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After a period of time as hardware-only engineer I can get back to PICAXE. I'm trying to write some simple PC software to talk to PICAXE via serial cable. I now realise I've got a bit out of touch. In the olden days I could knock up crude VB6 serial in a coffee-break. A few years later I...

This is what happens when your repair technician forgets his glasses and puts caps in the wrong way round... Big smell, ears ringing and red face!

For anyone able to access BBC iPlayer have a look at the recent 'Fake Britain'. (Last Friday I think). There is an interesting section on fake USB HDD, USB stick and SD storage cards. The proportion of counterfeit/fake is, on the face of it, quite alarming. Some can even fool your PC so that...

I like to balance my tight-fistedness with laziness ;) i.e. I'm reluctant to spend hours and gallons of fuel to save a fiver. For small non-crucial SMT work has anyone experimented with something like this...

This is mildly related to PICAXE but off at a slight tangent... that's my excuse :) Does anyone have a link to details of Microchip FIT / MTBF data for PICs? I already have Microchip's web-published reliability documents but they don't define exactly what was tested and how - merely a vague...

OT: Sorry. I'm doing a 'retro' thing... Does anyone know of a supplier (UK and easy) for: 1. Latching relays with flag plus MECHANICAL reset. e.g. if it clicks 'off' you can press something and it clicks to the other position. A bit like a circuit breaker I guess but really a relay (haha). 2...

I was looking at some old 70's papers with some circuits - just out of strange interest. There was a schematic for a video synch pulse generator. The component listing showed a thing called a "videcolor deflection coil". But it doesn't show up on the schematic , so, sadly, there is no point me...

OK, I admit it, I was out of date. After consulting Microchip directly I got this Document on protecting PIC(axe) inputs. If there are any errors/queries please direct them to Microchip.... It took me two weeks to get this info so if you have questions you can contact their engineers...

You know how it is.... you're looking for new hedge-trimmers and get distracted.... This may be of some use for some apps. e.g. battery-pack cell monitoring. Obv you have to balance budget versus performance. Obv there many ways but here's one for the record. Anyway, read on...

The subject of bypassing/decoupling PICAXEs crops up a lot. - so I thought I'd have a quick drivvel. IMnsHO , people should include decoupling as standard practice - maybe I have OCD :) This could be a long post , so I shall condense it (haha geddit?) It certainly helps hugely in any circuit...

Doubtless there are people here looking into designing Shields for the PICAXE base device. And, no doubt, they will also have an eye on making it compatible with 'that other' processor ;) Obviously people can do what they like in terms of design and code , but it would be nice for users if some...

CAD software favourites is a popular topic and I was reminded today when obliged to carry out a new design on (yet another) CAD package. I was dreading it. I find all CADs are a nightmare to start with. Learning to drive can be a real pain. For small designs I use Seetrax RangerXL Designer...

I've just been watching the reruns of Robot Wars. Whatever happened to the Beeb's 'House Robots' ? Mr Psycho was a whoppa and would be really useful when my neighbour parks opposite my drive entrance. http://www2.bobblebot.co.uk/en/robot-wars/mr-physco-and-growler.html I wonder why they...

Well, it's almost a song! And talking of going for a song... I often wonder how people do their projects without a scope .... other than blowing kisses to other Forum members to use theirs :) I received a flyer today from CPC, so this really probably only applies to UK users. For your...

This device has been brought to my attention. (No, I have no links and am not on any commission). http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320600025363 Looks like something worth investigating. Can it be used with existing shields? I have no experience of Arduino at all. Maybe...

I just received an emailshot from Panasonic. Some items have been mentioned before on the Forum, but at least it'll give an idea of what's around. There may be some sensor items here of interest. Availability/cost will probably depend where you live. So, just for reference, here's a link:-...

Amazing isn't it; you're looking for one thing and bump into something else. Here is a useful start-me-off link for people thinking of buying a 'scope. I'm NOT suggesting you must buy from the 'authors' nor am I suggesting it is a full thesis on 'scope buying, BUT it explains a few things...

As usual, you're looking for one thing then get distracted by something else. For those that can be bothered, there is some very useful stuff in this. Gosh, those Manufacturers produce some good stuff if you have the inclination... http://ww1.microchip.com/downloads/en/DeviceDoc/21975b.pdf

Does anyone know a good rule of thumb for Power LED heatsinking? (PLease, no guesswork ;) ) Basically, I would like to know the ratio of Watts-in to Watts-heat for the average modern large surface mount LED. I can't find info anywhere, regardless of make. I'm Googled-out. e.g. assume a rated...

Thanks for new stuff. Excellent. Now I'm no proof-reader (and I ignore split infinitives) but I notice an error has slipped through. It just happened to be something I was looking at this morning. Page 175. Sertxd. "There is an option within View>Options>Options to automatically open the...