Hardware Podcasts

The Spark Gap - Episode 3

The Spark Gap · 30 Jun 2014 · 42m

What this episode covers

Hosts Carl and Corey explain the fundamentals of powering electronic circuits, contrasting linear regulators (including LDOs and precision references) with switch-mode power supplies (buck, boost, and buck-boost). They detail the efficiency trade-offs, heat generation in linear regulators, and the complexity of switching supplies, while highlighting common pitfalls like incorrect pinout wiring and boost converter current calculations. The discussion covers AC-to-DC conversion options, from wall warts to bench supplies, emphasizing safety isolation and load regulation issues.

Most relevant to

makers and hobbyists

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
Murata
Also
Capacitors, Digiki, Mauser

Related episodes from other shows

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

  • Embedded.fm · 1h 04m

    216: Bavarian Folk Metal

    Carmen Parisi, a Senior Applications Engineer at Texas Instruments and co-host of The Engineering Commons podcast, explains the transition from linear regulators to switching regulators (switchers) for power management. He details the efficiency benefits of buck and boost converters, the role of PMBus for digital control, and the increasing complexity of modern power ICs. Parisi also shares career advice for embedded engineers, emphasizing the importance of reading application notes, understanding component trade-offs, and learning from failures during validation.

    Analog & power electronicsEmbedded firmware
    8 chapters

  • The Amp Hour · 1h 18m

    FPGA, Xess, 32 Bit - Quirky Qualitative Questions

    Hosts Dave Jones and Chris Gammell answer user-submitted questions covering solar energy economics, the viability of open-source hardware companies like MakerBot, and the challenges of designing for subzero temperatures. They discuss the technical causes of power supply buzzing, including transformer laminates and capacitor microphonics, and debate the career value of learning FPGAs versus 32-bit ARM microcontrollers. The conversation concludes with advice for hobbyists and students on learning practical electronics, emphasizing hands-on projects and resources like the DSO Nano and Art of Electronics.

    Batteries & low-power designOpen-source hardware
    8 chapters

  • The Amp Hour · 1h 05m

    Mute Button Discipline

    Dave Jones and Chris Camel discuss the quirks of online circuit simulators like Falstad and LTSpice, specifically the confusing use of 'beta' for MOSFETs. They analyze Derek Muller's (Veritasium) follow-up video on energy flow in transmission lines, debating Poynting's theorem versus the lumped element model. The conversation shifts to embedded systems debugging with SEGGER tools, the ongoing microcontroller supply chain crisis, and the challenges of adopting open-source solar microinverters.

    Embedded firmwareSourcing & supply chain
    7 chapters

  • The Amp Hour · 1h 04m

    Bubblegum Tap Shoes

    Dave Jones of EEVblog and Chris Gammell of Contextual Electronics discuss the technical nuances of 1N400x diodes, specifically why manufacturers produce multiple voltage ratings for the same package, and Gammell’s transition from Fusion 360 to FreeCAD. They also cover the internal operation of the LM317 linear regulator, the ongoing global semiconductor shortage affecting parts like the RP2040, and the importance of lab organization and measurement traceability.

    PCB design & layoutAnalog & power electronics
    8 chapters

  • The Amp Hour · 1h 00m

    Here for a reason

    Chris Gammell and Dave Jones discuss the technical merits of synchronous DC-DC converters, referencing a build by Great Scott, and analyze the power consumption of the new Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W. They also debate the practicality of modular hardware design, citing the Framework laptop and SparkFun's MicroMod, before issuing a security warning about a malicious clone of the KiCad website.

    Analog & power electronicsMicrocontrollers & dev platforms
    6 chapters

The summary, chapters and topics are generated from the episode’s audio by this directory, not written by The Spark Gap. The episode itself belongs to its publisher.