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  • A century-old piano mystery has just been solved
    Scientists confirmed that pianists can alter timbre through touch, using advanced sensors to capture micro-movements that shape sound perception. The discovery bridges art and science, promising applications in music education, neuroscience, and beyond.
  • Princeton’s AI reveals what fusion sensors can’t see
    A powerful new AI tool called Diag2Diag is revolutionizing fusion research by filling in missing plasma data with synthetic yet highly detailed information. Developed by Princeton scientists and international collaborators, this system uses sensor input to predict readings other diagnostics can’t capture, especially in the crucial plasma edge region where stability determines performance. By reducing […]
  • Heisenberg said it was impossible. Scientists just proved otherwise
    Researchers have reimagined Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle, engineering a trade-off that allows precise measurement of both position and momentum. Using quantum computing tools like grid states and trapped ions, they demonstrated sensing precision beyond classical limits. Such advances could revolutionize navigation, medicine, and physics, while underscoring the global collaboration driving quantum research.
  • This new camera sees the invisible in 3D without lenses
    Scientists have developed a lens-free mid-infrared camera using a modern twist on pinhole imaging. The system uses nonlinear crystals to convert infrared light into visible, allowing standard sensors to capture sharp, wide-range images without distortion. It can also create precise 3D reconstructions even in extremely low light. Though still experimental, the technology promises affordable, portable […]
  • Biochar’s secret power could change clean water forever
    Scientists found that biochar doesn’t just capture pollutants, it actively destroys them using direct electron transfer. This newly recognized ability accounts for up to 40% of its cleaning power and remains effective through repeated use. The discovery opens the door to cheaper, greener, and more efficient water treatment methods worldwide.
  • Scientists brew “quantum ink” to power next-gen night vision
    Toxic metals are pushing infrared detector makers into a corner, but NYU Tandon researchers have developed a cleaner solution using colloidal quantum dots. These detectors are made like “inks,” allowing scalable, low-cost production while showing impressive infrared sensitivity. Combined with transparent electrodes, the innovation tackles major barriers in imaging systems and could bring infrared technology […]

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Featured image from Florisera.com showing various capacitor types and their symbolic representations, likely used to introduce a detailed article on capacitor basics and usage in electronics.
Introduction to capacitors
This tutorial introduces the basics of capacitors, covering their structure, energy storage, and behavior in DC and AC circuits. It explains capacitance, charging/discharging processes, and...
Featured Image of the post on essential tools for electronic hobbyists (2024)
Essential tools for electronic hobbyist (2024)
Lab equipment is essential for home electronics projects. Key tools include a multimeter, soldering station, oscilloscope, and power supply. This guide covers affordable options for...
Illustration of resistors with color bands and a reading example (332M ± 0.5%). The text reads "Resistor color code Online tool" and shows a DIP chip, emphasizing electronics utility and learning.
Resistor color code – Online tool
A resistor is a fundamental two-terminal component used in countless electronic devices to limit or regulate electric current. Resistors are often marked with color bands...
IGBT microchip surrounded by glowing red and blue PCB traces representing power and signal paths.
3-phase IGBT-inverter – Working principles
In this article the 3-phase IGBT inverter and its functional operation are discussed. In order to realize the 3-phase output from a circuit employing dc...
Educational slide showing a block diagram of a PID (Proportional-Integral-Derivative) control system. It illustrates how the PIC microcontroller processes sensor feedback and generates control output. The PID controller combines proportional, integral, and derivative terms to minimize error and regulate the process. MPLAB X IDE logo indicates the development environment used.
PID control on PIC microcontroller
For decades, the PID control system has stood as one of the industry's most established and widely adopted strategies, owing to its straightforward yet efficient...
Educational slide showing a graph of a PID-controlled system’s step response. The plot displays overshoot, oscillation, and settling behavior as the process value (green) approaches the set point (blue). The image focuses on techniques for tuning PID parameters using a PIC microcontroller and MPLAB X IDE.
PID tuning methods
Rule-based PID tuning methods asssume that there is a system response that can be put into an easy mathematical description. The characteristics of this response...

Prerequisits

To make it easier, I assume you have a basic knowledge of the following:

  • Basic circuitry knowledge; such as resistors, transistors, diodes, relays.
  • Basic programming knowledge in C; understand what are functions, operators, data types, and more.
  • Digital electronics, such as logic gates.

On some occasions I will explain it from scratch, but to understand everything, it is best to brush up on the basics so that you can follow the tutorials.

Required Software

For these tutorials we use Microchip’s own software package that includes:

  • MPLAB X IDE
  • XC8 Compiler
  • PICKIT3 programmer/debugger

All the tools can be downloaded at the official website of Microchip Technology

Required Hardware

The full tutorial consists of many different types of electrical components, sensors and actuators. It depends completely on your own project what you need. However, in all cases you will need a Pickit3 tool to install the software and you need at least 1 PIC16F877A microcontroller to install it on.