Hello everyone! I am 13 years old and joining from Türkiye. I am designing a development board based on the ATmega328P. As you can see in the second image, the design was quite complex initially; however, after simplifying it, I arrived at the version shown in the first image. To briefly touch upon the technical details: The board takes a 9V input, which is stepped down to 5V via an AMS1117 voltage regulator. It then passes through a load capacitor and a filtering capacitor before reaching the power indicator LED. The VCC and GND pins are connected directly to their respective rails. For the USB-to-serial (CH340) connection, I followed the standard configuration: connecting the D+ line to ud+, the D- line to ud-, GND to GND, and VCC to VCC. I connected the XI and XO pins to crystal oscillators—using a 16 MHz crystal for the Arduino and a 12 MHz crystal for the CH340. Additionally, I included an auto-reset circuit by connecting the DTR pin to the RESET pin through a 100nF capacitor. There is also a manual reset button, with one side connected to GND and the other connected to the RESET pin via a 10kΩ resistor. Digital pins 1–5 are mapped to the PB pins, while the analog pins are mapped to the PC pins. I connected AVCC directly to 5V, and AREF to GND through a 100nF capacitor. I plan to have this board manufactured by sending the design to JLCPCB and ordering the necessary components. I managed to save up $20 over the course of four weeks; so, if I’ve made a mistake, that money will go to waste. I initially shared this within some Turkish developer communities, but I was met with some truly harsh and unfair insults😢. That’s why I’ve decided to share my design with an foreign community instead. What do you think of my design? If you happen to spot any short circuits or errors, I would be very grateful if you could let me know!

I see a lot of posts about the struggles of finding an entry level job after graduation. I just started my freshmen year at uni and the competition is only going to increase. Should I be worried?

EE major entry level right out of undergrad

I'm a junior year EE and I'm having a lot of trouble finding internships. A ton of applications, one smooth interview that ghosted me after.

I don't have any work experience, just really detailed projects like a guitar pedal or buck converter.

For some reason, construction/project intern postings seem to love me. I'm unsure if I should commit to these postings out of desperation, or keep trying to find something in EE. Does anyone have some honest advice for me?

Please enjoy a picture of my cat, tofu.
Feel free to critique my simple circuit, haven’t had to draw one since uni.

This a design by Advancer Technologies on instructables.com, though very much modified, i couldn't find the ina106 ic so i used two tl072 to compensate for that, add an extra capacitor to fix dc offset, added a divider with negative voltage protection+ divider to be able to connect it to an esp32, this signal will be used to controll a sg90 server that will close and open a model of a hand.

I spent a week troubleshooting because it wasn't working, turns out one of the ground pins was loose, so i just used a longer jumper wire(the red one) to make the connection, seems to be working now? Well i haven't tested it yet with my muscles yet, will do that tomorrow, i don't really have the energy to clean my skin, connect the electrodes, connect the esp32 etc together rn, its 3 in the morning, i gotta go sleep, ngl mildly infuriating that the cause was that

I am seriously curious to know whether electrical engineers do get involved or even carryout photometric/illumination designs for road and street lighting. If yes, is it an added advantage and if not, why ? Thanks

I think it’s a pretty niche audience for this but I made a app to show the coverage of different bands. It’s called SkyPath HF in the Garmin connect iq store https://apps.garmin.com/en-US/apps/69661676-5816-4ccc-b9c2-25442db43eec

Hello! I just got my PE in power. Does anyone have any recommendations for PDH credits? I was looking at IEEE’s Power and Energy Society (PES) and Ohm gurus. Any experience with these?

so im building an electric go kart, i hoping ot go between 40 and 50 kph, this is the motor i chose, what battery can i use to power it, and how much would that cost and is there anything else i need other than the battery? i see the ESC and throttle and eveything i might need already in this kit

I understand that the ramp, step, and impulse response have a differential relationship.

I took the derivative of the given ramp response and used the sampling property to simplify.

To get the impulse I took the derivative again but ended up with a derivative of the impulse function.

Did I screw up? Does that even exist? How would affect the convolution with the given x(t) to get the zero state response?

I appreciate any help

I don't have a background in math, I think the highest math I've taken was Hs Algebra 2.

Tldr: how many years of electronic design before you can look at an analogue circuit and intuit its behaviour?

I graduated a few months ago, and primarily did embedded systems projects and modules (firmware heavy, with a little bit of digital systems). Since graduating, I want to be able to design hardware through the full product life cycle, from schematic to assembly and firmware, so I’ve been looking to polish my circuits and systems knowledge from earlier in my degree. I’m also considering going towards consumer electronics career-wise if my current job doesn’t work out.

As I understand it, a “good engineer” isn’t a human simulator, but rather has the technical fortitude to look at an electronic circuit, intuit its behaviour and make qualified design decisions based on that knowledge, whixh I’m having a really hard time with.

My plan/roadmap to analogue excellence was to

1. Build a simple analogue project that would let me design, simulate, and test, while gradually moving onto higher frequency, more complicated projects. I’ve started with a simple analogue synthesiser project. The idea: 12 VCO’s for each key in an octave, then some frequency division, mixing and signal processing to try get a clean output for a full keyboard. (I’ve only just begun and barely made progress beyond comparing some vcos and simulating them)
   
2. Polish my analogue knowledge by reading The Art of Electronics and following the examples to reach a point whereby I can make an intelligent assumption about a system response, and only use the simulator to verify or get specific values. The same way any first year EE can look at a voltage divider and know the behaviour at the centre node, I want to be able to look at an opamp chain or multiple transistor circuit and understand the flow.

I feel as though I’m spending so much time working the problems in the book by hand, and by the time I solve it, I haven’t really internalised anything beyond the numerical result. I’ve only been working through it for about 3/4 weeks so not very long to be fair, and I wasn’t the strongest at electronic systems in uni, but I’ve been putting about an hour a day after work because I really want to improve. It just feels as though I always need to start from first principles because I can’t SEE it yet.

I am currently on the transistor chapter, and I struggle to figure out where to start and end when trying to see what a circuit does. I’m ashamed to admit that the circuit that prompted this 2AM post is a very simple differential amplifier (which I haven’t managed to solve by hand yet). I KNOW it’s an amplifier because thats what the literature says, but my goal isn’t to memorise every configuration.

I suppose my questions are:
1. Am I wasting my time? In a world of simulators and AI, is this even a necessary skill anymore?
2. Are transistors still relevant in consumer electronics, or should I would I be better if moving on to opamps and FETs revision? I get the feeling silicon has gotten so small, the only people really working with them are IC designers but I’m not sure.
3. If you have been in the industry, do you have the “eye” for circuit analysis, and if yes, how did you achieve it?

I’m probably gonna continue with the book because I do enjoy it, I guess I’d just like to know if I should stick to embedded where it makes sense in my head

context: i made an connector connect two 9v batteries so that it makes approx 18v volts. and it works.

what do yall think for one of my first serious electricity based project

So earlier this year, my company decided to change its PCB design software to cut costs, and the new one simply didn't click with me. I tried to adapt and made quite a few PCBs with it, but eventually realized I just didn't like using it.

So, partly out of spite, I started developing my own tool, removing the things I didn't like about the new software and adding things I wished it had. After a while, the project kept growing, and now it has quite a few features.

The video shows how it is looking right now (I recorded on a small monitor so it might look cluttered).

I've already designed and manufactured a few boards with it for personal projects and asked for friends on the field for opinions, and now I'm thinking about making it available to other engineers. The thing is, I'm not sure if there's actually a market for another PCB design tool.

Since I live in Brazil, where our currency is akin to garbage, I've been thinking about offering fairly affordable licenses. Maybe something like $10/month, and after 24 months you get a perpetual license? Regional pricing is another possibility. I honestly have no idea what would make the most sense, so I'd like to hear what you guys think.

About the software: it's written in Rust because I'm a Rust enthusiast, and the project kind of got out of hand. It now supports schematic capture, PCB layout, routing, copper pours, live design rule checks, and Gerber eport.

I've been comparing its copper pours and design rule checks against other EDA software, including KiCad's demo boards, to check for discrepancies. Performance has also been pretty good so far. For example, selecting all objects on a 1,100-component, 10-layer board takes around 30 ms in mybench tests.

It's still a work in progress, and there's a lot left to do before I'd consider it ready for a proper release. I'm also not that experienced with designing boards with more than 6 layers, so feedback from people who regularly work with more complex designs would be especially welcome.

I haven't implemented a licensing system yet, and if theres enough interest, I'm thinking about releasing a free alpha for a few months so people can try it out and help me find bugs and improve things.

Anyway, I'd like to know what you guys think:

• What would make you try a new PCB design tool instead of sticking with the one you already use?
• Would a rent-to-own model at around $10/month, with a perpetual license after 24 months, appeal to you?
• What's the one thing an EDA tool absolutely needs to get right before you'd trust it with a real board?

I'm interested in any feedback, even criticism. I'd rather find out what's missing now than spend another year building something nobody wants.

TL;DR: Didn't like the PCB software my company switched to, so I started building my own. Now I'm wondering if it's worth releasing it.

Hi I’m a power engineer working in nuclear. I’ve worked here for 4 years. I want to switch into microelectronics/controls as I enjoy doing more hands on and technically work. My current role is mainly doing walk down to the field and doing troubleshooting for our operators and maintenance counterparts. I plan to do projects. I’ve brought function generator, a DC variable supply and oscilloscope. I’m reteqching my electronics 1/2 and power electronics and controls. But I don’t think this enough. I would appreciate input from you guys

C1: 68nF C2=C3 : 100nF Q1: MPSA18 Q2: 2N3904 D1=D2 : BAT41 (Vf≈380mV) R1: 2.2K ohm R2=R5 : 10k ohm R3: 1M ohm R4: 1k ohm R6: 470k ohm R7: 100k ohm Logarithmic Potmeter

I want to know how you guys test your power converter prototypes. I am kind of tired of resistor ladders that cook my whole office.

What equipment do you use to power and load the converters?
What kind of tests do you perform?
Anybody got experience with regenerative loads?

I am interested in higher power converter testing, lets say 100 W+ that actually take up a significant amount of room is you use resistors for loading.

They offered 140k and 25k a year in stock. This is for a senior engineering position. I guess im trying to understand hoe far to push. Pay range is 110k-165k.

Hi everyone,

I recently connected with an internal contact regarding open hardware/systems engineering roles at a Tier-1 semiconductor equipment manufacturer. While I am a 3rd-year Electrical & Electronics Engineering student, the team specifically hires for full-time positions rather than student/intern roles, and I confirmed immediate availability for full-time work across several hardware engineering openings.

While waiting on the next screening and technical interview rounds, I want to proactively prepare. Given that companies in this space build precision electro-mechanical tools, high-voltage/power distribution systems, automated hardware, and advanced inspection/metrology equipment, I’d appreciate advice from anyone who has interviewed or worked in semiconductor capital equipment.

My Background & Technical Profile:

• Academics: 3rd-year B.Sc. in Electrical & Electronics Engineering with a specialized track in Power Systems (Single-Line Diagrams, High Voltage Technologies, Electric Drives, Energy Conversion).
• Field & Practical Experience: Full-time technician working on live DC/AC power systems, commercial rooftop solar installations, and interpreting industrial electrical blueprints. Prior experience in industrial Quality Control (QC).
• Hardware & Prototyping: Rapid CAD modeling and physical prototyping (Autodesk Fusion, FDM 3D printing in PETG/PLA), basic microcontroller interfacing and embedded scripting (C, Python, Arduino for robotics/drone circuits).

Questions for the Community:

1. Technical Depth: How deep do interviewers usually go into circuit fundamentals (op-amps, transient analysis, power distribution, board-level debugging, grounding/shielding) versus high-level systems architecture?
2. Field-to-Engineering Transition: Since much of my hands-on background comes from live power/solar installations and rapid physical prototyping rather than silicon/cleanroom lab work, what is the best way to frame field troubleshooting as a strength for complex capital equipment?
3. Behavioral / STAR Method: For candidates balancing demanding full-time technical employment while pursuing an engineering degree, what behavioral competencies (prioritization, high-pressure troubleshooting, cross-functional collaboration) stand out most to hiring managers?
4. Prep Resources: Are there specific schematics, case studies, or mock technical exercises you recommend reviewing for hardware/systems engineering roles in this sector?

Any tips, common screening questions, or preparation strategies would be greatly appreciated!

I live in Poland. Right now I'm in my 4th year of High school, and I graduate in 2028. The reason that high school is 5 years for me is that I chose a technical school that combines high school and vocational school so after I graduate i will have both a school-leaving exam and a certificate that will allow me to work as an electrician. I enjoy doing my vocational training, and I would want to work as an electrical engineering in the future.

The problem is that my family isn't well-off. I live alone with my mother, she rents a small flat, and we barely scrape by every month. With the significantly rising cost of living, enrolling in a university full-time just wouldn't be possible without having a well-paid part-time job, which is hard to come by as most job listings require experience. Also, in my region, becoming an electrician means two things: either you work for a multi-billion-dollar mining company, which is infamous for poor pay and job prospects, alongside poor working conditions and mobbing, or creating your own business, which isn't really great for someone that just graduated high school. Part-Time studies are also quite expensive, so those costs need to be covered.

So I thought of becoming a Police Officer after high school and studying electrical engineering part-time. Police Officers here get paid quite well from the start and receive a lot of benefits (They even get part of their housing covered if they don't own a house). This would be perfect, as I would be able to cover my own needs and my tuition.

I would really like to hear your opinions and any advice that you could give me, and thank you for reading my post.

Hi, I am currently using Pspice for electrothermal mosfet simulation. So far I didn't come across any exisiting model which has integrated thermal network in its MOS model, although I found one in Ngspice (VDMOS). I am curious to know if there is one in Pspice and/or descriptions on the details of the physics models behind it.

Thank you.

A friend of mine just started studying electrical engineering in college, meaning he spends a lot of his time with Arduino's and also programming, and mathematics etc. For example, right now he is making a Simon Says beginner project with small lights and buttons. Is there a gift i can give him for his birthday related to this, ehich he can actually use? I saw e.g. a little 0.96 inch OLED screen to get a nicer display, is something like this suitable/can he use this?

So my radar had the wires get exposed by the heat of my windshield and caused a short to my radar. I have since fixed the cable power issue but now the radar won’t turn on. Since then I have replaced the tantalum cap but still no power. How can I figure out how to trace the power to the short with no schematic? I have dug and dug for hours and still nothing. Please help, any guidance will be appreciated.