Industrial Technology

Practical insights for DIY solar project hobbyists.

What is a rectifying antenna? How are rectifying antennas used? How are rectifying antennas different from the wireless charger used to charge your cell phone?

A first hand engineers guide to Ring Main Units (RMUs) detailing their construction, working, distribution philosophy and comparison with conventional Switch-Gears.

If you're a homeowner with a bird problem on your solar panels, you're not alone.

Inmarsat is a rival to the up-and-coming SpaceX Starlink satellite communication network. How do they compare to each other?

What is a DDRR antenna? What are the pros and cons of DDRR antennas?

When you first start studying systems engineering, arguably the most common theme you will experience is interconnectedness throughout a system. It helps dictate design, manufacturing, operations, and so much more. This article takes a look at how critical it can really be, especially in aerospace.

While 12 volt batteries power most RVs, 6 volt batteries can be used there and in many other ways. Let's answer some of the most frequently asked questions about 6 volt batteries.

What are radio beacons? How are RF beacons used? And how do they fare relative to competing technologies?

Learn the basics of medium-voltage transformer protection through Siemens, GE and Schneider Electric's digital microprocessor relays.

Learn how you can set up/program a Sepam S20 microprocessor relay for over-current and earth fault protection using the Schneider Electric's SFT2841 configuration software.

Despite the abundance of renewable resources in the form of water, wind and solar, dependence on non-renewable energy sources such as coal and oil have not reduced to levels that can be sustained by the environment.

What is nitriding? What are the benefits of nitriding metal? How does nitriding compare to other case-hardening methods?

Find answers to your questions: What is a bowtie antenna? What are the advantages and disadvantages of bow tie antennas?

Anything you might find in a landfill that can be removed and reused is a source for urban miners. Around the world, a nascent industry has taken the world by storm. By reclaiming compounds and elements from products, buildings, and waste, we can preserve resources and limit our carbon footprint.

Is generating electricity from 100% renewable energy sources impractical and unattainable? The answer is clearly no since there are already several countries that generate 100% of the electricity they use from renewable sources of energy. Many others are approaching the 100% renewable threshold.

With the highest melting point of any metal, tungsten is strong at high temps. Its primary use is in the manufacture of alloys. Alloys made by melting and mixing two or more metals, and tungsten alloys are used in electrical devices and cutting tools when strength and heat resistance are imperative.

Multibeam antennas and multiband antennas are different types of RF hardware, though there is significant confusion on the matter. We'll explain the differences in the types of antennas and where they may overlap.

This article details what soft robotics is, how it works, what it can be made of, and its present (and potential future) applications in the field.

Learn about the influence of wind power on the stability of the power grid in this article.

We've all heard the popular belief that buying is usually better than renting, whether it be a home, a car, or otherwise. Could this apply to electricity as well? If so, how does a person "buy" electricity, and is it more cost-effective than "renting" it from power companies? Find out here.

Evaluating the impact of recycling metals can be little tricky. Keeping metal out of landfills cuts down on the speed with which we fill them up. It also prevents oxide seepage. Steel recycling saves on the amount of wood we use. It contributes to taxes, wages, and recycles evermore.

Proposed in 2010, Matthias Loster proposed a simple idea: What if we were able to power the entire world with solar energy? What is the most optimal way we could accomplish this? How easy would it be? This article will cover his answer, as well as explore a bit into its integrity several years later

What is LIDAR? How is Lidar used? And what are the future applications of Lidar?

How many power grids does the United States have? One? 10? 50? What even is a power grid? What does it do, and how does it becoming damaged affect me? If you've got no idea, it may be time to become informed and see what steps you can take to be prepared for the worst-case scenario.

What type of antenna should you use for a drone controller? What are the best drone antennas for use inside the drone?

In the world of solar inverters, it's generally considered that you have three different options. Without knowing what they do, it can be tough to make a decision on which choice you'd like to go for. Is there a best option? What reason might you have to pick one over the other?

Weather and emergency radios are an essential part of a household, car, or office emergency kit or go-bag. These radios can keep you and your family informed during a potentially dangerous situation.

Many people believe that solar energy is simply too expensive for them, or not a cost-efficient option. In truth, that couldn't be farther from reality.

What is an exponential horn antenna? How is it related to a standard horn antenna? What are the pros and cons of exponential horn antennas?

Discovered in 1825, aluminum is the third most plentiful element on Earth. It has only been utilized by man for a bit less than 200 years. Find out the potential value of recycling aluminum for both your pocket and the world!

What are the advantages of VHF and HF? What are the disadvantages of using HF and VHF?

Telecommunication acronyms and terminology for AT&T. Learn how to speak the language of telephones... or at least sound like you do. With photos.

Fiber optics, or gigapower, is a hot new topic. It offers near unlimited bandwidth and extremely fast internet speeds. But what exactly is it?

Spray-on antennas and printed antennas have hit the news, but printed circuit board antennas are here to stay.

Learn how you can configure timers in dsPic30f and dsPic33f series micro-controllers with code examples.

What are VRx yagi antennas? What are VTx yagi antennas? And why do they get used in place of wheel antennas in drones?

Lithium-ion battery technology has enabled the mobile technology revolution as well as the electric car movement. However, lithium is not the battery panacea that the world is looking for. There are many problems with this technology and researchers have turned their sights towards sodium instead.

Alex explores the exciting, new, and fantastic world of 3D printing. Join him as he goes on many adventures into the future!

What are the pros and cons of planar antennas? How are planar antennas used, and what are the benefits of using them?

Horn antennas are a classic microwave antenna design. What are the pros and cons of these antennas?

What are the different kinds of engineering degrees and jobs? Learn about what degrees and jobs you can get by studying engineering. Engineering is an excellent career choice with so many industries to choose from.

Hydrogen can be used as a way of storing energy produced from renewable sources such as wind, solar, or hydro; it can also be burned in a rocket engine to blast a space ship off its launch pad.

A brief materials analysis on the trunnion in the F-35C Joint Strike Fighter landing gear.

What are the top 10 multimeters for electronics technicians? What are the best multimeters for electronics hobbyists?

Antenna spec sheets provide the technical specifications most users are going to need in order to successfully use the antenna. Here are tips on how to read an antenna spec sheet.

What factors should I consider when shopping for a multimeter? What should I look for in a multimeter?

Learn about the Q factor of antennas, which measures how many times the current passes through the circuit. This article also covers what affects the Q factor of an antenna and how you calculate it.

Software-defined antennas (SDAs) generate a wide array of signals. Learn more about SDAs and how they can be used with software-defined radios (SDRs).

How can you combine signal transmission lines with minimal impedance or SWR? The solution is changing the impedance slowly to prevent an SWR reaction. This article covers a few different ways to accomplish this.