EEVblog #745 - Mailbag

Mailbag time again. Dave opens his mail. What random stuff awaits?

SPOILERS:
A vintage Japanese Sharp X68000 video game home computer from the 1980's
Teardowns of an industrial controller, a LED light controller, ABB industrial switchmode power supply, Casio FX-3800P programmable calculator, old Gossen digital multimeter and a German analog meter.
Belgian chocolate.
Surprise visit by Sagan
Two Kickstarter Projects:
Femtocow USB912
Bluetooth Audio Link (BAL)

A solar powered propeller hat and electronics business card:

Multimeter chipset:

Support the EEVblog through Patreon!

EEVblog Amazon Store (Dave gets a cut):
Donations:
Projects:
Electronics Info Wiki:

[OfficialDoayee]

Cheers Dave! Tom here (creator of BAL) :) Thanks for the positive comments. In explanation, the burn mark is from the reflow hot plate we were trying, it was our first try using it and we got the temp a little high, whoops! Ah well, won't happen on the real thing

[truck]

"Duck Tape" is a brand as well it WAS used for air Ducts (now they use the aluminum tape). The word Duck in Duck Tape comes from the embedded interwoven cloth fibers in the tape. Another definition of Duck is "a strong linen or cotton fabric, used chiefly for casual or work clothes and sails." So "Duck Tape" is correct, since it translates to "Interwoven fiber Tape".

[GadgetAddict]

There's a popular brand of duct tape called duck tape, I wonder if that adds to the confusion. For the 3D printed duck, you Just pause the print, insert object, resume ;)

[nickguy]

How does the cap get in the duck?  Psh.. easy.  You drop in a SMT ceramic cap, water it regularly and ensure adequate light, and it grows into an electrolytic.  Oldest trick in the book.  +1 for patience, though.

[sandmanxo]

I can't believe someone sent a X68000 for teardown. Unless it's completely shot it's probably worth fixing.

[Alexander-ivvd]

Do not be surprised if you get contacted by a lot of gaming channels for that X68000. That system is one of the harder pieces to get in your video game console collection, even if it is broken.

[weston]

Very nice to see the Casio fx-3800P. I bought mine in 1991, cost me about £20, and it has served me well. I think it is on only its second battery. I use it regularly and I much prefer its simple input to the modern ones with all the bells and whistles.

[FSdarkkilla]

Hey Dave I used to have exactly this meter when I was a kid. (The one from 3/67.) "Elektrische Daten" is not the name of the company, it means "electrical data" or "electrical characteristics". The manufacturer was "Elektro-Apparate-Werke Berlin-Treptow „Friedrich Ebert“" ("Electrical Equipment Factories" Berlin-Treprow [a disctrict in Berlin]) and it was made in the former GDR.

[BJfilms]

Hi Dave! Coolblue is a big internet store here in the Netherlands, they sell pretty much everything, mainly consumer electronics, but also toys, radios, garden stuff, kitchen stuff etc etc etc. Awesome stuff as always in this mailbag by the way!

[markhodgson]

Good luck with all the Kickstarters projects

[sauerdrops]

Hei Dave, nice to see the East German meter. I had the same, it was my first meter :-) The red button is not for overload protection. To do a measurement you have to push down the range selection knob after you seleted your range. With the red button you can release the knob.

[bfriesen]

Awesome, I'm looking forward to the X68000 teardown!

[trevordobbins_]

another great mail bag dave! keep them coming!


ABB has a facility here in St. Louis, Missouri.

[TUnit]

If that X68000 works it's worth a fair bit. Breaking out the big ones first today.

[illustriouschin]

Mailbag Mondays are worth watching on the big tv with couch and popcorn and coffee or beer hooray!

[Freyr]

Always puts a smile on my face when I see you have uploaded

[Michael_Michaels]

Watching Dave eating chocolate, made me want some too!!!

[adamadamhoney]

EEVblog  Casio 3800p did come with the wallet (i think) my Dad had one that looked exactly like that, and probably still does! Used to love it as a kid, just felt so much better than any calculator i ever had in school!

[hxliv]

Hey Dave! It looks, like the Multimeter is made by Hartmann & Braun. They are quite distinctive with the connectors on top. Best wishes from Germany!

[electronicsNmore]

You are going to have to rent a storage unit soon to have a place to keep all the stuff you keep acquiring. :-).