Search found 98 matches

by gadgeteer
Sun Jun 01, 2003 9:52 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Novel high voltage source
Replies: 20
Views: 9301

Re: Novel high voltage source

I've heard about the microwave clothes drier; 30% less time and 50% less power. (Or was it 50% time and 30% less power???) Always wondered how they would handle snaps & zippers grommets. (Maybe Grommit from "Wallace and Grommit" would know about grommets...)<p>Anything wire-like in a m...
by gadgeteer
Fri May 30, 2003 11:57 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Battery charger
Replies: 21
Views: 9348

Re: Battery charger

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Rodney: Gadgeteer, you are quite a bit off in your statements, especially on NiCads. Don't take my word for it, consult the experts such as one of the manufactureres or rcbatter...
by gadgeteer
Fri May 30, 2003 12:20 am
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Battery charger
Replies: 21
Views: 9348

Re: Battery charger

I neglected to mention HYSTERESIS; sorry 'bout that. Generally there is a tiny bit of feedback, so that once the control switches ON, it feeds back a little voltage to your "sense circuit" --- so that (on a car battery anyway) it charges to 13.8-15 volts, then remains off until the battery...
by gadgeteer
Tue May 27, 2003 4:10 am
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Hold reading on LCD meter readout
Replies: 7
Views: 3963

Re: Hold reading on LCD meter readout

Electronic Goldmine is currently selling WHITE SURFACE-MOUNT LED's for 49¢ each...<p> www.goldmine-elec.com <p>To add a HOLD button, we would need to know the circuit of your meter; you can't simply kill the CLOCK on the voltmeter chip, 'cause the display is almost certainly MUTLIPLEXED (so only cer...
by gadgeteer
Tue May 27, 2003 4:02 am
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Battery charger
Replies: 21
Views: 9348

Re: Battery charger

Gee, Will, you'll ruin your eyes! (Didn't your mom ever tell you that???)<p>You can also use an SCR to auto-charge batteries. If you full-wave-bridge-rectify the output of a transformer, you can connect it to the battery through the SCR; and simply power the GATE through a resistor, and have a zener...
by gadgeteer
Tue May 27, 2003 3:49 am
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Fuse for Fluke 8000A meter
Replies: 7
Views: 3730

Re: Fuse for Fluke 8000A meter

THe hard part is getting a good solder connection between the fuse-wire and the endcap. Easy to do on ONE end, but harder when you're re-assembling the SECOND end. Any "compromise" you might do, would be to LOWER the max current; besides, fuses almost always pop in the MIDDLE --- and deffi...
by gadgeteer
Mon May 26, 2003 5:53 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Fuse for Fluke 8000A meter
Replies: 7
Views: 3730

Re: Fuse for Fluke 8000A meter

If you touch a hot soldering iron to a glass "littlefuse" for a few seconds, the metal end will just pop right off. You can then install a new fuse wire, either copper magnet wire (current subject to experimentation) or buy a cheap new fuse and cannibalize. That will get you a quick and ch...
by gadgeteer
Mon May 26, 2003 5:39 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Battery charger
Replies: 21
Views: 9348

Re: Battery charger

NiThe general rule of thumb is to charge batteries at 1/10 their amp-hour-rate. Car batteries are usually in the 80-amp-hour range, so 6-10 amps is fine. Certain batteries DO take "quick-charge", but regardless of the battery type that will shorten the life . You can charge batteries eithe...
by gadgeteer
Wed May 21, 2003 8:04 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: led display
Replies: 6
Views: 3899

Re: led display

One or two might be fun to play with. Want a SASE?
by gadgeteer
Tue May 20, 2003 11:51 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Rear View Mirror
Replies: 12
Views: 6112

Re: Rear View Mirror

How long do you have to pour alcohol (we assume isporopy 70%?) after you glue your fingers together?
by gadgeteer
Mon May 19, 2003 11:58 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Equalizer
Replies: 8
Views: 4294

Re: Equalizer

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr>Are you sure? I should open the case, ignoring the huge lightning bolt and warning of high voltage on the back? <hr></blockquote>Heh heh --- it's never stopped me. They do that to avoid LEGAL stuff....
by gadgeteer
Mon May 19, 2003 11:35 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Rear View Mirror
Replies: 12
Views: 6112

Re: Rear View Mirror

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr>They cost $275 in 1980.<hr></blockquote>Holy cow! That's what the new electrochromic ones cost! I was aware of the "wedge-shaped-mirrors", but only the ones with the MANUAL lever; didn't k...
by gadgeteer
Mon May 19, 2003 1:55 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Rear View Mirror
Replies: 12
Views: 6112

Re: Rear View Mirror

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr>Thanks for introducing a topic that was a step beyond dead<hr></blockquote>He he he! Hopefully it WAS a "step-beyond-dead"... ;) <p>The new Chryselors have the "electrochromic" m...
by gadgeteer
Sun May 18, 2003 9:47 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Pager Application
Replies: 14
Views: 8782

Re: Pager Application

That would seem easy to "fry it" with a direct wired connection. And you would need "inside information" (IE schematic) for the connection... What kind of pager are we talking about --- maybe one that passes DTMF digits to a speaker? Perhaps a microphone (acoustic-modem-style) dr...
by gadgeteer
Sun May 18, 2003 4:48 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: 555 output in m.a
Replies: 6
Views: 3510

Re: 555 output in m.a

Having been on the "seeking end" of information quests, and so many times wishing that a gifted person would jump in with an appreciated answer, I suspect that most magazine and forum contributers simply enjoy lending a hand. This and the prospect of discussing electronics, which is genera...