We’ve been hiding away in air-conditioned comfort to wait out the hot weather afflicting most of the US right now. Luckily we’re keeping busy with the great links coming into our tips box. [Brett] ...

A few weeks ago, I installed an automatic water heater switch to my bathroom, but it was a crude device. What I really want to do is design a universal heater driver. That basic idea can be adapted to ...

The ABCs of PID control. Considerations for interfacing elements in the electrical circuit to accomplish those parts of the PID function for position control. Firmware code implementation.

In the nearly 40 years since electronic control systems first became common features of industrial machines, controls theory has necessarily evolved to keep pace with machine design. Early on, systems ...

As we work on projects we’re frequently upgrading our tools. That basic soldering iron gives way to one with temperature control. The introductory 3D printer yields to one faster and more capable. One ...

At the core of any modern industrial process is a control system guaranteeing precision, stability, and efficiency. Perhaps the most commonly used are PID (Proportional-Integral-Derivative) ...

PID loops are a central component of modulating boiler control systems with applications ranging from basic steam header pressure control to cascading 3-element drum level control. A modern ...