Share tips you have come across

[larryd]

Did you also arrange for a power supply for the flashlight or just rely to batteries?

I just rely on the batteries.
Rechargeable AAA battery X3, about 1/2 hour at low intensity (as seen in image).
Alkaline nearby for standby.

[Watcher]

I find that a " permanent " dc supply is increasingly  usefull on the workbench just like the mains outlets.
Just cant decide on the most useful voltage level to have around..5v, 12v...

[larryd]

I definitely like bench top supplies, some I use.

https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B073XJ11CS/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1   




https://forum.arduino.cc/index.php?topic=445951.msg3167665#msg3167665   




https://forum.arduino.cc/index.php?topic=446801.0   




https://forum.arduino.cc/index.php?topic=444118.0   

[larryd]

A good set of small wrenches is a must in an electronics work shop.
These are 'some' of my favourites:
Metric
https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B01GGV1V0E/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
SAE
https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B01GGV21V2/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
4"
https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B009MBGIMC/ref=pe_3034960_233709270_TE_item
2.5"
https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B077C3F6WC/ref=pe_3034960_233709270_TE_item

[TomGeorge]

I find that a " permanent " dc supply is increasingly  usefull on the workbench just like the mains outlets.
Just cant decide on the most useful voltage level to have around..5v, 12v...

A good power supply for Arduino and general micro-controller needs a current limit facility.
The limit only needs to be up to 2A and adjustable.
Any higher current then another 5V outlet to the higher current devices.
Tom...

[larryd]

3 quickies:

[datacabl]

I found an excellent way to mount my Mega into a project box. Check Mouser part # 561-RV250. A small plastic standoff made by Eagle plastics. Cheap and requires no fasteners. Can be installed and removed easily. Non conductive. Also good for external boards added to the project.

[larryd]

PDF of the above.
https://www.mouser.ca/datasheet/2/267/EPD-200705-1180072.pdf   

Yes those are good.

[rmlazzari]

Hi,

I'm not sure it's a real tip but maybe could be useful for somebody.

I've built a device to listen music using 18650 batteries. To charge the batteries I use a TP4056 charger manager. This TP4056, through two MOSFETs, interrupts the energy to the set player+amp when the batteires voltage gets low (I guess near 3.4v, 3.5v...), then the radio stops playing. But as the batteries are not required more, even without recharging it, it recover a little charge by itself (I believe). And the TP4056 MOSFETs turno the radio on again. And as soon as the radio is turned on, the batteries got low charge again and the TP4056 again turn it off.

This issue make the sound device become on, off, on, off several times at the end of the batteries charge. It's not awsome when it ocoours near I'm getting sleep at night. But it could be worst if the application is more important or critical than a sound gadget, so I'm bringing the solution I've got:

When the batteries turn off the set player+amp, it turns off too a flip-flop key, wich only can be re-turned on pressing a button. This flip-flop is based in a CI called 555.

Here the story of the sound device, the solution I've got from a brazilian forum and the original flip-flop scheme:

https://rmlazzari.wordpress.com/2018/01/14/para_ouvir_musica/

http://www.bowdenshobbycircuits.info/page9.htm#555-T.gif

https://www.clubedohardware.com.br/forums/topic/1290420-como-criar-chave-stand-by-liga-desliga/


Please excuse the brazilian english, reply if I got misunderstood and hope this could be useful.

[WattsThat]

Can be fashioned from three wooden tongue depressors, the smaller, thick ones work best. Can be found in craft stores in the wood aisle.

Cut the end of one to server as a spacer and glue together.

Hold the body of the device and pull towards yourself. Rotate and repeat.

Made and used these thirty plus years ago where we made military and very high end precision resistors.  After burn-in and whatever else the parts needed, this is how they straightened the leads prior to shipment. Works well for tinned and gold plated leads without damaging the finish. It will also remove any oxide layer if they're old, pre-lead free leads.

[larryd]

I often need to cut equal lengths of heat shrink tubing.

A 5/16" thread rod coupling nut, a bolt and a lock nut makes an effective cutting gauge.

[terryking228]

Larry, Larry, Larry!   

You Gotta print The BOOK....

I'll Buy it.


I'll give it away. 


TOO many DUMMIES books out there with really crappy photos; YOURS are great.

[westfw]

You Gotta print The BOOK....

Unfortunately, Books with nice color photos are expensive to print :-(
(What a great medium the Internet is, eh?)

[Tazling]

My vote for the champion of the "unexpectedly useful soldering tip" category doesn't go to the crooked type J, but to the type K Knife tip.

I just have to say thanks, a thousand thanks, for making me aware of the existence of this fantastic soldering tip.  I have been using the nearly-needle fine ones to get in among crowded pads and pins, but they deliver so little heat (tiny area) that it's slow work.  This knife tip is the bee's knees!  its knife edge and point are fine enough to sneak in there, but it has real mass and I get flow almost instantly.  Plus as you note, it can bridge two pads... hey, it does everything!

This is now my go-to soldering tool.  The super fine tip I still keep around on a spare iron, but I'm an enthusiastic convert to the type K for just about every task.  Haven't found anything yet that it can't do.  I do note that it's worth the steep-ish price to get the genuine Hakko item though, as the "Hakko compatible" ones from Banggood and similar outlets are crudely made, blunt, and clumsy by comparison to the real deal.

[larryd]

Further to post #655.

Add a ring magnet to the coupling nut's entry hole.

To the ring magnet, add a washer with a hole slightly larger than the heat shrink being cut.

The washer gives a flat surface for the nippy cutter's blades to rest on.