A motley collection of ideas
Homemade circuits, experiments, tinker-friendly electronic ideas, and and things related to amateur radio.
Anyone even slightly familiar with electronics knows the NE555 IC. This almost iconic timer circuit was designed in the summer of 1971 by Hans R. Camenzind, a Swiss-born electrical engineer who taught at Northeastern University in Boston. Yes, we’re the same age! It’s not the “greatest” IC because it’s the largest in size or the … Read more
A friend of mine recently asked me about a gadget called the Power Factor Saver. It’s a small plug, barely larger than a typical power adapter or an old mobile phone charger. According to the article I linked earlier, the price is now, just for you, 9800 HUF (around €25), and “the Power Factor Saver … Read more
This is a simple TTL-based lab frequency counter I originally built decades ago. At the time, I was a young student with very limited resources. Commercial laboratory instruments were completely out of reach, so I had no choice but to build my own. The design came from the Hungarian Defense Sport Association (MHSZ, Magyar Honvédelmi … Read more
I built this inductance meter adapter a long time ago for use with a digital multimeter capable of frequency measurement. The basic idea came from an article published in Funkchau issue 1/1981. I slightly modified the original circuit and designed a new PCB. Of course, I no longer use this device for measuring coils today, … Read more
The magic plasma ball is a well-known decoration that used to be popular at parties and nightclubs. A simple structure on the surface, but the spectacular light effect is based on a very complex phenomenon. It can also be used to perform some interesting experiments to surprise your friends.