations generate alternating current it is. They are more reliable in operation and easy to maintain than the brushed model DC. The diagrams sources of AC power are frequently described as a circle with a wave inside. This wave is a symbolic representation of a sine wave.

The AC power source creates movement of the particles not only with changing direction, but floating with the current value. The sine wave indicates that periodically the value passes through zero. On a completely different principle of the constant current source. They create in the conductor is constant in the direction of the electric field, forming a directed movement with the charge of the particles. It is considered that current flows from positive to negative (from positive to negative). In fact, the electron motion is in the opposite direction – from negative to positive. Since the charge of a single electron is negative, then the pole with the sign "minus" indicates an excess of these particles (hence the total charge). Based on the fact that oppositely charged particles are mutually attracted, it is easy to guess that the electrons in the conductor move from "minus" to "plus". Allowed artificial change of the effective value of this current does not cease to be constant. There are many different solutions to convert DC to AC (sine wave generators) and Vice versa (rectifiers, bridges).

If you need the electronic DC power supply, you could choose the product of UNI-T UTP305D. And this one could be purchased at Banggood. Also, other maintenance and repair tools can buy here, such as, rc data logger, table top vise, table top vise, etc.