Questions tagged [datasheet]

Datasheets are the primary documentation about components, describing their functionality and electrical properties.

Datasheets are the primary documentation about components, describing their functionality and electrical properties. Make it a habit only to use components if you can have the datasheet.

Further reading

1182 questions
61
votes
3 answers

Noise and what does V/√Hz actually mean?

Noise figures in (op-amp) datasheets are expressed in V/√Hz, but Where does this unit come from? Why the square root? How should I pronounce it? How should I interpret it? I know lower is better, but will a noise figure that doubles also double the…
jippie
  • 33,033
  • 16
  • 93
  • 160
57
votes
5 answers

Are LEDs better than we think?

Conventional wisdom about LEDs says their maximum reverse voltage \$V_{R(max)}\$ is quite limited, usually in the 5V-8V range. So, for experimentation purposes, I wanted to bring an LED into controlled breakdown, using my current-limited power…
57
votes
3 answers

What does 3V3 or 1V8 mean?

While reading a datasheet for an IC I came across the pin voltages being presented as 3V3 or 1V8. What does this representation stand for?
Ankit
  • 1,751
  • 1
  • 27
  • 48
56
votes
3 answers

What's this importance of datasheets?

As someone starting with electronics I keep hearing, "Check the datasheet!" Why are datasheets so important and what information can I expect to find in them? It seems like a large amount of information would come from experience and know how, not…
stevenvh
  • 145,145
  • 21
  • 455
  • 667
28
votes
4 answers

How reliable is it to use another manufacturer's datasheet of the same part?

There is a part, 1N4148, or whatever from manufacturer A, but the datasheet from manufacturer B is more detailed, has nice graphs, etc. Is in general data for the exact part consistent between manufacturers?
LuisF
  • 639
  • 5
  • 12
25
votes
6 answers

How to Transition from "Basic" Microcontrollers to ARM Cortex?

I have many years of experience with 8-bit cores from various manufacturers - namely 8051, PIC, and AVR - and I now have a Cortex M0 to figure out. Specifically this one, but I hope we can be more general than that. It's turning out to be a bit…
AaronD
  • 5,596
  • 10
  • 36
23
votes
5 answers

What does BSC SQ mean?

I'm reading this DAC datasheet. The last page (p. 32) gives certain of the chip's dimensions, some in units of "BSC SQ". What does BSC SQ mean? Is it standard to express sizes in BSC SQ?
Randomblue
  • 10,953
  • 29
  • 105
  • 178
22
votes
11 answers

When is it okay to exceed the absolute maximum rating on a part?

I've always thought that the absolute maximum ratings on a part are the limits that thou shalt not violate. Period. End of story. However, another engineer is making the case that it's okay to exceed the absolute max rating for the input voltage…
CHendrix
  • 1,387
  • 9
  • 19
21
votes
4 answers

How do I construct a SPICE model from a data-sheet?

This may not be the ideal forum for the question; please migrate if a forum is better suited for the question. I'm looking at a component for which my attempts at locating a SPICE model online were fruitless. There are, however, datasheets of the…
Everyone
  • 3,011
  • 8
  • 35
  • 49
19
votes
13 answers

How do you organize your datasheets?

I have probably a few hundred datasheets and app notes that I've collected for all sorts of parts in projects I've worked on. Previously, I used to keep these on a basic network share sorted maybe 2-3 folders deep by rough category, but then Google…
Nick T
  • 12,360
  • 2
  • 44
  • 71
19
votes
3 answers

What is the meaning of this datasheet diameter notation?

I am reading this datasheet and I want to drill the correct size hole into the board and I am confused what 5-ø1.2 means. I can't understand what the 5 and - sign mean? Your help would be greatly appreciated.
Mick Kelly
  • 307
  • 2
  • 5
19
votes
6 answers

what is "input hysteresis"?

I'm looking at a datasheet for a digital circuit and it specifies that the typical input hysteresis is 100 mV. What does this mean exactly?
umps
  • 641
  • 3
  • 8
  • 15
18
votes
8 answers

Op-amp input resistor?

I'm reading through the datasheet for the TL064, which contains this figure on page 16: This is an instrumentation amplifier that apparently uses an inverting amplifier's output instead of a ground in the lower-right corner of the above figure, but…
14
votes
3 answers

OpAmps - Single Supply or Dual?

I'm trying to pick an op-amp and I'm having trouble figuring out if the op-amp needs a positive and a negative power supply or if I can connect it to ground and the positive supply. What do I need to look for in the datasheet? Also, where do I find…
Robert Deml
  • 3,232
  • 6
  • 29
  • 27
14
votes
2 answers

What is the "CV" unit for leakage current in a capacitor datasheet?

I've looked at a few leakage current specifications for electrolytic capacitors, and they all seem to specify the value as something like this: I < 0.01 CV or 3 (μA) after 2 minutes, whichever is greater Here are a few example datasheets:…
1
2 3
78 79