We’ve just released a new family of D24V10Fx step-down voltage regulators. These buck regulators are very similar to the D24V5Fx regulator family we introduced in March, but they use the Intersil ISL85410 regulator IC – a higher-current relative of the ISL85415 on the D24V5x – that allows them to output twice as much current (up to 1 A). The D24V10Fx family is available in five different versions with fixed output voltages of 3.3V, 5V, 6V, 9V, and 12V.

Like their 500 mA counterparts, the D24V10Fx regulators operate with input voltages as high as 36 V at typical efficiencies of 80% to 95%. They feature the same power-save mode to improve efficiency at light loads, along with low dropout voltages and integrated protection against over-temperature and over-current conditions. All this makes them a good choice for powering applications where input voltage and operating current might vary over a wide range.

The slightly larger size of these new regulator boards (0.5″ × 0.7″ × 0.14″; 18 mm × 13 mm × 3.5 mm) makes room for a fifth pin that provides a “power good” indication (PG), but they are still not much bigger than standard through-hole linear regulators. The picture below shows a D24V10Fx, a D24V5Fx, and a 7805 voltage regulator in a TO-220 package:

For other regulator options, you can take a look at our full selection of step-up voltage regulators, step-down voltage regulators, and step-up/step-down voltage regulators.

Related products

	Pololu 3.3V, 1A Step-Down Voltage Regulator D24V10F3
	Pololu 5V, 1A Step-Down Voltage Regulator D24V10F5
	Pololu 6V, 1A Step-Down Voltage Regulator D24V10F6
	Pololu 9V, 1A Step-Down Voltage Regulator D24V10F9
	Pololu 12V, 1A Step-Down Voltage Regulator D24V10F12

Khan Academy user mbbackus created a demo that allows users to visualize the effects of sending different pulse widths to the SM-S4303R and Parallax continuous rotation servos. (You can use the up and down arrow keys to change the pulse width, and more instructions can be found as comments in the code.)

For those who are interested, you can learn more about standard RC servo pulses in this series of blog posts about hobby servos.

You can see the demo on its Khan Academy page.

Related products

	SpringRC SM-S4303R Continuous Rotation Servo
	Parallax (Futaba S148) Continuous Rotation Servo #900-00008

Our friends at Adafruit are holding a Black Friday sale today, offering 15% off everything in stock plus extra free items for orders above certain amounts.

You can find the details on the Adafruit blog.

You can now find all of our sale details, including a full list of the sale items, on our Black Friday/Cyber Monday sale page. The first doorbuster deals go live in less than 12 hours!

Our annual Black Friday/Cyber Monday sale is less than a week away! We have put up some of the special offers on the Black Friday/Cyber Monday sale page. Stay tuned for more details!

We have a new batch of T-shirts available, just in time for winter! These shirts are very similar to the ones we released in 2012, featuring a printed circuit board (PCB) design in the shape of the Pololu logo on the front and the Pololu slogan “Engage Your Brain” on the back.

The shirts are available in a variety of youth and adult sizes, and this time we have two new colors available in addition to our standard royal blue: cardinal red and charcoal gray.

You can find our full selection in our T-shirts category.

Related products

	Pololu Circuit Logo T-Shirt: Royal Blue, Adult L 2014
	Pololu Circuit Logo T-Shirt: Cardinal Red, Adult L 2014
	Pololu Circuit Logo T-Shirt: Charcoal Gray, Adult L 2014

Stackable 0.100″ Female Header: 2×20-pin, Straight.

We now have special extended, stackable female headers for the Raspberry Pi:

• Stackable 0.100″ Female Header with Extra 0.3″ Spacer: 2×20-pin, Straight
• Stackable 0.100″ Female Header: 2×20-pin, Straight
• Stackable 0.100″ Female Header with Extra 0.2″ Spacer: 2×13-pin, Straight
• Stackable 0.100″ Female Header: 2×13-pin, Straight

The 2×20 versions work with the Raspberry Pi Model B+ (and the just-released A+), while the 2×13 versions match the I/O header on the older Raspberry Pi Models A and B.

See our Raspberry Pi category for our full selection of Raspberry Pi accessories.

Related products

	Stackable 0.100″ Female Header with Extra 0.3″ Spacer: 2x20-Pin, Straight
	Stackable 0.100″ Female Header: 2x20-Pin, Straight
	Stackable 0.100″ Female Header with Extra 0.2″ Spacer: 2x13-Pin, Straight
	Stackable 0.100″ Female Header: 2x13-Pin, Straight
	Raspberry Pi Model B+

The people at Seewald Solutions posted about their Raspberry Pi-based robot they call ToyCollect. Inspired by the creator’s daughter, who hides her toys under the couch, the robot is controlled via Android and can be driven under the couch to allow the user to view the hidden toys via a Raspberry Pi camera module and retrieve them. Along with a Raspberry Pi, the ToyCollect robot uses a Zumo Chassis Kit, 100:1 Micro Metal Gearmotors HP, Qik 2sv1 Dual Serial Motor Controller, and a Zumo blade to push the toys. The video below shows the robot in action (in German; subtitles available):

For more information, including the source code and instructions for building your own ToyCollect robot, see the ToyCollect post on the Seewald Solutions website.

Related products

	Pololu Qik 2s9v1 Dual Serial Motor Controller
	Basic Sumo Blade for Zumo Chassis
	Zumo Chassis Kit (No Motors)
	100:1 Micro Metal Gearmotor HP 6V

We are now carrying the USB version of the BASIC Stamp Discovery Kit. Please see the product page for more information.

Related products

Parallax BASIC Stamp Discovery Kit - USB #27807

Our mini plastic gearmotors make great low-cost actuators for small robots, but they have one major shortcoming: they are not easy to mount (the offset versions have just one mounting hole and the 90° versions don’t have any). Well, today I am pleased to announce that we now have two mounting solutions!

Mini Plastic Gearmotor Bracket Pair – Wide.

Mini Plastic Gearmotor Bracket Pair – Tall.

These new plastic brackets, available in a wide version and a tall version, are designed specifically for our mini plastic gearmotors, with internal ridges that fit into recessed features on the gearmotors to hold them securely in place. Both brackets are compatible with all of our mini plastic gearmotors, and the two versions allow for different mounting orientations, some of which can be seen in the pictures below:

In some orientations, features of the mini plastic gearmotor cases prevent them from being flush with a flat mounting surface. To address this, we include a spacer plate with each bracket that fits between the gearmotor and the mounting surface in these orientations, keeping the motor level. If you look closely at the pictures above, you can see the spacer plate being used in three of them.

These new brackets are sold in pairs along with mounting hardware (two M3 screws and nuts per bracket).

See the product pages for additional information:

• Pololu Mini Plastic Gearmotor Bracket Pair – Wide
• Pololu Mini Plastic Gearmotor Bracket Pair – Tall

Related products

	Pololu Mini Plastic Gearmotor Bracket Pair - Wide
	Pololu Mini Plastic Gearmotor Bracket Pair - Tall