Podcast Episode 313: Capacitor Catastrophe, Wireless Energy, and Miniature Marvels
Ready to jump across the pond and join Elliot Williams and Jenny List as they return from a whirlwind adventure in Berlin and our beloved European scene? They've got all the juicy details to share, from the insanity of badges and SAOs, to the electric vibe of that city that never sleeps.
Once we've caught you up on the weekend's escapades, we dive headfirst into the world of hacks. From thermal cameras moonlighting as microscopes, to wireless power transfer that could give Tesla a run for his money, we've got you covered. Let's not forget to take a trip down memory lane and revisit the capacitor plague from the early 2000s. Was it industrial espionage gone terribly wrong or something more sinister lurking in the shadowy corners of the electronics world?
Next up, we ponder the potential of spring PCB connectors, taking a peek into the lives of both a European SAO and a highly unusual PCB resistance decade box. But don't blink, because you might just miss our tiny, yet astounding PCB blinky, which has set a new miniaturization record!
In our speed round, we dig up a few hidden gems. A 1970s British synthesizer kit and an emulated 6502 system written in shell script, should keep the tuneful and nostalgic among us more than content. And for those who can't resist the lure of fresh new technology, we've got a new contender vying for the title of smallest microcontroller, and a tantalizing theory that hidden fortunes in rare earth elements may be buried beneath a century's worth of coal ash.
Hit the link below to tune in and join the fun!
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### Episode 312 Show Notes:
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Interesting Hacks of the Week:
- Digging into the Capacitor Plague of the Early 2000s: No, it wasn't industrial espionage that brought about the failure-prone electrolytic capacitors. Instead, it was a manufacturing defect in the electrolyte formula used by Taiwanese manufacturers causing a swelling, leaking, and even exploding nightmare for motherboards and power supplies[2][3].
- Transforming Your Cheap Thermal Camera into a Microscope: Why settle for just seeing temperature when you can take a closer look?
- Wireless Power Transfer Over Longer Distances: It's the future, baby! Who needs wires when you can power your gadgets from across the room.
- A Decade Resistance Box From PCBs: Crafty little devices made from your favorite circuit boards.
- World's Smallest Blinky, Shrinking Even Further: Tiny circuits with big potential!
- Building a GPS Receiver From Scratch: Because DIY isn't dead, it's just getting smarter!
Quick Hacks:
- Elliot's Picks:
- Breathe New Life into a 70s Maplin Synthesizer: Classic tunes for the classic synth lovers.
- Making FDM 3D Prints of Resin Models: Bridge the gap between two print types.
- Art Meets Chemistry and Mechatronics: The perfect recipe for a captivating experiment.
- Solving Noise Issues with Current Mirrors: Mute that noise and enjoy the silence.
- Speeding Up Your Projects with Direct Memory Access: Neither time nor memory management can hold you back anymore.
- Jenny's Picks:
- Pebble Pick-up: In desperation for a charge? Pebble to the rescue!
- Silencing SMPS: Sick of the hum? Let's calm things down.
- Shell Scripted 6502: Aunesome relic of a bygone era reimagined.
- Resurrecting a Kodak Picture Maker: Snap happy, even in the 90s!
Can't-Miss Articles:
- Our fascination continues: What would you do with the world's tiniest microcontroller?
- A Hopeful Look at Coal Ash: Could our trash hold the key to a treasure trove? The possibilities are endless!
1. We'll delve into the DIY world with a look at transforming your cheap thermal camera into a microscope, showcasing the potential of technology outside its intended use.
2. In the realm of gadgets and electronics, let's not overlook the intriguing development of spring PCB connectors, a subject that's sure to pique the interest of both Europe-based SAOs and enthusiasts worldwide.
