Two words. Lady Gaga.

Just kidding.

For me I usually put on some music that doesn't have lyrics--like metal or rock such as russian circles if I'm soldering, or techno/trance if i'm coding. Because coding is a rave.

Shields? I dunno, where are you going to be located? Hmm... And definitely the ATmegas with bootloader.

Wait--how did this turn into a sparkfun hate group all of a sudden? Either way, they're a business and their business is to sell things to get money. Can't blame them for doing that.

bingo! And yes i've checked everything connected to that part up to two components away... and all the large major ones. I'm thinking this was due to an inadaquate heat sink, and generally getting too hot. Can't tell for sure right now but i'll buy a couple extras for the repair just in case. Thanks to BroHogan for the find

So, here's the problem: I have a dead computer power supply that I want to fix to use for my electronics projects. Only problem here being that it's dead. I've looked at the board and identified the following component as the culprit (how, you may ask? the scorch marks around it, of course!):



A search that I went through said that this could either be a zener diode or a transistor (thinking it's probably a transistor...). The markings on the chip are: C5249, beneath that: 9N. I can't tell what the mark above it is, i'm assuming a manufacturer.

Anyone have any insights?

I just recently took over a small space in my basement; I used to have to work on my desk in my room. On the left is all my electronics stuff, all boxed in nomad mode, up as I just went down to get everything ready to go on vacation (gotta take the electronics to have something to do and it's about time i finish my 8x8 LED matrix). Anyway, the stuff currently on the bench is modified stuff ripped out of a microwave ready to be turned into another welder, the stuff under the table on the right is all my welding gear for the first welder I built, and the welder itself. I'm really happy to have shifted from a random box full of components to the organized drawers you can see on the left and right. It's modest, but it gets the job done for a high school kid.

guess who just messed up some of the anode/cathode stuff in their own 8x8 matrix?

*points to self* this one.

Wasn't too hard of a fix though, now it's working and i'm getting into code for it.

I'm starting to feel discouraged by realizing that I most likely won't get the free day promo, so i've decided to give up now and just pay for what I want (finally got the money yay!) but really I just want the stuff now so that I can start my next project =P

I suppose i could still make money trying to guess the time it ends.

God, I feel like we're in Lord of the Flies...

We definitely need rules/moderators. I wasn't really aware that we didn't have any. I've been familiar with how forums work ever since i first joined one (it's common sense really).

Just a quick sketch I did because I had nothing else to draw--so what else would be better than everyone's favorite I/O board?

http://jlipimpski.deviantart.com/art/Everyone-s-Favorite-IO-Board-121481749

you could use a CAD program like autoCAD, but you would either have to buy (ridiculously expensive) or download (illegal). Or you could find a freeware CAD program that will do just the same.

but if you already have a program you could just punch out the distances to represent the proper timing...