Another YouTuber (Thomas Nagy) sent his dead milk heater/frother for autopsy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUpNa1LoYgM
Very logical design with a retro touch to the power supply. Probably to avoid using a switchmode type in a product involving liquid.
2021-06-09 14:10:39 +0000 UTC View Post
The pandemic has really limited choice of Poundland stuff on the Isle of Man. I got some of these lights to see if the design has evolved much over the years.
It has a strange design flaw on both styles of PCB that they use.
2021-06-07 03:49:54 +0000 UTC View Post
This unit is from when I looked at a few others, but didn't want to make too many similar videos at the time. I'm not sure where it came from, but I have just ordered a common eBay one to check out. This one might have been from eBay or banggood.
It's actually a pretty good construction for this type of unit.
2021-06-07 03:35:55 +0000 UTC View Post
I'm hoping to host a meetup for those of us on the Isle of Man.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzoAD_W_snE
Other meetups in the UK and beyond will happen once this pandemic has passed.
Please do not attempt to travel to the Isle of Man for this meetup, as covid regulations are still in place.
2021-06-05 18:45:31 +0000 UTC View Post
The best part of this retro light is the way it uses the same component to limit current and also strike the tube.
But the construction is "cheap", and loose connections are not good where capacitors are involved.
2021-06-05 13:52:40 +0000 UTC View PostI'll be doing a quiet Patreon live stream later today:-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xiGfpL8qGhU
2021-06-03 14:22:51 +0000 UTC View Post
I was looking for 5V 5050 LED tape and it was actually easier to get it with a controller bundled in.
The interesting thing about this astonishingly minimalist design is the microcontroller.
Am I right to be so cynical of the security risks associated with random stuff like this?
2021-06-03 14:20:44 +0000 UTC View Post
Here's a link to Saturday's live stream:-
2021-06-01 02:31:16 +0000 UTC View Post
Here's a link to the Patreon stream later this week:-
2021-06-01 02:26:21 +0000 UTC View Post
I've not got one of these lamps here yet, so I've done some computations based on the layout, voltage they were tested at and power that they dissipated.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xaeZBjty3Ws
2021-06-01 02:12:14 +0000 UTC View Post
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LkB_2r7dSGc
2021-05-31 17:29:46 +0000 UTC View Post
Ralfy brought more lights for repair, so I turned the camera on.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyLRZoO3I90
2021-05-28 21:41:41 +0000 UTC View Post
Anti seepage? It can't be water ingress....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwF5k3k7VXw
Neat light, but pushing the LEDs hard as usual.
2021-05-27 17:30:33 +0000 UTC View Post
The odd title in the thumbnail is exactly what it says on the product's box.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16zz_9nwjEs
This is a cheap magnetic PIR activated light with dusk sensing, that can be recharged from a USB port or charger.
Pretty standard circuitry except for the mystery chip that appears to be a dedicated one for this type of light. I couldn't find one that matched this spe...
2021-05-24 03:50:33 +0000 UTC View Post
An early link to next Saturday's stream.
2021-05-23 00:20:20 +0000 UTC View Post
Not just a reminder, but also another whisky distillation video using a posh one supplied by Ralfy. These are just a momentary clickbait distraction. Normal technical content will continue as always.
Ralfy's just collected the bottles, so the link to his video isn't in place yet.
2021-05-22 17:08:19 +0000 UTC View Post
Here's the link to Saturday's stream.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6YUQNeJR2G0
2021-05-21 21:47:22 +0000 UTC View PostA reminder about the mid-week Patreon stream.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WSS_88A5UdY
2021-05-20 19:37:43 +0000 UTC View Post
The failure mode of this is very interesting.
Nice to know that these expensive lights are repairable, but most will end up in landfill.
Most street lighting companies will just replace the entire head.
2021-05-19 22:03:53 +0000 UTC View Post
Here's a link to the upcoming Patreon-stream:-
2021-05-19 03:47:58 +0000 UTC View PostI've added the Minion ioniser PCB gerber files on my website as a zip file. You can find a link on the recent Chizhevsky video, along with an openscad script for the diode former.
Note that the circuit is only suitable for 220V to 250V countries. It may be somewhat lacklustre on 120V.
2021-05-18 18:56:55 +0000 UTC View Post
I'm not sure how I managed to refer to the 555 as a microcontroller during this video, but at least it'll encourage the pedants to leave strongly worded comments.
This is a nice circuit. Totally retro. Like out of a 1980's electronics magazine.
Very strong similarities to a Class D (digital) amplifier.
2021-05-18 03:17:53 +0000 UTC View PostStream starting soon as of posting this message.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9WuoRO07dDA
This smaller vehicle-version of a recent item I explored, has an unpotted high voltage section.
Perfect for further exploration.
2021-05-15 19:13:08 +0000 UTC View Post
This stuff has never been very impressive. It's a lossy fibre optic material that emits light along its length when illuminated at the end.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NpiddGxC7jo
Maybe this is just poor quality stuff, but it pretty much matches my previous experiences with it.
2021-05-15 18:53:16 +0000 UTC View Post
Now I've released at least one non-ozone video I get to do another. With the ongoing pandemic I've been exploring stuff like this too much, but I'll get over it soon .
This weird unit has been around for a while and has some odd and seemingly pointless retro circuitry in it.
2021-05-13 04:06:02 +0000 UTC View Post
This is a teardown of a very simple early RCD/GFCI. So early that it was still called a current operated ELCB (Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker).
There's also a story of why it had to be replaced.
2021-05-13 04:01:36 +0000 UTC View PostHere's an eBay link that will at least be a starting point for a search:-
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/184731866132?var=692466355255
2021-05-10 18:08:21 +0000 UTC View Post
The latest episode in my series of hideous soy faces and shameless clickbait for the masses.
Mixed thoughts about this one. Mainly because I find red wine a bit "fierce".
2021-05-10 12:53:44 +0000 UTC View Post