bigclive

Backstage snippet - the music of ratchet straps

While installing LED features into the four mobile risers (moveable stage sections) we discovered that the ratchet strap that secures the batteries down was quite musical.  I loosened it a bit afterwards!

The reason for the huge batteries is that we can also use video wall on these stages, complete with local media server.  But in this instance it's just a relatively low amount of LED features.

An interesting and welcome new twist is the pneumatic wheel lowering system....

Show programming at night - backstage snippet

Getting to the final stages of the load-in with just a few special items to complete.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a42EVe0aY98

My worst electric shock

A different style of video inspired by Paul of Mr Carlson's lab.

Let me know what you think.

https://youtu.be/Q2jGK4iuPnQ

Late night backstage snippet

Doing tests and focussing at night before we go into technical rehearsals next week.  I love how the projectors cut through the slight haze of rain.

I should be getting a day off, and then have some mobile risers (moving stage sections) to put basic LED outlines on.  They have an interesting pneumatic braking system.

The bulk of the work is over though, which is a relief, as we have a load more heavy lights on the job, and for the first time ever, the Tattoo lighting is ...

Backstage snippet

Changing gobos (the image disks) in the very heavy Domino fixtures.  These lights are sealed with panels that resemble camshaft covers, and have to have the large number of screws replaced with sequential tightening with a torque screwdriver before being pressure tested with a dedicated unit that pressurises the unit, holds, pulls a vacuum, holds and then restores atmospheric pressure.  All to test that the seals are good.

2023-07-23 02:41:37 +0000 UTC View Post

Weekend stream one day later

This stream will depend on whether we have any major technical issues at work.  Normally we get Sunday off, but are effectively on call to go in to solve technical problems.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkFPHoVe_4w

Missed Stream.

Sorry for the missed midweek stream.  I was working late, and wasn't even aware it was Thursday.  I'm not sure I could even have stayed awake if I'd got back to the accommodation in time.  Hopefully the worst of the work will be over soon.  We have even more lighting equipment this year.

II'mI'm

Backstage snippet

Just a short video clip to show why I've not been making as many videos as normal.

In the video I say it's been a busy week because that's what it feels like.  In reality it's been three days of intense load in.  I've been struggling to stay awake when I get back to the accommodation.

For reference the job is the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo at Edinburgh Castle.

We have lots of very heavy lights mounted in the gantries.  I'll show you a clip of them later w...

Carbonating Marmite

I foolishly decided to film this early in the morning on the day of a flight, so the mess it made was quite annoying.  The machine had marmite squirting out of every orifice.

But it was worth it for science.

The bulk of the work on the job should be done by end of play today, so hopefully I'll get more time to finish off some videos I've started.   So far it looks like the printer has survived in storage, but I'll find out for sure once it's powered up.

2023-07-19 10:11:41 +0000 UTC View Post

Decent pound shop solar light

A video I filmed just before heading across to work on a the Edinburgh Military Tattoo.

We just did the first day of the load in and it was very heavy going with many more heavy lights than normal.

Tomorrow we have another truck of lights arriving and then on Wednesday a third truck of lights and a crane to get our gear up into the castle.  After that it should start getting easier.

I'll try to get some snippets of backstage footage when things settle down.

2023-07-17 21:41:50 +0000 UTC View Post

Weekend stream link

Here's the link to the weekend stream:-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5V2OLH0oHZg

Keyfob ring light candidate?

A less complicated video to fill in the gap until work tames down to the point I can make proper videos again.  Next week is going to be super-busy, but things should settle down after that.  I have a few half-made videos that require their final reverse engineering bit, so hopefully the printer I got last year has survived storage for a year, and not been dumped on its side or upside down.

https:/...

Restarted stream

https://www.youtube.com/live/D-rf0EFxj_M

Coming at ya from Edinburgh

This will be the first stream from Edinburgh this year, so hopefully it won't be too glitchy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aybmlKRMqjU

Short video recorded pre-travel

I found a pair of my old rigger boots (in a surprisingly low-wear state) and found that the rubber-like material on the soles is degrading and going soft, sticky and crumbly.

I'm guessing it's just a synthetic polymer that is breaking down.

I felt the need to mention that it was not in an ozonated area, since that does tend to degrade natural rubber.  But usually only on the surface.

https:/...

Weekend stream link

Here's the link to the weekend stream:-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0MxXFoHB_4

Inside a compact class D amplifier

This unit is a high power (180W per output RMS) digital amplifier.

It uses pulse width modulation and filtering to give a very high power capability with low heat.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dAM882I6u7g

Patreon stream link

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UfR6a7xnQ2c

Quick charge fakery with a Samsung theme

A look inside a fake Samsung quick charge USB charger which has a price associated with a quality charger, but safety and quality that isn't.

This is a good demonstration of how seemingly convincing chargers with prominent branding on them can be a risk to the safety of you and your expensive equipment.

On a plus note it's got a cute way of implementing the voltage control if it ever does it.

htt...

Refrigerant gas leak detector

This is an older style detector used to sniff out leaks in refrigeration systems.

There are a few different technologies used for leak detection, including ionisation, ultrasonic hiss and the mysterious heated diode detector that breaks gases down with heat for their test.

While working with Hussmann in the UK I could actually detect leaks by nose, not because of the smell of the refrigerant itself, but the fine haze of oil it emitted.  It had a faint coconut type of smell. 2023-07-03 15:59:43 +0000 UTC View Post

Weekend stream link

Here's the link to the weekend stream:-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PwI8VSQ4rFY

Shorts tests.

I'm doing some tests with flippant short-shorts to see what effect it has on the channel.  I won't pollute your feed here with them as they are literally random snippets of things.  Although one is very closely related to the recent vintage vibro thing.

Remember there's an MBC stream today and a weekend stream tomorrow (link for weekend stream not up yet.)

I've ordered a couple more vintage electrical items from eBay, but probably won't be able to feature them until I g...

And an MBC live stream the day after too....

A link to an extra MBC stream:-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKKMmR2poNs

Patreon stream link

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWJX3XuJpVE

Victorian lady pleaser?

Since making the video I've explored the handle section more and found that the suspiciously "modern" looking cloth flex is actually twisted onto the stubs of what was probably an original flex, and then covered with rubberised cloth tape.

That adds the possibility that this may be a REALLY old unit literally dating to the end of the Victorian era.  Especially given the random extra accessories which probably belong to an old electrotherapy machine from that rough timezone.

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Unexpectedly complex ceramic PCB (I broke it!)

This is a non contact voltage detector pen that I bought a VERY long time ago.  Probably when they first appeared.   It was subsequently banned by the safety crowd for the perceived risk of it having a metal body.

The circuit board inside is unusually complex and expensive looking.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6vrFSSAPmg

Basic air cleaner teardown

I got this on eBay as one of the very classic "loved it until we discovered what a new filter costs" listings.   It turns out that you can get the entire unit for the same cost as a replacement filter!  Major price gouging going on.  And the filter is small and basic too.  The sort you'd expect to cost a quarter of the price.

Good news for us though, as we get to explore a unit with minimal active electronics.

2023-06-24 23:52:58 +0000 UTC View Post

Weekend stream link

Here's the link to the weekend stream:-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ed6RwRrlg7U

Neat, but quirky dusk sensing mood light

Once you realise how to use this thing, it's actually a fairly neat little light.

Unfortunately there doesn't seem to be much documentation, so I had to work it out by myself.  That was complicated by the unexpected built in dusk sensor that kept making it do weird things.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2qEhYiy7Bg

Quiet Patreon Stream

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EnugA_hEK1o