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#padauk#microcontroller#eevblog

EEVblog #1132 - The 3 Cent Microcontroller!

EEVblog

1M subscribers • 8 videos on Hallway

YouTube
  • Recommended by 3 people: 3 on Hacker News.
  • A classic. People kept recommending it from 2018 to 2022.
  • Presented by Dave Jones, creator of EEVblog
  • May be out of date. The tools, versions or practices it shows have likely moved on.

Intermediate. Assumes working knowledge.

257K views8 years ago3 recommendations

HardwareEmbedded systemsElectronicsCPUs and computer architecture

Dave Jones explores ultra-cheap microcontrollers from Padauk and other Chinese manufacturers, explaining how to source them and their design trade-offs.

Taking a look at a sub 3 cent microcontroller, and other obscure Chinese manufactures, how to find them, and were to get them in stock. padauk.com.tw lcsc.com Forum: eevblog.com/forum/blog/eevblog-1132-the-3-cent-microcontroll… EEVblog Main Web Site: eevblog.com The 2nd EEVblog Channel: youtube.com/EEVblog2 Support the EEVblog through Patreon! patreon.com/eevblog AliExpress Affiliate: s.click.aliexpress.com/e/c2LRpe8g Buy anything through that link and Dave gets a commission at no cost to you. Stuff I recommend: kit.com/EEVblog/ Donate With Bitcoin & Other Crypto Currencies! eevblog.com/crypto-currency/ T-Shirts: teespring.com/stores/eevblog 💗 Likecoin – Coins for Likes: likecoin.pro/@eevblog/dil9/hcq3 💗 Likecoin – Coins for Likes: likecoin.pro/@eevblog/dil9/hcq3

Why it's here

3 people recommend this

What people say. Frequently cited when discussing the economics of ultra-low-cost electronics and replacing simple analog components with cheap microcontrollers.

mrobon Hacker News • Recommends

On “The 555 and How It Got That Way”

Dave Jones' EEVBlog recently posted a video on cheap microcontrollers (<0.03USD): link to this video Replacing a 555 timer is a very common job for this type of part. It will typically have an internal oscillator, so it won't need the additional components the 555 needs, reducing cost further. Even if you use something more expensive like an ATtiny (cut down version of the microcontroller found in Arduinos, so very easy to develop for) it might still be competitive because of the reduced parts count and board space.
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cartoonworldon Hacker News • Recommends

On “U.S. senators propose 25% tax credit for semiconductor manufacturing”

…in Chinese, they aren't exported, they serve to support China's unique manufacturing culture. Here's a previous submission that delves into this: The “terrible” 3 cent MCU – a short survey of sub $0.10 microcontrollers link You can also check out Dave from EEVblog's 3-cent microcontroller0 video about the same series of dirt cheap micros. 0 link to this video…
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michaelton Hacker News • Recommends

On “Everything with a battery should have an off switch”

> Yeah I wish we could get those prices. You might enjoy 1 about a microcontroller that's ~3 cents, in quantity 10. Of course it's only one-time-programmable, and generally pretty basic. And that's a pre-supply-chain-crisis price - these days prices have risen to 9 cents 2. Still very cheap though! 1 link to this video 2 link
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yitchelleon Hacker News • Mentions

On “Reverse Engineering an Unknown Microcontroller”

EEVblog has a video of what could be possible. He is talking about 3c part. With direct negotiation at massive volumes, sub 1c part is definitely possible. link to this video What has your experience been with the very cheap parts?
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ajsnigrutinon Hacker News • Mentions

On “Complete working transistor-scale replica of the classic MOS6502 microprocessor”

Most of the components are leds and transistors (and some resistors) and those are (still) dirt cheap... you can get whole microcontrollers for ~3 cents a piece 0 (if you buy a few thousands). PCBs are comparatively cheap, few tens of dollars, depending on the process, and with pick-and-place, assembly is also relatively cheap. so yeah.. maybe they're making them in some more expensive country or use some exotic components. 0 link to this video
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