bigclive

65W (!) LED photography lamp.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_gENKTcT-8

It says it's rated at 65W, but can you guess the real power?

Stinky Poundland USB PSU.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QjHdsuHiFU

A look inside a Poundland USB power supply that got inadvertently covered with clothing and overheated.  It still works at full spec, but smells quite "dark".
Also a random fix on a fibre optic illuminated USB lead where the original LED has been grilled.

This video mainly involves electronics that have been grilled.  Always an interesting subject.<...

Mystery danish candy box.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swN4MI30ows

Special thanks to Rene for sending a selection of sweets from Denmark.   I invited my friends Juan and Kevin across to do a taste test.

Over spicy noodles.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FH5vp-VyZFU

My friends were over for another candy tasting video and thought it would be amusing to bring some spicy noodles with them.

Electron microscope lithium cell.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALK8gk3M4VI

Sorry for the lack of videos over the last few days.  I've been living with my mum while my brother is having a break.

This video is really interesting.  It's a series of images taken with an electron scanning microscope to reveal the failure mode of a lithium cell that had been deliberately reverse charged with force to make the failure mode more visi...

Inside a firework lamp.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTsMdf5DaPU

By popular request, a look at one of these lamps that creates an optical effect of lots of points of light trailing into the distance.

Expensive marine light.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlpXERPv4CM

Second time lucky.  Here's the actual video I meant to link last time.

I'll probably re-record this one, since I didn't go deep enough.  It's unfortunate that the drive electronics are potted under hard black resin in a heatsink and the LED panel also has a very tough clear coating on the connections making it hard to probe.

Interesting old suppressor plug.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O42m1BlWc-M

The most interesting thing about this unit is that it is quite well made with a combination of classic filtering techniques.

What do you think of the use of three starred MOVs between Live, Neutral and Earth?

Make a Kryptonite pendant.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLo4wwfn1_s

This handy Kryptonite pendant is very useful for keeping that pesky Superman at bay while you commit your dastardly deeds.

Unexpected cell polarity.

I was playing about with the cells from inside the alkaline PP3 9V battery I opened.  It turns out that they have the opposite polarity of normal cells, so be careful if you try using them as alternatives to AAAA cells.  The shell is positive and the tip at the crimped end is negative.

How many diamonds are in a PP3.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTG3k2jyzd4

It had to be done.  A little game to guess the weight of plastic diamonds in the case of a PP3 battery.

Poundland PP3 is full of diamonds.

In response to Wayne's comment about crystals, here's what it would look like if Poundland PP3 batteries were filled entirely with diamonds.

(Poundland plastic diamonds, but still diamonds.)

What's inside a 9V battery?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMfmjqMIT3A

I was asked if the cells that make up a 9V battery could be used as an alternative to the very small and rare AAAA sized cells.  Only one way to find out...

USB powerbank with unique chip.

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

This may look like a typical cheapo power bank from eBay, but it's got a very interesting control chip inside.  One that lends it to use as a low current UPS style device that can switch a load between the charger and internal cell instantly in the event of power loss.

It's not perfect though, since the sensing and standby features are visible on some LED l...

Canadian MRE test.

Another MRE taste test in which I manage to mix up my acronyms and refer to the fruit drink as tasting like PCP which it turns out is a rather undesirable drug.  (I meant to say TCP.)

The cheapest LED ceiling light on eBay.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5stgv8rv_Do

This is an interesting example of adapting a product to meet a price.  It's based on minimal engineering and very low material quantity.

Note that an attempt to light the dome material failed.  It self extinguished immediately.

Fluke socket tester recall.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KOYt-0WZxg

There's nothing WRONG with these testers.  This is just Fluke trying to avoid litigation from non-technicals who may not fully understand the tests that are being carried out and may have less tolerance to tingles than seasoned electricians.

On a plus note you do get to change the tester for a set of decent test lamps.

Carbon fibre/fiber heating wire.

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

This is an interesting material.  It's basically a rubber cable with a conductor made of lots of very fine strands of carbon fibre.  This basically forms a flexible resistor that can be used for heating things.  It was quite cheap with 20m shipped for $6.65 although other sellers seem to charge a lot more for it.  20m can be connected directly acro...

Does a cattle prod hurt?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZd5_jyhytg

After a long evening of drinking beer with friends I decided to test a cattle prod on myself.

Mini death-dalek camping light.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9g8IW7NEerY

This is a rather neat mini version of the dodgy camping lights that are notorious for putting mains voltage out on their USB connectors.  This one is a lot safer though, since it doesn't have a mains or USB connection.

What it does have is a chunky battery holder and a decent LED arrangement that is easy to modify if desired.

First strike.

I guess the militant flaggers must have got bored with Codyslab.  This strike is on a very old video where I showed how you could make nicotine (and flavour) free e-liquid with standard food grade glycerin.  That's possibly one of the safest e-liquids available.  It was made before food grade propylene glycol was easily available.

If I get a few strikes it stops me releasing content and poses a risk of channel deletion.  Rest assured that if that happens I'll find an altern...

Fixing two dead LED modules.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVuwzFhhCW0

These are two modules out of ceiling/bulkhead style lights.

I get the feeling that a lot of complete ceiling lights are being thrown out because they use modules like this that normal people can't fix or swap.  Fortunately we're not normal people, so we can repair ours.

Heating fix and another hand warmer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ei2nnyCltks

My ancient oil-burner based heating decided that one of the coldest winters in a while was the ideal time to stop working.  I'd tried taking the burner out before, but it was seized in.  Since it had started getting cold enough to worry about the pipes I decided to have another go and succeeded in chapping it out from the inside of the heat exchanger.  ...

Yogurt (yoghurt) technology.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ur9OPStm_4

Another of those weird culinary videos that happens from time to time.  This one is a look inside a German yogurt maker (which probably has other uses as a gently heated base).

Plus a guide to making yogurt fast and easily too.

Creepy USB power bank.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sKddRZai5lY

Another gift from Vince the crew chief, and notable for the unusual circuitry for this type of thing.

Fairy pearls decorative landfill.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLn04Cgu6M0

I'm not sure what to say about these.  They're quite nice, but most will become landfill quite quickly.  I guess they'll find use at events like weddings.  On one hand it would be nice if they did a rechargeable version, but I get the feeling a lot would be nicked by guests at each event.

You can fit new batteries and LEDs too if you choose.

Demonetized again.

Yay!  YouTube has demonetised the video where I show how carrying Aspirin with you could potentially help save someones life by reducing platelet action in their blood in the event of a heart attack.

I'll admit some of my videos do cross the line a bit, so I'm not too bothered when they get demonetized since I'd rather put up the naughty content, but this seems a bit odd.

It just makes me appreciate you guys all the more.

A new twist on flame lamp construction.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KhtBA0EHDM

This is an interesting direction for the flame effect lamps.  Same visual effect, but the main circuitry is now all on a single flexible PCB that literally gets rolled up and shoved into the housing.

Loads of possibilities for re-purposing, although finding this style may be tricky as the image of a lamp on a listing may not match what you get.

An open competition for an Ass-Pod.

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

It's not as lurid as it sounds.  The device in question (actually called an Aspod) is very simple, but also a very good idea that takes known medical knowledge and suddenly makes a simple but important drug readily available at any time anywhere.

I strongly recommend watching this video as it will inspire you to carry something similar at all times.  A...

Inside a night light socket plate.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=225LhPh5uxk

I pretty sure this is a clone of the lamplighter plate if that was the first one.  In keeping with clones it's incredibly cheap at just a couple of dollars, although it does come with the usual hazards of using uncertified electrical devices.

The circuitry is quite neat although there is a suspiciously small dropper capacitor.

There's an eBay search l...