Nick Mann
@analyze-optimize.bsky.social
Electronics Tech. My happy place is designing and building instrumentation. Also into bikes and geology.
Prototyping a process controller. I have accomplished using all four outputs on a recently purchased very nice power supply. I think this justifies the cost…
November 2, 2025 at 4:26 PM
Prototyping a process controller. I have accomplished using all four outputs on a recently purchased very nice power supply. I think this justifies the cost…
No mistakes. Just “happy little accidents.”
August 9, 2025 at 9:54 PM
No mistakes. Just “happy little accidents.”
Another example video of my DMM that automatically reports open vs closed leads in a voltmeter circuit.
Note that the meter reports continuity when in parallel with the transformer, but then the ~120vac when I flip it on.
(No spoken audio)
Note that the meter reports continuity when in parallel with the transformer, but then the ~120vac when I flip it on.
(No spoken audio)
July 17, 2025 at 9:45 PM
Another example video of my DMM that automatically reports open vs closed leads in a voltmeter circuit.
Note that the meter reports continuity when in parallel with the transformer, but then the ~120vac when I flip it on.
(No spoken audio)
Note that the meter reports continuity when in parallel with the transformer, but then the ~120vac when I flip it on.
(No spoken audio)
Video of my DMM showing voltage - floating leads - closed leads measurements.
(No spoken audio.)
#arduino
#electronics
(No spoken audio.)
#arduino
#electronics
July 14, 2025 at 1:37 AM
Video of my DMM showing voltage - floating leads - closed leads measurements.
(No spoken audio.)
#arduino
#electronics
(No spoken audio.)
#arduino
#electronics
My custom DMM can now report the difference between "0 Volts - they're floating" and "0 Volts - same potential."
Pretty stoked to get this working. Should save a lot of "is it off or am I measuring in the wrong place?" when troubleshooting.
#arduino #electronics
Pretty stoked to get this working. Should save a lot of "is it off or am I measuring in the wrong place?" when troubleshooting.
#arduino #electronics
July 14, 2025 at 1:29 AM
My custom DMM can now report the difference between "0 Volts - they're floating" and "0 Volts - same potential."
Pretty stoked to get this working. Should save a lot of "is it off or am I measuring in the wrong place?" when troubleshooting.
#arduino #electronics
Pretty stoked to get this working. Should save a lot of "is it off or am I measuring in the wrong place?" when troubleshooting.
#arduino #electronics
Just got calibrated voltage references for my DMMs. Now I can official know how accurate they are.
I also modded one of my PCBs to work with 3.3vdc boards (level shifting the SDA/SLC lines). Now have an Arduino Giga version, where I can plot the voltage readings.
#Arduino #Electronics
I also modded one of my PCBs to work with 3.3vdc boards (level shifting the SDA/SLC lines). Now have an Arduino Giga version, where I can plot the voltage readings.
#Arduino #Electronics
June 30, 2025 at 8:53 PM
Just got calibrated voltage references for my DMMs. Now I can official know how accurate they are.
I also modded one of my PCBs to work with 3.3vdc boards (level shifting the SDA/SLC lines). Now have an Arduino Giga version, where I can plot the voltage readings.
#Arduino #Electronics
I also modded one of my PCBs to work with 3.3vdc boards (level shifting the SDA/SLC lines). Now have an Arduino Giga version, where I can plot the voltage readings.
#Arduino #Electronics
Photo day for my most recent Arduino / XIAO board-based DMMs.
My very detailed write up on how awesome this DMM is: www.oihdesigns.com/arduino-mult...
I have also published my designs on GitHub: github.com/oihdesigns/M...
#electronics #instrumentation
My very detailed write up on how awesome this DMM is: www.oihdesigns.com/arduino-mult...
I have also published my designs on GitHub: github.com/oihdesigns/M...
#electronics #instrumentation
June 24, 2025 at 3:17 AM
Photo day for my most recent Arduino / XIAO board-based DMMs.
My very detailed write up on how awesome this DMM is: www.oihdesigns.com/arduino-mult...
I have also published my designs on GitHub: github.com/oihdesigns/M...
#electronics #instrumentation
My very detailed write up on how awesome this DMM is: www.oihdesigns.com/arduino-mult...
I have also published my designs on GitHub: github.com/oihdesigns/M...
#electronics #instrumentation
Just got the most recent Arduino/ XIAO DMM PCBs. It works! It’s precise! I’m happy!
Unlike previous designs, on this one:
-All the power rail conversions are done on the board instead of 3rd party breakouts.
-Precision voltage references for better accuracy.
-Over volt/current protection.
Unlike previous designs, on this one:
-All the power rail conversions are done on the board instead of 3rd party breakouts.
-Precision voltage references for better accuracy.
-Over volt/current protection.
June 7, 2025 at 11:54 AM
Just got the most recent Arduino/ XIAO DMM PCBs. It works! It’s precise! I’m happy!
Unlike previous designs, on this one:
-All the power rail conversions are done on the board instead of 3rd party breakouts.
-Precision voltage references for better accuracy.
-Over volt/current protection.
Unlike previous designs, on this one:
-All the power rail conversions are done on the board instead of 3rd party breakouts.
-Precision voltage references for better accuracy.
-Over volt/current protection.
Trying to build a homemade EKG machine. I see a heartbeat! Yay! Now to try and control the noise…
May 17, 2025 at 8:34 PM
Trying to build a homemade EKG machine. I see a heartbeat! Yay! Now to try and control the noise…
I made a game called “Oscilloscope.” You use a joystick (smoothed by a cap) to try to match a DAC output. Rounds are one minute and it gets harder as you go.
Nothing fancy but still fun Hoping it will entertain my toddlers / stealth teach my stepson electronics.
Nothing fancy but still fun Hoping it will entertain my toddlers / stealth teach my stepson electronics.
May 16, 2025 at 2:20 AM
I made a game called “Oscilloscope.” You use a joystick (smoothed by a cap) to try to match a DAC output. Rounds are one minute and it gets harder as you go.
Nothing fancy but still fun Hoping it will entertain my toddlers / stealth teach my stepson electronics.
Nothing fancy but still fun Hoping it will entertain my toddlers / stealth teach my stepson electronics.
Reposted by Nick Mann
Playing with my new best $10 thermal label printer friend.
May 7, 2025 at 2:08 AM
Playing with my new best $10 thermal label printer friend.
I won a trophy at work for being the most competitive.
May 2, 2025 at 9:24 PM
I won a trophy at work for being the most competitive.
Preparing the photos for an upcoming update to my Arduino (well, now Seeed Studio, but same MCU) super compact and useful DMM guide.
May 2, 2025 at 1:05 AM
Preparing the photos for an upcoming update to my Arduino (well, now Seeed Studio, but same MCU) super compact and useful DMM guide.
You know. It would maybe be useful if these SMD components had pre-soldered wires on them. Wait. Umm. I am not smart sometimes.
April 27, 2025 at 9:48 PM
You know. It would maybe be useful if these SMD components had pre-soldered wires on them. Wait. Umm. I am not smart sometimes.
Experimenting with fancy ADCs.
April 13, 2025 at 2:27 AM
Experimenting with fancy ADCs.
It works! I'm happy! My emotions are driven by circuits functioning or not in possibly an unhealthy way!
But in this case I've discovered an inexpensive IC (MIC4801) that will drive a constant 20mA (or more, but that's what I need) up to 4.8vdc off a 4.9vdc supply. Useful for instrumentation. :D
But in this case I've discovered an inexpensive IC (MIC4801) that will drive a constant 20mA (or more, but that's what I need) up to 4.8vdc off a 4.9vdc supply. Useful for instrumentation. :D
April 11, 2025 at 2:50 AM
It works! I'm happy! My emotions are driven by circuits functioning or not in possibly an unhealthy way!
But in this case I've discovered an inexpensive IC (MIC4801) that will drive a constant 20mA (or more, but that's what I need) up to 4.8vdc off a 4.9vdc supply. Useful for instrumentation. :D
But in this case I've discovered an inexpensive IC (MIC4801) that will drive a constant 20mA (or more, but that's what I need) up to 4.8vdc off a 4.9vdc supply. Useful for instrumentation. :D
Figured out how to dim my lights from the TV. Also toggle them on and off. Pretty stoked.
(No Internet involved, just an Arduino with a relay and a digital potentiometer to control the power supply.)
(No Internet involved, just an Arduino with a relay and a digital potentiometer to control the power supply.)
April 9, 2025 at 2:34 AM
Figured out how to dim my lights from the TV. Also toggle them on and off. Pretty stoked.
(No Internet involved, just an Arduino with a relay and a digital potentiometer to control the power supply.)
(No Internet involved, just an Arduino with a relay and a digital potentiometer to control the power supply.)
New redesigned multimeter PCBs arrived yesterday. The barrel jacks for input, buttons, and screen all mount directly to the board to save space and assembly time.
Soldered it up and it works(!). Yay!
Soldered it up and it works(!). Yay!
April 5, 2025 at 10:59 AM
New redesigned multimeter PCBs arrived yesterday. The barrel jacks for input, buttons, and screen all mount directly to the board to save space and assembly time.
Soldered it up and it works(!). Yay!
Soldered it up and it works(!). Yay!
Most recent Arduino DMM revisions. Works pretty great. Almost done writing updated documentation on how they work.
February 27, 2025 at 11:41 AM
Most recent Arduino DMM revisions. Works pretty great. Almost done writing updated documentation on how they work.
Today’s first flight was SAC to DFW. Pretty great geologically. Yosemite, Bryce Canyon / Escalante, and Shiprock, among others. #geology
February 16, 2025 at 10:46 PM
Today’s first flight was SAC to DFW. Pretty great geologically. Yosemite, Bryce Canyon / Escalante, and Shiprock, among others. #geology
Sitting at the gate for a flight while maintenance addresses something.
…They just turned the plane off and back on again as part of the troubleshooting process.
…They just turned the plane off and back on again as part of the troubleshooting process.
February 16, 2025 at 8:05 PM
Sitting at the gate for a flight while maintenance addresses something.
…They just turned the plane off and back on again as part of the troubleshooting process.
…They just turned the plane off and back on again as part of the troubleshooting process.
First official event half marathon* (actually a 0.58 marathon because oops) in the books. I am happy about this. The California hills are as steep as they are pretty. Feel good though.
February 15, 2025 at 8:25 PM
First official event half marathon* (actually a 0.58 marathon because oops) in the books. I am happy about this. The California hills are as steep as they are pretty. Feel good though.
Cool reverse engineering.
I'm going to document my very scientific way of reverse engineering a PCB 1/? 🧵
February 13, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Cool reverse engineering.
Just ran my first half marathon as training for a formal event in a week. I’ve gotten into running this past year (I’m more normally a cyclist) as a way to get my heart rate up with less overhead prep time compared to riding bikes.
I am happy about this. I will now eat all the calories.
I am happy about this. I will now eat all the calories.
February 9, 2025 at 6:58 PM
Just ran my first half marathon as training for a formal event in a week. I’ve gotten into running this past year (I’m more normally a cyclist) as a way to get my heart rate up with less overhead prep time compared to riding bikes.
I am happy about this. I will now eat all the calories.
I am happy about this. I will now eat all the calories.
This box has the temperature min/max in different units, except the low temp is the only one where degrees don’t matter.
January 21, 2025 at 12:00 PM
This box has the temperature min/max in different units, except the low temp is the only one where degrees don’t matter.