Category Archives: DIY

Review: Topdon TS001 9mm Adjustable Focus USB-C Thermal Camera (256×192/40mK/25Hz)

Posted on September 16, 2024 by lui_gough

The past few years have been quite exciting when it comes to thermal cameras. While they were formerly expensive, large, had slow frame rates and low resolutions, recent developments in Chinese thermal imaging sensors have bought the price down while … Continue reading →

Posted in Computing, DIY, Electronics, Photography, Tablet | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Review, Teardown: Ledvance 26W 3600lm 4000K LED Performance High Efficiency Panel (LDVPANHE060626W840)

Posted on July 10, 2024 by lui_gough

While I often advocate for not changing a light bulb until I have to, every-so-often, there comes a need for a lighting refresh. As I might be getting more into video content in the future, and as I work on … Continue reading →

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470lm of Fun: Click 6W | IKEA Solhetta LED 3.4W LED2218G3 | 2.9W LED2018G3

Posted on June 25, 2024 by lui_gough

Ever since I cracked open a light globe as a child and cut myself rather badly, I’ve always been captivated by lighting technology. As something most people take for granted on a daily basis, I’ve watched in awe as lighting … Continue reading →

Posted in DIY, Electronics, Lighting | Tagged , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Review, Teardown: IKEA Barlast 9.5W 25cm 900lm 2700K LED Oyster (005.260.31/21633)

Posted on June 16, 2024 by lui_gough

Visiting IKEA is something that I do on a near-annual basis. I rarely have a need for furnishing, but often I like to visit to see what’s new in terms of electronic stuff and pick up a few accessories for … Continue reading →

Posted in DIY, Electronics, Lighting | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Review: Kaiweets KTI-W01 Thermal Imaging Camera (256×192/50mK/25Hz/3.2″/32GB)

Posted on June 2, 2024 by lui_gough

It’s been quite quiet here for the past few months, as I was on an extended vacation. While overseas, I received an e-mail from a representative of Kaiweets which asked whether I’d be interested in reviewing a thermal camera – … Continue reading →

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Tested, Project: USB-C PD Trigger/Decoy Boards (YZX Studio ZYPDS, ZY12PDN)

Posted on October 22, 2023 by lui_gough

This weekend, I’ve been playing with some USB-C PD trigger (or decoy) boards again, as my order from China has finally arrived. YZX Studio ZY12PDN (again!) If this particular name and model sounds familiar, that’s because I’ve looked at them … Continue reading →

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Review: Xinfrared InfiRay P2 Pro Thermal Imaging Camera (256×192/40mK/25Hz)

Posted on June 12, 2023 by lui_gough

I was approached a little over a month ago by a representative from Xinfrared asking if I would like to review the Xinfrared InfiRay P2 Pro Smartphone Thermal Imaging Camera. Seeing as I had recently reviewed the Topdon TC004 which … Continue reading →

Posted in Computing, DIY, Electronics, Tablet | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Random: Happy Birthday, Reflections, Time Sinks & Toilet Rolls

Posted on April 23, 2023 by lui_gough

It’s literally been weeks since I have posted on this blog and it makes me uncomfortable just saying that … as I have been meaning to write but things keep getting in the way. This past month has been a … Continue reading →

Posted in Audio, DIY, Electronics, Opinion, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Review, Teardown: Andonstar AD208 8.5″ 1080p Digital Microscope

Posted on April 2, 2023 by lui_gough

There’s always something missing on my workbench … but slowly, I’m filling those gaps in. This time, I’m filling the hole for a microscope, mainly to look at solder joints on PCBs and occasionally markings on chips and other objects. … Continue reading →

Posted in DIY, Electronics, Photography | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Review: Topdon TC004 Handheld Thermal Imaging Camera (256×192/2.8″/16GB)

Posted on March 12, 2023 by lui_gough

Thermal imaging is like magic – by measuring the infrared light emitted by a surface, you can infer the temperature of the surface if you know its emissivity. Being non-contact, it’s a safe way to measure the temperature of items … Continue reading →

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Review: Jashen JS-D18 Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner

Posted on March 4, 2023 by lui_gough

In what seemed like a bit of a Christmas miracle last year, I browsed OzBargain just at the right time to spot a battery-powered cordless stick vacuum selling at a very appealing price of just AU$38 delivered from Amazon AU. … Continue reading →

Posted in DIY, Electronics | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Project: Solid-State Mux – New Code, Performance, Stress, Resistance, B/W & Power Tests

Posted on October 3, 2022 by lui_gough

This post follows on the previous where I first came up with a design and built a 40-input 1W/2W/4W solid-state relay-based USB/LAN multiplexer. Not being content with just getting it working using some hastily cobbled code, I spent some time … Continue reading →

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Project: Banana to Terminal Block Breakout (or Where Are My Binding Posts?!)

Posted on October 2, 2022 by lui_gough

On the subject of quashing little annoyances with PCB design, a recent trend that has been slightly annoying to hobbyists is the tendency of power supplies to come with only shrouded banana sockets on the front panel. While this is … Continue reading →

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Project: DA-15 (D-Sub) Breakout for R&S NGx/LCX Digital I/O

Posted on October 2, 2022 by lui_gough

When I was young, I never imagined that I would be designing PCBs for manufacture overseas, rather than doing it at home. But ever since JLCPCB stepped up with their offer, I can now get five double-sided boards of up … Continue reading →

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Project: USB/LAN 40-Input 1W/2W/4W Solid-State Relay Multiplexer w/RP2040

Posted on September 24, 2022 by lui_gough

Running experiments has been a big part of my electronics hobby and having test equipment is quite important to making that happen. While I am most fortunate to have been involved in many element14 RoadTests and have had equipment donated … Continue reading →

Posted in Computing, DIY, Electronics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Random: 5M Views, Vivid Sydney, Flash Memory Fails, Renovation Relics & More

Posted on June 19, 2022 by lui_gough

It’s about time for yet another random post! Life has been very busy lately, in part due to family commitments, some special requests by readers, participating in a number of challenges over at element14, working on a few reviews in … Continue reading →

Posted in DIY, Electronics, Event, Photography, Salvage, Travel, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Notes: Cheap Crimps – Weights, Thicknesses & High Current Torture

Posted on March 20, 2022 by lui_gough

Since discovering the magic of a ratcheting crimper, I’ve been making plenty of crimped connections for my hobby needs. What started as a nice pack of 300 assorted crimps from Jaycar had slowly become depleted of several useful types of … Continue reading →

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Quick Review: Wowstick SD Combo Manual Screwdriver Set (PD01020271)

Posted on March 13, 2022 by lui_gough

It’s probably true that most people could do with an extra set of screwdrivers. I know that when I go to reach for one, usually I have to go looking as it’s left behind somewhere, so when the Wowstick SD … Continue reading →

Posted in DIY, Opinion | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Notes: 3D Printer Filament Spool Weights

Posted on March 5, 2022 by lui_gough

Once you’ve been 3D printing for a while, you’re sure to amass a tower of used filament spools, as I’ve done … This is a side-effect of the fun and practicality of 3D printing – the generation of (mostly) plastic … Continue reading →

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Post-Mortem: A Smoky Triple-Gang Wall Plate Light Switch (Mercury MCC311SW)

Posted on March 4, 2022 by lui_gough

Sydney has been hit by quite a deluge of rain recently. This has caused havoc, from leaky roofs to completely flooded towns with loss of power and telecommunications. Thankfully, I’m mostly unscathed, but today I received a worried call from … Continue reading →

Posted in DIY, Lighting | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Project: Repairfryer – Dealing with a Chip Shortage (of a Different Kind)

Posted on February 20, 2022 by lui_gough

Air fryers seem to have been a bit of a craze – even we’ve had one for a few years and they’re absolutely brilliant for making up some chips quickly. Our particular unit was a bargain-basement Kitchen Couture 3.5L unit … Continue reading →

Posted in DIY, Electronics, Salvage, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Quick Review: FLIR TG267 Thermal Camera

Posted on December 30, 2021 by lui_gough

While I am usually quite well-equipped when it comes to test equipment, I have been long wishing to own a quality thermal camera. Where an infrared laser thermometer lets you measure the apparent temperature based on measuring long-wave infrared radiation … Continue reading →

Posted in DIY, Electronics | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Quick Review: Bosch IXO 6 Li-Ion Cordless Screwdriver

Posted on December 23, 2021 by lui_gough

Heading towards the tail-end of the year, sometimes I can’t help but spoil myself with a few presents (to myself, of course). Because of the volume of online shopping clogging up courier services around the place, I started early but … Continue reading →

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Notes: Hyper Extension JN-1360 (H) 750W/1HP Treadmill Repair

Posted on November 13, 2021 by lui_gough

It would have been a long time, perhaps close to a decade, since my Dad decided to buy a treadmill. The treadmill in question was a bottom-end, abnormally-cheap K-Mart special. Branded Hyper Extension, it was obviously an import product which … Continue reading →

Posted in DIY, Electronics | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

Random: NBN HFC Speed/Spectra, Fixing Old Electronics, Scam Calls, Oven Sabotage & More

Posted on November 6, 2021 by lui_gough

It’s been too long between random posts, so without further ado … here’s another bunch of random thoughts from my mind and scraps which didn’t really deserve their own post. NBN HFC Speed Testing Recently, my aunt faced the looming … Continue reading →

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Project: Crude Inverter V2 (Downlight Transformer) & Efficiency Measurements

Posted on September 16, 2021 by lui_gough

Apologies for the inconsistent blogging schedule – I’ve been totally swamped with work (as usual), but some things take more time than expected as I keep thinking of new things to try. This post is a follow-up to my previous … Continue reading →

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Project: A DIY Parts-Bin Crude Square Wave DC to AC Power Inverter

Posted on September 7, 2021 by lui_gough

It’s been a while since I’ve done a project of my own, but I had a bolt of inspiration all of a sudden thanks to my recent repair of a sub-standard modified sine-wave inverter from China (and a brief mention … Continue reading →

Posted in DIY, Electronics | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Review: Trouver POWER 11 Cordless Vacuum Cleaner (VPL4)

Posted on May 23, 2021 by lui_gough

It seems that the era of cordless-everything is here, ever since Dyson announced they would stop developing corded vacuums and instead would focus on cordless models instead. While they certainly do have a few iconic cordless stick vacuums in their … Continue reading →

Posted in DIY, Electronics | Tagged , , , , | 8 Comments

Project: Modified Car Fridge “Pro” Mk II – Sabotaged by Cheapness?

Posted on May 2, 2021 by lui_gough

Readers may have noted my fondness of my modified car fridge for battery testing experiments as I don’t have a proper environmental chamber as they’re expensive. Unfortunately, while the cheap car fridge may be capable of reaching 10 degrees C … Continue reading →

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Project: Convert a Car Fridge into an Environmental Chamber?

Posted on January 23, 2021 by lui_gough

In a previous posting, I looked at a low-cost thermoelectric car drinks fridge. Given that I have no car, nor drinks that needed cooling, why would I buy such a fridge? As it turns out, in my previous Li-Ion cell … Continue reading →

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