Know Your Generators - How To Pick The Right One From The Herd?

Generators are available for multiple usages. There are varying designs to cater the commercial or household needs. The use of commercial generators for industrial purposes, with a specific set of requirements, has led to their evolution.

Every class of generators has its specifications and functional features, advantages, and disadvantages. The uses may vary from one to another and also have different quality options.

Diesel Generators

Diesel generators, as the name suggests, use diesel as fuel. These generators produce electricity with the help of an electric generator and a diesel engine. You will find that most diesel compression ignition engines in the market run on diesel. But there are a few of them which work better with other fuels and natural gas.

Diesel Generators can make it to your consideration set for having

  • A long service life
  • Low maintenance
  • High durability
  • Easy operation (works at all weather conditions)
  • Cool fuel combustion engine (vis-a-vis gasoline)

The disadvantage is the emission that comes out of the generator is not suitable for the environment.

While you will scroll through the other types of generators, you should also know about professionals who repair generators. Various nationwide generator repair specialists look into generators if they are faulty or broken. 

They deal with the problems that might arise from the generators because of aging or mishandling. The generator repair specialist’s expertise can help save your buck in the long run. You may get in touch with them whenever you face any issue.

Natural Gas Generators

Natural gas generators are one of the most efficient and widely opted generators. They function as the other generators and use liquified petroleum gas or propane to ignite the system. The easy storage of the fuel, either in overhead or underground tanks, makes it durable.

Natural Gas Generators can make it to your consideration set for

  • Easy fuel availability
  • Low cost
  • Clean fuel usage
  • Cause the least disturbance and is quite

These are one of the most popular generators for household usage. These generators don’t have a significant impact on your pocket. The disadvantage being the short service life and the high installation cost.

Gasoline Generators

Gasoline generators use gasoline as fuel. The popularity of these generators is because of their convenience - they can run by both gas and gasoline. Both are easily available. These are also quite competitive in terms of the prices and place themselves towards the fag end of the cost scale.

Gasoline Generators can make it to your consideration set for

  • Being inexpensive
  • Portable

The gasoline generators have many disadvantages under their belt. The chief ones being

  • Produce high emissions
  • Very noisy
  • Not Convenient at all weather conditions (cooler temperature prohibit start)

The dual generators can be convenient while you are on the move or are seeking a secondary source of power.

Solar Generators

Solar generators use solar panels to capture the energy from the sun. The captured energy helps charge the battery in the generator. The battery then helps produce electricity. The inverter in the solar generator helps convert the electricity - from alternating to direct current.

It is the most interesting generator of the lot. The use of Solar Power is the simplest form of energy that we have around us.

The three parts - batteries, inverter, and charge controller together transform energy from solar to electrical. An important aspect to note is that the solar generator takes eight hours of direct sunlight to get fully charged.

Solar Generators can make it to your consideration set for

  • Being quiet and less noisy
  • Supporting small electrical needs

The disadvantages are slow charging and expensive installation.

Inverter Generators

When you think of generators, you have an image in your mind of a large, noisy, and bulky appliance. The inverter generator invention has led to the change of this perception. Experts are seeing a lot of opportunity for this class of generators.

An alternator in these generators, which connects to the engine, produces the alternating current (AC) power. These inverters convert the AC power to DC via a rectifier.

Inverter Generators can make it to your consideration set for

  • Being too quiet
  • High fuel efficiency (approx. 20% more than conventional)
  • Producing sensitive electronic gadgets-safe electricity
  • Long service life
  • Less frequent refills
  • Maximum performance

So each class of generators has its uses and distinctive features, advantages, and disadvantages. Your decision to choose a generator depends on your needs and requirements. While finalizing the generator which is apt for your house or your office/factory, consider the pros and cons of each of the above. Keep the contact details of the professional generator repair service companies handy.

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Construction Safety Woes: Implement a Documented Safety Program for Employees

New York City recently sealed over 300 construction sites in one month alone due to safety violations. The massive shutdown of construction sites was triggered by the demise of seven construction workers in total this year, with three deaths reported in May. The construction industry in the US is now under scrutiny, followed by these deaths.

In the past, the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration or OSHA came into effect with the sole aim to protect workers in the States. Large corporations and conservative politicians shun the act because they find it interfering and hindering the production of valuable goods and services.

During the Trump presidency, the president nominated a director for the regulatory body, but the Senate never confirmed the position, and the slot remained vacant. While the OSHA situation remains uncertain, companies and employers can ensure worker safety by introducing an effective safety program.

What Is a Safety Program and How To Get Started?

The first step towards construction safety is to refer to the applicable OSHA and state-issued standards for your industry. Thirty-four states have regulations in place for injury/illness prevention programs in the US, including 15 states with compulsory rules for employers.

The next step is to devise a safety program best suited to your workplace and in line with an injury or illness prevention program. An effective safety program would include workplace safety audits, training for health/safety, safety management reporting, claims management, and a lot more. 

Once the safety program is drafted with all aspects of the program, The top management should then share the same with all employees (new and old), insurance carriers, and the regulatory agency in your state.

Top Management Should Take the Initiative and Commit

Since a good safety program requires a workspace audit for safety hazards, the top management should be involved and committed to the cause. The commitment of top leadership towards safety and risk management acts as the backbone of any safety program.

The top honchos of the organization should take the initiative and establish safety goals for the company. Once the goals have been established, the management should then delegate the implementation and maintenance of the program to capable individuals.

The top management is also expected to ensure the safety program's success by making necessary resources and professional support available.

Identify and Prevent the Hazards at the Workplace

Once the safety goals for the workplace have been established, the individuals trusted with the execution of the safety program must identify and assess the possible hazards at the premises. In this step, worker participation is of the utmost importance. It'll require honest feedback from the workers to get valuable insights.

Employers should perform a complete workplace inspection to pinpoint any hazard that can be critical. After spotting all risks, the next step is to review the available information on these hazards, including preventive measures, ensuring safety, and emergency course of action.

The employer should also consider any injuries or illnesses that have been reported frequently in the past. This is the best source to single out any workplace hazard and take corrective measures against the same.

After identifying hazards, the employer should elaborate plans to control the existing risks on priority. There should be an interim control to prevent workers from risks that can't be rectified immediately. Only after all safety measures have been implemented and inspected should the work resume.

Conduct Regular Training Programs for the Employees

Training is a crucial part of risk management at work. Training and education workers about potential hazards and their preventive measures should be done regularly. OSHA has a dedicated section on its website for safety and health topics and hazard alerts, which are very useful to arm workers against all sorts of emergencies.

Employers should also conduct regular training programs covering topics like reporting injuries and illness, ways to recognize a hazard, tips to control any danger, and other such crucial information. Continuous training and education will keep your workers safe and prevent any accidents at your workplace.

Evaluate the Program and Its Success To Ensure Continuous Improvement

The top management should continuously review the safety program in place to determine if they are still effective. In case of any loopholes or inefficacy, the employer should make corrections immediately. Also, keep a check on new regulations and new hazards, should they come up.

The best way to streamline a safety program is to bring onboard risk management advisors who know their way around OSHA, state, and local regulations. Select an advisor who knows and understands your business, as it'll help them with a safety program best suited for your workplace.

Why is STEM Education So Important?

Science, technology, engineering, and math are the foundations of our daily lives. They are the tools that professionals use to get things done and get them done right. That’s just one reason that STEM education is so important. Over the past few decades, a sea-change in educational theories has swept through academic institutions. Old ideas about a liberal arts education as a path to success have slowly been replaced by a growing determination to emphasize STEM education and encourage students to pursue STEM paths and STEM careers to develop the next generation of professionals.

In this article, we’ll look at some of the reasons that STEM education is so important. To do so, we’ll need to think about traditional education and why it’s now outdated.

Traditional Liberal Education

Traditionally, education was based on the idea that a student needed a broad knowledge of the liberal arts to be able to adapt to new ideas, new challenges, and new careers over the course of their lives. From ancient times, education centered around concepts like the Seven Liberal Arts, which emphasized language and writing skills. Most educational institutions today still honor this with general education requirements that ask students to include coursework in a variety of areas, such as math, history, literature, science, etc., in their academic degree. 

However, liberal arts education has lost a lot of its luster, particularly as the government and students have come to see education less as a path toward gaining a broad worldview and a personal philosophy and more as a qualification for entry into a career. As a result, much more effort and money have gone into directing students toward STEM careers and STEM education, under the theory that practical skills are more important than philosophical ideas.

What STEM Does for Students

STEM education is seen as the ultimate in practical education. That’s because science, technology, engineering, and math are all high-demand technical subjects that give students essential skills for high-paying careers. When you study a STEM field, you are more likely to achieve the kind of high-end technical training that will pay off down the line with a high-paying career. Because of this, STEM education is quickly becoming the most important component of secondary and higher education.

In today’s high schools, there has been a decided push away from liberal arts toward STEM fields. Many schools have scaled back or eliminated their art and music programs in favor of additional time for STEM instruction, arguing that arts education is less essential than STEM training.

Because education is vital to students’ futures, most believe that when they invest money in their college education, that investment needs to deliver returns. That means that they expect their diploma to help them get a foot in the door with top employers. Surveys routinely demonstrate that a STEM education offers a superior return on investment and better job opportunities than degrees in the arts or humanities. Graduates in STEM fields are more likely to have an easier time finding jobs because of the rapid growth in STEM fields and the increasing demand for trained workers with the STEM skills to fill them. Graduates in STEM fields typically have higher starting salaries than their liberal arts counterparts and more employment opportunities with shorter job searches as well.

Most experts believe that over the next ten years, skilled STEM workers will continue to be in short supply relative to the number of STEM positions available. Consequently, graduates in STEM fields will likely remain in demand and be in a powerful position to demand higher salaries and more perks because of the low supply and high demand for workers with their skill sets. In many cases, graduates working in STEM fields find themselves promoted and advancing rapidly because of their training and the need for new talent.

STEM in Society

The promotion of STEM education has several benefits for society. With more graduates trained in STEM-related fields, there is a greater potential for scientific and technical breakthroughs that can help to change the face of the world. But beyond this, STEM also teaches students key skills such as logic and reasoning, as well as skills in learning how to think through and solve complex problems. It also offers practical training that can make a massive difference in terms of having the specific skills and knowledge to accomplish both everyday repairs and tasks and abstract reasoning. When there are more technically proficient adults and growing scientific and technical innovation, society is more likely to see improvements in living standards as economies worldwide grow.

Getting Help with STEM

Students studying STEM fields are great with technical and scientific projects, but often need experts to help them with written homework assignments especially in engineering. That’s where My Assignment Lab comes in. When you contact this service, you’ll be matched with a high-quality homework helper that you will pay to give you the very best model homework assignments. Each of the homework helpers working with this service holds an advanced degree such as a Master’s or a Ph.D. in the field that they write about. When you pay for homework help, these writers will assess your homework question, conduct research, and write an exceptional answer to your homework question to show you exactly how a professional would address your specific homework question. This will save you time as you complete your work.

Virgin plate

A virgin plate, also known as bakelite, is a plate bathed in copper on one side, since an electronic circuit can be made on this plate.

In this type of PCB, the most relevant thing is its cost since for many technical or engineering students it is accessible for basic electronic projects with only one side, since in the current market in South America it is difficult to find a two-sided PCB.

ADVANTAGE

  1. ITS COST IS ECONOMIC.
  2. ACCESSIBLE FOR BASIC PROJECTS.
  3. ACCESSIBLE FOR STUDENTS

DISADVANTAGES

  1. IT'S ONLY 1 LAYER.
  2. IT DOES NOT COME HOLES FOR THE ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS.
  3. IT HAS ONE COLOR.
  4. THE SIZE OURSELVES HAVE TO CUT ACCORDING TO OUR NEED FOR OUR PROJECT.

CONCLUSION

Nowadays many students in the current economy develop very great projects on these PCB or blank board but there are now options to send it to professionals to make our board for our project we are talking about the company JLCPCB, a company dedicated to manufacturing electronic boards at low cost and With a professional finish, virgin plates are becoming obsolete due to the quality that JLCPCB makes a variety of professional plates according to their color, size and a very great advantage that also makes the SMT SMD soldering service and drilling the plate for the components electronic.

 

JLCPCB’s first raw materials testing video

What raw materials that your PCB is comprised of?When you cannot answer this question clearly, please continue reading. When you are interested in PCB raw material testing, you better keep reading. When you are in doubt about the quality of the JLCPCB board material, you must continue reading. All corporations that value products and services paramount importance. The raw material is life for a product. This is especially true for PCB production. How JLCPCB controls the level of raw materials quality? The testing videos tell the truth.

JLCPCB never take undue advantage of Non-A grade board

Global PCB raw material costs are rising, JLCPCB never takes undue advantage of Non-A grade board. Last year the whole PCB manufacturing industry faced raw material shortage issues. Many PCB companies sent internal letters to their customers stating that copper prices have risen by more than 50%, copper foil processing costs have risen by more than 20%, and demand continues to increase, resulting in a surge in copper foil prices. The current copper foil prices Compared with the third quarter of last year, it has increased by about 50%

Nanya company issued a notice about growing price, saying that the prices of CCL-related raw materials including LME copper, copper foil processing fees, epoxy resin, and fiberglass cloth continued to increase in price, coupled with tight supply and demand, in order to ease Due to cost pressure, it is planned to increase the price by about 15%-20% of the total transaction amount, which will take effect from April 1st this year."

This kind of shortage caused a battle for grabbing raw materials. But JLCPCB never takes undue advantage of the Non-A grade board. The raw material cost growth situation seems to slow down in June 2021. JLCPCB's single, double boards and small-volume board overseas prices have been lowered from June 5th, 2021 as long as the price of the core raw materials of the circuit board decreases. Cost increment for raw material is a daunting matter. The sheet material is the core and main raw material of PCB, accounting for about 6% of the cost. Using a piece of A-grade raw material and using a piece of non-A-grade material is a great temptation for PCB manufacturers to make profits. If you want to save the cost of raw materials, it is also the most costly raw material.

JLCPCB real grade A1 material

A1 grade base material

  • Application for general automotive boards and household appliances PCBs.
  • Applicable circuit: the hole diameter is greater than 0:25mm

A3 grade base material

  • Application for: toy boards, ordinary CTI household appliances classes, and P4-LED light boards, requiring low voltage and low current
  • Applicable circuit: plug-in hole diameter greater than 0:4mm

JLCPCB real grade A1 material

  • 1.6mm sheet thickness
  • 8 sheets of cloth
  • flame retardant
  • full copper (17.5um)

Other PCB company A3 grade material

  • 6 sheets of cloth
  • non-flame retardant
  • copper thickness 12-15um

The price difference between the two is as high as $10/?. It is PCB suppliers' duty to use international standard materials, however, too many non-standard materials appear in the global market. The supply of downstream products is scarce, leading to rising raw materials. Therefore, in order to protect their interests, some companies use A3-grade materials in private. Some companies even show customers that they use A1-grade raw materials. What problems caused when customers use A3 grade raw boards for ordinary home appliances, industrial, and automotive electronic boards? Take the LED light board as an example, LED will be short-circuited, and the light will be faulty. PCB is the carrier of electronic components and is an indispensable part of various electronic products. It is easy to distinguish that A1 grade materials are better than non-A grade materials just by considering different materials from the perspective of functional properties.

JLCPCB’s first raw materials testing video

Method 1

Preparation tools:
  • ? One PCB with 1.6 thickness from any PCB manufacturers
  • ? A utility knife
  • ? A pair of tweezers
  • ? One hot air gun

Method 2

It requires a small tin furnace, but it is easier to detect. Preparation tools:
  • ? A PCB with 1.6 thickness from any PCB manufacturers
  • ? One small tin stove

Enough PCB DIY videos? why not a PCB material testing video?

Just curious will you join in PCB raw board testing video event? People who are interested in this, please send your testing video to rebecca@jlcpcb.com. It is a hobby activity, may no bonus here. However, if there are a lot of videos received, we will make this activity big. Thanks to people who are interested and send us the video!

What products in life use Printed Circuit Boards?

To understand this section, we must know a little history. The history of the development of printed circuits is not as old as that of the industrial revolution, around 1950 is when the first PCBs began to be commercialized, however, in the early 1900s it was when the first attempts at PCB designs emerged.

The human being had the need to have electrical equipment that had a reduced size, before this the search began to replace the complex and extensive cable connections with electronic components.

It was on March 2, 1925, that Charles Ducas first filed a patent that included creating an electrical path directly on an insulating surface.

Technology has advanced and electronics are not left behind, as can be seen in the previous image, the first printed circuit boards were totally disorganized, large, heavy and not very efficient, but even so, they fulfilled their function, this gave way to the first electrical and electronic devices, such as the first radios, televisions, among others. All components of these plates were through hole.

Man required a little more to be able to develop and innovate much more, so with the passage of time and after a lot of research, trials and errors, he managed to develop quite impressive technology, surface mount circuits, also multi-layer PCBs, This was the beginning of all the development that we have today, since they allowed to miniaturize all the components of a printed circuit board with through hole components, to a simple board much smaller, efficient and which allows the design in both faces of the plate, reducing the size considerably, today these circuits can be found from a simple calculator, to the computers of space shuttles, through our cell phones, computers, microwaves, refrigerators, stoves, headphones, televisions, In any device that works with electricity we can find printed circuits, have you thought that it would be n Our existence as humans if we didn't have a simple printed circuit board? Impressive!!

Remember that, if you are a maker, engineer or passionate about the world of electronics, you can have your PCB designs manufactured at JLCPCB, for a small sum of money you can have your plates with a professional finish and in a reduced time to to be able to carry out your projects to the next level !!

A Detailed Guide on PCB Manufacturing Process

Hi Friends! I welcome you on board. Happy to see you around. In this post today, I’ll document a detailed guide on the PCB manufacturing process.

PCB is hands down a crucial part of modern electronics. From cell phones and digital clocks to remote control and television sets, you will find inside a printed circuit board that connects the electrical components through sophisticated layers of copper traces. These electrical copper traces help in the flow of current through the connected components.

Needless to say, PCB has revolutionized the electronics industry. You’ll never find bulky electronics incorporated with scores of wires and electrical components. Nowadays, electronic devices are more compact and sophisticated, cover less space, and are capable of doing more functions than their predecessors.

  • If you don’t want to dive into the nuts and bolts of this hectic PCB manufacturing process, you can outsource your PCB design. There are many online PCB Companies i.e. NextPCB, PCBWay, etc. that help you design your PCB according to your projects' needs & requirements.
  • You can simply submit your details, and they will create the PCB design customized to your exact requirements.

A Detailed Guide on PCB Manufacturing Process

Circuit boards are mainly categorized into three main types. And all these types are used in different applications.

You need to understand the main difference between all these types, so you can pick the right one based on your requirement.

Main Types of Printed Circuit Board

The following are the three main types of circuit boards.

Single-sided Circuit Boards

Single-sided PCB, also known as single layer PCB, is made with the rigid laminate of woven glass epoxy material which carries one layer of copper traces on one side of the board and another side is used to place the different component on the board. These electrical components are electrically connected through copper traces on the board.

Double-sided Circuit Boards

Double-sided PCB, also known as two-layer PCB, is composed of the same rigid laminate of woven glass epoxy material as single-sided PCB, but here in this case both sides of the board are covered with copper traces. And mainly based on the applications, these traces are made with varying thicknesses.

Multiple-sided Circuit Boards

Multiple-sided PCBs are similar to single-sided or double-sided boards, but here in this case copper foil is used instead of copper coating. The copper foil continues to make multiple layers until you get the desired number of layers.

Main Parts of PCB

Before we study the complete manufacturing process, let’s discuss the main parts of the printed circuit board.

Substrate

This is the skeleton of PCB – the most basic structure. Fiberglass is used to make the substrate. Fiberglass extends the core strength to the PCB and keeps the board from breakage.

Copper Layer

The next part is the copper layer. Based on the type of PCB, copper foil or copper coating is used on one side or both sides of PCB. The purpose of this copper trace is to provide an electrical signal between the connected components on the board.

This is similar to the brain nervous system where neurotransmitters are connected with the muscles to collect and provide information to the brain.

Solder Mask

The third part is the solder mask. It is a protective layer made of a polymer that acts as a PCB skin. It protects the copper layer and keeps it from short-circuiting.

Silkscreen

Silkscreen, also known as legend or nomenclature, is the final part of the PCB. It is normally laminated on the components side of the board. This layer is used to represent symbol switch settings, logos, part number, test points, and component reference.

PCB Manufacturing Process

Hope you understand the main parts of the PCB. Now, let’s dig deep into the manufacturing process.

Step 1: The Design

It all starts with the basic design. A detailed PCB design is made on the dedicated PCB design software or you can also use online PCB design services to design your PCB.

Commonly used PCB design software is Eagle, Altium Designer, Pads, OrCad, KiCad, or Proteus, etc

Once the design is finalized, the file is exported. Make sure… you export file in the format that the manufacturers support. The commonly used file format is known as extended Gerber. Know that… different software include different Gerber file generation steps, however, they all include detailed information about drill drawing, copper tracking layers, component notations apertures, and other options.

Step 2: The Print

The plotted printer is used to print PCB. It generates the resultant film which is composed of various layers. The blank ink represents the conductive copper traces while the clear ink indicates the non-conductive areas. This is the representation of the inner layers. In outer layers, this trend is reversed i.e. the clear ink indicates the conductive copper traces and black ink indicates the non-conductive areas.

Step 3: The Substrate

The substrate is the skeleton of the PCB that is composed of fiberglass. This is an insulating material that connects the various elements.

Step 4: The layers

In this step, a laminate is created using the blueprints. This laminate is then covered with the photo-sensitive film which is also called a resist. This resist is composed of photo-reactive chemicals which when exposed to UV light, hardens the resist.

Step 5: Hardening the Photoresist Layer

The next step involves the revealing of underlying copper pathways. This is done by hardening the photoresist layer.

When a combination of laminate and resist is sent to the room under UV light, it hardens the photoresist layer.

Step 6: Removing Unwanted Copper

This step involves the removal of unwanted copper. An alkaline solution is employed to get rid of unwanted copper. Make sure during this process, it doesn’t harm the photoresist layer.

Step 7: Inspection

In this step, layer alignment and optical inspection are carried out. The inner and outer layers are aligned by the holes. A punch machine is used to make sure everything is aligned and in place.

Step 8: Lamination Process

At step 8, inner and outer layers are pushed together for the lamination. These layers are fused together once they are inspected, making sure they are defect-free.

Epoxy resin known as Prepreg is used with the metal clamps to keep these layers in place. The layer of substrate and copper coil is placed over the Prepreg. A mechanical press is then used to punch everything together where specialized pins are used to keep each layer in place. The PCB layers are fused together in the presence of epoxy that melts down due to applied heat and pressure. The top press plate and pins are then removed to pull out the actual PCB.

Step 9: Drilling

After the lamination, there comes the drilling process. But before initiating the drilling process, drill spots are located using an X-ray machine.

A computer-guided drill is used to create holes. After the drilling process, additional leftover copper at the edges is removed.

Step 10: PCB Plating

Once the drilling step has been completed, a certain chemical is used to fuse all layers together. This process is known as PCB Plating.

The PCB layers are then thoroughly cleansed together in a series of chemicals. This bathing process applies the copper layer on the top of the layer and in between the drilled holes.

Step 11: Outer Layer Imaging

After PCB Plating has been completed, another layer of photoresist is applied to the outer layers of the design. Which gets harden in the presence of UV light.

After coating the outer layers with photoresist, they are again fused together in the presence of certain chemicals like we did for inner layers in the previous PCB plating step. Though the plating process is the same as the previous step, the outer layers develop the plating of tin, thus guarding the copper of the outside layer.

Step 12: The Last Etching

The tin guard developed in the last out layer imaging is used to protect the copper layer during the etching of the outside layer. The same copper solvent is used to remove the unwanted copper while the tin guard continues to protect the copper of the outside layer.

Step 13: Applying the Solder Mask

The proper PCB connections have been developed once the unwanted copper is removed. Now comes the solder masking. The final panels are cleaned before applying the solder mask. Once the cleansing is done, solder mask film is applied with ink epoxy.

The final product is then exposed to UV light to remove the unwanted solder mask. After the removal of the unwanted solder mask, the PCB is heated in the oven that cures the solder mask and results in the green color of the PCB panels.

Step 14: Final Surface Finish

The final surface finish is achieved by the plating of materials like silver and gold. This surface finish results in developing the core strength and improves the bonding of the elements.

Once the plating with gold and silver is achieved, the resulting product is then silkscreened. The necessary information including company ID numbers, manufacturer marks, and warning labels have been printed on the PCB during this silk screening process.

Step 15: Electrical Testing

Once the final surface finish has been completed, the entire PCB goes through a series of electrical tests to ensure functionality.

These electrical tests include isolation and circuit continuity tests. The isolation tests scan the isolation values of PCB to ensure if there is any short circuit. While the circuit continuity test confirms if there are any disconnections in any area of the board. These tests not only confirm the board’s functionality but also how the initial PCB design is observed during this manufacturing process.

Moreover, these tests can be applied both ways: in the automated environment or under the supervision of a practiced technician.

  • If you don’t want to dive into the nuts and bolts of this hectic PCB manufacturing process, you can outsource your PCB design. PCBWay Fabrication House helps you design your PCB for the required project.
  • You can simply submit your details, and they will create the PCB design customized to your exact requirements.

Step 16: Final Cutting Step

Once the final product is run through a series of electrical tests, there comes a cutting process that results in removing and cutting the PCB from the original panel. You can cut PCBs from the original panel using V-groove or CNC machine.

Your final PCB product design is now ready that you can use in your electrical project.

That’s all for today. I hope you find this article helpful. If you’re unsure or have any questions, you can pop your query in the section below. I’d love to help you the best way I can. Feel free to share your valuable suggestions and feedback around the content we share so we keep sharing quality content customized to your exact needs and requirements. Thank you for reading the article.

Simplest LM386 Audio Amplifier in Proteus

Hey Learners, welcome to another exciting tutorial about electronics. We are talking about an audio amplifier using LM386. This is a very simple IC that we are going to used for the amplification of the audio signals. We shall go through the core postulation about the topic and then work on the practical implementation of the experiment. Just have a look at the topics of discussion:

  1. Introduction to LM386 Audio Amplifier.
  2. Components of LM386 Audio amplifier.
  3. LM3386 Audio Amplifier Working.
  4. Simulation of the LM386 Audio Amplifier Circuit in Proteus.
In addition, you will find interesting information in the DID YOU KNOW sections.

Introduction to LM386 Audio Amplifier

Audio signals play important role in many devices. These signals are used to regulate the life of the community in many ways. These signals, when required, are amplified by some means to use them more effectively and efficiently. Many devices can do this task. Yet, at the present time, we are going to discuss LM386 Audio Amplifier. Let's have its definition:

  • "The LM386 audio frequency Amplifiers are the types of low power audio amplifiers used commonly in small amplifier systems and can be run on even a 9V battery."

The input signals once pass through the LM386, are amplified and the user senses a loud sound as compare to the input signal. This type of amplification is really important in the circuits where a signal is required to show the completion of the task, requirement of the involvement of the user or an error in the circuits.

Components of the circuit of LM386 Audio Amplifier

In this article, we're using the very simple circuit of LM386 Audio Amplifier to show the easy but understanding hypothesis of the topic. This circuit consists of capacitors, audio signals, LM386 IC, power source and speaker, out of which, we have to discuss the LM386 IC, Audio signals and speaker.

LM386 IC

The LM386 is a versatile chip that can easily be used in many kinds of circuits. The IC  runs no low voltage, therefore it is a very common yet power operational amplifier that is used even in DIY guitar pre-amplifiers. If we look at the basic definition of LM386 then we find:
"The LM386 is an 8-pin Dual inline integrated circuit that can work on very low voltage and when connected with some simple components can be used as an operational amplifier in a large number of amplifying circuits."
The power intake and efficiency depends totally upon the models of the LM386. Basically, there are three models of aLM386 IC as mentioned below:
Number of Pin Name of pin
1 Gain
2 Negative input
3 Positive Input
4 Ground
5 Gain
6 Bypass
7 Input power
8 Output of IC
Being an op-amp, the LM386 has a very basic task. The IC gets the power from its input terminals and using its circuitry, it amplifies the power output signal on the rate of tens, hundreds, thousands and so on. The total output purely depends upon the input and the model of LM386.

Speaker

The speakers are the devices that takes the audio signals and convert them into voice. This conversion is done by the special mechanism of speaker. In this experiment, the output will me hear with the help of this speaker.

Variable Resistor

As the name describes, the variable resistor is the special device that is capable of changing the value of resistance according to the requirement of the user. The + and - terminal of variable resistor are used to increase and decrease the resistance respectively. In this way, the input audio signals can be controlled.

Working of LM386 Audio Amplifier

  1. The working of the LM386 Audio Amplifier starts with the audio signal generation of audio generator.
  2. These signals passes through the capacitor that regulates these signals and then pass them to the LM386.
  3. The IC inputs these signals, the pin 6 of the LM386 is connected with the DC Source hence it powers it up. The IC now amplify the audio signals.
  4. From pin 5 of the IC, the amplified audio signals are generated. Meanwhile, the resistor and capacitor regulates the signal so that the user may sense these signals in the right sequence of waves.
  5. Finally, the speaker takes these signals as input and convert it in the form of sound so that the user can hear it easily.

Procedure to simulate the LM386 in Proteus ISIS

By availing all the information given above, let's simulate the circuit in Proteus ISIS. Just apply the instructions given below:

Material Required

  1. LM386 IC
  2. Resistor
  3. Capacitor
  4. POT HG
  5. Speaker
  6. Ground Terminal
  7. Audio device
  • Start your Proteus ISIS.
  • create a new Project.
  • Click on P button.
  • Choose 1st five components mentioned in the list given above.
  • Arrange all the components on the working area by following the image given next:
  • Go to Terminal Mode from the left side of your screen and choose ground. Now, set it just below the circuit.
  • Go to Generator mode>choose audio and set it just on left side of arrangement.
  • Double click the audio probe>brows>upload this file.
  • [audio wav="https://www.theengineeringprojects.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/file_example_WAV_1MG.wav"][/audio]
  • Change the values of the components as described in the following table :
Component Value
C1 1nF
C2 100F
C3 1uF
C4 47nF
C5 47 nF
C6 220uF
R1 10 ohm
R2 10 ohm
DC Power Supply 9V
 
  • Once all the values are changes, just go to virtual Instrument mode and select the oscilloscope above the components.
  • At this time, join the components with the help of connecting wires.
  •  Hit the Play button with your mouse and simulate the circuit.
  • Change the values of the voltages of terminals and current through the nobs to get the visible wavelengths.
one can see clearly that the output signal(blue waves) are more amplifier and strong than the input signals (Yellow waves).

Conclusion of experiment

The LM386 is the IC that can be used to amplify the audio signals. The input frequency and thus the volume of the sound amplifies and we can hear the loud sound. One can change the intensity of sound by using the active variable resistor.

RC Electronic Circuits Simulation in Proteus ISIS

Hello friends! Welcome to the Engineering components. Today, We are talking about the very common topic of electronic devices. In this tutorial, we'll pick very common components and learn about their role in circuits. If you are a beginner in the world of electronics, you must read this article till the end because we'll learn all the things from scratch till the completion of the circuit. In this article, you will learn:

  1. Introduction to electronic circuits
  2. Categories of electronic circuits.
  3. Introduction to Resistor and Capacitor.
  4. What are RC Circuits?
  5. Simulation of R Circuits in Proteus ISIS.
Let's look at the description.

Introduction to Electronic Circuits

We come across many circuits in our daily lives, some of them are electrical circuits and some are electronic circuits. There are many differences between them but the main difference is, that electrical circuits do not have decision-making capacity whilst electronic circuits do have this ability. In electronic circuits, we power up the components with the mean power source and get the output. Hence we may define the electronic circuits as:

  • "The electronic circuits are the types of circuits in which the individual electronic components are used that are connected to the power source with the help of wires so that the current can pass through the components."

The electronic circuits are also called discrete circuits because they are somehow, opposite to the integrated circuits. Most of the circuits use a combination of electrical and electronic circuits.

Categories of Electronic components

As we know, electronic components are used in many ways. For convenience, we divide the electronic components into categories. These are categories into two main sections:

  1. Active Components.
  2. Passive components.

The main focus of this article is passive components. The passive components include Capacitor, Resistor and Inductor. These are symbolized as C, R and L respectively. We'll learn about the first two of them today.

Introduction to Resistor and capacitor In electronic circuits

The Resistor and capacitor may be said to be the backbone of thousands of electronic circuits. To design a circuit, one should have a clear concept of these components. So, Let's have their introductions:

Resistor in Electronic Circuits

As the name implies, the resistor shows the resistance for the current in the circuit. It has a tube-like shape that has a molded figure and has a wire at the start and end. One may define the resistor as:

  • The resistor is a passive, bi-terminal electrical component that is used in the circuit to have the electrical resistance in the current. When we use it in electronic circuits, it reduces the sudden current flow in the circuits, biases the active elements, divides the voltages in the circuit and performs such other tasks.
Current is the flow of electrons, this flow should be resisted by some mean, so that the components used in the circuit will be safe from damage. To control this opposition, one must have a clear idea about the resistance. The resistance is the measure of the property of the resistor to oppose the current in a circuit. The resistance of the resistor is symbolized by the strip of different colors. Each color has a meaning of different value.

Capacitor in Electronic Circuits

The capacitor works like a battery. The body of the capacitor is so simple and easy to understand, yet plays an important role in many types of circuits. The introduction of Capacitor is given next:
  • The capacitor is an electrical component consists of two metallic plates and two wires connected with two plates that store energy passes through it in the form of an electrostatic field in between its two metallic plates. Its body is packed in an envelope.
As you can see in the picture, capacitors are manufactured in the form of a tube-like shape with two wires that are used to connect within the circuit. The capacitors are made in a variety of ranges according to their role in the circuit.

RC Electronic Circuits

As we know the Resistor is denoted as R and the capacitor is denoted by C. The RC circuits are the simple and easy circuits to understand.  We introduce the RC Electronic circuits as:
"The RC Circuits are the Resistor-Capacitor circuit in that consist of only resistor and capacitor as passive components of capacitor and these are connected with the current or voltage source according to the type of circuit."
One should keep in mind that we are talking about the category of passive components right now. Otherwise, some other components such as the power generating component are also used in the circuit. The are two categories of RC Circuits mentioned next:
  1. RC Series circuit.
  2. RC Parallel circuit.
RC Series circuits are the ones in which the resistor and capacitors are connected in series whereas, when we talk about the RC Parallel circuit, the R and C are connected in parallel to each other. RC circuits are also called the filter circuit or network circuit because many RC circuits are used to filter the unwanted frequencies of signals from the circuit and keep only the required ones. The RC Circuits are further classified on the basis of the number of components used in the circuit. The circuit is called the first-ordered RC Circuit if it contains only one resistor and one capacitor. Similarly, if it has two resistors and capacitors then the circuit is called the second ordered RC Circuit. To have a clear idea about the circuit, design it on the Proteus.

RC Electronic circuits in Proteus ISIS

To experiment, just follow the steps given next:

Required Components

  1. Resistor
  2. Capacitor
  3. Battery
  4. Connecting wires

Procedure

  • Start your Proteus software.
  • Click on the "P" button and choose the required components one by one.
  • Arrange these components in the working area.
  • Connect the components with connecting wires.
  • Play the circuit with the play button present on the lower-left corner of the screen.

This image shows two types of circuits. The upper circuit is the RC Series circuit and the lower circuit is the RC Parallel circuit. Hence today, we learned about the introduction of Electronic circuits, we saw what are RC circuits, their components and their types depending upon different parameters. We also simulated the circuits in Proteus.

Pure Sine Wave Inverter using 555 Timer in Proteus.

Hi Mentees! Welcome to another electronic tutorial about the 555 Timers. We are working on Proteus and in the present experiment, we'll design the circuit of Pure Sine Wave Inverter. Inverters are the opposite devices to rectifiers. We'll show you the meaning of this sentence in action Yet, before experimentation, we have to learn some predominant concepts about the experiment. So, We'll go through the following topics:

  1. Introduction to Pure Sine Wave Inverter.
  2. Components used in the circuit of Pure Sine Wave Inverter.
  3. Working of the circuit of sine wave inverter.
  4. Circuit simulation of pure sine wave inverter in Proteus.

Introduction to Pure Sine Wave Inverter

In electronics, we examine the output of devices in the form of waves. Basically, there are four types of waves including sine wave, sawtooth wave, square wave and triangular wave. The title of the circuit we are discussing today consist of two main concepts:

  1. Sine Wave
  2. Inverter

Let's recall them one after the other.

  • Sine Wave: The sine wave is a mathematical curve that is a smooth, s-shaped, periodic, continuous wave and is described as the graph of sin function indicated by Y=sin x.

The sine waves are used in Mathematics, physics, engineering, signal processing and other related waves. In Electronics, the sine wave indicates the AC.

  • Inverter: Inverters are the electronic devices that are used to convert the DC into AC. We can say, Inverters are the opposite circuits of rectifiers. The purpose of this inverter is the same.

Hence, when we combine these concepts, we get the following definition of Pure Sine Wave Inverter:

  • "The Pure Sine Wave Inverter is a circuit that takes the input in the form of DC and gives output as AC. It is used to run any type of instruments designed to run on smooth sine wave output."

We can make the circuit with the many methods, out of which two are:

  1. Pure Sine Wave inverter through MOSFET.
  2. Pure Sine Wave Inverter through 555 Timers IC.

The focus of this article is the 2nd type. So let's look at its circuit.

Circuit of Pure Sine Wave Inverter using 555 Timer

If you understand the working of its components, the circuit of the sine wave inverter is quite simple. It consists of some simple electronic components that every engineer uses many times. But out of them, 555 Timer and Transformer should be discussed here.

555 Timer

The 555 Timer is a great integrated circuit. It is used in thousands of circuits that have the requirement of pulses with uniform length. It is an 8 pin integrated circuit that may be used in three modes. In this tutorial, we'll use the 555 Timer in Astable Mode.

Transformer

A transformer is a passive electronic device that is used to transfer electrical energy from one source to another by the mean of electromagnetic induction. The main purpose of the transformer is to change the level of the input current (high or low) to the output current. The circuit of Pure Sine Wave Inverter is designed so, we provide the 12V DC as input and get the 240V AC as output. In addition to these, we will use Inductor, diode, capacitor, resistor and power source in our circuit.

Working of Pure Sine Wave Inverter using 555 Timers

  • The working of the Pure Sine Wave Inverter starts when the 12 volts DC is applied to the components.
  • These 12 volts enter the 555 Timer through pin 3 of the 555 timer that is in the Astable Mode. Due to this Mode, the 555 timer produces a single uniform pulse that is fed into the inductor.
  • Every time, when a new pulse enters the inductor, it stores the energy in the form of an electromagnet. In the time t, when this energy is fully discharged through the inductor, its signs of induction change. After that, a new pulse enters the inductor and this process goes on. This energy passes through the resistor and finally fed into the transformer.
  • In our case, the transformer is stepped high and it gives us the output of 240V AC. One can check this using AC Voltmeter.
  • The diode connected to pin 7 of 555 Timer passes the current in only one direction (because it is a diode) and sends this pulse to the transformer by the mean of a capacitor for a steady pulse.

Simulation of Pure Sine Wave Inverter in Proteus

Using all the concepts discussed above, let's get started with the simulation of the circuit by following the simple steps.

Required Devices

  1. 555 Timer
  2. Vsource (DC power source)
  3. Diode
  4. Capacitor
  5. Inductor
  6. Transformer
  7. Resistor
  8. Connecting Wires
  9. Ground Terminal

Circuit Simulation of Pure Sine Wave Inverter

  • Excite your Proteus simulator.
  • Start a new Project
  • Tap to the "P" button of the screen and choose 1st seven devices one after the other from the list of required devices.
  • Arrange all the devices on the screen by following the image given below:
  • Left click on the screen>Go to Place> Terminal>Ground and set it just below the circuit.
  • Change the Values of the devices according to the table given next:
    Components Values
    R1 1KR
    R2 1KR
    R3 0.02KR
    C1 1nF
    C2 100nF
    C3 100uF
    Inductor 1mH
    Transformer Primary= 1H, Secondary= 2000H
  • Go to Instruments>Oscilloscope and set it at the output side.
  • Connect terminal A with
  • Now connect all the components carefully with the connecting wires.
  • Click on the Play button just at the lower-left corner of the screen and start the simulation.
  • You will find the Sine Wave Inversion on the output screen of the Oscilloscope.
Truss, in the present article, we saw the introduction of Pure Sine Wave Inverter, Look at its devices and components, saw the working of the whole circuit and learned to design the circuit in the Proteus practically. We hope you learned well.
Syed Zain Nasir

I am Syed Zain Nasir, the founder of <a href=https://www.TheEngineeringProjects.com/>The Engineering Projects</a> (TEP). I am a programmer since 2009 before that I just search things, make small projects and now I am sharing my knowledge through this platform.I also work as a freelancer and did many projects related to programming and electrical circuitry. <a href=https://plus.google.com/+SyedZainNasir/>My Google Profile+</a>

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Syed Zain Nasir