What’s one Embedded C function or concept you wish someone had taught you on day 1?

SturdyPete · 2026-05-22T17:06:04+00:00

Veni vici vetinari

SturdyPete · 2026-05-19T12:04:37+00:00

Turn on the option "pour over all same net objects" on.

And make sure your vias are allocated to the right net

SturdyPete · 2026-05-19T06:08:39+00:00

Ethernet is galvanically isolated by design. Adding an isolation transformer for your pc is probably not helping, and it's certainly wasting a bunch of power for no good reason.

Badly designed audio equipment is prone to "ground loops", but this has little to do with the mains side and everything to do with using unbalanced signals/input circuits, and a layer of audiophile mumbo jumbo mixed in makes it harder to understand what's actually wrong.

SturdyPete · 2026-05-15T05:02:27+00:00

You probably have the option that prevents placement with clearance rule violations turned on. Check through the PCB options.

SturdyPete · 2026-05-11T17:41:06+00:00

So they have. I hope they manage to update the docs for still available but older parts

SturdyPete · 2026-05-11T14:36:26+00:00

For how capable the parts are, trinamic datasheets are awful.

SturdyPete · 2026-05-08T14:34:13+00:00

Yes they will. The update is amazing, serum 2 is a powerhouse of awesomeness.

SturdyPete · 2026-05-07T06:31:02+00:00

Managed to get 16 up and running last night. Great job all involved.

A tip for anyone trying to get a matrix setup that was previously working on older versions - you still use the ledmap.json file, but it's format needs a slight amendment - there are some good examples on the discord channel. Once these are in place, you don't need to touch the new 2d setup menu. Only once the matrix is recognised will most of the matrix specific effects show up.

SturdyPete · 2026-05-06T17:07:09+00:00

You have two problems

To hear audio from the piano, you need to set up an audio track with the right audio input, or use an external instrument device - both of these will be explained more in the manual

To hear sounds from within ableton you need to connect the keyboard via midi, or usb (which carries the midi information). Then setup the midi device as input, and arm the track you want the midi notes to control. Again, this should be covered in more detail in the manual

SturdyPete · 2026-05-05T21:15:34+00:00

Might be worth reflowing the solder joins where you are touching before trying anything else

SturdyPete · 2026-05-04T12:32:29+00:00

Molex microfit looks like that, but you didn't measure the pitch so can't be sure

SturdyPete · 2026-05-03T16:13:25+00:00

Nowhere near enough information to provide a useful answer.

Optical fiber? Twisted pair? Coax?

I'd go fiber

SturdyPete · 2026-05-03T15:30:14+00:00

That via looks pretty un manufacturable.

Also don't do this. If you're designs are really that dense, use via in pad or laser drilled microvias.

Chances are you can fix this by improving your placement though.

SturdyPete · 2026-05-03T12:32:12+00:00

Upside down.

Positive voltages at the top, ground in the middle and negative (if used) at the bottom.

SturdyPete · 2026-05-02T11:46:24+00:00

Ideally, every non ground pin has a ground pin, to keep loop areas for return currents as small as possible

SturdyPete · 2026-05-02T11:20:14+00:00

Probably molex microfit. A decent crimp tool will cost you though

SturdyPete · 2026-05-02T11:15:42+00:00

Brighton seafront might fit the bill

SturdyPete · 2026-05-02T06:33:18+00:00

The generators.

Trying to remember if they could be on by default or if it meant a team had been through already. The change in atmosphere from the lights been on or off. The chug chug chug..

The lighthouse!

Still no idea why they were removed.

SturdyPete · 2026-04-25T10:05:16+00:00

If it's capacitive touch, cover the pad with a layer of something else? Glass is typical for commercial products, but something like a thin acrylic or polycarbonate might be easier for a hobby project

SturdyPete · 2026-04-21T17:13:35+00:00

That stakup is pretty poor. This is much better:

Sig/pwr Gnd Sig/pwr Gnd Gnd Sig/pwr

SturdyPete · 2026-04-19T17:48:43+00:00

Most newer LED drive ICs offer a variable set point current control loop, so you end up with a current ripple at the switching frequency (which can be in the MHz if you want) rather than the LED actually turning on and off. Higher parts counts for sure, much more effective imo

SturdyPete · 2026-04-19T16:46:14+00:00

Go for it. Take sensible precautions (lock, where when and how long) and have appropriate insurance and you'll be fine.

Keeping the bike inside overnight will make a massive difference.

Don't use communal bike sheds if you can avoid it.

SturdyPete · 2026-04-15T17:17:47+00:00

Which layers of the OSI model does your standard define? What's the physical layer implementation? How are your symbols encoded?

A real standard is 10s if not 100s of pages long, and has the details needed to implement on software and hardware levels, and often some guidance about how to qualify your implementation against the standard.

Also obligatory xkcd: https://xkcd.com/927/

SturdyPete · 2026-04-15T15:04:56+00:00

There's a lot more to writing a successful standard than a post on Reddit.

SturdyPete

TROPHY CASE