This page documents how TechMeStuff content is produced, fact-checked, and kept accurate. It exists because engineering content carries real-world consequences, and you deserve to know whether the page in front of you is reliable.
Source hierarchy
Every formula and reference value on this site comes from one of these tiers, in order of preference:
- Recognized standards bodies — ISO, ASTM, IEEE, ANSI, NIST, ASME, AGMA, NEC (NFPA 70), API, IEC.
- Established engineering reference texts — Shigley's Mechanical Engineering Design, Machinery's Handbook, The Art of Electronics (Horowitz & Hill), Crane TP-410 (fluid flow), Cameron Hydraulic Data, Sedra-Smith Microelectronic Circuits, Roark's Formulas for Stress and Strain.
- Manufacturer datasheets — for component-specific data (LED forward voltages, filament density, wire ampacity tables).
- Peer-reviewed journals — when standards and textbooks fall short.
Wikipedia, blog posts, forum threads, and AI-generated content are never primary sources for technical claims. They're acceptable for narrative context only.
Verification process
Every calculator and formula goes through this checklist before publishing:
- Formula sourced to a primary reference (cited at the bottom of every calculator page).
- Hand calculation of the worked example to confirm the math implementation matches the formula.
- Cross-check against an independent source — a second textbook, an established calculator, or a published worked example with known answers.
- Edge case test — what happens at zero, very large, and physically impossible inputs (e.g., supply voltage less than LED forward voltage).
- Unit consistency verified explicitly — most calculator bugs in the wild are unit conversion errors.
- Reviewer signoff — every calculator page ends with a "Reviewed YYYY-MM" line naming the date and (where applicable) the reviewing engineer.
Use of AI assistance
We use AI tools (Claude, GPT) to draft initial content — explainers, FAQ candidates, table layouts. AI is never trusted for the technical core: formulas, numerical values, and references are always sourced and verified by a human against the references listed above.
This matches Google's stated position and aligns with the published industry consensus: AI assistance is fine when paired with substantive human editorial oversight; AI used as the final authority is not.
What we don't do
- No medical, legal, or safety-critical advice. Calculators are for design, learning, and verification. Final responsibility for engineered systems rests with a licensed engineer, not a website.
- No paid placements. We don't accept payment to feature, recommend, or rank a product favorably.
- No "just-trust-us" claims. If we make a quantitative claim, we cite where it came from. If you can't find the citation, the claim shouldn't be there — please tell us.
Corrections
If you find an error — wrong formula, wrong constant, broken calculator, missing edge case — the fastest way to fix it is to contact us via the Contact page. Include the URL, what's wrong, and (if possible) the correct value with a source.
We publish a brief correction note at the bottom of any page where substantive errors are fixed. Cosmetic edits and clarifications aren't separately noted.
Calculator widget integrity
All interactive calculators on this site are built with vanilla JavaScript embedded directly in the page — no third-party iframes, no external dependencies that could change behavior over time. The math runs in your browser; nothing is sent back to us. View source on any calculator page if you want to audit the implementation.
Methodology last updated: 2026-05.