m1tanker78
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Electronics sub-forum??
I would like to see a sub forum (under special topics or non-chemistry) dedicated to circuit design and electronics in general. What do you think?
Chemical CURIOSITY KILLED THE CATalyst.
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Zombie
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I think it is a great idea, and I'm actually surprised it has not been implemented already.
Plus one on the petition!
They tried to have me "put to sleep" so I came back to return the favor.
Zom.
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Zephyr
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Personally, I don't think there would be enough interest. Wouldn't most of the posts fit just as well in techno-chemistry or miscellaneous? i just
don't think there are enough relevant posts to warrant a new sub forum. Despite my opinion on this sub forum, I am very interested in electronics and
there uses in chemistry.
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Zombie
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Personally I think all the electronic doo dads ie: peristaltic pumps / stirrers / auto injector syringe / power supplies ect. made here on the forum
would benefit from having a "home", and make them easier to search.
Just my newbie opinion.
They tried to have me "put to sleep" so I came back to return the favor.
Zom.
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Molecular Manipulations
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I like the idea.
Electronics although not considered part of chemistry, can be explained nearly completely with chemistry (the rest being physics). Also an
understanding of electronics is very important to really understand how electrons behave in atoms.
It may be used less than most sub-forums, but really technochemistry isn't the right place, that has more to due with applied chemistry and apparatus
design.
I for one don't know nearly as much about electronics as I'd like to, and would use it for sure.
-The manipulator
We are all here on earth to help others; what on earth the others are here for I don't know. -W. H. Auden
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aga
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The thing is that the people into electronics are also into chemistry, so splitting off into another forum specifically for Electronics would just
cause, well, Sparks.
Edit:
Subdividing could also go on forever, e.g. people into electronics using PIC/AVR would need 2 prorammings groupings, and then there's higher level
languages too, which morphs into programming in general.
Perhaps better to post specific Posts somewhere relating to a particular project.
[Edited on 13-2-2015 by aga]
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Fulmen
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I see both views. One topic or challenge often branches out into multiple fields, and I for one like to have one place to discuss them all. My
interest in electronics is tied to solving other tasks, like equipment for machining or chemistry projects. Having one place to discuss them all is
simpler than subscribing to a dozen forums, all devoted to different topics of which most doesn't interest me. But you can't make space for every
topic we might branch into, as it is today we can discuss electronics in techno-chemistry and as long as it is connected to a topic that the forum is
dedicated to I am happy with that. Discussions that doesn't fall into the realm of amateur science should go to a general electronics forum.
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papaya
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Good idea, we will see all kind of high voltage and other fascinating experiments from members.
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Amos
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Even though I'm not very interested in electronics and circuitry, more useful information on the web is always a good thing, and I'm sure there's some
way even I can benefit from the fruits of your labor 
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m1tanker78
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I suppose a dedicated forum for electronics would be overkill on SM. What about using tags in the subject line of a reply and being able to filter a
thread by the same? Using the subject line would equate to no change to the forum database format (good).
Chemical CURIOSITY KILLED THE CATalyst.
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smaerd
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I think having an electronics/engineering portion to sciencemadness is a great idea. Not so much for "here is a circuit", but a lot of us improvise
our own equipment. It would be really nice to consolidate a lot of the thing's we've made into a different subforum rather then making threads in
"Reagents and Apparatus Acquisition" where they get lost forever.
Electrochemistry would belong in there as well. All of us know how nifty electrochem is . Electrons are probably the most DIY reagents available to us anyways.
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Chemosynthesis
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I am just curious, what do you all have in mind that wouldn't be a fit in technochemistry?
I have no real opinion on the matter, being ignorant, but it would be interesting to try and learn more electronics. I know the basics of RC circuits,
can ID a transistor if it's not microscopic (three wires!), know about diodes, band gaps, Wheatstone bridges, Schmidt triggers and op amps. I feel I
have a good introductory basis for electronics... But for some reason, I never quite figured how to use any of it practically for anything. It would
be very interesting to see some electronics step by step and try to pick up something. At least I could get my soldering iron out of the package. Are
you guys etching your own PCB boards? That's chemistry, right  .
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Magpie
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I don't have much instrinsic interest in electronics but have constructed 3 circuits to help support my chemistry habit: 1 for a tube furnace, 1 for
an overhead stirrer, and 1 for a peristaltic pump. I have also assembled a PID controller/readout for heating an oil bath. I enjoyed these projects
and they helped refresh my rudimentary understanding of electronics and my soldering skills. Because I can do them in my kitchen they make a nice
wintertime sub-hobby.
This is a chemistry forum and my projects were in support of my chemistry. An electronics forum would include all kinds of projects that don't
necessarily relate to or involve chemistry. So, like geology, astronomy, mathematics, etc I'm not sure it needs its own forum.
The single most important condition for a successful synthesis is good mixing - Nicodem
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Chemosynthesis
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Quote: Originally posted by Magpie  | | I don't have much instrinsic interest in electronics but have constructed 3 circuits to help support my chemistry habit: 1 for a tube furnace, 1 for
an overhead stirrer, and 1 for a peristaltic pump. I have also assembled a PID controller/readout for heating an oil bath. I enjoyed these projects
and they helped refresh my rudimentary understanding of electronics and my soldering skills. Because I can do them in my kitchen they make a nice
wintertime sub-hobby. |
These types of projects are of great interest to me. Did you post them in technochemistry? If so, I'll know where to start looking!
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j_sum1
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At the moment I simply hit "Today's Posts" and read everything that seems interesting whatever forum it is in. I log in regularly and so I don't
think I miss too much that is current. And I search on the site in general and not in specific sub forums if I am looking for stuff. In other words,
the division into sub forums is pretty much lost on me at the moment. When I dial back my addiction a bit then they will serve a purpose.
Reading this thread, I am not sure what the intent is. Is the electronics subforum supposed to be for
(a) electronics projects that support chemistry such as described by Magpie. (Nice projects btw.)
(b) other kinds of electronics projects (build your own robot anyone?)
(c) the theory of electronics design (logic, programming, chips, circuit board architecture)
(d) electrical materials (semiconductors, their acquisition, preparation and processing into useful items)
(a) fits well within technochemistry as it stands at the moment.
(b) and (c) really extend the scope of this whole message board and push it in a new direction. I haven't seen a whole lot of need for it. I guess
there are other message boards around cater to these. If there is a real need and it fits then a new subforum is warranted (IMO)
(d) I haven't seen much on this and I have forgotten most of what I learned (a long time ago). Always interested. I submit this belongs under
general chemistry though to attract a wide range of knowledgeable parties to the discussion.
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Magpie
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| Quote: Originally posted by Chemosynthesis | | Quote: Originally posted by Magpie | | ... but have constructed 3 circuits to help support my chemistry habit: 1 for a tube furnace, 1 for an overhead stirrer, and 1 for a peristaltic pump.
I have also assembled a PID controller/readout for heating an oil bath.... |
These types of projects are of great interest to me. Did you post them in technochemistry? If so, I'll know where to start looking!
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No. I described them in the posts of others. I'll dig up some links for you and post them in the Technochemistry forum.
[Edited on 16-2-2015 by Magpie]
The single most important condition for a successful synthesis is good mixing - Nicodem
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The Volatile Chemist
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I still think subdividing isn't a good idea. There still aren't many things in the radiochemistry forum. Questions in whimsey are fine on electronics,
but that's where they should stay.
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m1tanker78
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I thought (mistakenly?) that a lot of amateur chemists and science junkies would naturally be attracted to the various fields of electronics. From
useful contraptions like Magpie mentioned to embedded logic, microcontrollers, FPGA design, simple circuitry to control a homemade stir plate, general
theory and discussion, too much to cover in one post.
All of you bring up good points but I still don't think it should be totally swept under the rug or relegated to whimsy(!). SM FAQ says this is a
science forum dedicated mostly, but not limited to, chemistry -- paraphrasing, of course. I do agree that an electronics subtopic might not be all
that active at all times but I don't consider that to be detrimental to those who have no interest in electronics.
Chemical CURIOSITY KILLED THE CATalyst.
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Chemosynthesis
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| Quote: Originally posted by Magpie |
No. I described them in the posts of others. I'll dig up some links for you and post them in the Technochemistry forum.
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Many thanks!
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MrHomeScientist
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I agree with TVC (and others). There seems to have been a surge in calls for more subforums lately, and I don't believe our current forums are too
bloated to warrant them. Some subforums see just a few posts a day. Electronics stuff, which I assume would be related to chemistry apparatus,
appropriately falls under the Technochemistry heading. I'd think if you want more basic electronics learning, there are plenty of other forums around
that discuss that sort of thing way more in depth than most of us can here. Of course I'm not saying post your stuff elsewhere, I just mean that our
structure works just fine as it is. j_sum1 makes a good point that I think a lot of people might miss - the Today's Posts feature lets you know where
the action is, regardless of where on the site it resides!
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The Volatile Chemist
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| Quote: Originally posted by MrHomeScientist | | I agree with TVC (and others). There seems to have been a surge in calls for more subforums lately, and I don't believe our current forums are too
bloated to warrant them. Some subforums see just a few posts a day. Electronics stuff, which I assume would be related to chemistry apparatus,
appropriately falls under the Technochemistry heading. I'd think if you want more basic electronics learning, there are plenty of other forums around
that discuss that sort of thing way more in depth than most of us can here. Of course I'm not saying post your stuff elsewhere, I just mean that our
structure works just fine as it is. j_sum1 makes a good point that I think a lot of people might miss - the Today's Posts feature lets you know where
the action is, regardless of where on the site it resides! |
Right. Electronics theory could also fall under the computing chemistry subforum. I'm pretty lonely over there
In response to m1tanker78:
I like electronics, and I think there should be more of it here at 'the SM' (Yes, we should start calling it that!), but it can fit under existing
subtopics just fine. Maybe that means you have to check all the subtopics for new threads, but I think that's fine.
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100PercentChemistry
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I don't know if there would be a lot of interest. Personally I like electronics but there are already better established electronic forums.
Edit-woah I didn't see the last post date.
[Edited on 25-3-2016 by 100PercentChemistry]
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