Category Archives: Electronics

Wall-mounted PC Build

A few weeks ago, I decided to build a custom wall mount for my PC! I’ve been wanting to ditch my old Dell computer case and also make the heat sinks easier to clean. The key components are a PCIe … Continue reading

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Lighting Retrofit, pt 2

Finally the time has arrived to tear out our kitchen lighting and install LED can lights. I had a lot of fun laying out the design, and even more fun drilling into my ceiling. So far the new lights have … Continue reading

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Mini-split thermal imaging

One of the advantages of owning a thermal camera is that you can inspect HVAC systems whenever you like! The mini-split heat pumps I work with provide a great example and so far this one shows no significant degradation in … Continue reading

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Lighting retrofit

I just finished a kitchen lighting retrofit so I thought I would share some of the things I learned. Our kitchen had four 40W T12 fluorescent bulbs when we moved in and by the time two of bulbs stopped working … Continue reading

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Building the Custom LED Vanity

For this build we are making a wall-mounted vanity mirror with about a 2000K to 8000K color temperature range.  White LEDs are available in this range but they typically achieve the color temperature target using special composition and density of … Continue reading

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Abella, enclosed

Although Abella used to live in a shoebox, now the electronic musical instrument has been fully soldered and packaged in a project box.  The prototype is complete!

abella_annotated.png Continue reading

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Household thermal imaging

I am now the proud owner of a Seek Thermal infrared camera!  Let’s play a game: it’s called “guess the subject of this photo”!

Taken with SM-G920T, Android 5.0.2 Continue reading

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Computer upgrade

Merry Christmas to me! It’s time for a motherboard upgrade. Here are the components I selected:

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USB toggle switch extension

Last week I found myself in need of a USB toggle switch.  Such a device would allow me to toggle the power on a USB device without having to unplug it.  It is true – I suffer from a disorder that requires me to construct a USB switch rather than simply unplug my devices.

This simple device uses a USB extension cord and a slide switch connected to the +5V power line (the red wire).  If you happen to have a device  [such as an external video card] that requires to be reset every few days, simply toggle the switch when a reset is needed.

usb power switch Continue reading

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Upgrade halogen->LED

We have two 300W halogen flood lamps in the house, but I decided it was time for an LED upgrade.  I selected the Cree 18W (90W equivalent) flood lamp as the replacement.  I wanted to keep the 6ft tall lamp stand and dimmer, but remove the halogen housing, thermal runaway circuit and reflectors.

20150621_122018 Continue reading

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