Build a Present Prize Package Arrived!

ntewinkel — Sun, 13 Mar 2022 20:51:21 GMT

This arrived a few days ago, it's the prize package for the Build a Present contest! 🙂

That oscilloscope is a really nice little unit, and it appears to be portable, with the built-in battery. To be honest, I've never used an oscilloscope before! So this is the perfect thing to get me started.
I'll be watching a few how-to videos over the next few days and will have to play with it a bit to see how all of that works.
It's also a multi-meter, so I'll probably just use this one unit on my bench soon.

I've only quickly tried out the new soldering iron (that's an upgrade from the promised USB soldering iron. Another nice bonus from e14!), and it is such a nice upgrade from my earlier model.
My other soldering iron is actually also a very nice unit, but it's a portable one so the power cord is heavier and not as flexible as this new one.

I was able to get these tiny little SMD resistors soldered on. I'm not great at it, and it's kind of messy, but for that size I'm just happy I can get them soldered on at all 😅
I guess 0603 is my limit (for now).

That pen-like tool is a multi-bit precision screwdriver, which also should be super handy.

And the wire strippers are a nice addition too - I have the automatic strippers, but they don't always work for every kind of wire, so these are a more accurate option. The two of them are very similar, but of them is "heavy duty", so I'll pop that into my tool-bag for when I'm working on random around-the-house repair type things.

Thank you element14!

-Nico

Just received a Build a Present Shopping Cart!

ntewinkel — Fri, 04 Mar 2022 23:45:56 GMT

While we were out yesterday, a BIG box arrived on our doorstep!!
Look! it's half the size of the delivery lady!

Opening it up revealed all kinds of fun little packages... along with a long crumpled ream of packing paper the cats will get to play with!

Inside of all the little packages (which adds to the excitement, that unboxing-birthday-presents feeling), all kind of future projects emerged...

I was able to choose quite a variety of items! :)

I started with some tools to outfit my bench, including better quality test leads for my multi-meter. Some of mine seem to have become untrustworthy over time. The stepped drill bits appear to be handy for adding right-sized holes to project boxes to fit everything from LEDs to big button switches.
I also picked up an IR thermometer to use with my ongoing hummingbird feeder heater project, and to help with some heat pump issues I've been having (hopefully that will be resolved soon).

Along the same lines of temperature tracking, I was happy to find a little weather station. Very cool, I didn't realize Newark sold those. My very old unit just quit working over this winter, so the timing is perfect.

I also picked up some more 3D printer filament colours. Prior to this I've mainly been using white PLA for everything. I had some green ABS I got cheaply locally a while back but I've found that very difficult to print with, so I don't use it often. It'll be fun to try out the shiny gold and wood coloured filaments 🙂

I've seen a lot of good reviews about the Wago lever-nut electrical connectors, so I picked up a variety of those, both for my small electrical projects as well as for making it easier to update / repair /replace things like smart switches and light fixtures in my house - they seem to be just the right thing to safely connect solid house wire with the usually stranded fixture wire, and then to make it easy to disconnect and reconnect over time. Up to now I've been using the screw-on wire nuts, which work well too but can take a bit more finessing.

The rest are parts directly intended for future projects - some switches, displays, transistors, and sensors. I found a stepper motor that I hope to use for some robotic thing, and I noticed they even had a water valve! I've had some ideas around projects with those things, so I included two.

And of course, I had to try out the Pi Pico! Interesting how it's packaged like it's off a big reel 😃

I'm feeling super blessed to be part of this forum!
I just realized I've been part of the element14 community for over a decade already, and element14 has been supporting my tech hobby for every single one of those years.
The people, too, are amazing - that includes all of us civilians as well as those driving the machinery behind the scenes!
Without all of your positive support over the years I might not have been doing all of these cool hobby things I'm doing now 🙂

Thank you element14!
You never cease to amaze me with your generosity and positive support 🙂

-Nico

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Build a Present Prize Package Arrived!

Just received a Build a Present Shopping Cart!