Category Archives: Miscellaneous

Oops – bad mulch

Posted on May 20, 2012 by Jim

I just learned a little lesson about mulching. I’d finally gotten around to seeding the ugly 6′ circle of dirt and wood chips where the stump was ground out after a tree was removed from the front yard last fall.  … Continue reading →

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Little electret mic preamp

Posted on April 9, 2012 by Jim

Russ said he had trouble using a bare electret mic as an input device in his Arduino 201 sensors class.  I hope to help by making up a couple of simple mic preamp boards.  There was an initial prototype, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Miscellaneous, Workshop 88 Stuff | 5 Comments

Bluetooth module breakout

Posted on February 23, 2012 by Jim

This is just a quickie to provide a way to connect to a Bluetooth module for Russ’ chording keyboard.  I found a datasheet and an Eagle lib with the footprint.  Unfortunately the pads didn’t provide enough area outside the “half … Continue reading →

Posted in Miscellaneous, Workshop 88 Stuff | 3 Comments

(Re-)Rooting my Nook Color

Posted on February 9, 2012 by Jim

I got a Nook Color from some deal site (maybe 10/11?) partly as a nice portable book reader for Lauren and partly to be rooted into a general purpose Android tablet for both of us.  I rooted it and it … Continue reading →

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3.3 V adapter – oops

Posted on January 6, 2012 by Jim

With more and more stuff running on 3 V, I decided to make a quickie adapter for the very nice SparkFun 5V-from-an-AA supply that lives on my bench.  Then I’d have which ever voltage I needed right at hand. Just … Continue reading →

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SD amp fix/upgrade

Posted on January 1, 2012 by Jim

The amp on the portable speaker I’ve been using for years for basement square dancing felt exceptionally hot after a dance recently.  Sound was still fine, but even after sitting for a few minutes with no audio input, the fan … Continue reading →

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Cheap USB charger

Posted on December 22, 2011 by Jim

A small wall wart USB charger I was counting on failed to charge my phone, looping in a charge-for-half-a-second/won’t-charge cycle.  When I got home and started to investigate, I was stymied by lack of a way to get my hands … Continue reading →

Posted in Miscellaneous | 2 Comments

LED replacement bulb

Posted on June 7, 2011 by Jim

My friend Ed had a burned out bulb in the climate control panel of his Chrysler van.  The rather unusual bulb is not available by itself – only by buying the complete $400 control panel.  Thanks, Chrysler. After slipping off … Continue reading →

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