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About a year and a half ago, I reviewed a project using the smaller DC-DC converter board from the ZXY60xxS family. The power supply is in good shape and works perfectly well. But after using it for a while, I realized I wanted something different. So about a year ago, I started designing a more practical power supply (at least for my needs). Anyway, if you're curious what I cobbled together in the end, read on. Warning: lots of traffic, lots of photos.

Today I have a rather interesting device on my desk that can help where the popular IMAX falls short. It also has other advantages, although it doesn't replace one of the most popular devices for working with batteries. Anyway, if you're interested, come on in. I hope you'll enjoy it.

Many people here do their own home renovations, at least the people I know. During a renovation, you often need a level for laying tiles, installing doors and windows, fitting a ceiling, or hanging wallpaper. And that's not even counting shelves, cabinets, curtain rails, and the like. That's why today I'm reviewing a tool that helps with this challenging work. As always, I'll take a look, test it, take it apart, and share my conclusions.

Last month I posted a report on buying INR18650-25R batteries. Today, a report on my second “test purchase” from a store everyone knows—though this time the batteries are different: protected ICR18650-32A cells.

I saw the news about this soldering iron a few months ago. I don't think I need to say how much I wanted to try it. And since a soldering iron is one of my main tools at work, I was twice as eager to give it a try. Impressions, analysis, conclusions—all as usual, after the jump.

I got another Android TV box to review, but this time it's powered by the new Amlogic S905 processor. I'm curious to see how it compares with its predecessor. Let's take a look, get hands-on, take it apart, and test it.

Power supplies aren't always high-power units; some are very small, but no less useful for it. Today I have four representatives of this class of power supply on my “operating table,” but they'll go through the same tests as always.

<!--image_begin:https://www.kirich.blog/uploads/posts/2015-11/1448774040_48-volt-5-amper-i-240-vatt-ili-blok-pitaniya-kotoryy-smog-udivit.jpg|left|48 Volts, 5 Amps and 240 Watts, or the Power Supply That Managed to Surprise Me--><!--image_end--> Many of you know how much I like different power supplies. I’ve reviewed 5, 12, 24 and 36 V power supplies, and today it’s time for the next step: a 48 V power supply. So, a 48 V, 240 W power supply has landed on my workbench. We’ll take it apart, measure it, test it and, of course, analyze it.

The volt-ammeter, later known as the multimeter, is one of the essential tools for radio amateurs, radio engineers, and many others who work with electrical measurements. This time, I’ll talk a little about these instruments in general and two examples in particular. There’ll also be a short bonus mini-review at the end.

Today I plan to focus less on reviewing the tablet and more on testing Intel’s new generation of processors, Cherry Trail, which replaces the previous generation, Bay Trail. The previous generation was produced for about a year, and many mini PCs and tablets were released with these processors, so I was doubly interested to find out whether the new generation had made a difference to performance.

I’m a little late with this TV box review. One thing came up, then another, but I finally got around to it. At the moment, I’m more interested in mini PCs with the new Cherry Trail Atom running Windows, but I still keep an eye on their closest competitors: Android TV boxes. The usual routine: a look at the outside and inside, a few tests, and my conclusions. If you’re interested, come on in :)

I've already posted two reviews of mini PCs from PIPO, but this one is more of a “hybrid”—not just in terms of its OS, like the PIPO X7S, but also in its design, since this mini PC has a screen too. This mini PC isn't new, though; it's an improved version of its predecessor, the PIPO X8. Let's see what it inherited from its predecessors.

Sometimes I feel like no matter what I review, I always end up reviewing a power supply. But in this case, reviewing a power supply was the plan from the start. I’d seen it before, so I was even more interested in getting my hands on it and sharing my impressions with you. Tests, teardown, analysis—everything as usual, in the same place :)

Lately, failing electrolytic capacitors have become one of the main causes of radio equipment breakdowns. But for proper troubleshooting, a capacitance meter alone is not always enough, so today we'll talk about another parameter: ESR. I'll try to explain what it is, what it affects, and how it's measured in this review.

Today I’ll try to tell you about one of the most popular DIY measuring instruments. Or rather, not just the instrument itself, but a kit for building one. I’ll say right away: you can find one cheaper already assembled, but what could replace the fun of building an instrument yourself? Anyway, if you’re interested, come on in :)

In my previous power supply review, I touched on how to choose the right power supply. To be honest, I didn’t expect this topic to be so useful. In the comments—and even more so in private messages—people asked me about other aspects of choosing a power supply, how they work, and how to troubleshoot them. In this review, I’ll try to answer most of these questions, and perhaps raise a few new ones too :)

Continuing my series on electronic kits, this time I want to tell you about a device that can add to a beginner radio enthusiast’s collection of test equipment. It’s not really a measuring instrument, but it definitely helps with measurements.

A few times in the comments, and later in private messages, people asked me to review power supplies with a specific voltage. I replied that I’d try to get hold of some for review and testing. Today I’m reviewing a 5 V power supply. But simply reviewing it would be rather boring, so this time I’ll try to explain what the different components in a power supply do and what to look for when choosing one.