EEVblog #1179 - Mailbag

Mailbag

Stempedia Electronics Learning Kit:

Powerfilm Solar flexible indoor solar panels and bluetooth development board.

Synwit 25 cent ARM micro

Xmas tree light PCB:

Casio Calculator watch teardown

Full length video cuts:

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[andrewobrien]

Completely agree about the electronics kit. It needs to focus more on circuits and electronic component theory rather then code if it is marketing it's self as an electronics development kit. I got into electronics with snap circuits which is a kit where you can build your own circuits using conductors and components that you can snap together. I was hoping this kit would be more like that because its a really great way to learn basic electronics.

[Sharklops]

That mascot looks like the result of some poor engineer showing up late to a meeting and being told that since they had a nice camera they were now the "marketing department" for the company.

[motormadness]

Dave - the tree stands in the 3d printed presents ! doh

[Kris_M]

It seems learning electronics is understood by many as meaning "using electronic devices" instead of "learning electronic components and circuits"

[MajorQuux]

I’m the guy who sent in the Christmas circuitree. Thanks for the post, Dave; I’m glad you liked it! Here’s a bit of elaboration for anybody who’s interested.


I sent this in with USPS Priority Express, to try to get it to Dave in time for Christmas; that failed. Tip to others: if you put “Now that’s a knife!” on your box, and also send it right before Christmas, it might get held up in Sydney!

Thanks, Dave, for the idea about using back-firing LEDs! The project I based this on (my last PCB, built in the 80s, which I alluded to) incorporated the components as part of the decoration, and that’s what I wanted to do here. I found out that SMT parts don’t really lend themselves to decoration (but that’s why there’s so many electrolytics). For my next run, I might make more artistic decoration on the back silkscreen, and reserve the component layer for just proper components. Thanks for the idea!

Oh, speaking of the silkscreen: yes, I did hand-sign each of these; that’s a silver Sharpie paint pen. My home tests showed that it was not conductive, but I still kept vias away from the signature area just in case.

As some others speculated, the red 3D-printed object is a stand for the tree. Since the stands have to be individually printed, my source files let you build versions that have a plaque with names on them (the GitHub link has an example photo). I sent Dave one without a plaque because I didn’t know if he’d want one that says “Jones”, or “EEVblog”, or what.

I deliberately kept routing away from the top of the tree, so that recipients could drill a hole there. I didn’t actually have the manufacturer drill the hole, though, since I felt it distracted from the primary use case (using the stand). An earlier revision was meant to be hung on the tree, but I couldn’t really manage safety aspects of a LiPo with exposed PCB traces being hung on a dead tree decorated with flimsy metal tinsel filaments in my grandmother’s house. Call me paranoid, but that just didn’t sit right with me.

The BRIGHT+ and BRIGHT- buttons do indeed support either multiple touches or long presses. I originally had them designed for long presses, but after watching people use the prototypes, I saw that many people pressed it multiple times in quick succession. The current firmware responds to the initial press with a large change, and then keeps changing the brightness as long as the user holds down the button. Important tip: get random people to test your prototype! As many as you can!



Dave, I hope you enjoy the tree! I had a lot of fun building this, and had EEVblog playing during most of my design time, so felt it was only right that I send you one. Thanks for checking it out, and for all the great videos!

[izimsi]

Johnny, Johnny
yes papa?
learning electronics?
yes papa

[stevecoatesdotnet]

This video was interrupted twice by adverts for a dodgy looking 'help to buy solar' scheme. Funnily enough one of them came up when Dave was talking about the solar cells :).

[assesassington]

the mascot in those electronics training videos made me cringe D:

[mysockC]

Does need a lot more electronics rather than just programming. You have the prototyping board, why not toss in some transistors and ICs.

[clynesnowtail]

Ah, memories. I had one of those very Casio calculator watches through out middle and high school. I only remember it being held hostage by teachers very rarely. A couple years ago I noticed they were still selling them and bought one for the nostalgia. Unfortunatly I seem to have become allergic to stainless, maybe due to me wearing it all the time while I was growing up, I dont know. I get a itchy rash the exact contour of the back after only a few hours and I ended up only wearing it once or twice. Still, its a neat piece to me so I keep it around. My problem with stainless was the reason I bought the long discontinued all plastic Pebble smart watch and I wore that constantly for a couple years without issue, but the strap is broke and I dont know if its worth replacing as I can tell the battery is going downhill rapidly. Sometime I need to look at a replacement.

[WreckDiver]

I know you feel this is hokey, but I showed this clip to my 11 year old...he was laughing and actually enjoyed it. Granted, my son is developmentally delayed, but he did enjoy this. The biggeer issue my son had was it was hard to understand her sometimes.

[yarnix]

25:17 christ dave, the 3d printed presents has a slot in it. the presents are the base...

[Sixta]

To skip the commercial, click here 13:00
To skip the second commercial, go to 22:39

[redherring]

Dave Neo is the best bit. Shows what those Australian electronic engineers know. Must be all that time they spend upside down and all. In all seriousness Neo is great.

[magnusanglert]

I noticed there has been a lot of interrupting youtube ads in the videos lately. By purpose or something youtube is enforcing? :-(

[VegetarianFeast]

I can see a good market for those kits. Will get my nephew one.

[willyarma_uk]

I love mailbag, definitely my favorite segment!

[Herby-]

Those solar cells look like they work better than "Solar Freaking Roadways" :-)

[MegaQwerty]

Dave wear gloves! He didn't specify what other kinds of liquids the watch fell in ;-)

[TheFoulMouthNews]

What that kit for the kids needs is someone who is like Mr Wizard to do the videos.