gadgets Archives

Gadgets, devices or small electronic tools designed to perform specific tasks, functions or processes. Novelty items, or novelty gadgets

January 14, 2023September 24, 2024

NOCO Jump Box

NOCO Boost Plus

NOCO 12-V Jump Starter Box

Gear – NOCO

Recommended: NOCO Boost Plus GB40 1000 Amp 12-Volt UltraSafe Lithium Jump Starter Box, Car Battery Booster Pack, that also functions as a Portable Power Bank Charger, and Jumper Cables and is suitable for use with up to 6-Liter Gasoline and 3-Liter Diesel Engines.

When you need a jump start because your battery is dead, I can’t recommend the NOCO Boost jump box enough. It has helped me over 5 times now in the span of a year. Once with my new SUV, and the others times with my JEEP. After swapping the battery as shown below, we were good to go. However, it was the jump box that kept us going during troubleshooting and testing. This has happened more than 5 times in year, which is more than most people experience in 10 or more years I highly recommend keeping a jump box in your car. The NOCO Boost GB40 is a safe and accessible booster pack with jumper cables and an ancillary charger for gasoline and diesel engines*. We recently used the NOCO jump box to start up the ’06 Wrangler after a radio and headlamp update. Of course this doesn’t come without it’s own issues, hence the need for a jump.

Battery Boost

NOCO Jump Box

NOCO Unboxing

Dead Battery

Charging

Clean Up

Fully Charged

Find this battery jump box and other recommendations on the shop page. Or, just a few suggestions here before you take off. The NOCO has saved our trips a few times now. Older vehicles get less use of them later in life, especially our off-road vehicles. That said, if you can pick up a NOCO jumpstart, do. They vary in price, so be wise. Two, the Schumacher 100 amp charger/start was our old go to. This charger/jump start does require an outlet… so you can see why we opted for the NOCO for now. No time to waste when we have dogs ‘in tow’ i.e. Ruby and Zeus.

We will be sharing the latest radio upgrades soon. Just know that we are no longer use the factory lamps, head unit, and speakers – we now use brands like Pioneer, Kicker, Bazooka, and more…

There are a few items I recommend in a pinch, this NOCO jump box, the blast match, a charging source (generator, 9v hack, batter backup pack) and some way to fashion some clean water – for drinking, cleaning, cooking, wound care, and more. Obviously food is another, but these few items can keep you safe and sound in most cases in everyday life, hiking on the trail, driving in the car (short/long distance). A pocket knife or all-in-one EDC tool works as well, for general maintenance, tool and/or application.

October 20, 2022January 22, 2025

Lockpick NES Video

Pick This!

The LockPicking Lawyer Picks The NES Lock

Tech | Tools – Lockpick NES Video – Latest From the LockPicking Lawyer

The LockPicking Lawyer continues to be one of the top content creators. For all intense and purposes, the LockPicking Lawyer is awesome. see more…

With great content, a shop called Covert Instruments and now on Rumble, @lockpickinglawyers has gained 18k subs. He is fetching 4.5M on YouTube! That is crazy sub numbers. Honestly, this is a great channel, this makes learning fun. Learning how this LockPicking Lawyer unlocks all kinds of locks including locks on an ’80s NES console, is fascinating. The more interesting lockpicks are for car locks, bike locks, gadget locks (like the one featured in the NES Console Lock video), and simple unlocks. Some of the cylinder locks, the name brand “master” kind of locks, and the videos of locks being gutted… might be the best, giving an insiders look at how locks work. That is very cool.

This is a fantastic channel. It’s very interesting to understand that locks provide more piece of mind or act as a deterrent rather than actually keeping someone out of whatever is locked. Honestly, it’s crazy to think about how simple locks are, and how easily they can be unlocked with the right tools. It’s dastardly, and creepy!

Watch this video and others like it on YouTube or check out our other videos found under the video category on our website.

December 20, 2021September 23, 2024

UST BlastMatch

Emergency? Get Your UST BlastMatch

Who needs matches or a lighter, when you got a UST BLASTMATCH

Tech | Tools – Camp Gadgets

EDC Camping Accessories – (UST) Ultimate Survival Technologies BlastMatch Fire Starter – Take a look and choose your favorite; we certainly recommend the – UST BLASTMATCH. Need a last-minute gift idea? We have used the Blastmatch for time to time, even while sharing a beverage around the campfire. Although campfires have been on hold during a winter hiatus, these blast matches are fantastic to have on hand for emergencies or leisurely use. There are plenty of videos and product reviews, available, so we won’t bore you with another product plug, but we strongly encourage you to have one handy. There’s nothing like promoting a product that actually works.

Get your EDC – UST BlastMatch today. Take your time with the device; the rod may shift side-to-side when striking the intended surface, causing a shower of sparks. Sticks with it as it is certainly more practical than a fire bow or an empty lighter. For the records, we always carry a few Bic lighters in various pockets of our camping pack and clothing. Typically, there is a lighter on my person as part of my everyday carry. Some people carry a lighter, cotton balls, an EDC knife, or a camp knife. The key is to be prepared if you are camping, trekking, on-the-trail, or stuck in a situation where you might need a light. Good luck.

Feel free to leave a comment below and let us know what you’re thinking!

December 13, 2021September 27, 2024

Light Phone2

Buy The Light Phone2 For Yourself

We Test, We Analyze and Use The Light Phone 2

Gear – Light Phone 2

Light Phone2 – Barebones Smart Phone, Simplified, Refined; No nonsense

Here’s a sneak peek, the Light Phone2 unboxing. Check out the new Light Phone 2 – ready to help you de-sanitize your digital life? It may take several weeks, or even months, before you receive your very own via the parent site.

Light Phone Unboxing

Unboxing

Phone

Case

Power On

Packaging

There are other sites of course, like secondhand via eBay, or specialty shops like Huckberry which might have an extremely limited quantity and we haven’t seen it for awhile on the site. Upgrade your life, by limiting connectivity; what a concept? TT (Tiny Tech) Certified technology, running Android in a small, easy-to-use case, with a clear text screen. Logic boards are out of stock for this particular model, battery… second go-around.

Received this back (LightPhone2 below) in Nov ’21, just unboxing it here in mid Dec ’21. Service is going to be an issue, but all the pieces work, turns on/off etc. Simple UI, simplified Android OS. Once we get ‘service’ for this thing, look for an update. Update coming mid 1st quarter ’22.

As usual leave a comment below, let us know what you’re thinking?

June 15, 2021September 27, 2024

iRobot Roomba 900 Series Teardown

iRobot Refurb Process

iRobot Roomba 900 Series Teardown

Lab Work – iRobot Back At It

Got a broken robot? We can help! Some might say that’s the worst, but fear not – the iRobot – 900 Series is here to save the day.

Let’s start by fixing this thing with an iRobot Roomba 900 Series Teardown. The great thing about iRobot/Roomba products is that they are easy to fix! Unless the board is fried, the main housing is smashed, or the plastics are destroyed. Even in those cases, parts are fairly easy to find. The key is to source, clean, install, and maintain what you have. Most, if not all, of this particular Roomba was fine. A good cleaning at the end of the repair was worth its weight in gold.

Robot Teardown and Repair

Teardown

Battery

Cleaning Bars

Bin

Repaired

Test Run

For those of you who don’t regularly electronics, robots etc. weekly, monthly or ‘NEVER’… friendly reminder, whatever the electronic device may be, they do yeoman’s work if you take care of them after every one or two uses. Additionally, the more you maintain them, the less you will have to throw. Remember, no pain, no gain.

A few tools to mention below, reiterating the previous comment, these are fairly simple to fix… for now. Learn the art of robot care, become a ROOMBA master sensei. This is a huge advantage for iRobot:

iRobot Home App
Philips Screwdriver (Rechargeable Drill* DeWalt 20v)
iRobot – Brushes, collector rollers, caster wheel and filter
Cleaner – Windex
Cleaner – Sprayway
Compressed Air

Links, Conclusion and More Repairs

In closing, I’d like to share some other articles, more recent articles on robot repair, 3D printer upgrades RC (radio controlled) and robot repairs, check out these articles.

Moreover, let’s look at a Bench Power Supply – Matrix Bench Supply, the need to power on electronics when the damaged robot or device is on the bench in pieces. Next, and one of my favorites, the Maytronics Dolphin On repair, explore water intrusion and effects of water intrusion, water damage and power unit swap. How about the Ender Direct Drive Upgrades – TPU Post Processing Update, a 5 part series on filament types, application of filaments, upgrades, troubleshooting and more.

Final link, check out the EMAX TinyHawk Repairs… more fixing, soldering, and flying. There are more articles in the TinyHawk series, approximately 6 or 7. Be sure to check those out, as well as the iRobot series continues. More recent work, but it helps tie in ‘process’ and troubleshooting unknown errors and testing. As usual, please leave a comment below and let us know what you’re thinking!

May 14, 2021September 27, 2024

D90 Firmware 1.1

D90 Maintenance and Firmware Updates

Update – Firmware v2.0

Materials – D90

D90 Archived Update

First, it’s time for an update. It has been a few years since I last updated the software on my Nikon D90, so the time has come to do do. Since the camera itself has been archived by Nikon, we will treat this article as a reference materials as well. While the D90 is a cool piece of gear, we also want to assist those who are looking to preserve their cameras. Therefore, the focus of this article has shifted a bit. It is now centered on firmware, where to find the downloadable content, and how to continue maintaining the D90. Let’s make sure we update the D90 firmware from version 1.1 to version 2.0.

The D90 has been archived by Nikon, and you can find more details on the Nikon D90 Website. Check out the archival pages for more information. I am sharing a few photos of the D90 a.k.a “Dub9” DSLR. Can I call it a “Workhorse” still? It may not have been at the top of the market in its day, but with a little love, care and a few minutes, you can bring your D90 up-to-date with the D90 Firmware version 1.1 update. When updating, make sure to use the correct SD cards to protect your memory cards and camera equipment.

D90 Update

Update Camera”

Covers On

Updated

Don’t forget to leave a comment! Also, be aware of a few “gotchas” during the process. Backup all photos and video before starting. It’s best to back up before beginning. Remove any add-ons and modifications where applicable, especially any aftermarket parts and accessories that are attached. We want to have a common baseline before the firmware update. Reinstall aftermarket parts and accessories after the update process is complete. Test out anything you think might need a few extra minutes. Otherwise, after the firmware update, you should be good to go!

As usual leave a comment below, let us know what you’re thinking?

September 1, 2020September 23, 2024

Multimeter PDF

Learn To Use Your Multimeter

Download the Innova 3320 Multimeter Manual

Materials – Innova Multimeter Manual PDF*

Archive – Innova 3320 Multimeter Manual

Click the Innova 3320 Multimeter PDF link below. For those of you who own an Innova 3320 Multimeter tool here is the link from Innova – form 3320. (( LOUD NOISES )) I don’t believe the manual was ever included in the original packaging. Buzz kill. PUN INTENDED. Not a huge fan of barcodes, nor the exclusion of manuals when purchasing tools. So, let’s work with what we have, again, a workaround for the time being.

However, QR codes help if you misplace your copy or Innova manual, not my preference. One improvement from my perspective Innova… kindly provide a manual with purchase. Provide a QR code for lost manuals or backup. While I’m on the topic, the barcode route requires a smartphone, tablet or smart device to capture the images, process the code (website link) and a web browser to view the document. Adobe Acrobat is required here for the Multimeter PDF Manual, for those of you who don’t have Adobe Reader handy. Again, not trying to belabor the point, a simple, newsprint weight or style, 8″x11″ (stapled or unstapled, doesn’t matter, bonus if it is in order) works as well.

Finally, when purchasing tools to evaluate electrical output, it probably should have directions. Again, sensitive subject. So, for the sake of simplicity, the Innova Multimeter archive has been written. As usual leave a comment below, share your thoughts on the use of barcodes to replace printed manuals, let us know what you’re thinking?

August 31, 2020September 23, 2024

Tool Needs

Measure Precisely, Calipers

Tool Needs – Neiko and Mitutoyo Calipers

Tech | Tools – Calipers

Archive – Tool Needs, the Neiko or the Mitutoyo Calipers

A handy gadget to have in and around the shop is a set of calipers. Make Neiko brand calipers your go to for precision measurements. If you already have a set of calipers and looking to replace current stainless calipers, consider the Mitutoyo Digimatic Caliper.

Regardless of which maker or brand you might choose, both are useful to have around the shop. We use one set for ‘more rugged’ measurements, such as automotive, outdoor or in not-so-clean environment. The other set stays indoors, ideally in a clean environment free of debris and contaminants. The main difference, in my opinion, is the metal-to-plastic ratio. I find it more accurate to use metal parts (Mitutoyo) compared to the metal and plastic hybrid (Neiko). Both function as mid-range calipers and are not terribly expensive. However, they are necessary for taking accurate measurements.

Check out these tools for yourself and see which one fits your needs best. Let us know what you find!

Comparison

Neiko Caliper

Mitutoyo Caliper

Question to all: Do you have a better caliper? Please let me know by sharing via email. I would also appreciate the use of comments for back-and-forth communication, especially when looking for a specific part, such as the calipers mentioned in the article or something else.

As usual leave a comment below, let us know what you’re thinking?

August 19, 2020September 26, 2024

On The Bench: Tech Tools

Hemostats, Rosic Core Solder, Weller, Harris, Jakemy

Soldering Kit, Tech Tools, And More

Tech Tools On The Bench - Soldering Kits, Tech Tools and More

Lab Work – What’s On The Bench

On The Bench – Soldering Kits, Tech Tools, Open Source OS and More

At first glance, our pro-setup, includes a solder kit and all necessary tools. It does the job well – I fixed the TinyHawk2 drone the other day. The nano was experiencing power issues with itsLEDs Having a soldering tool on hand is very useful. We use a Weller (soldering) tool for the job. Similarly, we have a Jakemy device care kit – which includes a tech screwdriver set, a essential for tech repair. I have used this set for repair. I have used this set for repairs, on Apple products, EMAX drones, tablets, and more. Eventually, we may upgrade the set but for now, Jakemy is the way to go based cost-effective choice.

RHEL/IBM

Secondly, the RedHat sticker is a memory I found, brought a found memory, brought to you by RedHat/IBM/RHEL (once an IBMer, always I guess). I have RHEL running in parallel with MACOS as I transition back into development and design. I am now working full-time on my own, thanks to those at IBM, ((a special shout out)) to Jim Whitehurst and the RedHat Cloud team working with them was a joy, open source Tech Titans.

I also have a few spools of Harris (solder) – Rosin Core .062″ made in the US. Harris solder is unbeatable. Next, I have a couple pairs of #Curved Hemostats, for repairs, which help keep pieces and parts in place.

The same goes for the coffee mug I’m using, filled with coffee from Heart Roasters. I also have a few other repair tools, including tweezers and a tool kit.

Oracle VBOX

Lastly, I have RHEL running on VBOX. The cropped image does not show the development setup, only the repair tools. I have my MacBook Pro running VBOX with RHEL (Red Hat) personal flavor and Ubuntu. I am relearning Linux Ubuntu, similar, but different from RHEL. As a dev type, I used a Lenovo Dev laptop running RHEL at work. Now, I am just running the operating system with the emulator as I switch it up and start building my own environment form home. Today, just running OS (version) with the emulator as I switch it up and start building my own environment for home.

As usual leave a comment below, let us know what you’re thinking?

August 17, 2020December 16, 2024

Barebones Torch Video

C Battery Light Source

One The Bench – Barebones Torch (Light Source)

Lab Work – C Battery Barebones Torch Video

Side projects: cleaning up some old solder welds, and built a small light source, see the barebones torch video. I thought I would put together a simple video showcasing how to make a small device that lights up a room using just a C Battery, Paperclip and a lightbulb see more…

I came across this video sometime ago and also saw it pop up in an at home science experiment. This is a simple little experiment with a C battery. Honestly, I would assume you could make this small flashlight with most electronics ‘sized’ batteries. Again, this is just an assumption of course, as I didn’t try the experiment with a difference size myself.

So, put together a barebones torch yourself. Simply choose a battery (preferably a standard C or D size battery), grab a paperclip, something that can transmit electricity and somewhat malleable. Untwist the paperclip, if you choose that as your connecting metal wire. Untwist and retwist the paperclip so that it can stretch each of the battery ends, being sure the metal can sustain pressure on both poles, positive and negative, and do the same for a twist around the bulbs base. This will allow the battery’s poles to pass the required electricity to light the bulb. Voila! Light in a pinch.

For more at home experiments or ‘light in a bind situations’, you can always see our video playlists, or check the video category on our website.