EEVblog Q&A #1 Announcement

[uwe]

Hi Dave,

what is the state of the Rigol DP832?

- Do you know, if it there is a new, fixed batch of them around?
- Is there something in the same price range and capability you know of?

Thanks in advance

Uwe

P.S. i know my name is unpronounceable for native english speakers .
P.S.2. and i love your show, keep it running forever

[madshaman]

Hello Dave,

I remember watching one of your videos where you talk about supporting the original designer by purchasing their product instead of knockoff which copies that design.

If someone releases their designs to the public in the interests of education, do you feel that this would have a significant impact on the sales of their product (given that, with enough effort, someone else could always copy the design from the product itself)?

Do you have any personal experience with this kind of situation?

Thanks in advance from Canada,

madshaman

[greatal]

Hi Dave
Would you please post some videos about immigration from 5V TTL logic to 3.3 or 1.8 TTL for those people use to work around arduino AVRs and other 5v TTL devices driver boards like L297 stepper driver level shifters or Dot matrix/charter LCDs …?
I know there are too many solutions but actually they don’t speak about benefits and cost around these solution some issues like power consumptions and heat dissipation cost and …
There to many solution like voltage dividers transistors MOSFET and FETS or diode solutions … and some good site like this link but there is no good answer.
http://elinux.org/RPi_GPIO_Interface_Circuits
It need some good tips like you fantastic video over PCB design for manufacturing

[nitro2k01]

Now that you're a family man, I'm wondering how that affects your work as a vlogger. We only get to see what ends up on tape. How much time a week do you get to spend in the lab? Which times of the day do you typically spend there? Usual 9-5, late nights, etc? How much time do you spend in the lab on things that are not directly related to video making, such as side projects or just general hacking?

[ivan747]

Hey Dave, I am doing the obligatory introduction everybody else is doing:

I've been following the EEVBLog for probably 400 episodes. A lot has changed, so I was wondering, can you do a new EEVBlog lab tour video like you did on episode sixty-something? You know, a full tour. 

Greetings from Dominican Republic.
-Ivan Veloz (veh-loss)

[8163jb]

Hi Dave, I'm a bit of a beginner and my bench is sadly lacking (due to the fact I'm still in school and do not have enough money to buy stuff), what, second to a soldering iron, do you think the most important tool is and what should I invest my money in first? I say second to a soldering iron because I have just recently bought myself a Hakko fx-888D and so do not need one cheers!

[Jope]

What are your main interests/hobbies besides electronics?

[jeroent]

Hi Dave.

Can you do a video how a compression F connector actually works inside? There are many videos on Youtube, but it's not clear to me how the shielding connection works. Perhaps you could take one apart to show us?

[tsmith35]

Two questions:
1) How do you store your millions of components (you must have many) in such a way that is both space-saving and usable?
2) What the heck do you do for fun (besides work on electronics)? Besides that, it would be fun to see "A Day in the Life of Dave".

Okay, I guess that's technically two questions + an implied question...

[EvilGeniusSkis]

Have you done a video/series on how you make your videos and if not would you consider it?  I want to start making videos and anytime I try I always end up looking like a complete idiot.

[dentaku]

Do  you have any favorite methods for quickly finding good datasheets?

Finding datasheets for unknown components is always annoying for people like me who find old parts that I don't even know what they're called. Inductors are the most mysterious parts on most PCBs because there seems to be no standard way of labeling them.
Glass diodes are also very difficult to read PLUS sometimes the numbers on them end up not showing up in any search engine.

[kizzap]

I'd really love to hear some industry stories...

As an EE in the working field, what was the hardest problem that you ever worked on, one that was giving you the right royal run-around, and how did you end up resolving the issue? I.e. was it a simple obvious solution, or did it involve a lot of work.

-kizzap

[Excavatoree]

I'll preface my question with a blurb to try to better explain what I mean.

As a child, I experimented with very basic electrical projects, and I built electronic projects using the ubiquitous xxx in 1 kits with the spring terminals.  I never applied myself to electronics as much as you did, but I always had an interest.    I was also interested in other things, under the broad category of automotive.  I took vocational electronics in Secondary School, and went on to University.  After graduation, I could have chosen a path of electronics engineering, but instead I chose the School bus factory, which lead to my work in the construction equipment industry.  My knowledge of electronics has helped, and I get to "dabble in it" on occasion, but I realize I've chosen a different path than you. 

Sorry for the long blurb, but the question is simply, were there any other career paths that you considered, or did you always know you would be an electronics engineer? 

[rsjsouza]

Being a "man of the media" these days and heavily involved in generating and producing content, how is your typical day shared between the work on "pure" electronics, concoction of new ideas and "heavy duty" media production? Also, was it difficult to mentally cross the line from the traditional job to being self sufficient by producing the blog? 

Quick background: in my career I had multiple roles that involved development and technical media/marketing simultaneously, and I only got comfortable in these multiple transitions with time. I am curious to know how you deal with that. 

[braintree]

How do plasma balls work?

I know this is probably a simple question & there are surely answers alll over the internets, so I understand if you skip it.
That said, I would be fricken stoked if you explained it. I reckon you'd do a better job than some pompous fathead. 

[michi42]

Hi,

how did this suface voltmeter work you had in the electrostatic shielding bags episode? Was ist some sort of charge amplifer / integrator? That would explain the funny "reset" button.
I built a rotary voltmeter "field mill" myself that overcomes this problems.
Keep up Blogging   

[scott216]

I'd like to learn more about the best practices for schematic layout.  I'd like to start putting some of my projects on Github for others to see and I'd like the schematics to look like they were well laid out and followed some accepted best practices.

[griffo666]

Hi...Great show...I am a beginner and using arduino..I know how much you hate cheap oscilloscopes but is it possible to use the dso scope or some other small cheap scope. for simple viewing of wave forms on an arduino board ..Just to see the output pwm for example...Thanks and keep the videos coming

[VK5RC]

Hi,
Some questions that are currently bugging me.
Is there a simple way to calculate the value of a NTC thermistor used to reduce inrush current in power supplies?
Is there a sensible way to store all the cables, power, DC, jumper and coax? How do they do it in big labs?
Again great series, Thanks
Rob

[SeanB]

Datasheets for the NTC inrush limiters are available from the vendors, and these have a range of currents they recommend for operation. Typically you use a single unit of around 5R or 10R for a running current from around 1-5A, and a lower value one for higher. Just remember that in use they do run quite hot, so must be not touching anything flammable and must be able to dissipate the heat generated, typically you also leave the leads at full length. during mounting.

As to cable storage you can use clothes hangers, tie hangers or any number and variety of hanging hooks available from the local hardware store. in your case in Australia/NZ Bunnings or B&Q.

[hammy]

@SeanB
You are doing the answers in this Q&A thread? 
If you answer them all Dave has no reason to make a video. 

Sorry, couldn't resist! 

[SeanB]

Plenty for Dave to make a video of still, just a quick answer to save time. I give a seat of pants answer that works most of the time, Dave will give the design criteria.

[idolstar]

My question is:

What are the biggest mistakes you see in beginners, and how can they (we) avoid them?

(It's probably a video on its own, which maybe you already made, I have not seen them all yet. Maybe there is one thing you want to pound into our collective skulls?)

[Rory]

What kind of EE- type video would you personally like to see, to complement what you put out? Any particular subject or style of video? Is there something you could do, but just don't have the time or inclination?

[mrbyte]

Hi Dave,

My question is how do you get into the industry?

I have a degree in computer science (which did include some electronics modules), and I also have a top grade electronics a-level. I love electronics and I would like to get into the industry, especially if I could be self-employed.

How easy would this be and what would I have to do to achieve it? I always tinker about with electronics at home as I love it and it would be great to get paid to do it too!

Thanks for all your videos by the way, I watch every episode and always end up learning something