The Alpha Geek – Geeking Out

Arduino

Arduino

Adafruit – ChronoDot – Ultra-precise Real Time Clock – v2.1

Adafruit 255 Mk01

Adafruit 255 Mk02

Adafruit 255 Mk03

Adafruit 255 Mk04

Adafruit: 255

Description

The ChronoDot RTC is an extremely accurate real time clock module, based on the DS3231 temperature compensated RTC (TCXO). It includes a CR1632 battery (not shown, but included in the product) which should last at least 8 years if the I2C interface is only used while the device has 5V power available. No external crystal or tuning capacitors are required.

The top side of the Chronodot now features a battery holder for 16mm 3V lithium coin cells. It should work fine for CR1620 – CR1632 batteries.

The DS3231 has an internal crystal and a switched bank of tuning capacitors. The temperature of the crystal is continously monitored, and the capacitors are adjusted to maintain a stable frequency. Other RTC solutions may drift minutes per month, especially in extreme temperature ranges…the ChronoDot will drift less than a minute per year. This makes the ChronoDot very well suited for time critical applications that cannot be regularly synchronized to an external clock.

The ChronoDot will plug into a standard solderless breadboard and also has mounting holes for chassis installation.

The I2C interface is very straightforward and virtually identical to the register addresses of the popular DS1337 and DS1307 RTCs, which means that existing code for the Arduino, Basic Stamp, Cubloc, and other controllers should work with no modification.

Technical Details

Dimensions (without battery):

  • Length: 30.4mm/1.2in diameter
  • Height: 14.1mm/0.55in
  • Weight: 4 g
  • This board/chip uses I2C 7-bit address 0x68

Don Luc

SparkFun – Capacitor Ceramic 0.1uF

SparkFun COM-08375 Mk01

SparkFun COM-08375 Mk02

SparkFun: COM-08375

Description: This is a very common 0.1uF capacitor. Used on all sorts of applications to decouple ICs from power supplies. 0.1″ spaced leads make this a perfect candidate for breadboarding and perf boarding. Rated at 50V.

Don Luc

Adafruit – Panel Mount 100K potentiometer (Breadboard Friendly) – 100KB

Adafruit 1831 Mk01

Adafruit 1831 Mk02

Adafruit 1831 Mk03

Adafruit: 1831

Description

This potentiometer is a two-in-one, good in a breadboard or with a panel. Its a fairly standard linear taper 100K ohm potentiometer, with a grippy shaft. Its smooth and easy to turn, but not so loose that it will shift on its own. We like this one because the legs are 0.2″ apart with pin-points, so you can plug it into a breadboard or perfboard. Once you’re done prototyping, you can drill a hole into your project box and mount the potentiometer that way.

Technical Details

Dimensions:

  • Body: 16mm / 0.6″
  • Body Circumference: 50mm / 2″
  • Shaft Length: 15mm / 0.6″
  • Weight: 6g
  • 100K ohm potentiometer, linear taper
  • 100,000 Cycle Life
  • Rotational Travel: 300 °
  • Static Stop Strength: 90 oz-in
  • Rotational Torque: 0.5 to 1.25 oz-in

Don Luc

Adafruit – Panel Mount 1K potentiometer (Breadboard Friendly) – 1K Linear

Adafruit 1789 Mk01

Adafruit 1789 Mk02

Adafruit 1789 Mk03

Adafruit: 1789

Description

This 1K potentiometer is a two-in-one, good in a breadboard or with a panel. Its a fairly standard linear taper 1K ohm potentiometer, with a grippy shaft. Its smooth and easy to turn, but not so loose that it will shift on its own. We like this one because the legs are 0.2″ apart with pin-points, so you can plug it into a breadboard or perfboard. Once you’re done prototyping, you can drill a hole into your project box and mount the potentiometer that way.

Technical Details

  • 1K ohm potentiometer, linear taper
  • 100,000 Cycle Life
  • Power: 0.2W
  • Rotational travel: 300 °
  • Static Stop Strength: 90 oz-in
  • Rotational Torque: 0.5 to 1.25 oz-in

Don Luc

SparkFun – Infrared Emitters and Detectors

SparkFun SEN-00241 Mk01

SparkFun SEN-00241 Mk02

SparkFun: SEN-00241

Description: Side-looking Infrared Emitters and IR Detectors. These simple devices operate at 940nm and work well for generic IR systems including remote control and touch-less object sensing. Using a simple ADC on any microcontroller will allow variable readings to be collected from the detector. The emitter is driven up to 50mA with a current limiting resistor as with any LED device. The detect is a NPN transistor that is biased by incoming IR light.

Don Luc

SparkFun – Small Stepper Motor

SparkFun ROB-10551 Mk01

SparkFun ROB-10551 Mk02

SparkFun ROB-10551 Mk03

SparkFun ROB-10551 Mk04

SparkFun: ROB-10551

Description: These small steppers are a great way to get things moving, especially when positioning and repeatability is a concern.

When using a current limiting driver such as the Easydriver or Big Easydriver, a 12 volt power supply can be used as long as you adjust the current level to 400mA or less. If using a non current limited driver (like a L293D or an H-bridge) you will need to lower your input voltage to keep the motor current below 400mA.

This is a Bipolar motor.

Features:

  • Stride Angle (degrees): 7.5
  • 2-Phase
  • Rated Voltage: 12V
  • Rated Current: 400mA
  • 3mm Diameter Drive Shaft
  • 4-Wire Cable Attached
  • In-traction Torque: 100 g/cm

Don Luc

SparkFun – Voltage Regulator – 3.3V

SparkFun COM-00526 Mk01

SparkFun COM-00526 Mk02

SparkFun COM-00526 Mk03

SparkFun COM-00526 Mk04

SparkFun: COM-00526

Description: This is the basic LD33V voltage regulator, a low drop positive regulator with a 3.3V fixed output voltage. This fixed regulator provides a great amount of stability and protection for your project and with its on ship trimming this regulator is able to reach an output voltage tolerance within ±1%. Each one of these voltage regulators can output a max current of 800mA.

Features:

  • Output Voltage: 3.3V
  • Output Current: 800mA
  • Dropout Voltage: 1V
  • Internal Current and Thermal Limit

Don Luc

SparkFun – Voltage Regulator – 5V

SparkFun COM-00107 Mk01

SparkFun COM-00107 Mk02

SparkFun COM-00107 Mk03

SparkFun: COM-00107

Description: This is the basic L7805 voltage regulator, a three-terminal positive regulator with a 5V fixed output voltage. This fixed regulator provides a local regulation, internal current limiting, thermal shut-down control, and safe area protection for your project. Each one of these voltage regulators can output a max current of 1.5A.

Features:

  • Output Voltage: 5V
  • Output Current: 1.5A
  • Thermal Overload Protection
  • Short Circuit Protection
  • Output Transition SOA Protection

Don Luc

SparkFun – Voltage Regulator – Adjustable

SparkFun COM-00527 Mk01

SparkFun COM-00527 Mk02

SparkFun: COM-00527

Description: This is the LM317TG voltage regulator, a three-terminal positive regulator with a 1.2V to 37V adjustable output voltage. This adjustable regulator provides a local regulation, internal current limiting, thermal shut-down control, and safe area protection for your project. Did we mention that this guy is easy to use? It only requires two external resistors to set the output voltage. Each one of these voltage regulators can output a max current of 1.5A.

Features:

  • Output Voltage: 1.2V – 37V Adjustable
  • Output Current: 1.5A
  • Thermal Overload Protection
  • Short Circuit Protection
  • Output Transistor Safe
  • Floating Operation for High Voltage Applications

Don Luc

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