I wasn't actually expecting this light to have a driver with built in data logging functionality.
It's a neat British made miniature street light that crams a lot into a small space.
The electrical data the driver stores is intriguing, since it can detect and log irregular voltage inc...
2024-04-15 07:01:35 +0000 UTC View Post
Here's the link to the weekend stream:-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=addJkAP6sUQ
2024-04-13 05:15:31 +0000 UTC View Post
This unit is a USB powered dehumidifier for small enclosed spaces. It uses an internal heater to drive the gathered moisture back out into the room it is being dried in.
The insides were underwhelming... But that may have now been corrected.
This video was originally supposed to be about building an ioniser using a universal voltage module, but it ended up diving much deeper than expected. The circuitry in this module is refreshingly simple, but also very advanced in its use of a very neat miniature high voltage transformer.
I...
2024-04-11 03:52:55 +0000 UTC View Post
I showed this in the live stream, so thought I'd share it now. It's an illuminated sandscape style ornament that has potential for just being used as a custom light.
Note that it has the super exciting feature of trying to charge non rechargeable batteries with a high explosion risk due to...
2024-04-07 03:21:21 +0000 UTC View Post
Here's the link to the quiet Patreon stream:-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AElo3cQDY2I
2024-04-06 17:01:23 +0000 UTC View Post
Given that this style of circuitry used to be widely used in hideous coiled-wire sculpture lights favoured by elderly ladies, I do wonder how many got zapped by them before they switched to using low voltage light strings.
I really enjoyed reverse engineering this one. It's pleasingly func...
2024-04-05 05:07:48 +0000 UTC View Post
Given that the Guinness surger basically turns carbon dioxide drinks into thick foam, I may not do any more. It's still an interesting effect, and the foam is actually quite nice. But it's likely to be a predictable outcome each time.
Then again, the same could apply to the "Will it carbo...
2024-04-04 05:26:21 +0000 UTC View Post
A visually nice elevator button with red LED halo. It operates at 24V and has other applications. Clones can be found on AliExpress with the keyword in the description of the video. Note that with this button the switch contact is also referenced to +24V so logic level circuitry will need a su...
2024-04-04 03:57:46 +0000 UTC View Post
This is a posh and very expensive lockable socket with a very novel key operated switch mechanism. I was expecting it to have a cam and microswitch, but it turned out to be a bit more robust than that.
2024-04-03 04:42:07 +0000 UTC View Post
This arrived faulty, and at first I thought it was due to the odd circuitry on the output. But it turned out to be some off-tolerance components instead.
2024-04-02 18:14:52 +0000 UTC View Post
This video is a bit deep and may only appeal to the true geeks. It's a cheap AliExpress power supply module with some circuitry that is not actually even mentioned on the chip manufacturers datasheet.
The way the snubber network also delivers power to the chip is quite clever.
Here's the link to the weekend stream:-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWgRBeAtu-0
2024-03-30 17:47:32 +0000 UTC View Post
Can the Guinness ultrasonic surger be used with other drinks?
There's only one way to find out.
2024-03-29 04:39:29 +0000 UTC View Post
This was supposed to be an innocent disassembly of a Chinese illuminated latching panel button. But it did NOT come apart easily.
Oh well, that's the point of the channel. Me destroying stuff so you don't have to.
2024-03-29 04:37:24 +0000 UTC View Post
I've never tried fireball before. It's basically a liqueur made from whisky and cinnamon flavoured sugar syrup.
It kinda works, since whisky mixes well with aromatic flavours.
2024-03-27 01:13:14 +0000 UTC View Post
Although this video was originally going to be just about this application-specific pump, I thought it would be good to explore the technology of the machine it's used in.
Most of the components in these machines are a common rebranded type, so spares are readily available online. The unus...
2024-03-26 05:03:24 +0000 UTC View Post
There are so many keywords I have to avoid on YouTube, but I can let rip here.
This is a ladies pussy pleaser with a strong citrus juicer theme. It has very minimalist circuitry and a couple of charging quirks.
I definitely couldn't read out the eBay listing description in the video,...
2024-03-24 05:37:18 +0000 UTC View Post
Here's the link to the Patreon stream:-
https://youtube.com/live/lOwzmnfguS8
2024-03-23 00:18:49 +0000 UTC View Post
A test of an Ecoegg alternative to laundry detergent, that I bought from ASDA in the UK.
I was surprised to find something like this being sold in a major supermarket, as the eBay ones that have been around for a while are very much a placebo device.
I decided to give it a test.
This is a very pleasing twist on the disposable vaping devices. It's a new style of the Blu device that has a very easy to remove lithium cell in a rugged capacitor style package with a concentric gold contact PCB on the end.
The case and contact system would make a very handy format for s...
2024-03-21 19:44:22 +0000 UTC View Post
The dense potting resin used in this module made it VERY hard to explore. I pretty much destroyed it in the process, which is a shame as I'd like to have extracted the data from its protection chip.
Perhaps that can be done in the future now I know the pinout of the connector and the natur...
2024-03-19 23:46:34 +0000 UTC View PostI've been exploring a Sharp Plasmacluster unit for vehicles - notably the fact it has expensive ion modules that expire after a fixed run time and then need replaced at great expense.
The module is completely potted with solvent/heat proof resin, meaning that an attempt to de-pot it results...
2024-03-19 02:45:35 +0000 UTC View Post
It took several years of regular heavy use, but I've finally managed to break the iSesamo spudger. It's lasted so long that the domain name of the supplier I got it from (regizmo) is currently being squatted by a domain name seller.
None of the copies lasted very long at all. iS...
2024-03-18 18:06:06 +0000 UTC View Post
Now with even less components. Kinda interesting how the design has evolved. The cover comes off far too easily - if you have one in a kids room it might be worth adding a dab of suitable glue.
The dusk sensor will probably increase LED lifespan, but is mostly a gimmick. 2024-03-17 19:12:27 +0000 UTC View Post
Here's the link to the weekend stream:-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3qzUKoMQPE
2024-03-16 20:38:34 +0000 UTC View Post
A generic remote control receiver with a higher than normal current switching capability due to the use of a chunky "30A" relay. I'm not sure I'd trust it anywhere near that, but it should definitely be better than the ones with tiny relays in them.
An experiment to see what happens when a classic TP4056 module charges a lithium cell with a schottky diode in series with it.
It was to see if it still charged it normally, but stopped sooner at a lower voltage. But it went a bit odd.
What a massively complex water control system. From the mystery sensors to the triple magnetic remanence pilot solenoids, it's a chunky 2.5kg (5 pound) chunk of brass.
2024-03-11 07:07:09 +0000 UTC View Post
Aside from my own tests showing that the cells and charger were not really compatible, I subsequently got a vague message from eBay telling me to stop using the product due to safety concerns(!)
I've since found data that suggests a super-slow trickle charge at 2mA (for two days!) with a vo...
2024-03-10 08:25:40 +0000 UTC View Post