Lets see if YouTube demonetise this one. Previous vape device teardowns have been put on restricted advertising because of their subject material, even though they were technical videos.
I've laid off the trigger keywords in the description and tags, and did my best not to say keywords in the video, but did at least twice. Notably when I said "nicotine" and then said it again when I realised I had said it.
These work, but could do with a bit of improvement. They do have scope as a project case for your own design though.
2020-06-26 19:52:20 +0000 UTC View Post
Saturday's stream is all set for action.
2020-06-26 18:00:42 +0000 UTC View Post
This must be the first time I've seen a 1V microcontroller implemented in this style.
This very common and totally mass produced air freshener (!) unit is a piece of art inside.
Mass produced items like these are an intriguing puzzle of penny pinching to create maximum results from the minimum components.
The grey plastic interior has given me the urge to just design and 3...
2020-06-25 04:28:11 +0000 UTC View Post
I wondered how this linear 36W lamp was achieving such a good power factor (0.95).
It turns out that it's using a driver styled as the front end of a power factor corrected supply that charges a big capacitor to above peak mains voltage as a series of pulses across the whole sinewave.
The LEDs are in a long series array adding up to 400V, so the current can't just go straight through them. It has to be boosted first. And because that happens as a series of pulses acros...
2020-06-23 02:31:27 +0000 UTC View PostI've now sent out about 35 of the LED matrix PCBs.
If you didn't receive a message about them then it's not too late as I will be randomly sending out some more, and probably other PCBs too.
Everyone responded to their message this time, which is good. The PCBs posted to the UK have already started arriving, but the ones sent to Australia, New Zealand, Germany, America, Holland and other countries may take at least a week, and probably longer due to the current global pandemic....
2020-06-22 04:00:58 +0000 UTC View Post
This battery was sent by Kim Sleep a while ago. I should have made this video sooner, because it's actually quite nice inside.
I wonder how many are rebranded using the same case.
2020-06-22 03:48:29 +0000 UTC View PostAfter a human review of my public service video on the UVLEN scam it was decided to make the video unsuited for most advertisers as it fell into the category of:-
Focus on accidents, pranks or stunts that involve health risks, like drinking or eating non-edibles; or discussions of trending videos that show this type of content
And this is why Patreon support and the backup platform of LBRY are so important for technical YouTubers.
2020-06-20 15:41:10 +0000 UTC View PostSince the video is intended as a PSA for an upcoming release of a shady device, I'll be releasing this video early.
2020-06-20 15:18:30 +0000 UTC View Post
There's economy and there's economy. This crappy product took it a bit too far.
2020-06-20 00:50:25 +0000 UTC View Post
This video is basically a warning to people who may get duped by this very suspicious product. Judge for yourself....
2020-06-19 22:30:11 +0000 UTC View Post
I really wasn't expecting this cheap power monitor plug to have quite such a sophisticated energy monitoring chip in it. That one chip has a manual over 100 pages long.
I wonder if these very common units are all built to the same standard.
2020-06-18 02:04:38 +0000 UTC View Post
Possibly my worst abuse of 3D printing yet.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIwK45z3Mxk
The description of the video has an openscad file for making your very own 3D printed flame whoosher. Not that I actually recommend it, as whooshers are very dangerous.
It would be good to know if there's much standardisation between budget-store toilet air fresheners. The base on this one is a...
2020-06-17 22:53:27 +0000 UTC View Post
I bought this little rechargeable fridge ozone generator with low expectations. It turns out to be sensibly designed and pretty good, although it could use a slight software tweak to double its run time.
This is also the hardest case I've ever tried to clip back together. It uses a groove to mate the two parts, but also two clips on each side that make it hard to keep the ...
2020-06-15 17:40:42 +0000 UTC View Post
On one hand this seems like a good idea, but on the other hand it might turn the chat into a space rocket.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9Ckb_Qa8Qw
If that happens I'll probably do some Patreon-only live streams to compensate.
2020-06-12 18:30:02 +0000 UTC View Post
I'll be joining the guys on the HVAC overtime channel for a live stream tonight (actually 2.05am for me).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXTHZnNl7vw
If you work in the Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (or refrigeration) industry you may enjoy that channel. Or just join us for the chat.
2020-06-12 17:00:10 +0000 UTC View Post
This version of the PCB has the option of using through hole resistors (quarter watt) or 1206 surface mount ones. The PCB and LED spacing are the same, so it will fit into a standard 6" by 4" (About 150mm by 100mm) picture frame.
I'm going to send out 20 of these PCBs to randomly selected Patreons so you can give feedback on the design. Let me know if you're interested. 2020-06-12 04:30:08 +0000 UTC View Post
This modification is really not recommended. The unit is very sophisticated inside and seems to incorporate voltage regulation for the high voltage circuitry.
After making the video I pushed the current a bit too high and the ceramic plate flashed over and formed a sustained yellow arc.
Still good fun to explore though.
I wonder if the ceramic plate flashover is why ...
2020-06-11 04:10:54 +0000 UTC View Post
The video is currently uploading. This was a very complex thing to do, since there are so many safety systems to prevent the ozone generator from jamming on at full power if a single component fails. It took three bypasses to get it to run.
The processor was also not accepting a simple pulsing of the control wire as a valid PWM signal.
I'm guessing that BMW call it an ioniser to avoid triggering the eco-experts who believe that any level of ozone is going to cause deat...
2020-06-10 23:40:30 +0000 UTC View Post
I was sceptical about this device because it's not something I had come across before and had very strong similarities to a previous quack water hydrogenator.
I was wrong. It's a fascinating device that actually seems to work. I've ordered some chlorine test strips for further experimentation.
The circuitry isn't perfect, but it's a simple textbook design apart from ...
2020-06-09 04:25:28 +0000 UTC View Post
For those who like the live streams, this Saturday's stream is ready to go.
2020-06-09 02:05:26 +0000 UTC View Post
Does anyone have a pinout for this module before I take it apart? I've had a quick probe on the three pin connector with a meter, and think I've got the common/negative sussed, but there are two other connections - probably +12V and a PWM input for power control.
I will be opening it on video, so was hoping I could test it beforehand in case it's potted inside.
BMW describe this as an ioniser and use marketing talk to imply that it creates hydrogen peroxide to sanitise the s...
2020-06-08 21:17:46 +0000 UTC View Post
Just an ambient random project build for a change.
The next video is being recorded right now and is VERY interesting. It's literally an electronic spray bottle that converts water and salt into a chlorine based cleaner.
2020-06-08 21:12:03 +0000 UTC View Post
There's probably a reason nobody has made an ultraviolet moonflower disco light. But that's not going to stop me giving it a go.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_blpwck_hM
I do have some spare PCBs, so if you live in a country with 220V or higher at your standard sockets, have the knowledge and confidence to work with high voltage PCBs and if you can get one of the cheap disco airship lights...
2020-06-06 16:23:19 +0000 UTC View Post
I'll be trying this stream on a different setup to try and resolve the audio issue that only seemed to affect some viewers.
I'm not sure where the audio artifact is creeping in. It manifests itself as tiny little sections of silence in the audio waveform.
This week the stream will be using the Moto G7 power as the camera and the Chromebook will just be for reading the comm...
2020-06-05 03:09:50 +0000 UTC View Post
This video was originally going to be a guide to identifying real and fake germicidal lamps, but I chopped the first bit because it was combining a PSA style video with a technical one.
There are some vague references to the original video in the shortened one.
I'll probably make a simple non-technical guide to UVC lamps as it's something I get asked about a lot.
2020-06-04 21:31:53 +0000 UTC View Post
Not the normal type of video for this channel, but I thought I'd record it for variety.
My technique for going from a full beard to a long goatee easily.
2020-06-03 22:11:59 +0000 UTC View Post
In hindsight I should have considered including both through-hole and surface mount resistor options on the original design.
It's clear that many still prefer through-hole components (and i don't blame you).
The MKII files have just been sent to JLC (not a sponsor) for manufacture and include an option for traditional chunky quarter watt resistors and more generous pads for hand soldering of the SMD resistors.
I'll be sending some of these PCBs out to random Patreon supporte...
2020-06-03 02:20:13 +0000 UTC View Post
In hindsight I think I should make a video showing how to make a safe charger for products like this.
If you have one of these I recommend cutting the output lead off the charger and binning the charger itself, as it poses a high risk of causing failure of the 18650 cell.
2020-06-02 16:29:00 +0000 UTC View PostI've just started a video uploading, so it should be up later today.
It's about a fairly neat rechargeable LED torch supplied with a charger that tries to directly charge an unprotected 18650 lithium cell to about 7V!
The video has full schematics for the flashlight and charger.
I wonder how many people are using these flashlights and leaving them on charge overnight.
2020-06-02 06:26:58 +0000 UTC View Post