What we really want is an ideal diode with zero voltage drop. Sadly, such a thing does not exist; however, there is a type of diode with a lower voltage drop — the Schottky diode. What we really want ...

For beginners, diode types can sometimes be a bit of mental gymnastics. If all it does is act like a magic pixie check valve, why are there so many kinds? Schottky diodes are typically hard to ...

Those portable shake-to-charge devices seem like a good idea, especially for the battery challenged, but how well does this sort of thing really work? Engineer Dave Johnson took this flashlight to the ...