Electrical Engineering V2 - Developers

[QUOTE=BuG;41325210]It will probably make a magnificent smoothing cap for the electric chair. You know, for even cooking.[/QUOTE] Indeed~ i shall be careful with it...

[QUOTE=pentium;41322256]I don't know what to use this for besides killing people.[/QUOTE] Send it to me so I can kill some people with it.

[IMG_thumb]http://i.solidfiles.net/afb1cf7f1e.jpg[/IMG_thumb] [b]Clickable[/b] This is why you shouldn't buy things I made. Yes. You are looking at a 88-108 MHz FM transmitter, as seen by a scope and (my new sexy) frequency counter. I like how it outputs such a nice carrier. Also note how I broadcast somewhere in the analog television part of the VHF band, according to that counter.

[QUOTE=nuttyboffin;41325079]cut the wires off for connectors, mabye find some pipe it fits into, then use it as ammo for a spud cannon![/QUOTE] Charge it first and have two sharp prongs sticking out the front, electricution ammo.

[QUOTE=Chezburger;41336209]This is why you shouldn't buy things I made. [/QUOTE] dat freeform [editline]7th July 2013[/editline] Anyone in here gotten into BEAM much? It's what first got me interested in electronics really. Pretty easy to make interesting things if you can figure out a clever way of using a component. Also some of the freeform soldering is sexy as heck: [img]http://www.beam-wiki.org/w/images/e/e1/Microcore.jpg[/img] I mean just look at this shit, it's like some kind of electronic turbo engine or something. You can get some pretty organic looking designs too [img]http://www.theoddrobot.com/images/nanner_0406.jpg[/img] :D

[QUOTE=Falcqn;41339135]dat freeform [editline]7th July 2013[/editline] Anyone in here gotten into BEAM much? It's what first got me interested in electronics really. Pretty easy to make interesting things if you can figure out a clever way of using a component. Also some of the freeform soldering is sexy as heck: [img]http://www.beam-wiki.org/w/images/e/e1/Microcore.jpg[/img] I mean just look at this shit, it's like some kind of electronic turbo engine or something. You can get some pretty organic looking designs too [img]http://www.theoddrobot.com/images/nanner_0406.jpg[/img] :D[/QUOTE] I had a BEAM walker I was working on, but its parts are scattered through various boxes from the last time I packed.

Has anyone had experience with these? [url]http://shop.ciseco.co.uk/xrf-wireless-rf-radio-uart-rs232-serial-data-module-xbee-shape-arduino-pic-etc/[/url] I'm basically looking for something to use to communicate between a small-ish RC plane (Arduino) and a laptop. Xbee seem expensive. Cheers

Hc-05 bluetooth module can be had cheap. I use them on my multirotors for minor wireless adjustments. What sort of distance do you need?

[QUOTE=Tw34k;41364921]Hc-05 bluetooth module can be had cheap. I use them on my multirotors for minor wireless adjustments. What sort of distance do you need?[/QUOTE] The smallest Xbee was rated at 120 meters, and would probably be enough, but 200 meters would be nice. I'm open to suggestions though.

I'm currently playing around with a pair of these: [url]https://www.sparkfun.com/products/9582[/url] They seem pretty reasonable, supposed range of 200m, they work at 100m in clear space fine. [editline]8th July 2013[/editline] That said, connecting them up is a bit of a bugger.

What about the NRF24L01+ breakouts? Though if you're using 2.4Ghz for your control it's probably not such a good idea.

I bought a mini compressor thinking that it could easily supply me with enough air to clean my computer. The compressor works at 12V 6A, it's used for filling stuff like bike or car tires, if it's suitable for filling car tires it must be suitable for blowing dust away, right? Problem comes here, now that I've been testing the compressor it only blows at the force if you blew at medium strength. I tested how much amperes it takes and found out it only takes like 0,17A. Posted this here because you guys probably know how to fix it, if it can be fixed.

[QUOTE=Jerzy;41395179]I bought a mini compressor thinking that it could easily supply me with enough air to clean my computer. The compressor works at 12V 6A, it's used for filling stuff like bike or car tires, if it's suitable for filling car tires it must be suitable for blowing dust away, right? Problem comes here, now that I've been testing the compressor it only blows at the force if you blew at medium strength. I tested how much amperes it takes and found out it only takes like 0,17A. Posted this here because you guys probably now how to fix it, if it can be fixed.[/QUOTE] What are you powering it with. Where did you buy the compressor, link to compressor. Did you try measure the current under load. Correct me if I'm wrong but compressors are designed to compress air rather than blow it.

[QUOTE=Chryseus;41395247]What are you powering it with. Where did you buy the compressor, link to compressor. Did you try measure the current under load. Correct me if I'm wrong but compressors are designed to compress air rather than blow it.[/QUOTE] It's a really cheap compressor but still thought it could do it, and I did measure the current under load. The compressor is [url=http://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=n&prev=_t&hl=fi&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.biltema.fi%2Ffi%2FAutoilu---MP%2FTyokalut-ja-korjaamon-varustus%2FPyorat-ja-vanteet%2FPienoiskompressori-15217%2F]this[/url], that's with Google Translate, checked that it didn't translate it too horribly. I'm powering it with a 12V transformer, it's rated at 2,25A.

Yeah the specs are not all that good, as I expected it has a rather poor flow rate of 12 litres per minute which is about equivalent volume to a small balloon per minute. Not all is lost though, you could fill a compressed air tank and use that.

Oh, didn't think 12l/min would be that low. Am I fucked or is there something I can do with this?

[QUOTE=Jerzy;41395632]Oh, didn't think 12l/min would be that low. Am I fucked or is there something I can do with this?[/QUOTE] Fill a tank, add a valve to it.

Yeah a compressor does not move much air, not even larger compressors can blow enough air to work as dust cleaner. You have to fill a tank at a high pressure, then you can use it like you expected.

What would be the smallest tank a sane person would get for my purposes? I'm not going to blast the air around for my entertainment, just a few blasts here and there. I'd still like to keep the compressor set-up as small as possible.

[QUOTE=Jerzy;41397503]What would be the smallest tank a sane person would get for my purposes? I'm not going to blast the air around for my entertainment, just a few blasts here and there. I'd still like to keep the compressor set-up as small as possible.[/QUOTE] This might help. [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4neHvJ346g[/media]

[QUOTE=ddrl46;41398970]This might help. [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4neHvJ346g[/media][/QUOTE] I really dissagree with that idea, it looks VERY dangerous.... i recommend getting some drainage pipe and solvent welding each side on, one of the sides you should have a pressure valve for like 100psi max.

[QUOTE=nuttyboffin;41401046]I really dissagree with that idea, it looks VERY dangerous.... i recommend getting some drainage pipe and solvent welding each side on, one of the sides you should have a pressure valve for like 100psi max.[/QUOTE] Eh, not really, the worst that can happen is it leaks slowly, or a seal breaks and it empties over the course of a few seconds.

[QUOTE=nuttyboffin;41401046]I really dissagree with that idea, it looks VERY dangerous.... i recommend getting some drainage pipe and solvent welding each side on, one of the sides you should have a pressure valve for like 100psi max.[/QUOTE] I'd much rather have a bottle explode than some PVC pipe.

especially around compressed air i'm sure the pressures don't matter, but reading the odd horror story about compressed air spudguns using PVC and becoming fragile to the point where they explode into shards of pure pain its a major putoff

I own one of these: [t]http://images.palcdn.com/hlr-system/WebPhotos/84/847/8474/8474959.jpg[/t] Three gallons is enough for dusting and small jobs that need high pressure air in short bursts and they're between $80-$150. It's also really fucking tiny.

[QUOTE=nuttyboffin;41401046]I really dissagree with that idea, it looks VERY dangerous.... i recommend getting some drainage pipe and solvent welding each side on, one of the sides you should have a pressure valve for like 100psi max.[/QUOTE] I'd be more worried about one of those cheap compressors exploding than the bottle.

So I found the culprit to why my recent 555 faders have been acting up, apparently I shorted out the capacitors for them (external ones) while soldering. My *shit* RadioShack soldering iron has kicked the bucket and is now leaking line current through the soldering tip from the heating element, damn stung me a good few times...I've been pushing off a new iron for years, now the time for an adjustable one. Recommendations?

[QUOTE=LoneWolf_Recon;41409572]So I found the culprit to why my recent 555 faders have been acting up, apparently I shorted out the capacitors for them (external ones) while soldering. My *shit* RadioShack soldering iron has kicked the bucket and is now leaking line current through the soldering tip from the heating element, damn stung me a good few times...I've been pushing off a new iron for years, now the time for an adjustable one. Recommendations?[/QUOTE] Atten soldering stations and clones do quite a good job on a budget, Hakko FX-888 is also a very good choice, if you have the cash get a good adjustable Weller station.

[QUOTE=LoneWolf_Recon;41409572]So I found the culprit to why my recent 555 faders have been acting up, apparently I shorted out the capacitors for them (external ones) while soldering. My *shit* RadioShack soldering iron has kicked the bucket and is now leaking line current through the soldering tip from the heating element, damn stung me a good few times...I've been pushing off a new iron for years, now the time for an adjustable one. Recommendations?[/QUOTE] I have a cheap brand station that uses the tips for a hakko 900M, makes it super easy and cheap to get new tips as they're abundant on places like ebay.

[QUOTE=chipset;41412199]I have a cheap brand station that uses the tips for a hakko 900M, makes it super easy and cheap to get new tips as they're abundant on places like ebay.[/QUOTE] Is it [url=http://www.maplin.co.uk/60w-professional-lcd-solder-station-with-esd-protection-511927]this[/url]? Because I have one and it's awesome.