Making hard pcbs at home - In my latest DIY adventure, I explored nickel plating to harden PCBs at home. I was inspired by a slick resistor box design I found through EEVBlog, which had an incredibly cool switching technique but left the PCBs vulnerable to wear from contact scraping. Despite some initial mix-ups and challenges—like dealing with steel instead of pure nickel, using the wrong voltage, and dealing with contamination—my experiments led to some promising results. I even compared the scratch resistance of plated vs. original PCBs in a very informal test. I wrapped up by sharing some handy links for anyone eager to dive into their own nickel plating escapades. It's clear that more experiments are on the horizon!

Are my usb cables any good - Building a USB cable tester turned out to be trickier than anticipated! My first attempt with fully shielded USB sockets was foiled by design flaws and hidden solder issues. The second iteration featured more accessible sockets, yet still posed challenges. The improvement allowed us to distinguish between high-speed cables and average ones. I'm now in the midst of creating Version 3, with all connections broken out for easy testing. Stay tuned for what's next in this unexpectedly complex journey!

Electronic chopsticks - I recently got my hands on the HT140 Solder Tweezers from Sequre, adding an exciting new piece to my toolkit. Powering it via USB-C, these electronic chopsticks heat up fast thanks to a robust 65W power supply. Testing on a Raspberry Pi Pico board proved successful with a little flux help. Despite hoping for minimal use due to my PCB order, these tweezers are a handy backup for precise soldering work.

A Lot of Hot Air - Soldering ESP32-S3 Boards - In this video, I test out the new hot air rework station I just got to solder my Mini esp32 S3 boards. I dissect the hot air gun, encountering an Australian plug and a couple of interesting quirks inside the control PCB. I attempt to understand the circuit, welcome your thoughts on the build quality, and then solder on a new, hopefully safer, UK-compliant plug. Post-assembly, I apply way too much solder paste thanks to these tricky solder syringes, before setting the station to 300 degrees C for some hands-on rework. After some trials, I successfully fix some solder bridges with my soldering iron and behold, everything is connected and it works! It's just another blink sketch, but hey, it's confirmed – The new hot air station works!

Nickel Coating PCBs At Home - In this experiment-filled video, I explore the inner workings of a resistor box I spotted on the EEVBlog channel. With its ability to adjust in increments down to 0.1 ohms, I was fascinated, but also noticed the binding posts could do with an upgrade. Upon inspection, I was intrigued by the simple yet clever construction and the possibility of enhancing the durability of the copper with some nickel plating. Navigating through the potential challenge of the resistors on the PCB, I embark on the journey of creating a homemade nickel plating solution. A few hiccups, adjustments, and an hour later, we end up with a liquid emerald green solution, ready for some plating experiments.

PCB Mistake Turns into Vacuum Stencil Experiment | MHP30 Hotplate Test - Learn how to recover from a mistaken chip order and improve SMD soldering techniques using a mini hotplate and vacuum cleaner stencil holder. Watch the mesmerizing results under the microscope!

Easy 8.8 Amp Power Supply Hook Up - But is it safe? - In this DIY assembly venture, I decided to tackle the challenge of designing a safer casing for the bare, open mains connections on my LRS-200-24 power supply. To add to the challenge, the connector size was surprisingly wide and deep, which created hurdles in 3D printing the perfect box. I tried several renditions, from printing in separate parts to changing the design into a tubular construction, but these ventures resulted in a bit of a printing scrap heap. After discovering a sturdy, push-fit, slimmer connector online, my 3D printing journey went a little smoother, resulting in a front panel that slid nicely onto the power supply unit. The project also involved some dexterous wire threading, soldering, securing switches, and sockets, and accommodating everything within the newly printed enclosure. An exciting yet fiddly bit of work, it has come along quite promisingly – a test run confirms functionality. On the agenda for the next round – possibly extending the enclosure for some more elbow room for the wires. Definitely been a 'shocking' fun electrical endeavour!

Soldering up another ESP32-S3 board and a 3in1 Oscilloscope - So in this video, I had a fun time experimenting with the cool gadgets sent over to me by Fury. I unwrapped this awesome USB soldering iron that looks quite promising and useful. The tiny solder stand, a Galium nitri power supply and a collection of soldering iron bits that they sent over were quite appreciable. The video took a spin when I introduced the novel 3in1 oscilloscope. This tool bundles an oscilloscope, a transistor tester and a signal generator. Well, that's a triple threat! I went on to test the soldering iron and it showed some remarkable results. The video ended with me trying out the oscilloscope and I must say, this little toy packs a punch! All things considered, pretty pleased with my new tech. Can't wait to get down and dirty with all the nitty-gritties these gadgets offer!