Measured Comparison of Capacitors and Inductors Across Different Brands and Types (D, Q, ESR, X)
Using a Zhongchuang ET4410 LCR bridge, the author measured inductance, capacitance, Q/D, ESR, and reactance of various inductors and capacitors at 100Hz–100kHz. Iron-silicon-aluminum toroidal inductors showed peak Q at 10kHz; SMD inductors performed better at high frequency. Solid capacitors significantly outperformed electrolytics, with Rubycon best among electrolytics. Capacitance dropped after 10kHz for electrolytics, while monolithic capacitors had high low-frequency ESR/reactance. The article provides full data tables and a spreadsheet.
Open-Source Three-Phase Energy Meter: Simplifying Home Electricity Monitoring
An open-source three-phase power meter for home energy monitoring uses three PZEM-004T modules with an ESP32-C3 running ESPHome, uploading voltage, current, power, power factor, and energy data to HomeAssistant over Wi-Fi. It measures 80–260V per phase, up to 100A, with 0.5% accuracy. Design files, firmware, and enclosure models are provided.
Guide: Installing macOS on an External Drive for Mac Mini (Retaining Data & Apps)
Migrating macOS to an external SSD on a 2024 Mac Mini avoids expensive Apple upgrades. The guide details formatting the drive as APFS with GUID Partition Map, creating a separate data volume, downloading macOS Sequoia, installing to the external drive, and using Migration Assistant to preserve apps and data. Internal macOS remains intact, allowing flexible startup disk switching.
DeepSeek-R1 Private Deployment Tutorial, Linux+Docker+Ollama+OpenWebUI
This article provides a detailed tutorial for deploying DeepSeek-R1 on a cloud server using Linux, Docker, Ollama, and OpenWebUI. It covers server preparation, SWAP setup, Docker and Ollama installation, model downloading (14B and 7B variants), and OpenWebUI deployment for browser-based interaction. Readers gain a practical, step-by-step path to self-hosted LLM deployment with local control.
Setup a "Dragon Adventure: New Journey 2.0" MC ModPack Server | Minecraft Server Setup Tutorial
This article provides a tutorial for setting up a Minecraft mod pack server for “Dragon Adventure: New Journey 2.0” on Linux using MCSManager 10 and Docker. It covers mod pack features, hardware requirements, and step-by-step instructions including installing MCSM, Docker, Java 17, configuring port mapping, uploading the server archive, and launching the instance. Key facts include the mod pack’s 600+ quests, over 20 bosses, and 1.20.1 version base. Readers gain practical knowledge to deploy and manage the server, grant operator privileges, and connect clients.
Open-Source Smart Electronic Load Based on CH32V307, Embedded Competition Project Open Source
An open-source smart electronic load based on the CH32V307VCT6 microcontroller is presented, developed as a national second-prize entry in the 2023 embedded design competition. It supports constant current, voltage, resistance, and power modes, with 100V/10A/200W ratings. Schematics, PCB files, source code, and reports are freely available for learning and reference.
Test and Teardown of a 120W Charger Bought for 2.6 Yuan on Douyin Mall
A 2.6-yuan charger claiming 120W output was tested and torn down. It supported multiple protocols but delivered only 15.6W max with high ripple and ~80% efficiency. Teardown revealed substandard components, including a small 6.8μF filter capacitor and unidentified chips. The author advises against purchasing such power supplies due to poor quality and misleading performance.
LADS D1500 UPS Teardown Analysis
This teardown of a LADS D1500 UPS reveals a line-frequency inverter design with an H-bridge MOSFET circuit, transformer, and two 12V/9Ah batteries. Testing showed rapid battery degradation beyond warranty, ~77% conversion efficiency at 104W input, and ~18W no-load power draw. Readers gain insight into internal components, circuit topology, and real-world performance.
Teardown of ZTE F7015TV3 2.5G Optical Modem
The ZTE F7015TV3 2.5G optical modem offers a compact, low-power design with XGPON/XEPON support and a 2.5G port, achieving ~1200Mbps on gigabit broadband. However, it runs hot, reaching 74°C+ in warm cabinets and causing reboots; adding a fan stabilizes it at 52°C. Teardown reveals ZX279133 SoC, 512MB DDR3L, RTL8221B PHY, and ports including 2.5G, IPTV, and phone line.
Apple Mac Mini M4 Mini PC Review&Teardown - The Most Powerful Single-Core Performance Mini PCs
The article reviews and tears down the Apple Mac Mini M4, highlighting its compact redesign, strong single-core performance, and energy efficiency. Benchmarks show single-core scores surpassing Intel i9-14900, with idle power under 5W. It covers specs, storage speeds, thermal imaging, and teardown findings, noting affordable SSD upgrade options and excellent value.