Unusual functions of cheap parts
 

On Wed, 21 Dec 2005 01:42:16 GMT, Joerg
wrote:

Hello Henry,

Do you know of other interesting devices or circuits good for misuse?


Six sawed off pieces of the pole of a busted market umbrella allowed me
to move a 1/2ton piece of furniture all by myself.

Oh wait, wrong category....

Regards, Joerg

http://www.analogconsultants.com

I've done that with 1" oak dowel.

...Jim Thompson
--
| James E.Thompson, P.E. | mens |
| Analog Innovations, Inc. | et |
| Analog/Mixed-Signal ASIC's and Discrete Systems | manus |
| Phoenix, Arizona Voice:(480)460-2350 | |
| E-mail Address at Website Fax:(480)460-2142 | Brass Rat |
| http://www.analog-innovations.com | 1962 |

"Winners never quit, quitters never win", Jack Bradley Budnik ~1956

Unusual functions of cheap parts
 

Hello Jim,

I've done that with 1" oak dowel.


But if you bought those I bet my solution was cheaper. About one cent
worth of elctricity to saw it ;-)

Regards, Joerg

http://www.analogconsultants.com

Unusual functions of cheap parts
 

On Wed, 21 Dec 2005 01:57:43 GMT, Joerg
wrote:

Hello Jim,

I've done that with 1" oak dowel.


But if you bought those I bet my solution was cheaper. About one cent
worth of elctricity to saw it ;-)

Regards, Joerg

http://www.analogconsultants.com

I don't know, I save all my scrap ;-)

...Jim Thompson
--
| James E.Thompson, P.E. | mens |
| Analog Innovations, Inc. | et |
| Analog/Mixed-Signal ASIC's and Discrete Systems | manus |
| Phoenix, Arizona Voice:(480)460-2350 | |
| E-mail Address at Website Fax:(480)460-2142 | Brass Rat |
| http://www.analog-innovations.com | 1962 |

"Winners never quit, quitters never win", Jack Bradley Budnik ~1956

Unusual functions of cheap parts
 

Jim Thompson wrote:
On Wed, 21 Dec 2005 01:42:16 GMT, Joerg
wrote:

Hello Henry,

Do you know of other interesting devices or circuits good for misuse?

Six sawed off pieces of the pole of a busted market umbrella allowed me
to move a 1/2ton piece of furniture all by myself.

Oh wait, wrong category....

I've done that with 1" oak dowel.

I've done it with sheer adrenaline (I'm 6'0", 150#) after watching
three big bruisers horse around and get nowhere with an air conditioner
that was IN MY ****ING WAY!!! I stomped up, said "MOVE IT!", grabbed a
corner, shoved hard and walked past. And no, I didn't so much as bend a
fingernail.


Mark L. Fergerson

PS I once used a $150 multimeter as a non-resettable fuse, but I
don't think that's what the OP had in mind...

Unusual functions of cheap parts
 

Mark Fergerson wrote:

Jim Thompson wrote:
On Wed, 21 Dec 2005 01:42:16 GMT, Joerg
wrote:

Hello Henry,

Do you know of other interesting devices or circuits good for misuse?

Six sawed off pieces of the pole of a busted market umbrella allowed me
to move a 1/2ton piece of furniture all by myself.

Oh wait, wrong category....

I've done that with 1" oak dowel.

I've done it with sheer adrenaline (I'm 6'0", 150#) after watching
three big bruisers horse around and get nowhere with an air conditioner
that was IN MY ****ING WAY!!! I stomped up, said "MOVE IT!", grabbed a
corner, shoved hard and walked past. And no, I didn't so much as bend a
fingernail.

Mark L. Fergerson

PS I once used a $150 multimeter as a non-resettable fuse, but I
don't think that's what the OP had in mind...


I got mad one day when i was 20 and picked up a Pontiac 389 short
block.

--
Been there, Done that, I've got my DD214 to prove it.

Michael A. Terrell
Central Florida

Unusual functions of cheap parts
 

On Wed, 21 Dec 2005 07:54:30 -0700, Mark Fergerson wrote:
Jim Thompson wrote:
On Wed, 21 Dec 2005 01:42:16 GMT, Joerg
wrote:

Hello Henry,

Do you know of other interesting devices or circuits good for misuse?

Six sawed off pieces of the pole of a busted market umbrella allowed me
to move a 1/2ton piece of furniture all by myself.

Oh wait, wrong category....

I've done that with 1" oak dowel.

I've done it with sheer adrenaline (I'm 6'0", 150#) after watching
three big bruisers horse around and get nowhere with an air conditioner
that was IN MY ****ING WAY!!! I stomped up, said "MOVE IT!", grabbed a
corner, shoved hard and walked past. And no, I didn't so much as bend a
fingernail.

For some reason, this brings to mind one of todays Top Nooz stories -
some woman who was jogging in the park was jumped by some guy who
wanted to assault her and she kicked the **** out of him. But they
noted that she was 6' and about 140#, and he was 5'6", 120#. It
was actually kinda refreshing to hear about someone defending herself,
but how stoopid do you have to be to attack somebody that's twice
your size? ?:-/

Cheers!
Rich

Unusual functions of cheap parts
 

Back when one of my tasks at Fluke was to interview college recruits, I was
asked to describe my job as an Analog Design Engineer. My answer:

"To design precision instruments using cheap, junk parts."

A tip of the hat to Norm Strong...

Steve.
--
Steven D. Swift, , http://www.novatech-instr.com
NOVATECH INSTRUMENTS, INC. P.O. Box 55997
206.301.8986, fax 206.363.4367 Seattle, Washington 98155 USA

Unusual functions of cheap parts
 

Michael A. Terrell wrote...

Winfield Hill wrote:

Michael A. Terrell wrote...

How many do you need, and can you use ones pulled from PC boards?
I may have some left that I pulled from damaged boards.

One or two may be enough for proof-of-principle measurements.

I'll see if I can find a couple for you.

OK, I'll trade you some 1500V damper diodes, with datasheets.
They should be interesting additions to your parts inventory.


--
Thanks,
- Win

Unusual functions of cheap parts
 

wrote:
Do you know of other interesting devices or circuits good for misuse?

Old thread, but still worth answering.

* Small signal germanium transistors in glass
packaging, (OC45 comes to memory, TO1 package,)
make good photodetectors after scrapping the
paint.

* Zener diodes are good noise generators
(This is widely known and used.)

* Some small (toy) dc motors wired in series
with a speaker make good siren sounds.

Roberto Waltman

[ Please reply to the group, ]
[ return address is invalid. ]

Unusual functions of cheap parts
 

Winfield Hill wrote:

Michael A. Terrell wrote...

Winfield Hill wrote:

Michael A. Terrell wrote...

How many do you need, and can you use ones pulled from PC boards?
I may have some left that I pulled from damaged boards.

One or two may be enough for proof-of-principle measurements.

I'll see if I can find a couple for you.

OK, I'll trade you some 1500V damper diodes, with datasheets.
They should be interesting additions to your parts inventory.

--
Thanks,
- Win


Win, I did a lot of digging and the best I can find is five glass
1N4004s. I have either used up all of the glass 1N4007s, or didn't but
them back into the right place the last time I used some of them. Are
they high enough voltage to test your circuit? If they are, E-mail me
with a shipping address, and I'll send them to you. I appreciate the
offer of the parts, but I am to the point that I don't feel well enough
to do anything at my workbench. It has been about 18 months since I felt
like trying to do anything, and most of my test equipment was water
damaged in the 2004 hurricanes. Its just too depressing to try to work
with what little is left.

--
Service to my country? Been there, Done that, and I've got my DD214 to
prove it.
Member of DAV #85.

Michael A. Terrell
Central Florida