Hello All, I have been battling this cold and flu stuff and loosing.

Here is a pretty cool article on how to build a high-end flash sync.  Most non-powered flash syncs only work up to around 100 feet and are only sensitive to infrared light.  The designer of  this unit is a cave explorer and has put together a pretty impressive design.

The photo diode used in this unit is sensitive to both visible light and infrared.  As a result this unit can be used underwater.

The site owner still sells PCB boards and kits, and offers a commercial version called the firefly.

Nice documented site.

caves.org.uk/flash/slv023/index.html

caves.org.uk/flash/slv051/index.html

caves.org.uk/flash/newsletter.html

Hello All,

I am back from China. It was a cold but exciting trip. I had the opportunity to check out some computer and technology markets when I was in China. I took some pictures and did a little shopping when I was there. More pictures and details to follow.

(more…)

The wife and I are going to China for the holidays

I will be away from my Hacked Gadgets post for two weeks.

I just wanted to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

In Chinese Happy New Year is 新年快樂 (Xin nian kuai le!)

I will be checking out some Chinese electronics swap meets and some other gadget related locations. If all goes well I will post some articles and pictures when I get back.

Merry Tesla, Happy Christmas, The best to you all!

Thanks

Joe Pitz

Here is a well documented DIY tutorial on how to build a basic electronic speed controller. The article takes your through a ground up process on how to build the circuit as well as how to program the PIC that controls the speed controller.

The article does indicate that the design does lack sophistication, but this is a good place to start. You could use this design as a learning process and then modify the circuit as needed.

DIY - Electronic Speed Control

Oh Boy, This is getting really scary. I have not given this much thought, but as I read this article I was hit with a ton of bricks. Pretty soon we will be able to hack ourselves!!!

Liquid polymer neural interface

Here is another one. Guess who could be the rat?

Datajack implant for Rats

Digital processing of rat brain neurons

Normally I do not care much for seasonal DIY hacks, not because they are not cool, but often other sites do way too many of them at a time.

Here is a pretty cool version of a Tesla Coil. No photoshop what so ever. Just some creative setup, some gel filters and a 91 second time exposure.

Merry Tesla, oops! I mean, Christmas.

Tesla Christmas Tree

Are you a vacuum tube audiophile? Some audio nuts claim that there is nothing better than the sound of a vacuum tube amplifier.

With all of the latest break-through semi-conductor technology, why would anyone want to use 30 year old, or older technology???

Check out Tube Cad Journal for the answer.

John Broskie’s Guide to Tube Circuit Analysis & Design web site is packed full of data, software and audio kits that take you back to the era of the analogue nature of audio.

Why is vacuum tube better?

Here are a few quotes from one of John’s articles:

“The built-in vacuum tube preamplifier enables you to experience the highest quality sound
normally you can only find in premium Hi-Fi audio equipment.”

“Music is dynamic and is played to be heard by human ears. The analogue nature of
tube gives a more pleasing sound to the nonlinear human ear-brain hearing system.
Tube sound has less distortion than solid-state sound and audiophiles
always prefer tubes for their clean, warm and far more detailed and life-like sound.”

“Audiophiles find the tube preamplifier product a more faithful and detailed reproduction in
comparison to the solid-state preamplifier.”

So plug your ipod or Zune into a vacuum tube amp and hear the difference.

Or even better, build your own DIY vacuum tube amp.

The Tube CAD Journal