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<strong>Welcome to South Coast Innovation Labs Wiki</strong>
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== Open Circuits ==
  
We are SCIL the South Coast Innovators Lab.  It is a Maker Space; see this if you want to know '''[[What is a Maker Space]]''' -- This wiki is a place where all those interested in SCIL can write material to share. It is a wiki like Wikipedia and we invite all those interested in maker places ( and particularly our members ) to contribute.
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Open Circuits is a wiki for sharing [[open source electronics]] knowledge, schematics, board layouts, ports and parts libraries. Please help us to build this resource by submitting your descriptions, projects, instructions, techniques, board layouts, PCB footprints, and other documentation for electronics. This includes
  
Note: Spammers managed to destroy the wiki and we did not follow the three rules of computing ( backup^3 ).  As of mid August we are beginning to rebuild the wiki, this time we will
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* [[Open Circuits website]] is where you should discuss issues about the opencircuits.com website itself.
probably back it up.
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* [[Projects]]: [[open source ventilator]], open hardware [[Music Player]]s, [[atomic microscope]]s, [[PC]], [[PDA]], [[Open Mobile Gadgets|mobile phone]]s, etc.
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* [[Ideas]]: including [[Basic Circuits and Circuit Building Blocks]] -- Circuits you will use over and over.
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* [[Techniques]]: for doing things, often using [[hardware tool]]s or [[software tool]]s or both. Includes tips for designing custom printed circuit boards (PCBs), [[PCB Manufacturers]], assembly, and embedded system programming and testing.
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* [[Components]]: Lists of components, where to purchase them, how to use themFor many components there are links to projects using that particular component, this is especially true for [[microcontroller]]s, for example follow the links down to PIC microcontrollers and you will find many project links as well as tutorials. General tips on [[connectors]], [[battery|batteries]], [[enclosures]], as well as more specific information on [[Popular Parts]].
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* [[Meta Open Source]]: Not projects or information on projects, but stuff about Open Hardware Initiatives and the open source movement in general, including tips on picking a [[hardware license]] to make it easier for others to collaborate with you.
  
Links in red are waiting for content, many others are just startedWant to help? (Need Help) Let '''[[User:Russ_hensel]]''' know.
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Many of the section titles are active links, click on them.
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* [[Test Equipment and Other Equipment]] See what is going on in your circuits, charge your batteries, etc.
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* [[Tutorials]] How to understand and plan what you are doing.  These are for general theory, more specific information is linked to its topic.
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* [[PCB Footprints]] Don't reinvent the wheel. Known working open PCB footprints for various components.
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* [[HackerSpaces]] And hacker orgnizations.  These are the white hat guys hacking electronics to make thingsIncludes DIY types, the people who read Make Magazine.
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* [[Got A Blog, Wiki or Website?]] Link to it on the [[Got A Blog, Wiki or Website?]] or [[WikiNode]] page.
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* [[Got a Technical Question?]] Perhaps it will be answered, perhaps not.  Google for it first in the spirit of RTFM.  Please do not ask us to do a school project for you.
  
== We Want Members ==
 
  
We could really use more members, there are great opportunities here, but many people are missing them see: '''[[SCIL Membership]]'''  We would also love donations, some like cardboard boxes you may have around the house.  Other are a bigger deal.  Take a look at '''[[Donations‎‎]]'''.  (Need Help)
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== Meta Open Source ==
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[[Meta Open Source]]:
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Not projects or information on projects, but stuff about Open Hardware Initiatives and the open source movement ( mostly hardware ) itself.
  
== Wiki News ==
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The '''Open Source Movement''', typically covers '''Open Hardware''', '''Open Firmware''', and '''Open Software'''.
Loose wire brought the Wiki down, but we are back up at last.
 
  
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'''Open Hardware''' is similar to '''[http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.html Free] and [http://www.opensource.org/docs/definition.php Open Source Software]'''.
  
Since the Wiki is just restarting I am going to have a section here for news about the wiki, as we get more complete I will probably delete this section.  You can also click on the link at the left <Recent changes> to see what is new.
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The '''Open Firmware''' movement provides firmware (i.e.: micro-code specifically related to the subcoding of hardware devices) which you may also know as '''soft-IP''' or '''FPGA''' coding see [http://www.opencores.org Open Cores] for more details.
  
* red links are empty, help us write them, please!
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Excellent examples of specific Open Hardware projects are listed on our [[Projects]] page.
* Oct 2, 2016 Passed the 30 page mark.... Oct 16 60 pages plus.
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Discussions of more general open-hardware ideas are on a few pages here, such as
* links from main site seem to be working
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[[open source electronics]], [[Ideas]], [[Meta Open Source]], etc.
* invalid certificate seems to be fixed -- if not let '''[[User:Russ_hensel]]''' know.
 
* we are planning to offer a course on Programming in Python.  This will be mostly web based.  The starting link is here:  '''[[A Course On Python]]'''
 
  
== Help At the Wiki By: ==
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Just as many important pieces of open-source software are, in turn, used to develop software (including more open-source software),
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many important open-hardware devices are, in turn, used to develop hardware devices (including more open-hardware devices) --
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such as [[Oscilloscope#Open Source Oscilloscopes]].
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There's also a bit of crossover, in that [[software tool]]s (many of them open-source software) are often used to develop open-source hardware.
  
* Share maker expertise. '''[[SCIL Workshops/Courses]]'''
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=== Licenses ===
* Suggest new activities and projects: '''[[Suggestions]]'''
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: ''consider moving this section to: [[hardware license]]''
* Document how to use equipment.
 
* Document, publicize and brag about some of your projects.
 
  
== Membership ==
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The most common "open hardware" licenses are the [http://creativecommons.org/licenses/ Creative Commons Licenses] and the [http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/gpl.html GNU General Public License].
Info on membership
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The GNU people wrote the [http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-faq.html#DoesTheGPLAllowMoney the GPL FAQ]
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to deal with common questions and misunderstandings of the GPL.
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The GNU people go on to say
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: "We encourage people who redistribute free software to charge as much as they wish or can. If this seems surprising to you, [http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/selling.html please read on." -- GNU: "Selling Free Software"]
  
== Things We Need To Do Soon ==
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For example, Linksys makes money selling (among other things) their [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linksys_WRT54G_series Linksys WRT54G series] routers, which use Linux under the GPL license.
*'''[[SCIL WebMaster]]'''
 
  
== Labs ==
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To understand what your entitlements and responsibilities are under the applicable license(s); each hardware, firmware and/or software piece you have either copied, modified, developed using tools provided or if you intend distributing your development, you '''MUST''' read each and every license, and be specifically aware that you may not mix such license(s) together unless they can co-exist under one umbrella license. For example you may modify, copy, enhance and distribute parts your project which are all under the same license e.g.: or .
Labs may not always be the best term, but these are spaces with equipment dedicated to a special activity, often associated with a special interest group ( SIG )
 
*'''[[Textiles Lab]]'''
 
*'''[[Electronics Lab]]'''
 
*'''[[Wood Shop]]'''
 
*'''[[Metal Shop]]'''
 
*'''[[Computer Lab]]'''
 
*'''[[3D Printer Lab]]'''
 
  
== Special Interest Groups ( SIGs ) ==
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Some people are working on licenses that are specifically designed for "open hardware".
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"Open Source Hardware (OSHW) Draft Definition 1.0"[http://freedomdefined.org/OSHW].
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Wikipedia: "Open Hardware License"[http://daivx.webchuyennghiep.net/dam-cong-so-cho-mua-he]
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mentions
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"CERN Open Hardware License"[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CERN_Open_Hardware_License][http://www.ohwr.org/documents/88]
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and the "TAPR Open Hardware License"[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TAPR_Open_Hardware_License].
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David L. Jones has a short video that discusses open-source hardware[http://www.eevblog.com/2011/08/12/eevblog-195-open-source-hardware-explained/] and mentions several licenses, including the
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CERN Open Hardware Licence[http://www.ohwr.org/projects/cernohl/wiki].
  
*'''[[Python Special Interest Group]]''' and information on Python
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Jim E. Bullock.
*'''[[3D Printer Special Interest Group]]'''
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[http://apps.americanbar.org/buslaw/blt/2003-07-08/bullock.html "Passing it on: The technology license"]
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defines many legal terms common in technology licenses.
  
== Equipment and Its Operation ==
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== Help Us Make Open Circuits Better ==
  
*'''[[Woodworking Equipment]]'''
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What are we:
*'''[[Electronics Equipment]]'''
 
*'''[[Computer Lab Equipment]]'''
 
*'''[[Metal Working Equipment]]'''
 
*'''[[Textile Equipment]]'''
 
  
== Courses ==
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Looks like we are defining this by way of who contributes and what.  I ( [[russ_hensel]] ) am a new member so may or may not have it right.
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This is what I think:
  
From time to time we offer courses, see: '''[[SCIL Courses]]'''
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*An introduction to Electronic theory, suitable for the hobbyist.
<!-----------
 
  
*'''[[]]'''
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*Guide to locating and using components and tools.
*'''[[]]'''
 
[[Category:]]
 
------------->
 
  
== Elsewhere on the web you can read about SCIL ==
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*Details on how to build various projects.
* [http://scilspace.org/ South Coast Innovator Labs] Our main web site with links to other web resources for SCIL.
 
* [https://www.meetup.com/South-Coast-Innovator-Labs/ Our Meetup page] Many of our events listed here, check form time to time.
 
* [http://www.tauntongazette.com/article/20150610/NEWS/150619644 South Coast Innovator Labs finds space at former Dever State School in Taunton - News - The Taunton Daily Gazette, Taunton, MA - Taunton, MA]
 
* [https://www.high-profile.com/makerspace-south-coast-innovator-labs-begin/ Makerspace South Coast Innovator Labs Moves Into Free Space - High-Profile ]
 
* [https://plus.google.com/+Scilspace Our Google+ page]
 
* [https://www.facebook.com/scilspace/ Our Facebook page]
 
  
Use the Categories below to link to other topics on this Wiki
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*Building some sense of community among builders.
  
[[Category:Labs]]
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There are two means of carrying this out:
[[Category:Sigs]]
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[[Category:Please Help]]
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*Write material for the site or
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*Link to material you may have written or have located on the web.  There is so much stuff on the web that lets not write it here unless it is at least somewhat unique.
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What do you think, discuss it here if very general, else on the discussion page ( link at top of page ).
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See also:
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*[[We love volunteers]]
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*[[Help:contents]]
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*[[Spam]] What should we do about it, it is a real problem now ( Feb 08 ).
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__NOTOC__
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[[Category:Community| ]]

Revision as of 21:23, 5 April 2020

Open Circuits

Open Circuits is a wiki for sharing open source electronics knowledge, schematics, board layouts, ports and parts libraries. Please help us to build this resource by submitting your descriptions, projects, instructions, techniques, board layouts, PCB footprints, and other documentation for electronics. This includes

Many of the section titles are active links, click on them.


Meta Open Source

Meta Open Source: Not projects or information on projects, but stuff about Open Hardware Initiatives and the open source movement ( mostly hardware ) itself.

The Open Source Movement, typically covers Open Hardware, Open Firmware, and Open Software.

Open Hardware is similar to Free and Open Source Software.

The Open Firmware movement provides firmware (i.e.: micro-code specifically related to the subcoding of hardware devices) which you may also know as soft-IP or FPGA coding see Open Cores for more details.

Excellent examples of specific Open Hardware projects are listed on our Projects page. Discussions of more general open-hardware ideas are on a few pages here, such as open source electronics, Ideas, Meta Open Source, etc.

Just as many important pieces of open-source software are, in turn, used to develop software (including more open-source software), many important open-hardware devices are, in turn, used to develop hardware devices (including more open-hardware devices) -- such as Oscilloscope#Open Source Oscilloscopes. There's also a bit of crossover, in that software tools (many of them open-source software) are often used to develop open-source hardware.

Licenses

consider moving this section to: hardware license

The most common "open hardware" licenses are the Creative Commons Licenses and the GNU General Public License. The GNU people wrote the the GPL FAQ to deal with common questions and misunderstandings of the GPL. The GNU people go on to say

"We encourage people who redistribute free software to charge as much as they wish or can. If this seems surprising to you, please read on." -- GNU: "Selling Free Software"

For example, Linksys makes money selling (among other things) their Linksys WRT54G series routers, which use Linux under the GPL license.

To understand what your entitlements and responsibilities are under the applicable license(s); each hardware, firmware and/or software piece you have either copied, modified, developed using tools provided or if you intend distributing your development, you MUST read each and every license, and be specifically aware that you may not mix such license(s) together unless they can co-exist under one umbrella license. For example you may modify, copy, enhance and distribute parts your project which are all under the same license e.g.: or .

Some people are working on licenses that are specifically designed for "open hardware". "Open Source Hardware (OSHW) Draft Definition 1.0"[1]. Wikipedia: "Open Hardware License"[2] mentions "CERN Open Hardware License"[3][4] and the "TAPR Open Hardware License"[5]. David L. Jones has a short video that discusses open-source hardware[6] and mentions several licenses, including the CERN Open Hardware Licence[7].

Jim E. Bullock. "Passing it on: The technology license" defines many legal terms common in technology licenses.

Help Us Make Open Circuits Better

What are we:

Looks like we are defining this by way of who contributes and what. I ( russ_hensel ) am a new member so may or may not have it right. This is what I think:

  • An introduction to Electronic theory, suitable for the hobbyist.
  • Guide to locating and using components and tools.
  • Details on how to build various projects.
  • Building some sense of community among builders.

There are two means of carrying this out:

  • Write material for the site or
  • Link to material you may have written or have located on the web. There is so much stuff on the web that lets not write it here unless it is at least somewhat unique.

What do you think, discuss it here if very general, else on the discussion page ( link at top of page ).

See also: