iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Nick Mann @analyze-optimize.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

Building a new electronics workbench. It’s coming along nicely. I’ve confirmed the left-half shelf (for instrumentation) can support my weight in this arrangement without any diagonal brace. Pretty happy about that.

An electronics workbench frame made from strut.

How the strut is arranged for the instrumentation shelf.

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Nick Mann @analyze-optimize.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

…And I’m now officially taking orders for my invention, Blinky Hawk, your DMM’s new BFF. Blinky Hawk lets you work faster, safer by telling you when “0V” means “Floating Probes” and when it means “Closed.” If you use a DMM you should buy one. #electronics Learn more at: www.blinkyhawk.com

A small purple box, Blinky Hawk, blinking green attached to a DMM with shorted probes.

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Nick Mann @analyze-optimize.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

Working on the website BlinkyHawk.com. It is live and more-or-less ready for public viewing. Working on product photos.

Two DMMs, both with my BlinkyHawk attachment. One showing continuity, the other plugged into an outlet showing 120VAC.

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Nick Mann @analyze-optimize.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

Newest version of my “Blinky Hawk” open-lead detect DMM tool arrived today (smaller board, orange). I got the size down dramatically while speeding up assembly time and making some battery optimizations. And it works! Pretty happy about this. I am getting closer to my life goal of shipping.

Two circuit boards, one smaller than the other but with a speaker and LED installed.

Two items named Blinky Hawk. One much smaller.

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Nick Mann @analyze-optimize.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

Just got home from #teardown2026. It was awesome. I gave a talk on my creation, a DMM accessory that tells you when “0v” means “floating” vs “closed.” I had a great time in talking about DMMs, circuits, and electronics more broadly all weekend. Project site: oihdesigns.github.io/ClosedLeadCh...

A Teardown conference badge that says I want people to talk to me about DMMs. Also a DMM.

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Nick Mann @analyze-optimize.bsky.social · 07/03/2026

Recent Project: The Minimum Viable Voltmeter This design has an isolated differential input and outputs a single-ended valve to your development board. The GUI is via computer or Android app. Project write up: www.oihdesigns.com/the-minimum-...

A breadboard with an Arduino Nano and various other components documented in the project write up.

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Nick Mann @analyze-optimize.bsky.social · 02/11/2025

Prototyping a process controller. I have accomplished using all four outputs on a recently purchased very nice power supply. I think this justifies the cost…

A breadboard populated with an Arduino and various modules has four different voltage rails coming in off a power supply.

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Nick Mann @analyze-optimize.bsky.social · 09/08/2025

No mistakes. Just “happy little accidents.”

PCB where I have to stick a resistor under a MOSFET because I made a mistake.

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Nick Mann @analyze-optimize.bsky.social · 17/07/2025

Another example video of my DMM that automatically reports open vs closed leads in a voltmeter circuit. Note that the meter reports continuity when in parallel with the transformer, but then the ~120vac when I flip it on. (No spoken audio)

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Nick Mann @analyze-optimize.bsky.social · 14/07/2025

Video of my DMM showing voltage - floating leads - closed leads measurements. (No spoken audio.) #arduino #electronics

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Nick Mann @analyze-optimize.bsky.social · 14/07/2025

My custom DMM can now report the difference between "0 Volts - they're floating" and "0 Volts - same potential." Pretty stoked to get this working. Should save a lot of "is it off or am I measuring in the wrong place?" when troubleshooting. #arduino #electronics

A DMM screen reporting "V Floating" when the leads aren't touching anything.

A DMM screen reporting 9vdc when connected to 9vdc battery.

A DMM screen reporting "V Closed" when the leads are touching each other.

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Nick Mann @analyze-optimize.bsky.social · 30/06/2025

Just got calibrated voltage references for my DMMs. Now I can official know how accurate they are. I also modded one of my PCBs to work with 3.3vdc boards (level shifting the SDA/SLC lines). Now have an Arduino Giga version, where I can plot the voltage readings. #Arduino #Electronics

Giga DMM showing a reading of 5.0008vdc off a 5.0000 source (because of the divider this is within 2 steps of the ADC smallest unit). Also a plot showing the actual reported voltage by the ADC is bouncing between 4.996 and 5.003

Normal Version, showing 5.0004vdc off a 5.0000 source.

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Nick Mann @analyze-optimize.bsky.social · 24/06/2025

Photo day for my most recent Arduino / XIAO board-based DMMs. My very detailed write up on how awesome this DMM is: www.oihdesigns.com/arduino-mult... I have also published my designs on GitHub: github.com/oihdesigns/M... #electronics #instrumentation

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Nick Mann @analyze-optimize.bsky.social · 07/06/2025

Just got the most recent Arduino/ XIAO DMM PCBs. It works! It’s precise! I’m happy! Unlike previous designs, on this one: -All the power rail conversions are done on the board instead of 3rd party breakouts. -Precision voltage references for better accuracy. -Over volt/current protection.

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Nick Mann @analyze-optimize.bsky.social · 17/05/2025

Trying to build a homemade EKG machine. I see a heartbeat! Yay! Now to try and control the noise…

Oscilloscope screenshot with a small heartbeat signal.

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Nick Mann @analyze-optimize.bsky.social · 16/05/2025

I made a game called “Oscilloscope.” You use a joystick (smoothed by a cap) to try to match a DAC output. Rounds are one minute and it gets harder as you go. Nothing fancy but still fun Hoping it will entertain my toddlers / stealth teach my stepson electronics.

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Reposted by Nick Mann

Carrie (prev of Alpenglow) @alpenglow.bsky.social · 07/05/2025

Playing with my new best $10 thermal label printer friend.

A shiny holographic sticker with black thermal printing over it saying you can just make a circuit board and no one will stop you with a circuit board trace print in the background

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Nick Mann @analyze-optimize.bsky.social · 02/05/2025

I won a trophy at work for being the most competitive.

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Nick Mann @analyze-optimize.bsky.social · 02/05/2025

Preparing the photos for an upcoming update to my Arduino (well, now Seeed Studio, but same MCU) super compact and useful DMM guide.

A small DMM in a printed housing, about 2x3x1" big

A small DMM in a printed housing, about 2x3x1" big, with a 1 Ohm resistor connected to resistance circuit.

Another build, this one uses a charge pump for the higher (~9vdc) rail.

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Nick Mann @analyze-optimize.bsky.social · 27/04/2025

You know. It would maybe be useful if these SMD components had pre-soldered wires on them. Wait. Umm. I am not smart sometimes.

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Nick Mann @analyze-optimize.bsky.social · 11/04/2025

It works! I'm happy! My emotions are driven by circuits functioning or not in possibly an unhealthy way! But in this case I've discovered an inexpensive IC (MIC4801) that will drive a constant 20mA (or more, but that's what I need) up to 4.8vdc off a 4.9vdc supply. Useful for instrumentation. :D

An electronics breadboard with circuity surrounded by a homemade DMM, a normal DMM, and a handheld scope, showing 20mA running through the circuit.

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Nick Mann @analyze-optimize.bsky.social · 09/04/2025

Figured out how to dim my lights from the TV. Also toggle them on and off. Pretty stoked. (No Internet involved, just an Arduino with a relay and a digital potentiometer to control the power supply.)

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Nick Mann @analyze-optimize.bsky.social · 05/04/2025

New redesigned multimeter PCBs arrived yesterday. The barrel jacks for input, buttons, and screen all mount directly to the board to save space and assembly time. Soldered it up and it works(!). Yay!

Arduino Uno sized PCB in a small box, turned on with the display reading 0.

Side view, with connectors through the panel.

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Nick Mann @analyze-optimize.bsky.social · 27/02/2025

Most recent Arduino DMM revisions. Works pretty great. Almost done writing updated documentation on how they work.

An Arduino DMM reading a battery and connected to an ammeter module.

Two Arduino DMM versions with their PCB between them.

The Arduino DMM with the cover folded away, showing the custom shield.

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Nick Mann @analyze-optimize.bsky.social · 16/02/2025

Today’s first flight was SAC to DFW. Pretty great geologically. Yosemite, Bryce Canyon / Escalante, and Shiprock, among others. #geology

Bryce Canyon area, I think, from the air

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Nick Mann @analyze-optimize.bsky.social · 16/02/2025

Sitting at the gate for a flight while maintenance addresses something. …They just turned the plane off and back on again as part of the troubleshooting process.

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Nick Mann @analyze-optimize.bsky.social · 15/02/2025

First official event half marathon* (actually a 0.58 marathon because oops) in the books. I am happy about this. The California hills are as steep as they are pretty. Feel good though.

The view up that hill. It went on for awhile.

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Nick Mann @analyze-optimize.bsky.social · 09/02/2025

Just ran my first half marathon as training for a formal event in a week. I’ve gotten into running this past year (I’m more normally a cyclist) as a way to get my heart rate up with less overhead prep time compared to riding bikes. I am happy about this. I will now eat all the calories.

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Nick Mann @analyze-optimize.bsky.social · 21/01/2025

This box has the temperature min/max in different units, except the low temp is the only one where degrees don’t matter.

A cardboard box with handling specs, including a min max for temp of -40F to +70c.

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Nick Mann @analyze-optimize.bsky.social · 17/01/2025

People who think “AI” is theft: Have you thought about where you draw line between “learning / taking inspiration from other people” and “theft” in non-AI related contexts? Is there a good definition of what counts as theft that applies equally to people or AI, beyond verbatim copying?

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Nick Mann @analyze-optimize.bsky.social · 13/01/2025

When you want a screen for your Raspberry Pi and you use to work in video… I think the screen has more processing power than the computer, but it works and I didn’t have to buy another thing.

A Raspberry Pi in a case using a video production capture monitor as the display.

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Nick Mann @analyze-optimize.bsky.social · 27/12/2024

I'm looking for feedback on an Arduino DMM project. I've put a lot of thought and work into developing it over the past few months and am wondering if there's a market for it if I make more. I'm wondering if there's anyone here into electronics that would be in the market for one? Key features: 1/

A custom, homemade DMM that uses an Arduino with a display and acrylic front and back.

A custom, homemade DMM that uses an Arduino in the background with the blank PCB used for the shield in the front.

The DMM with Excel in the background, with a series of values that were each entered by pressing a button on the DMM.

Photo of the a simple computer DMM GUI, showing a reading.

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Nick Mann @analyze-optimize.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

New version of my Arduino DMM PCB board arrived. Built the new version and pretty happy with it (~4 stable significant figures of VDC or resistance). I think it’s time to finish scraping for parts the ~5 that came before it.

I’m holding an Arduino based DMM with a pile of about 5 previous versions in various states of disassembly next to it.

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Nick Mann @analyze-optimize.bsky.social · 18/12/2024

My Arduino DMM works well on the R4 it was designed for, but I wanted to know if it would work with an R3 since I have some laying around the the prototype shields are piling up. Answer is yes, but only if I remove the screen to make the program smaller. Still, works with the computer GUI.

Homemade Arduino DMM that has no screen, with a GUI on a laptop screen in the background, reading ~15k ohms.

Homemade Arduino DMM that has no screen, with a GUI on a laptop screen in the background, reading ~23vdc.

Homemade Arduino DMM that has no screen, side view.

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Nick Mann @analyze-optimize.bsky.social · 02/12/2024

Simply problem solver electronics and Arduino project du jour: keyboard-emulating Arduino to type special characters into computers.

Small Arduino on a solderable breadboard with buttons and switches.

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Nick Mann @analyze-optimize.bsky.social · 30/11/2024

My Arduino DMM project (it types values into Excel for me, and is reasonably accurate) is coming along. Great project for learning instrumentation, and how to program.

Three DMMs, one commercial normal one and two homemade prototypes.

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Nick Mann @analyze-optimize.bsky.social · 23/11/2024

Arduino DMM works! It’s surprisingly accurate! (It only has a few bugs to work out in the code!)

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Nick Mann @analyze-optimize.bsky.social · 21/11/2024

Getting there. No major design errors so far.

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Nick Mann @analyze-optimize.bsky.social · 21/11/2024

PCB I designed for an Arduino DMM shield has arrived.

Arduino sized PCB ready to be populated.

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Nick Mann @analyze-optimize.bsky.social · 16/11/2024

Hello, I’m Nick, and I make things. My job is testing and fixing old electronics. I use to make geology field tools, and before that I was a science photographer (most people who like chemistry have seen my work). This is a current project, an Arduino that types the values into Excel for me.

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