Not Quite Ordinary
15-12-2014, 22:36
When I started writing this review, I didn't even know what category to put this product in. I'd wanted to try this device for a long time (yes, a button can be a device too), and only got around to it now. That's what I'd like to share with you. As always, the rest is after the jump.
2200mAh 18650 Li-ion Battery for Power Tool: Could Be Better.
This story began when an acquaintance brought me a cordless drill for repair. He bought it on sale when a store was closing. The warranty has expired, and it won't work. When I opened it up, I found that one of the batteries had died. Then batteries for power tools showed up on the ChinaBay website—yes, that's exactly what they were called: Battery for Power Tool. I couldn't just pass them by, so I ordered one for testing. Read on for the rest of the story, the test results, and how I put it to use.
A Clock That Doesn't Tick
13-12-2014, 10:23
I'm almost certain that many seasoned radio amateurs recognized the title of an article published way back in 1988. Back then, these electronic clocks were sold as kits for home assembly and cost quite a lot: 16 rubles (and the most interesting thing was that the display alone cost even more). Many people probably got into building these clocks and tinkering with them, and I was no exception. If you're interested, read on—I think you'll like it.
A not-quite-ordinary power bank that couldn't escape a few modifications.
9-12-2014, 10:36
I've mentioned a few times that I also install video surveillance systems. So I decided to order this unusual power bank to help me out. What it is, why I got it, what's inside, and what can be done with it—read on.
CDRH104R Inductor Set and a Brief Trip Through History.
6-12-2014, 03:56
I needed some inductors for a project, and CDRH104R-type inductors seemed like the best fit. I only needed a few, so it would have been easier to buy them locally. But after browsing AliExpress, I decided to get a set with 10 values, five of each. Inductors are pretty useful things for a radio hobbyist to have around, so I figured it was a good call—they'd come in handy. But that's just the preamble; the story comes next.
IC for a Li-Ion battery charger.
5-12-2014, 01:29
I liked these small ICs for simple chargers. I used to buy them at a local brick-and-mortar store, but, as luck would have it, they ran out and it took them a long time to get more in from somewhere. Seeing how things were going, I decided to order a small batch for myself, since these ICs are pretty good and I liked working with them. Description and comparison after the jump.
A Simple Adjustable DC-DC Converter, or a DIY Bench Power Supply V2.
3-12-2014, 13:33
Many of you probably remember my saga of building a DIY bench power supply. But I've been asked more than once for something similar, only simpler and cheaper. In this review, I decided to show an alternative version of a simple adjustable power supply. Come on in—I hope you'll find it interesting.
TrustFire TF 16340 880 mAh, or when the result isn't what you expect.
30-11-2014, 04:25
This time I decided to experiment again with batteries in a less common size. Read on to find out what I got (and didn't get) in the end.
Notes from a Heavy Smoker, or Several E-Liquids for an E-Cigarette + Bonus
26-11-2014, 14:22
Continuing to experiment with e-cigarettes, I decided to order a few different e-liquids to try. I know quite a lot of people make their own, but there are still people like me who usually buy them. Anyway, read on.
TV box MXQ S85 Amlogic S805
20-11-2014, 12:48
While a review of a DVB-T2 tuner was a fairly unusual topic for this site, a review of a TV box won't surprise anyone. These devices have become very widespread, and in this review I'll try to tell you about one of them from the perspective of someone who hadn't used anything like this before. If you'd like to read about it and see photos of the outside and inside, read on.
AMC7135 or the revival of a notorious flashlight.
17-11-2014, 01:49
Not long ago, I posted a review of a small flashlight. In that review, I described a problem with the flashlight, specifically its faulty, unusable driver. Read on to see how I dealt with it. It won't be very long, but I think it'll be useful.
RFID 125 kHz reader, or DIY when you least expect it :)
16-11-2014, 11:11
In September, I posted a review of RFID key fobs, and now it's time to review something these fobs are often used with. Interested? Come on in.
TrustFire 18650 2400mAh: brief, but thorough.
15-11-2014, 09:59
Just recently, TrustFire came up in one of my battery reviews. I had just received some batteries from this very brand, and they were 18650s. This review won't be very long, but it may be useful. As always, the rest is after the jump.
12 V 180 W power supply.
9-11-2014, 08:15
I often use various power supplies in my work, mainly to power video surveillance systems. I mostly use products from a well-known brand, but they’re quite expensive these days, so I wanted to try (and test) an alternative high-power 12 V power supply. Read on for the description, photos, and conclusions.
Hakko T12 tips and using them in a non-Hakko soldering station.
8-11-2014, 11:42
I use a variety of tools in my work, but one of the most important tools for an electronics engineer is a soldering iron—perhaps the most important one. Soldering irons come in many different types. I mentioned one version of a mini soldering station in one of my reviews a while back. But I also have a second soldering station, which also needs consumables in the form of tips. That's what this article is about.
Compact infrared non-contact thermometer DT8250
6-11-2014, 13:47
I often need to quickly check the temperature of electronic components while working. I used to use a homemade contact thermometer with a DS1821 sensor. It was fairly accurate, but the contact measurement method has its drawbacks, so I ordered a small non-contact thermometer. If you're interested, the description and photos are below.
A decent DVB-T2 tuner at a reasonable price.
5-11-2014, 02:30
When I first started exploring Chinese online stores, I already wanted to buy a tuner for receiving digital TV broadcasts. But since using these tuners could cause problems here in our country, I didn't want to take the risk. When I was offered another product to review, I couldn't resist this time and decided to give it a try. If you'd like to hear the rest of the story and see photos of the outside and inside, read on.
RFID 125 kHz key fobs, a mini-review.
3-10-2014, 21:23
Since I also work with various access control systems, I sometimes use a lot of keys with RFID tags. To be honest, I was just tired of paying three times (and sometimes five times) as much for them, so I went looking for them in China. Read on to see how it went.















