Author Topic: Buying tips for the hobby  (Read 65223 times)

level42

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joeks

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Re: Buying tips for the hobby
« Reply #106 on: May 04, 2015, 08:47:17 AM »
Yup, looks handy.
When I installed a 60-in-1 pcb in my DK scratch-build, I used a standard switching PSU with custom harness (chopped of loom+connector from a standard PC psu).
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level42

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Re: Buying tips for the hobby
« Reply #107 on: May 04, 2015, 10:08:16 AM »
I bought a couple of them and I opened one. The build quality isn't the worst thing I've seen, actually pretty decent although no, it does not have a CE, TUV, KEMA or any other labels that indicate it's safe to use. I guess for this goal (powering a 60in1 pcb) it's fine because you normally don't let it run unattended.


joeks

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Re: Buying tips for the hobby
« Reply #108 on: May 04, 2015, 10:36:39 AM »
I see no problem and would use it myself on a future project I think.
Saves money and time of building a harness to a switching psu.
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level42

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Re: Buying tips for the hobby
« Reply #109 on: May 04, 2015, 10:49:44 AM »
If you want one let me know. I have 2 or 3 here now but I didn't need to use the one I was thinking of using.

joeks

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Re: Buying tips for the hobby
« Reply #110 on: May 04, 2015, 10:52:28 AM »
Thanks, but don't need one at this moment.
Might need them when I start a mini-cab scratch-build later this year though.
I will let you know.
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level42

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Re: Buying tips for the hobby
« Reply #111 on: May 14, 2015, 10:01:18 AM »
Because I found my Atari (blue) neon way too bright (almost white looking, and totally shining up my gameroom, which is not a good thing, believe me  ;D) I did another search for a solution to dim it.

There are no external dimmers for neons (and if they are there, they won't work with the modern switching one's). The one's I've been seeing around are priced at around the 50-60 dollars mark but this time I was lucky and found this:



http://www.ebay.com/itm/230V-EVERTRON-6kV-Neon-Power-Supply-Transformer-50-/160962651020

Looks to be good quality one's "Evertron" claims that they are manufactured in Kansas.... www.evertron.net / http://www.everbriteonline.com

They normally are around 50 bucks but it looks like they need to dump these because they are 230V _AND_ are not ROHS....so they go for 13 bucks each. I ordered two, not a bad idea to install the second one on the Pac Man sign.

Figured others might be interested too.

 Datasheet here: http://www.evertron.net/SP230V/006_0083.pdf

One word of warning: operating it below 45% may reduce the neon's life. But I guess around 50% will be just fine.
« Last Edit: May 14, 2015, 10:05:39 AM by Level42 »

level42

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Re: Buying tips for the hobby
« Reply #112 on: May 25, 2015, 10:48:42 AM »
These arrived. They are indeed US built and look high quality. They are also typically American sized, so pretty large for a supply that must power a small neon....hope they'll fit.

There are also no rubber boots on the wires, hope I can transplant these.

Etienne MacGyver

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Re: Buying tips for the hobby
« Reply #113 on: May 28, 2015, 11:34:14 PM »
My wife send me this vid by Facebook, looks handy  ;D





http://www.power8workshop.com/index.php

joeks

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Re: Buying tips for the hobby
« Reply #114 on: May 29, 2015, 02:36:17 PM »
Haha what a great thing, he made it look so easy. Wonder what the quality is like.
Probably better stick with my Bosch and Black and Decker powertools :)
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ckong

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Re: Buying tips for the hobby
« Reply #115 on: May 29, 2015, 03:46:03 PM »
Quality? Almost certainly shit.

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Re: Buying tips for the hobby
« Reply #116 on: May 29, 2015, 03:53:38 PM »
If you watch really closely you can see that the end of the video where he is packing up is just the beginning of the video played backwards
- BLANK -

Etienne MacGyver

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Re: Buying tips for the hobby
« Reply #117 on: May 29, 2015, 07:12:27 PM »
Ha ! indeed, you see the handle of the bag flying up to his hand  ;D ;D :D

level42

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Re: Buying tips for the hobby
« Reply #118 on: June 04, 2015, 12:29:57 AM »
Enough to not want that thing :)

Back on the neon power supplies: here's the effect of it.....I am REALLY happy :)

By the way, the color is much more BLUE in real life, the sucky Samsung camera just fucks up here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fpuEY6uEOVk&feature=youtu.be

level42

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Re: Buying tips for the hobby
« Reply #119 on: June 10, 2015, 01:42:56 PM »
Here's a Nice tip for a soldering station. I've read about Metcal soldering stations on US forums. Looks like they're the Rolls Royces under the soldering stations, including the price.

The big difference between a regular station and the Metcals is that they use radio frequencies to heat up the tip. How it works is explained here:
http://www.okinternational.com/metcal/english/globalnavigation/applications/hand-soldering/what-is-smartheat

There are a number of advantages with this design:
- quick heat up time
- very stable temperature, the moment you touch the parts you want to solder the heat gets increased very quickly.
- very small handle
- no heat in handle

Because of cost and lack of availability of them here in Europe (I had never heard about them until I started this hobby) and price I was never that interested but imagine my surprise when I was going through Reichelt's catalogue and finding this:

http://www.reichelt.nl/Soldering-Stations-XYTRONICS/STATION-LF-3000/3/index.html?&ACTION=3&LA=2&ARTICLE=110450&GROUPID=4543&artnr=STATION+LF-3000

http://www.xytronic-usa.com/MANUALS/LF-3000_flyer.pdf

Looks like it uses at least a similar technology, or maybe just the same but the price is a lot nicer.

I'm currently not in the market but this would be a very nice station for sure.