Author Topic: EEVblog #697 - Mailbag  (Read 41913 times)

0 Members and 2 Guests are viewing this topic.

Offline EEVblogTopic starter

  • Administrator
  • *****
  • Posts: 37664
  • Country: au
    • EEVblog
EEVblog #697 - Mailbag
« on: December 30, 2014, 05:03:31 am »
A bumper mailbag, the last one for 2014!

SPOILERS:

A car dashcam and custom automatic LCD video player from:
http://eve-radio.com/

Girl time!
And old GPS unit, and a PIN Calculator from Gemma & Liz a.k.a Annierak and Hoofbag
http://www.hoofbags.me.uk/
https://www.youtube.com/user/hoofbags
http://www.annierak.hoofbags.me.uk/

Blood Glucose meter

Crappy calculator with secret construction technique - cardboard!

High voltage Victor power supply modules

PicoPSU ATX Power Supply for embedded automotive computers:
http://www.mini-box.com/M3-ATX-DC-DC-ATX-Automotive-Computer-car-PC-Power-Supply?sc=8&category=981

Bubble memory from an old GRiD laptop computer.

I Dream Of Wires documentary DVD about the development of the electronic synthesiser.
http://www.idreamofwires.org/

The Human Comparator:
http://thehumancomparator.net/

http://www.spitzenpfeil.org

Precision electronics knives from:
http://ghlargh.com
https://www.youtube.com/user/Ghlargh

High altitude ballooning PCBs from Chris Stubbs:
http://chris-stubbs.co.uk/wp/
https://www.ukhas.net/

And an awesome drawing of Sagan from That Crazy Indian Bloke

 

Offline nitro2k01

  • Frequent Contributor
  • **
  • Posts: 843
  • Country: 00
Re: EEVblog #697 - Mailbag
« Reply #1 on: December 30, 2014, 05:28:01 am »
Since you asked for comments on that...
How about you split the mailbag episodes into two videos, you could maybe call them A and B videos (#697A and #697B in this case.) In the A video, you open the mail, read the letter, and spend maybe maximum 3 minutes on each item. In the B video you explain what something is in more detail, test something quickly, or do a mini teardown. Of course, an item will only be in the B video if it's actually needed. Maybe that will make both camps happy. But maybe that gives you too much editing work?
« Last Edit: December 30, 2014, 05:35:46 am by nitro2k01 »
Whoa! How the hell did Dave know that Bob is my uncle? Amazing!
 

Offline Monkeh

  • Super Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 7990
  • Country: gb
Re: EEVblog #697 - Mailbag
« Reply #2 on: December 30, 2014, 05:45:56 am »
The shutters on that socket are indeed activated by the earth pin. They're a one-piece plastic moulding in a runner, with a bevelled tip for the earth pin. They simply get pushed out of the way against a spring when you insert the plug.

By the way, you seem to have been attempting to check continuity between contacts and terminals with the switch off. Not only were you probing the line pin, but that is almost certainly a dual pole switch, so even with the shutters open, you'd get nowhere like that on either side. ;)

If you want to open it you'll have to drill out the rivets holding the earth bar on the back, the ones in the screw holes. Alternatively, just crack the whole plate off with a hammer or something.

E: Actually, that may be a socket which requires both live pins to open the shutter, not the earth. More prone to jamming.
« Last Edit: December 30, 2014, 04:25:30 pm by Monkeh »
 

Offline RobertoLG

  • Frequent Contributor
  • **
  • Posts: 361
  • Country: br
Re: EEVblog #697 - Mailbag
« Reply #3 on: December 30, 2014, 05:52:34 am »
Dave, please continue doing the teardowns when you open the mailbag stuff if possible, I  enjoy it, thanks
 

Offline robbak

  • Contributor
  • Posts: 29
Re: EEVblog #697 - Mailbag
« Reply #4 on: December 30, 2014, 06:15:34 am »
Please continue doing mini teardowns and examinations. We learn a lot from them. Yes, you probably won't ever catch up, but I'd rather have some missed packages in order to have your interesting commentary!
 

Offline BobC

  • Supporter
  • ****
  • Posts: 119
Re: EEVblog #697 - Mailbag
« Reply #5 on: December 30, 2014, 06:23:09 am »
I like the idea of separate "A" and "B" videos, one for the mailbag bench and one for the teardown bench.  The goal being less editing for you (like the blabs), yet with all the yummy content your viewers desire!

Viewers could add the links between the video timelines, for those wanting to bounce between the two videos to get a more linear experience.  Something to try at least once, perhaps.

KUTGW,

-BobC
 

Offline jancumps

  • Supporter
  • ****
  • Posts: 1272
  • Country: be
  • New Low
Re: EEVblog #697 - Mailbag
« Reply #6 on: December 30, 2014, 08:45:17 am »
Seems the video is missing from the eevblog home page:

 

Offline LA7SJA

  • Regular Contributor
  • *
  • Posts: 237
  • Country: no
  • Acting user manual reader & forum search engine
Re: EEVblog #697 - Mailbag
« Reply #7 on: December 30, 2014, 09:27:58 am »
Yes! It seems to be missing, but you can try this.



JFG
"If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is probably not for you"
 

Offline jancumps

  • Supporter
  • ****
  • Posts: 1272
  • Country: be
  • New Low
Re: EEVblog #697 - Mailbag
« Reply #8 on: December 30, 2014, 09:32:45 am »
Yes! It seems to be missing, but you can try this.



JFG

Yes, I was just flagging that it's missing. Should have made that clearer.
 

Offline woox2k

  • Regular Contributor
  • *
  • Posts: 54
  • Country: ee
Re: EEVblog #697 - Mailbag
« Reply #9 on: December 30, 2014, 10:09:03 am »
You could just leave out 2 minute teardowns from Mailbag but make teardown tuesday videos include those missed "2min teardowns" as well that would never get their own teardown video. (They are still interesting) This suggestion is only for a case where you have too many packages to open and cannot keep up with the inflow. If you don't have many packages to open then just keep doing what you do.

Or you could just start making "Weird Wednesday" videos where you slap together all sorts of stuff that does not fit into other videos. 2min teardowns, 2min reviews to stuff from mailbag and so on.
 

Offline hikariuk

  • Supporter
  • ****
  • Posts: 206
  • Country: gb
Re: EEVblog #697 - Mailbag
« Reply #10 on: December 30, 2014, 10:46:25 am »
*waves at Chris Stubbs from Maldon*
I write software.  I'd far rather be doing something else.
 

Offline ornea

  • Supporter
  • ****
  • Posts: 135
  • Country: au
Re: EEVblog #697 - Mailbag
« Reply #11 on: December 30, 2014, 10:48:32 am »
My two cents ... I like the mini tear downs.  I learn so much.
 

Offline ornea

  • Supporter
  • ****
  • Posts: 135
  • Country: au
Re: EEVblog #697 - Mailbag
« Reply #12 on: December 30, 2014, 10:56:19 am »
I would happily pay an annual fee for the ABC to keep it quality and impartial.
 

Offline nathanpc

  • Supporter
  • ****
  • Posts: 138
  • Country: br
    • Innove Workshop
Re: EEVblog #697 - Mailbag
« Reply #13 on: December 30, 2014, 11:47:57 am »
I really love the mini teardowns, please keep doing them. :)
 

Offline Kean

  • Supporter
  • ****
  • Posts: 2054
  • Country: au
  • Embedded systems & IT consultant
    • Kean Electronics
Re: EEVblog #697 - Mailbag
« Reply #14 on: December 30, 2014, 12:29:05 pm »
Due to rules in Australia on sales of knives to minors, importation of knives and daggers is restricted, and customs could have confiscated those scalpels.
Same for laser pointers!  They're trying to take away all our fun things one by one...  |O
http://www.customs.gov.au/site/page4369.asp
 

Offline ondreji

  • Contributor
  • Posts: 43
  • Country: au
Re: EEVblog #697 - Mailbag
« Reply #15 on: December 30, 2014, 12:56:50 pm »
Chip & pin is a good thing (google for EMV). Painful to use but safer that SMS one time password. The point is that your online transfer is signed by your card: you need to enter destination account and amount and you get unique signature which can be checked by the bank. (some malware is able to change destination account / amount when you hit submit but in this case signature will be different)

But Australian banking so behind that they might skip this technology at all :). Finally, last year, the banks agreed on real-time payments which are common in many EU countries since early 2000.
 

Offline Mark Hennessy

  • Frequent Contributor
  • **
  • Posts: 305
  • Country: gb
    • My electronics and audio website
Re: EEVblog #697 - Mailbag
« Reply #16 on: December 30, 2014, 01:14:15 pm »
"150VDC nominal" sounds a lot like 115VAC after rectification and smoothing.

I've seen lots of those modules in broadcast kit here. Usually in 3U Eurocard format, with mains input stuff mounted on the PCB ahead of 2 or 3 of the modules. They haven't been the most reliable things we've known.
 

Offline firewalker

  • Super Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 2450
  • Country: gr
Re: EEVblog #697 - Mailbag
« Reply #17 on: December 30, 2014, 01:18:48 pm »
Is this compression for 720p ok? I think it used to be quite sharp. Is it a youtube issue?




Alexander.
Become a realist, stay a dreamer.

 

Offline GreyWoolfe

  • Supporter
  • ****
  • Posts: 3649
  • Country: us
  • NW0LF
Re: EEVblog #697 - Mailbag
« Reply #18 on: December 30, 2014, 03:10:10 pm »
We have safety outlets that are similar here in the US.  They look just like the regular outlets that mount in the wall boxes.  I have installed them in the Granddaughter's bedroom so she can't stick anything in them.  They work very well.  In fact, it takes a bit of effort to insert a plug into them, I was not able to put anything else into them.  I probably could have with some excessive force but the granddaughter can't.  That made her momma and SWMBO very happy.
"Heaven has been described as the place that once you get there all the dogs you ever loved run up to greet you."
 

Offline ShawnD

  • Contributor
  • Posts: 12
Re: EEVblog #697 - Mailbag
« Reply #19 on: December 30, 2014, 03:16:43 pm »
We have safety outlets that are similar here in the US.

Those require something to be inserted in both the live and neutral sockets at the same time to open (http://www.nfpa.org/safety-information/for-consumers/causes/electrical/tamper-resistant-electrical-receptacles is the first link I found).  It looks like they are becoming required by code.

I guess the UK requires 3 prong plugs even when grounding is not needed since they use the earth pin to open the shutter.
 

Offline SNGLinks

  • Regular Contributor
  • *
  • Posts: 136
  • Country: gb
Re: EEVblog #697 - Mailbag
« Reply #20 on: December 30, 2014, 04:07:23 pm »
The shutters on that socket are indeed activated by the earth pin. They're a one-piece plastic moulding in a runner, with a bevelled tip for the earth pin. They simply get pushed out of the way against a spring when you insert the plug.

By the way, you seem to have been attempting to check continuity between contacts and terminals with the switch off. Not only were you probing the line pin, but that is almost certainly a dual pole switch, so even with the shutters open, you'd get nowhere like that on either side. ;)

If you want to open it you'll have to drill out the rivets holding the earth bar on the back, the ones in the screw holes. Alternatively, just crack the whole plate off with a hammer or something.

It was being held upside down :) or are plugs and sockets upside down in the southern hemisphere?
 

Offline Monkeh

  • Super Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 7990
  • Country: gb
Re: EEVblog #697 - Mailbag
« Reply #21 on: December 30, 2014, 04:08:58 pm »
The shutters on that socket are indeed activated by the earth pin. They're a one-piece plastic moulding in a runner, with a bevelled tip for the earth pin. They simply get pushed out of the way against a spring when you insert the plug.

By the way, you seem to have been attempting to check continuity between contacts and terminals with the switch off. Not only were you probing the line pin, but that is almost certainly a dual pole switch, so even with the shutters open, you'd get nowhere like that on either side. ;)

If you want to open it you'll have to drill out the rivets holding the earth bar on the back, the ones in the screw holes. Alternatively, just crack the whole plate off with a hammer or something.

It was being held upside down :) or are plugs and sockets upside down in the southern hemisphere?

Even the people are upside down, down under!
 

Offline Tek_TDS220

  • Regular Contributor
  • *
  • Posts: 74
  • Country: 00
Re: EEVblog #697 - Mailbag
« Reply #22 on: December 30, 2014, 04:23:57 pm »
Regarding the mini-teardowns during the mail-bag, I think they are more efficient.  If you did them separately, you would need to re-introduce the device and the sender.  Either way, I will continue to watch.

Incidentally, I just bought an Agilent DSO-X 2000 scope based on one of your videos.  I never would have considered it otherwise. It is amazing.  I may have to change my username.
 

Offline lewis

  • Frequent Contributor
  • **
  • Posts: 704
  • Country: gb
  • Nullius in verba
Re: EEVblog #697 - Mailbag
« Reply #23 on: December 30, 2014, 05:32:31 pm »
Incidentally, I just bought an Agilent DSO-X 2000 scope based on one of your videos.  I never would have considered it otherwise. It is amazing.  I may have to change my username.

I moved over to Agilent from Tek because of Dave, he's cost me a fortune. Never looked back!
I will not be pushed, filed, stamped, indexed, briefed, debriefed or numbered.
 

Offline classical

  • Regular Contributor
  • *
  • Posts: 60
  • Country: de
Re: EEVblog #697 - Mailbag
« Reply #24 on: December 30, 2014, 06:59:02 pm »
Nowadays the German mains plug "Schuko" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schuko) also have the schutters over L and N. They are activated by pressing both L and N simultaneously. 
 


Share me

Digg  Facebook  SlashDot  Delicious  Technorati  Twitter  Google  Yahoo
Smf