Tinker Thoughts Blog
Welcome to the Tinker Thoughts Blog — hands-on projects, practical tutorials, and insightful tips in the maker and electronics space. We dive into a wide range of topics including Internet of Things (IoT), electronics troubleshooting, home automation, rapid prototyping, and RF communication. You’ll also find detailed guides on 3D printing custom enclosures and PCB mounts, as well as experiments in electrical circuits, embedded systems, and other DIY innovations. Whether you're a hobbyist, engineer, or curious tinkerer, you'll find inspiration and technical depth here.
TTB #20: Thermal Response of Microcontrollers During Deep Sleep and Active Modes
Deep sleep is essential for battery-powered microcontroller applications, but what does it really look like in practice? Using a thermal camera, we compared the PTSolns Nano Flip (ATmega328P) and the ESP32 microWatt to visualize their thermal behavior in both deep sleep and active modes. The results show clear differences in power efficiency and thermal response, with the ESP32 microWatt’s design proving ideal for low-power, battery-driven projects. Along the way, we also uncovered how onboard components like the CH340 influence power draw and even how shiny surfaces can mislead thermal imaging. Read on to see the full findings.
TTB #20: Thermal Response of Microcontrollers During Deep Sleep and Active Modes
Deep sleep is essential for battery-powered microcontroller applications, but what does it really look like in practice? Using a thermal camera, we compared the PTSolns Nano Flip (ATmega328P) and the ESP32 microWatt to visualize their thermal behavior in both deep sleep and active modes. The results show clear differences in power efficiency and thermal response, with the ESP32 microWatt’s design proving ideal for low-power, battery-driven projects. Along the way, we also uncovered how onboard components like the CH340 influence power draw and even how shiny surfaces can mislead thermal imaging. Read on to see the full findings.
TTB #19: Saving a Broken Dev Board with a USB-UART Bridge
When the USB port snaps off your development board, it may feel like game over. But don’t toss it yet. If the board itself is still functional, a USB-UART Bridge can bring it back to life by handling programming and communication with your computer. In this blog, we explore how the U2B adapter works with both 5V and 3.3V boards, including the Nano Flip 3V3, and outline the key wiring steps to get you back on track. Whether fixing a broken board or programming one that never had USB, the U2B is a must-have tool.
TTB #19: Saving a Broken Dev Board with a USB-UART Bridge
When the USB port snaps off your development board, it may feel like game over. But don’t toss it yet. If the board itself is still functional, a USB-UART Bridge can bring it back to life by handling programming and communication with your computer. In this blog, we explore how the U2B adapter works with both 5V and 3.3V boards, including the Nano Flip 3V3, and outline the key wiring steps to get you back on track. Whether fixing a broken board or programming one that never had USB, the U2B is a must-have tool.
TTB #18: [Guest Post] Using EEPROM on the Nano Flip to Make a Button Logger
The Nano Flip, built on the ATmega328P, includes 1 KB of EEPROM memory that retains data even after power loss. This tutorial demonstrates how to use EEPROM in a simple but practical button press logger. Each press increments a counter which is stored permanently in the EEPROM. The current counter value is displayed on an I2C LCD, making it easy to visualize the data. By leveraging EEPROM, your project can survive resets or power outages, continuing exactly where it left off. This same approach can be extended to countless applications and use cases.
TTB #18: [Guest Post] Using EEPROM on the Nano Flip to Make a Button Logger
The Nano Flip, built on the ATmega328P, includes 1 KB of EEPROM memory that retains data even after power loss. This tutorial demonstrates how to use EEPROM in a simple but practical button press logger. Each press increments a counter which is stored permanently in the EEPROM. The current counter value is displayed on an I2C LCD, making it easy to visualize the data. By leveraging EEPROM, your project can survive resets or power outages, continuing exactly where it left off. This same approach can be extended to countless applications and use cases.
TTB #17: Li-Po & Li-Ion Battery Charging Calculator with BQ24074
This calculator helps with Li-Po and Li-Ion single cell batteries by providing key charging values based on the BQ24074. It calculates charging current, termination current, and a suggested battery capacity. The goal is to make datasheet information easier to apply in practical designs. By entering a few parameters, you can see the values needed to set up or check a charging circuit. This tool is intended for straightforward reference and reduces the need to work through the equations manually. It is suited for anyone working with single cell battery charging using the BQ24074 or similar ICs.
TTB #17: Li-Po & Li-Ion Battery Charging Calculator with BQ24074
This calculator helps with Li-Po and Li-Ion single cell batteries by providing key charging values based on the BQ24074. It calculates charging current, termination current, and a suggested battery capacity. The goal is to make datasheet information easier to apply in practical designs. By entering a few parameters, you can see the values needed to set up or check a charging circuit. This tool is intended for straightforward reference and reduces the need to work through the equations manually. It is suited for anyone working with single cell battery charging using the BQ24074 or similar ICs.
TTB #16: Measuring the Current Draw on BMP280 Sensor Module
In this post, we measure the current draw of the BMP280/BME280 sensor modules in Normal Mode and Forced Mode using the Nordic PPK2 for precise readings. In Normal Mode, the sensor remains active, averaging 421.94µA continuously. In Forced Mode, the BMx280 enters deep sleep between readings, producing sharp bursts of ~627µA for only 12.38ms and averaging just 3.45µA at a 2-second interval — with deep sleep currents as low as 0.52µA. We used our custom BMx280 Arduino library, optimized for single-burst reads, to achieve these results. This design minimizes I²C/SPI bus time, supports both BMP280 and BME280, and offers simple...
TTB #16: Measuring the Current Draw on BMP280 Sensor Module
In this post, we measure the current draw of the BMP280/BME280 sensor modules in Normal Mode and Forced Mode using the Nordic PPK2 for precise readings. In Normal Mode, the sensor remains active, averaging 421.94µA continuously. In Forced Mode, the BMx280 enters deep sleep between readings, producing sharp bursts of ~627µA for only 12.38ms and averaging just 3.45µA at a 2-second interval — with deep sleep currents as low as 0.52µA. We used our custom BMx280 Arduino library, optimized for single-burst reads, to achieve these results. This design minimizes I²C/SPI bus time, supports both BMP280 and BME280, and offers simple...
![TTB #15: [Guest Post] Getting Started with the ESP32 microWatt Making IoT Projects](http://ptsolns.com/cdn/shop/articles/Blog_Cover_58d34d59-679b-41f5-8cb0-eb27ca228286.jpg?v=1756910069&width=533)
TTB #15: [Guest Post] Getting Started with the ESP32 microWatt Making IoT Projects
PTSolns partnered with Jameco Electronics to create a two-part guest blog series, “Getting Started with the ESP32 microWatt.” Part 1 covers installing the Arduino IDE, setting up the ESP32 microWatt development environment, and running your first sketches to confirm hardware and software communication. Part 2 expands into using the ESP32 microWatt’s built-in Wi-Fi, versatile GPIO pins, and sensor integration to build practical IoT applications. From weather stations to smart home projects, this beginner-friendly guide provides step-by-step instructions to help makers, engineers, and educators confidently work with the ESP32 microWatt microcontroller for electronics prototyping, embedded systems, and connected device development.
TTB #15: [Guest Post] Getting Started with the ESP32 microWatt Making IoT Projects
PTSolns partnered with Jameco Electronics to create a two-part guest blog series, “Getting Started with the ESP32 microWatt.” Part 1 covers installing the Arduino IDE, setting up the ESP32 microWatt development environment, and running your first sketches to confirm hardware and software communication. Part 2 expands into using the ESP32 microWatt’s built-in Wi-Fi, versatile GPIO pins, and sensor integration to build practical IoT applications. From weather stations to smart home projects, this beginner-friendly guide provides step-by-step instructions to help makers, engineers, and educators confidently work with the ESP32 microWatt microcontroller for electronics prototyping, embedded systems, and connected device development.