Electronics and technology blog    /    Materials for January 2019 year

Another isolated converter, this time stepping down 36–75 V to 12 V. It’s relatively low-power at just 15 W, but I still think it’s useful. A look inside, a little information from the datasheet, tests, and conclusions.

Continuing my series on components, I decided to post a review of current-sense shunts from the well-known company Isabellenhütte. I also needed these shunts for the power stage of an electronic load, and since I was ordering from one seller, I decided to get a variety and ended up ordering 6 values. I'll say right away: these are interesting shunts, but as always, more details in the review.

Not long ago, I posted a review of a QC 3.0 charger. It was very inexpensive when I bought it, but turned out to be not fully functional. In fact, the QC feature itself didn't work. To fix it, I found the right chip on Taobao, ordered it, repaired the charger, and decided to report back in case it might help someone.

Not long ago, I came across an interesting kit on Taobao—or, more accurately, not a kit but a converter control board, since it’s also sold separately. Curiosity got the better of me, so I decided to order one and give it a try. There was also a useful story involving the seller. Anyway, it’s best to read about it in the review.

This story began quite a while ago, around the middle of August, when I was writing a review of the Cubot Power phone. After publishing the review, I put the phone aside for a while, and a few days later I needed it to test how well it could scan barcodes. But then I suddenly discovered that the camera's autofocus had completely stopped working. That's what can happen sometimes when you take something apart. More after the jump.

This is my third review of TV boxes based on the Allwinner H6 system-on-chip (SoC). In my opinion, this processor is unfairly overlooked, with more attention given to models using Amlogic and Rockchip chips. Though the recently released models with newer Amlogic chips, made using a smaller process node, will probably draw even more attention. But let’s get on with the review: as always, I’ll take a look at the box, take it apart, run some tests, and wrap up with a summary table.

I posted a review of the YR1030 milliohm meter. It’s a great instrument, and I use it very often—not just when working with batteries, but whenever I need to measure low resistance. I also have a friend who works with batteries, and a while ago I suggested he buy one too. He was a little skeptical, but after seeing it in action, he decided to get one for himself. Knowing the specifics of his work, though, I recommended the updated YR1035 instead of the YR1030. Today I’ll explain how they differ and why, in this case, the 1035 is the better choice.

Not long ago, I reviewed a hybrid TV box with tuners for satellite and terrestrial digital TV. At the time, someone pointed out that “there’s almost the same one, but cheaper,” so naturally I got interested and ordered it for review. So today’s review is of the “budget” version, without the satellite tuner, but unfortunately with a few other compromises as well.

While working on the power stage for my new electronic load, I thought about using proper transistors to dissipate the “extra” energy, and the IXTK90N25L2 from IXYS caught my eye. But new ones from a reputable source cost a serious amount of money, so when putting together another Taobao order, I decided to buy some. More details after the jump.

I recently received another little package from Taobao, and I’m slowly starting to publish reviews of the items it contained. I’ll start with some small converter boards, especially since people have been asking me about them. This review covers boards with an input voltage of 36–75 V and a power rating of up to 50 W.

Since I started posting reviews of various useful things I bought on the Chinese marketplace TaoBao, people have been asking me more and more often: “Kirich, explain how to buy things there!” About a year or a year and a half ago, I posted a review that included some information about shopping on TaoBao. That was my first experience, though. Since then, I’ve made more purchases and learned even more of the ins and outs, so today I’ll try to tell you about them.

Following up on my review of buying ceiling lights, I decided to write an article about modifying their drivers—or, more precisely, about some interesting capacitors from Samwha, different types of electrical cable, and the details of working when you have a lot of boards to modify. I hope you find it interesting and useful.

Today I have a short review of a Samsung SSD. I probably won't have anything new to say, but maybe it will come in handy for someone.

As I was developing my new electronic load, I needed some low-resistance resistors. There was no rush, so I decided to order them from AliExpress. Find out how that turned out in this mini-review.

TV boxes based on the relatively new—or, more precisely, updated—Amlogic S905X2 processor started appearing for sale not long ago, and I ordered one of them almost immediately. I bought it on pre-order, and at the time it cost around $50. This TV box is interesting in its own right, although unfortunately it has a few drawbacks and some “teething problems.” More on all that in the review.

Following up on the discussion about counterfeit VTC6 batteries from AliExpress, I decided to show you another set from the same mold, but from a different seller. A look-over, a few tests, and some conclusions.

I often see comments along the lines of “brands don’t need advertising.” So today I’m taking a quick look at a branded camera from a very well-known company. In this case, I received the product for review. Inspection, tests, conclusions—all after the jump.