Another Temu product with strangely overzealous cost cutting. Nice case though. It could make a useful USB plug for other projects.
Temy have approached me with the offer of pre-loading my account with credit in return for reviews of their products - with bold predictions of fin...
2023-10-25 14:53:47 +0000 UTC View Post
Here's a link to the weekend stream:-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKMynhHoArI
2023-10-20 20:44:24 +0000 UTC View Post
I get the feeling that these lights have had an apocalyptic overvoltage incident, since every single one of the bulbs is dead with dark blotches visible under the phosphor gel. They are 3V lamps with no resistors inside that have possibly been plugged into the end of a matching 240V string....
2023-10-20 02:54:01 +0000 UTC View Post
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrIi7Gk_QcU
2023-10-19 07:59:18 +0000 UTC View Post
This is the second part of what would have been a very long video.
In this one I de-pot the potted power supply and reverse engineer it, before testing the capacitors for value and internal resistance.
2023-10-18 22:38:50 +0000 UTC View Post
The first part of a video where I swap the driver in one of my bench lights for one scavenged from another light.
In part two I de-pot and reverse engineer the driver to see what went wrong.
While this video is about 3D printed objects, you may still enjoy it as that final inspiration that encourages you to get yourself a cheap 3D printer to play with.
The video includes the new and streamlined version of the script as featured in recent live streams.
To be fair, I make quite a lot of random ambient LED videos, but having been "under the weather" last week, I just kinda wanted to make a relaxed one.
The first part is fairly serious, but the second part is more relaxed because I'd been having a drink and chilling out with Las Vegas live s...
2023-10-16 06:43:07 +0000 UTC View Post
It may seem sacrilege to take a vintage display like this apart, but if I take mine apart it means you don't have to take yours apart.
It did go back together again afterwards. In a way it could be fun to make an LED retrofit panel for the back.
Here's the link to the weekend stream:-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSPcUf8Zt4g
2023-10-12 22:10:48 +0000 UTC View Post
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bm3TdShVniU
2023-10-12 01:23:09 +0000 UTC View Post
A 5A current limited test on the crappy copper coated steel cable that came with one of the death-dalek camping lights.
Although current regulated to 5A it ended up less at the end due to the resistance of the cable causing the voltage across it to reach the maximum (16V) on that range of t...
2023-10-09 03:22:53 +0000 UTC View Post
Here's the link to the weekend stream:-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTQwjph7y6k
2023-10-07 04:57:28 +0000 UTC View Post
Here's the link to the quiet Patreon stream.
Hopefully you're all getting the links to recent videos, as Patreon has changed stuff again.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkn5fvWK_AE
2023-10-05 06:17:13 +0000 UTC View Post
Another posh surge unit to rival the MeanWell unit. But this one was MUCH easier to open.
It also has a better and simpler failure indicator with just a single low current LED that everyone will ignore anyway. If I was cynical I might think that this unit is just a way to get th...
2023-10-05 04:56:36 +0000 UTC View Post
There are a huge number of these units available from many sources. This one is reassuringly fake, but with a nice twist in that it uses an op-amp as the oscillator used to flash the "data" LEDs.
I wonder how many people are convinced that these things work.
Another fine example of eBay ratings embellishment to try and compete in a market flooded with many of these little lights.
On a plus note the design is not too bad, and any issues are easy to resolve. If anything, this light could be an interesting set of parts for a project.
<...
2023-10-03 18:37:42 +0000 UTC View Post
The corner cutting on these deathtrap products is impressive. I'm guessing it's a cost optimised version of a real product that has had very single corner cut with total disregard for safety.
eBay has no proper way to report a dangerous listing like this, which is a shame, as otherwis...
2023-10-02 05:51:50 +0000 UTC View Post
I wasn't expecting this cartridge to be so complex. I expected an ink reservoir section and an air intake port, but I guess the real complexity is ensuring that the ink does not come out the breather port during shipping and storage.
It's nice that it returns ink from the air void to ...
2023-10-02 05:04:18 +0000 UTC View Post
It just seemed like a good idea to get some random Epson cartridges and then suck the ink out of them with a syringe to see how much was in them.
Then I discovered that some sites already list the capacity in ml after I'd completely pebbledashed my kitchen sink with blue dye.
Here's the link to the weekend stream:-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RTiOc23Flec
It turns out the app is now setting the orientation of the stream to vertical by default, and I have to now change it...
2023-09-29 16:43:22 +0000 UTC View Post
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vorbZB3GQg
2023-09-28 20:21:28 +0000 UTC View Post
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vuuLUsqYme0
2023-09-28 14:06:28 +0000 UTC View Post
This is actually a very good set of components for a custom light. In its original form it has a major flaw in its over-sensitive touch sensor.
These seem to be sold for use on tables in restaurants to provide a stylish glow, but they do have other potential for use in off-grid, campi...
2023-09-27 04:27:10 +0000 UTC View Post
I've never taken one of these to bits before. It was reassuringly close to what I was expecting.
I'll confess. The first time I installed one of these (on a large fan in a compressor room) I didn't realise it had to be wired in series with the contactor coil. I thought it ...
2023-09-26 03:17:04 +0000 UTC View Post
Two different ornaments with different styles of construction.
One with traditional linear strip, and one with a clamshell housing and LED tape for a simple double sided sign.
https://www.youtube.com/watch...
2023-09-25 04:07:37 +0000 UTC View Post
I just had to add one of these to my recent order to test it with my Geiger counter.
It didn't disappoint, although the eBay 5G phone protection stickers are worse.
https://www.youtube.com/watch...
2023-09-23 22:54:42 +0000 UTC View Post
Here's the link to the weekend stream:-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlYomGLEf48
2023-09-23 06:30:01 +0000 UTC View Post
I like this a lot. It's a very stylish rechargeable LED camping light that has a retro filament glove feel to it.
As supplied it has lacklustre cell capacity, but that's an easy fix.
2023-09-23 05:10:24 +0000 UTC View Post
Here's the link for the Patreon stream:-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAULUTrRWF8
2023-09-21 17:15:37 +0000 UTC View Post