Electronics
242 episodes · Page 3 of 11
#5263: Why Micro USB Ports Break and How to Fix Them
Micro USB ports fail mechanically, not electrically. Here's why they break, how to diagnose it, and whether a USB-C swap is worth it.
#5235: Wiring Smart Patio Lights Through Home Assistant
Picking a Zigbee RGB controller is the easy part — sizing the power supply and keeping mains water out is where patio lighting projects live or die.
#5127: Brushless vs Brushed Motors: What You're Really Paying For
Carbon blocks, copper windings, and a controller that changes everything. Here's what "brushless" actually means on your tools.
#5125: Why Your Cordless Tool Dies While Plugged In
Power path management explained — why your Dremel can't charge and run at the same time, and what it would take to fix it.
#5082: Why Mechanical Keyboards Refused to Die
The surprising economics and community revival behind the keyboard that wouldn't stay dead.
#5071: Power Stations vs UPS: What Actually Runs Your Tools
Why a power station beats a UPS for running tools anywhere — and the simple math to size one right.
#5070: HUD vs. Portable Screens: Solving Car Nav in the Heat
Daniel's tablet melts in the Israeli sun. True HUDs can't show maps, but portable CarPlay screens might be the real answer.
#5054: Hardware Clubs for Grownups: Finding Your People
Software is solitary. Hardware is social. Here's how to find or build a space where adults and teens build together.
#5030: How the Blue LED Quietly Rewired the World's Energy Grid
From 15% of global electricity to under 10%—how a semiconductor breakthrough made lighting nearly free and what's next.
#5002: 3D Scanning Costs: From $5K to $80K+ for Architecture
Terrestrial laser scanners vs. handheld SLAM units — real prices, post-scan workflows, and where the money actually goes.
#4982: Why Airport Security Feels So Inconsistent
The real reason your belt gets flagged at one airport but not the next—and why millimeter-wave scanners create more problems than they solve.
#4978: Can Your Wall Scanner Actually Find Live Wires?
Most wall scanners can't reliably detect live AC wires. Here's what actually works.
#4925: ESP32 Mics for Remote Home Monitoring
Why an $8 ESP32 with a MEMS mic beats expensive cameras for remote audio monitoring in a vacation home.
#4897: Traveling with a Toddler: The Bag Weight Problem
Daniel's broken luggage scale, the physics of airport fatigue, and how to stop fighting your own luggage.
#4881: How Your Bag Actually Travels 22 Miles Through the Airport
99.24% of bags arrive safely. But 33 million still go astray each year. Here's how the system actually works.
#4787: The Motion Test: Which Weird Peripherals Actually Earn Their Port
Does that fancy peripheral actually remove a motion you make hundreds of times a day? We put steno keyboards, TourBox, Stream Deck, and more to the...
#4726: Why a 2026 Foot Pedal Uses a 1990s Connector
Why does a brand-new foot pedal ship with an 8-pin DIN connector? The surprising engineering logic behind "obsolete" design.
#4675: Solar Garden Gimmicks: Glowing Frogs & Rotating Beacons
Why solar-powered garden gadgets are the ultimate gimmick — and how to combine them for maximum driveway spectacle.
#4562: Weighing Euroboxes: DIY Load Cells vs. Off-the-Shelf Sensors
Daniel wants to know if his industrial shelving is overloaded. The answer involves 24-bit ADCs, micro-deformation, and a surprising market gap.
#4551: Decoding the Cable Aisle: What All Those Specs Mean
Installation cable vs. flexible cord, H-codes, and why 1.5mm² is your DIY sweet spot. We decode the label.
#4503: How to Build an Invisible Everyday Carry Belt System
A practical, ADHD-friendly belt system for phone, wallet, meds, and more — without looking tactical.
#4489: Fixing Your Monitor's Death Whine
Can an amateur fix a failing monitor? The surprising answer is yes—with the right parts and safety know-how.
#4488: Building the Perfect Linux Triple Monitor Setup
How to buy three identical monitors for Linux that actually look consistent side by side.
#4487: The Real Levers for Better Night Screens
Gamma ramps, backlight control, and DDC/CI — what actually works for circadian-friendly displays.