Clickbait title, sorry (but only the 'free-energy' lunatics will fall for it).
After connecting a 74HCT138 CMOS decoder chip the wrong way round, I was surprised to see that it had apparently suffered no damage. But is that the full story?
EEVblog #831 - Power A Micro With No Power Pin!
https://youtu.be/2yFh7Vv0Paw

By Julian

Youtuber, shed dweller, solar charge controller aficionado

11 thoughts on “Free energy? – cmos microchip works with no vdd and no gnd”
  1. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Alpine says:

    Would be interresting to see how much power you could save with tricks like that. I know its an old video but could you try to find that out?

  2. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Andrew Erwin says:

    I have an 8-bit shift register that runs completely off of the serial and clock inputs without connections to vcc/ground. It has confused me for awhile, but maybe you have explained it somewhat!

  3. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars jlucasound says:

    You are awesome, Julian.

  4. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars jlucasound says:

    It has begun. The chips are repairing themselves.

  5. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars V Madison says:

    Julian, If you like tantalum soo much, why not get a kit of tantalum!

  6. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars herauthon four says:

    Free Energy: SUN – but only if you go out more

  7. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Jirka Šmejkal says:

    This is realy foolproof chip, you can fry it and connect it wrong and it still works 😀

  8. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Ron Jones says:

    Of course you shouldn't put that chip into service, but it did make an interesting and educational demo. Thanks. Well done. Don't forget to throw that chip away … It gave it's life for the higher cause of education. RIP

  9. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars LudwigHB Bremen says:

    missleading title… very dissapointing

  10. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Franksey180 says:

    Thumbs up for the content and thumbs up for the smoke, though I won't call it magic smoke, we need more smoke for it to be officially called magic smoke. Cheerio

  11. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars dale nassar says:

    Great way to learn from your mistakes–here–don't just pull it and throw it away or you will miss a LOT of internal understand of critters!

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