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October 18, 2026
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STEM Lab covers STEM education, youth robotics, classroom technology, competitions, learning tools, and engineering literacy, with attention to safety, cost, reliability, and real-world teaching constraints.

MCP3008 ADC Codes: Convert Readings With the Voltage You Actually Reference
STEM Lab

MCP3008 ADC Codes: Convert Readings With the Voltage You Actually Reference

September 21, 2026September 21, 2026 - by TVG Editorial Team - Leave a Comment

An MCP3008 code is a ratio to VREF, not an absolute voltage. Use 1024 code intervals, preserve the reference value and do not mistake the top code for VREF itself.

MCP3008 ADC Codes: Convert Readings With the Voltage You Actually Reference Read More
PCA9685 Servo Timing: Convert Microseconds to 12-Bit Counts Without Guessing
STEM Lab

PCA9685 Servo Timing: Convert Microseconds to 12-Bit Counts Without Guessing

September 20, 2026September 20, 2026 - by TVG Editorial Team - Leave a Comment

A PCA9685 stores pulse edges as 12-bit counts, not microseconds. Convert the servo pulse width using the actual PWM frequency, then calibrate the oscillator before trimming endpoints.

PCA9685 Servo Timing: Convert Microseconds to 12-Bit Counts Without Guessing Read More
ADS1115 Full-Scale Codes: Why 0x7FFF Usually Means Clipping
STEM Lab

ADS1115 Full-Scale Codes: Why 0x7FFF Usually Means Clipping

September 19, 2026September 19, 2026 - by TVG Editorial Team - Leave a Comment

An ADS1115 repeatedly returning 0x7FFF has reached positive full scale. Check the PGA range and absolute input limits before treating extra samples as more precision.

ADS1115 Full-Scale Codes: Why 0x7FFF Usually Means Clipping Read More
ESP32 Wakes Immediately From Deep Sleep? Read the Wake Cause Before Changing Pins
STEM Lab

ESP32 Wakes Immediately From Deep Sleep? Read the Wake Cause Before Changing Pins

September 18, 2026September 18, 2026 - by TVG Editorial Team - Leave a Comment

An ESP32 that wakes as soon as it sleeps may still see an active EXT0 or EXT1 level. Print the wake cause, inspect the pin state, and deinitialize RTC GPIO after EXT0 wake.

ESP32 Wakes Immediately From Deep Sleep? Read the Wake Cause Before Changing Pins Read More
Adafruit MAX31855 thermocouple amplifier breakout with screw terminal
STEM Lab

MAX31855 Reads NaN? Decode the Fault Bits Before Rewiring the Thermocouple

September 17, 2026September 17, 2026 - by TVG Editorial Team - Leave a Comment

A MAX31855 NaN is a fault flag, not a diagnosis. Read the low three bits to separate an open thermocouple from shorts to ground or supply.

MAX31855 Reads NaN? Decode the Fault Bits Before Rewiring the Thermocouple Read More
microSD card adapter on a wooden surface
STEM Lab

Verify a microSD Card’s Real Capacity with F3 Before Trusting It

September 16, 2026September 16, 2026 - by TVG Editorial Team - Leave a Comment

A counterfeit card can report a large volume while storing only a fraction of it. F3 writes and reads the claimed space so aliasing, corruption and overwritten sectors become visible.

Verify a microSD Card’s Real Capacity with F3 Before Trusting It Read More
Reading 0 mA on a 4–20 mA Loop? Find the Open Without Bypassing the Fault
STEM Lab

Reading 0 mA on a 4–20 mA Loop? Find the Open Without Bypassing the Fault

September 15, 2026September 15, 2026 - by TVG Editorial Team - Leave a Comment

A 4–20 mA loop can read zero because the supply is missing, the series path is open or the meter is connected incorrectly. These measurements separate the three without hiding the fault.

Reading 0 mA on a 4–20 mA Loop? Find the Open Without Bypassing the Fault Read More
Bench oscilloscope beside electronics laboratory equipment
STEM Lab

Your Oscilloscope Ground Clip Is Earth: Avoid the Accidental Short

September 14, 2026September 14, 2026 - by TVG Editorial Team - Leave a Comment

A bench oscilloscope’s probe ground is usually bonded to protective earth. Connecting it to a live or floating node can create a low-impedance short; use an appropriately rated differential method instead.

Your Oscilloscope Ground Clip Is Earth: Avoid the Accidental Short Read More
LoRaWAN gateway mounted outdoors above utility equipment
STEM Lab

LoRaWAN RSSI and SNR: Move the Gateway With Evidence, Not Guesswork

September 14, 2026September 14, 2026 - by TVG Editorial Team - Leave a Comment

RSSI measures received power; SNR measures separation from the noise floor. Log both by location and spreading factor before moving a LoRaWAN gateway or replacing an antenna.

LoRaWAN RSSI and SNR: Move the Gateway With Evidence, Not Guesswork Read More
Microcontroller evaluation board on an electronics bench
STEM Lab

I²C Bus Stuck Low? Diagnose SDA Before Power-Cycling Everything

September 13, 2026September 14, 2026 - by TVG Editorial Team - Leave a Comment

A stuck-low I²C bus is usually a state or electrical problem, not a missing address. Use SCL/SDA measurements, a nine-clock recovery and staged isolation to find the failing device.

I²C Bus Stuck Low? Diagnose SDA Before Power-Cycling Everything Read More

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TVG Report review-policy graphic explaining supplied products, independent conclusions, and verified results

Wonder whether a supplied review unit changes the verdict? You're right to ask. TVG Report discloses supplied products, keeps conclusions independent, and separates manufacturer claims from verified results. Our review policy: #ProductReviews

Sep 18, 2026 · 10:03 AM PT

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TVG Report infographic over a 3D-printing workbench highlighting first-layer, profile, and fit checks before adjusting and reprinting

You can lose an evening to a drifting first layer, a bad profile, or a part that prints cleanly and still does not fit. TVG Report looks past headline speeds to the checks, tradeoffs, and repair paths makers actually need. #3DPrinting

Sep 17, 2026 · 10:18 AM PT

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DS18B20 debugging infographic showing the 85.0°C power-on value, a three-wire probe, and checks for conversion, CRC, and power

A DS18B20 at exactly 85°C may be power-on data—not heat. Trust it after conversion completes and CRC passes. Our guide maps power mode and w1_therm checks.

Sep 16, 2026 · 3:54 PM PT

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