I Built an Automatic 12V Fan Controller – From Prototype to PCB скачать в хорошем качестве

I Built an Automatic 12V Fan Controller – From Prototype to PCB

In this video, I walk through the complete process of building an analog 12V fan thermostat — from the initial breadboard prototype to designing and soldering a custom PCB. This project uses: LM358 operational amplifier 10k NTC thermistor BC337 NPN transistor Flyback diode (1N4007) 100 µF bulk capacitor 100 nF decoupling capacitor Custom 2-layer PCB designed in KiCad 🔧 Step 1 – Breadboard Prototype Before designing the PCB, I first built and tested the full circuit on a protoboard to: Verify the control logic Adjust the temperature threshold Measure key voltages (VTEMP and VREF) Add hysteresis for stable switching Ensure the fan activates reliably The circuit works as an analog comparator-based thermostat. ⚙️ How the Circuit Works The NTC thermistor changes resistance with temperature. A voltage divider generates a temperature-dependent voltage (VTEMP). A potentiometer sets a reference voltage (VREF). The LM358 compares VTEMP and VREF. When the temperature exceeds the set threshold, the output drives a transistor. The transistor switches the 12V fan ON. Hysteresis is added to prevent rapid switching near the threshold. 🖥 Step 2 – PCB Design in KiCad After validating the prototype, I: Created the schematic in KiCad Assigned proper footprints Routed a 2-layer PCB Generated Gerber files Sent the board for manufacturing I then soldered all THT components and performed final testing. 🔥 Final Demonstration At the end of the video, I demonstrate the complete assembled PCB and show how the fan automatically turns on when the temperature rises. This project is perfect for: Electronics beginners Electrical engineering students Embedded engineers DIY cooling projects Learning analog comparator circuits Practicing PCB design workflow If you'd like to see more projects involving embedded systems, control electronics, PCB design, and real hardware development consider subscribing. 🎵 Music Credit: Music from #InAudio: https://inaudio.org/ Track Name: Endless Sunrise by Infraction Licensed for free use under InAudio terms.