The phase-shift oscillator is one of the most common electronic parts, used in all sorts of mostly noise-making devices. If you like electrical engineering and new a new project, watch this video to learn how to make a phase-shift oscillator out of a single transistor, resistors, and capacitors.
For most synth players the goal is to acquire legendary pieces of 1980's gear with great amounts of money or luck. Why bother when you can make your own direct digital synthesizer (DDS) at home? Watch this video to learn how to make a DDS out of common electrical parts that will make a phat Theramin sound.
Electrical engineering is a math-heavy business, and you're certainly not alone if you're studying it and having trouble with the math. Watch this video for a very cogent explanation of a simplified method for calculating resistor dividers in a circuit.
Pet-proofing your house won't just protect your possessions from becoming chew toys—it could save your dog's life. You will need a dog crate, a dog who's ready to move in, dog manuals, pet repellent, electrical cord covers, baby gates and a dog bed or towels for bedding. These are helpful tips for pet proofing your home for your new puppy or dog.
Here is a technical tutorial from a technical communication class. An oscilloscope is for viewing oscillations, like electrical voltage and current, with cathode-ray tube display. See all about it in this great introduction to the device. Simply, this video tutorial will show you how to use an oscilloscope.
In this tutorial, we learn how to make a Deadpool sword. To do this, you will need: a marker, scissors, hard plastic, cardboard, silver spray paint, duct tape, saw, electrical tape, sandpaper, and hot glue gun. First, cut the plastic into three thin knife shapes. Then, use sandpaper to smooth edges. Then, use the cardboard to create three layers of a rectangle. Make the corners round and then tape around them with duct tape. Put a hole in the middle and then put it into the plastic. Now, glue...
In this tutorial, we learn how to reinforce a ceiling fan. If you are hanging a ceiling fan, you need to make sure the electrical box is reinforced and can carry the weight. The ceiling fan can weigh 20 lbs or more. First, remove the existing ceiling box and push the wiring through. Next, push the bracket through the hole until it's completely in. Next, twist the brace until it's tight. After this, put the bracket in and then take your electrical box and line it up to the bracket so you can s...
This video shows how to make a studio softbox light for under 20 dollars. It is made with items found around the home or easily acquired. The author takes us through the process in a step by step manner. It starts with a cheap camera tripod upon which a plastic electrical outlet strip is attached using either a screw or strong plastic adhesive. An electrical plug with a light socket attachment is plugged into the strip to allow the light to be attached. A small cooler with a hole cut in the b...
In this Autos, Motorcycles & Planes video tutorial Tool Dude Tony will show you how to replace the burned out headlights in your car. It’s pretty simple. Open the hood. Then pull out the electrical connector by pressing down on the locking mechanism and pulling it straight back. Next remove the locking ring that surrounds the bulb. Pull the bulb straight back. Remove the new bulb from the packing, put it straight in without touching anything. Put the locking ring back and plug in the electric...
This Home and Garden video tutorial shows how to repair a wash machine lid switch. This video is on a GE Prodigy machine. Looking inside the machine under the switch, she finds that two wires are broken. Take a screwdriver and press down the clip of the switch from underneath. One end will come out. Then, pull out the switch. After that it is very simple. Cut off a bit of the plastic coating from the ends of the wires, connect them to the switch and put some electrical tape around them. Now y...
In this video, Richpin demonstrates how to replace the camshaft sensor in a Nissan Altima. The cam sensor is located by the cylinder box. First, remove the electrical connector off of the sensor. Push up on the lock on the bottom of the sensor to pull back and remove the connector. The sensor is held in by a bolt so remove the bolt with a ratchet wrench. Next, pull out the sensor. Wiggle it to remove the seal of the o-ring. Rub the residual oil on the new sensor's o-ring. Then, slide the new ...
This video demonstrates how to replace the windshield washer pump in a Saturn S series car. Remove the reservoir by unscrewing the bolt and lift the reservoir and slide it back to take it off the mount. Disconnect the electrical connector by squeezing the clips and pull the connector off. Next remove the hose, making sure to cover the opening with the winger to prevent loss of fluid from the reservoir. Drain the fluid from the reservoir as shown. Get the pump off the reservoir by tapping the ...
Every electrician knows you have to cut a screw every now and then to make it fit. But do they do it properly? Most will probably just use their linesman's or dikes, but using your wire strippers equipped with screw cutting is the proper way. Watch this video tutorial to see how to cut a machine screw without damaging the threads. An electrical screw or machine screw can be easily cut with a pair of electricians pliers. Cutting metric screws this way means that the thread will not be damaged ...
Mixing water and electricity is extremely risky and potentially lethal, yet that's exactly what I did with the Scariac. In its simplest form, the Scariac is just a glorified version of two wires in a bucket of water, but it's actually one of the cheapest power controllers you can make.
Ever wonder how to make an engine out of soda cans? Not even sure if it's possible? These videos will show you how to build a working Stirling engine out of cans and other general materials. Here it is in action:
Home accidents. It's up to you to protect your family… your children… from accidents in the home. And there's one place that seems to get the most attention when dealing with safety concerns… The kitchen is one of the busiest, most accident-prone rooms in the house. Design a kitchen that will keep your family and guests safe.
Scientists know that bacteria create their own energy, get nutrients to run their cellular processes, and multiply. But, bacteria haven't been shown to respond to external mechanical stimulation or signals in a way that's similar to how our bodies respond to touch, until now.
The new USB Type-C standard was supposed to revolutionize smartphone charging, but so far, it's done more harm than good. Many cable and charger manufacturers are struggling to keep their products in line with the proper USB-C specifications, so as a result, we now have to check to see if a cable is compliant before purchasing one.
Smartphones and tablets are great for watching movies and videos while you're out, but at home, the screen is just too tiny. There are quite a few projectors on the market that work with mobile devices, but they can get pricey.
The alternator in your car is a vital part of your electrical system. If your battery is draining quickly or your battery light comes on for no reason, you probably have a bad alternator. Watch this video to learn how to assess problems with the alternator and fix them yourself.
Here's how to remember what wires go where when wiring a plug in the United Kingdom. UK plugs have two or three wires going into them: brown, blue and yellow-green. L in the blue tells you it goes on the left. The R on the brown tells you it goes on the right. If there's a yellow-green one it's the ground or earth.
This video shows you how to use household electrical wire to make stunning jewelry pieces for you or a friend. Taking the wire from a renovation project, I stripped the wires of their plastic and then started twisting and creating designs. Make cheap jewelry but expensive designer like stuff with your own hands.
This video describes Resistor Color Codes and how to read them. It relates Resistor Color Codes to scientific numbers and engineering notation.
This video introduces the concept of an electric circuit and how electrons flow through the wire. It describes the difference between an open and closed circuit, and the importance of continuity.
If you are a photographer and are handy with a screwdriver and electrical tape, this is a really cool project to do. Basically, you "Frankenstein" a camera, taking a camera apart and rebuilding it with different lenses and the like, which makes for really cool photo effects.
If you're working on a LLV postal truck, this video will show you how to determine if you've got a bad fuel pump or not. It's a quick diagnosis trick to determining if there's an electrical problem with the fuel pump, and first you need to take out the ECMB fuse, plug a jumper wire where it was, use a multimeter and labscope to see what's going on. The United States Postal Service (USPS) uses these trucks for all their postal deliveries, and if you're the mechanic working on it, this and the ...
Those of you who have been a part of the Null Byte community for even a short while know that I sincerely and firmly believe that hacking is the most important skill set of the future.
Getting a pro to replace a broken thermostat can be costly, but if you pay close attention, you can learn how to replace it yourself.
How were you supposed to know your computer can't swim? Isn't it called a laptop? You will need paper towels or lint-free cloth, cotton swabs, a towel, lots of luck, and professional help. Warning: liquids and electricity don't mix. Please make sure your hardware and all points of electrical contact are completely dry before plugging them in.
If you're an electrical engineer, you needn't worry about this educational video, but if you aren't...
Burns come in different types (thermal, chemical, electrical and radiation), levels (partial and full) and degrees of severity (first, second and third). Watch this U.S. Navy video to learn how to manage and initially treat burn casualties.
Tech-savvy programmers and developers usually apply their unique talents exclusively to creating apps and websites — two high-paying and exciting pursuits that can open countless doors and opportunities in multiple fields.
A relay is an electrical component that works like a light switch, where it's turned on or off with an electrical signal. By connecting a relay to a Wi-Fi connected microcontroller like an ESP8266, you can build a connected switch that can be controlled from the web browser of any device connected to the same Wi-Fi network — all for just a couple of dollars.
A typical resistance spot welder can range in price from about $200-$800, but with a little resourcefulness and a bit of free time, you can make one like this for about $10 or less.
With the microwave oven transformer (M.O.T.) salvaged in a previous project, a simple electrical circuit can be rigged to get high voltage arcs to fly outward and upward along a "V" shaped spark gap.
Kipkay shows you how to increase the range of your remote control for your television. You use electrical tape to make sure that the leads do not come into contact with the reflector.
This video will show you how to install a replacement side rear-view mirror on a 2002-2008 Dodge Ram truck. For this auto repair, you will use a T40 Torx driver, a Phillips screwdriver, a flat blade screwdriver and a 10mm wrench. This video also contains instructions for the electrical hook-ups to control the mirror.
You don't need to buy an expensive ring light, you can make your own at home. You'll need a sheet of sturdy plywood, a pencil, some string, a dimmer switch, the light bulb sockets, some electrical wire, a drill and some hardware.
If you've ever seen Goldfinger you've probably wondered when we're going to get access to lasers that could cut a man in half. This might be it. Watch on to learn how you can, with some electrical engineering skills, make a DIY blue death ray laser gun that will cut through all kinds of stuff. No word on whether it works on British secret agents.
This video tutorial will show you how to wire automatic sprinkler valves for the health of your green grass lawn. Attach wire to the sprinkler valves and run it to the automatic sprinkler timer. That's it. You don't need to be an electrician or a plumber to accomplish this sprinkler step. Just get some wire strippers and do your own electrical work.