"Backyard Scientist" - idiocy never fails to astound me - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: eti
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 01, 2020, 12:46:22 am
content: Some of these "YooToobaz" seem to behave like their standing in YouTube stats databases somehow influences the outside world, AKA the military and military supplies, NATO stuff etc... this guy appears to sail close to the wind A LOT - here's his latest video... wow...

author: Ed.Kloonk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 01, 2020, 01:48:27 am
content: Yeah, nar.You know what they say about idle hands.

author: Cyberdragon
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 01, 2020, 01:58:07 am
content: Eh...who cares?People do crazy stuff with advanced tech all the time. At least he isn't being destructive, could be way worse, could be this guy.https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marvin_Heemeyer

author: eti
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 01, 2020, 02:01:54 am
content: I couldn't believe how he thought some flight tracker app reporting no overhead flights was a valid justification for firing a high powered laser up into the sky. Wow... Dumb!!!

author: eti
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 01, 2020, 02:05:19 am
content: Quote from: Cyberdragon on August 01, 2020, 01:58:07 amOkay, so he read the app wrong, there WAS a flight passing overhead, he blinded the pilot of a plane carrying your grandmother and many hundreds of others who crash landed... okay so now how'd you feel about this?

author: Ed.Kloonk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 01, 2020, 02:06:48 am
content: It was my first thought when I read the OP.Pilots aren't gonna like this guy.

author: amyk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 01, 2020, 02:43:19 am
content: Quote from: eti on August 01, 2020, 02:05:19 amThere are multiple redundancies built in to flight, which makes such a situation extremely unlikely.That doesn't make what he's doing any less illegal, but I suspect these guys make so much $$$ they can afford whatever the fines are --- a "cost of doing business", as the saying goes.

author: jogri
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 01, 2020, 10:16:51 am
content: Quote from: amyk on August 01, 2020, 02:43:19 amAirplane manufacturers usually don't account for the possibility of both pilots losing their eyesight at the exact same time... An autopilot is nice, but it won't save you if you can't see where it is and what it says.I find the lack of even basic safety precautions in this video mindboggling: It starts with him using a 50 bucks amazon laser goggle that claim OD ratings of over 10 (just a wee bit high for goggles that cheap), goes on with him using the trusted tactic of safety squints when looking at a IR laser that is pumping out 200W and taking off his laser goggles to look where his active 100+ mW green laser is pointing...And obviously the whole "let's just mess around with high powered lasers outdoors" bit. What even makes him think that pointing a 200W laser ACROSS A STREET AT OTHER PEOPLES HOUSES is a good idea?!

author: m98
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 01, 2020, 12:58:24 pm
content: Don't know about US laws, but that guy would be in so many shades of trouble if he did this in Germany.

author: dmills
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 01, 2020, 05:37:52 pm
content: In the UK an outdoor laser show basically needs to notify the CAA 28 days in advance and they will issue a NOTAM to keep the planes away from you (You are also supposed to give the CAA a contact number so that if they need you to shut down they can call you).This is subject to being more then certain distances from airfields and certain longer distances if within a few degrees of the runway centre lines, all in all, very sane.That guy is a pillock, I mean an expanded beam IR laser in the 100W+ class? Yea NOT a cool toy, even if the beam quality is janky as fuck, only way to make the thing worse would be to use a Q switched source or mount the laser head on a drone....

author: basinstreetdesign
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 01, 2020, 07:38:48 pm
content: I also notice that he doesn't seem too worried about where that laser goes or what it hits if he misses his target. Notice at first the backdrop to his wooden block is a window. Then later he is shooting towards the backend of his car and beyond that is off his (urban) property!

author: cdev
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 01, 2020, 07:53:51 pm
content: I'm sure he would have been here in the US too. At times in the past I had to oversee various light show providers and although I dont remember the exact specifics, I do remember them being extremely cautious about laser safety. to the point of making it basically impossible for any member of the audience to be directly in the path of a laser (also they were always behind the audience, and they would always run their lasers on the lowest possible power whenever they were indoors.) We also would have safety + fire inspections constantly. We had to do that to be able to continue throwing events.Quote from: m98 on August 01, 2020, 12:58:24 pm

author: Lord of nothing
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 01, 2020, 08:09:46 pm
content: when you think the Laser Guy did dangerous thinks...

author: Cyberdragon
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 01, 2020, 08:28:05 pm
content: Exactly, people "try it at home" all the time, what makes this case any more special? "Ahhh, lasers scary!" I mean sure, you could kill someone with it, just like a lot of stuff you shouldn't try at home...but...oh yeah?https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Hahn(I read the book, this guy was bat shit crazy)

author: Lord of nothing
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 01, 2020, 08:35:09 pm
content: Search for Tritium on Aliexpress. I got some Key Chain thinks for my Backpack to find the Zipper in a Dark envirorrment.

author: jogri
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 01, 2020, 09:06:48 pm
content: Quote from: Cyberdragon on August 01, 2020, 08:28:05 pmMost of the stuff people do at home only poses a risk to themself, but not others. Even a neutron source in a shed isn't that big a deal when said shed isn't standing right next to your neighbours bedroom...But an invisible, extremely high power and focused laser aimed at other peoples houses (or possibly airplanes) poses a thread to them, even if they don't enter your property.So yeah, a device that can easily blind people over a mile away (without them having a chance to avoid it) definitely falls under the "Aaaah, scary" category...

author: Lord of nothing
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 01, 2020, 09:21:17 pm
content: Well play with X Ray Lamps and Magnetrons isnt dangerous for Neighbors?I feel bad ass when I install my Wifi Scanner.EDIT:

author: m98
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 01, 2020, 09:39:12 pm
content: Quote from: Lord of nothing on August 01, 2020, 09:21:17 pmDoes one extremely dangerous thing negate the other? I for my part neither want to die of radiation sickness from sitting close to the wrong wall in my living room, nor getting blinded by taking one wrong look out the kitchen window.Most people should feel similar, which is why activities that could lead to such results are strictly regulated.

author: jogri
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 01, 2020, 09:41:15 pm
content: Quote from: Lord of nothing on August 01, 2020, 09:21:17 pm-the radiation from a x-ray tube is directed in one direction and gets heavily extenuated by walls (you can see that the reading drops by quite a bit when he is standing behind the door in the video)-> you only radiate your flat and even if a substantial amount of it gets inside your neighbours flat he won't go blind in a fraction of a second-same goes for 2.5 GHz magnetrons, everything that contains water dampens themBut that isn't the important point, because both X-rays/Magnetrons/Neutron sources don't emit coherent radiation -> The intensity of those sources decreases with the square of of distance (Intensity ~ Radius^2). That's not at all the case with a laser beam, even the (presumably rather crappy) diode laser from this dude probably only has a divergence of ~5 mrad: That means the beam expands by 5mm for every meter it travels. Quite a difference to the Radius^2 intensity decrease of other radiation sources...Edit: Too dumb to remember where the "square" part of the Inverse-square law came from, thx TimFox

author: Lord of nothing
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 01, 2020, 09:54:52 pm
content: @m98 some People picked up some De pleaded Uranium Ammunition who was used in the illegal Yugoslavia War.QuoteWell inside the Housing or even when the (idiots from Ukraine) took it apart and use the "naked" Lamp?QuoteWhat we dont know if he was calling the Authorities before he perform his Test.Sure some Youtuber dont show everything behind the scenes when it get into thinks who are maybe seem not so legal at first. I was talking with the Austrian Military Press Staff its possible to get Access to the huge Military Training Area for Filming. So in the case I would like show what happen back then I would maybe do some "sneak into" think to pretend I would do some illegal stuff but it would be approved by some officials. Maybe behind the Scenes are some poor Recruit over watch me.

author: TimFox
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 01, 2020, 10:04:44 pm
content: Radiation intensity from a point source, such as the electron spot on the anode of an X-ray tube, falls off as the distance squared, not cubed. With a flat anode surface, there is an angular dependence with direction away from perpendicular to the surface.

author: coppercone2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 01, 2020, 10:09:32 pm
content: in regards to the xray tomfoolery,i don't know if you want the whole detector apparatus in a strong x-ray beam. I don't know if it could effect the ADC or other circuits associated with doing counts. Perhaps it can break something there. I think it should be a remote gieger probe on a shielded cable that connects to the ADC outside of the x-ray flux. The machine could possibly become decalibrated and fail to alert the operator of other dangers (like test source leakage).This applies to everyone doing radiation experiments IMO. For strong sources you should use a remote probe (one without local amplification), and not irradiate a SMD circuit board. That is not equipment you want exposed to anything at all since its potentially life critical.The way those portable machines work is that they expect you to run when it starts beeping. I doubt you get a super rad hardened circuit for 200$.

author: jogri
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 01, 2020, 10:35:20 pm
content: Quote from: Lord of nothing on August 01, 2020, 09:54:52 pmAn X-ray tube always has a main beam direction as the target of your electron gun is a Cu/Mo plate sloped at ~45° -> the beam exits the tube at a ~90° angle. And since the sloped anode is inside the tube it doesn't matter that much if it still has a casing (sure, you'll get more radiation in unwanted directions without it but the beam form doesn't change).And i don't think that authorities would approve pointing a 200W laser at your neighbours house, so i heavily doubt that he informed them about his plans...

author: TimFox
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 01, 2020, 10:45:42 pm
content: The target material in an X-ray tube depends on the operating voltage. Besides Bremsstrahlung (radiation from stopping the electrons), there are “characteristic X-rays” from inner-shell transitions in the target atoms. Above maybe 80 kV, the target is usually tungsten, to exploit the 58 and 59 keV characteristics, but mammography is done at much lower voltage, using molybdenum.

author: jogri
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 02, 2020, 11:20:53 am
content: Quote from: TimFox on August 01, 2020, 10:45:42 pmBremsstrahlung (german for "breaking/deceleration radiation") doesn't stem from electrons being stopped (that would yield monochromatic radiation at the energy of your tube voltage), it comes from the interaction between accelerated electrons and the positively charged nuclei: The electron experiences an attraction towards the nuclei -> gets decelerated as it flies by -> the kinetic energy lost in the deceleration gets emitted in the form of a x-ray photon. Since this effect (attraction and loss of kinetic energy) depends on the distance between the electron and the nuclei (the electron speed is set by the tube voltage) you get a continuous spectrum.Afaik you don't really use tungsten because of its K-alpha lines, it's used because it is one of the only materials that can withstand the extremely high voltages (up to 120kV) that produce extreme anode temperatures: Tungsten has a high melting point and doesn't get soft when it's heated, this drastically reduces the deformation of the anode and the sputtering of tungsten (you would just melt your Cu/Mo anodes and sputter them inside your tube).Higher tube voltages drastically decrease the dose of radiation (higher energy photons have a higher penetration-> the number of photons (and therefore accelerated electrons) needed for an image with the same intensity decreases with increasing tube voltages as more photons reach the detector), so in radiology they are more interested in the 110-120 keV photons from Bremsstrahlung and not so much in the ~60 keV K-alpha photons.

author: Lord of nothing
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 02, 2020, 12:37:08 pm
content: When I watch the Kreosan Guys who one of them hold the Hand between the X-Ray "Lamp" and a Sheet of Glowing stuff under the X-Ray Radiation. Normally on a Medical X-Ray the Radiation is very short (sry I dont know how long exactly).So what are the consequence of for him? Cancer?

author: TimFox
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 02, 2020, 01:21:40 pm
content: Physicians used to use "fluoroscopes", where a fluorescent screen was placed between the observer and the patient, and x rays were sent through the patient to the screen. It was necessary to dark-adapt ones eyes before the examination. I shudder to think of the dose to all concerned with these inefficient screens. The modern equivalent uses image-intensifying equipment and enhanced screens (with metal sheets that convert the x-ray photons to electrons that give more light from the screen).If you look at the spectrum of photons from an x-ray tube, you see the characteristic (e.g., K-alpha) lines sticking up from a broad spectrum from Bremsstrahlung that has a definite end-point corresponding to the tube voltage. The mean energy is substantially lower than the voltage, and the lower part of the spectrum is attenuated by "filtration". For medical uses, typically an aluminum filter plate is inserted in the tube window to reduce the low-energy photons, since they are absorbed quickly and don't contribute any useful information to the image, but damage the patient's skin.

author: KaneTW
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 02, 2020, 01:27:22 pm
content: Quote from: Lord of nothing on August 02, 2020, 12:37:08 pmDepends on the intensity. Probably nothing at all.

author: TimFox
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 02, 2020, 01:29:05 pm
content: One book I consulted about radiation safety had a frontispiece photograph of the hands of Roentgen's chief technician after a career where they were irradiated. Not a pretty sight.

author: Lord of nothing
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 02, 2020, 01:43:58 pm
content: Stupid Question could the Laser Guy with his "Death Ray" reach the ISS?I would say its not a good idea to blind some Astronauts.On the other Hand get some Keyhole Sat out of Business are not a bad idea.

author: jogri
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 02, 2020, 01:56:41 pm
content: Quote from: TimFox on August 02, 2020, 01:21:40 pmOne thing to add about those nasty things: They were not just used for a quick examination, but during entire operations in war times to find bullets/shrapnel inside of patients... You had to turn the patient regularly if you didn't want him to get a xray "sunburn".@Lord: With the right optic that's not a problem at all (+if you have the right laser), all Apollo missions left corner reflectors on the moon to determine the Moon-earth distance (you get a 6.5 km wide beam at the moon...). This guy probably had a 915/980nm IR laser and since nothing in the air absorbs at those wavelengths, he could have reached the ISS. But i'd take the guess that his small DIY Cassegrain reflector wasn't designed for this use, so the beam probably expanded way too much to be visible against background.

author: coppercone2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 02, 2020, 05:17:11 pm
content: Quote from: Lord of nothing on August 02, 2020, 01:43:58 pmthe ISS moves too quick and the beam will be too diffuse at that point to do anything but potentially mess with sensors (possibly something used for weather / spectroscopic studies)Not to mention the air force (space force) will probably send something to investigate if its persistent. It's probably considered a threat to early warning satellites for missile detection.btw what do you call the space force version of special forces for dealing with ground based stuff that effects space? red shirts?

author: KL27x
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 02, 2020, 10:25:38 pm
content: China: sends $1500 laser in pink foam and cardboard.US component distributor: ships an IC socket in foil bag.

author: edy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 02, 2020, 11:05:37 pm
content: I also enjoy styropyro's videos... he is hilarious in a sarcastic sort of way. In this video he tests a laser tattoo removal system from China that ends up destroying his cameras (and hopefully not his eyes):He is very funny and does some crazy builds too all while still managing to be quite educational for a YouTuber.

author: bsfeechannel
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 08, 2020, 09:19:17 pm
content: This guy does it the safe way.

author: 0culus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 08, 2020, 10:35:55 pm
content: Styropyro isn't an idiot either...he is is actually a degree-holding chemist in real life. I think he mentioned he finished his PhD a while back. He has also taken measures to build a fully shielded lab for his experiments.

author: coppercone2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 08, 2020, 10:44:26 pm
content: Quote from: 0culus on August 08, 2020, 10:35:55 pmif you did not notice in the corporate world, PhD is usually considered a lab/shop hazard in many cases. Put one around a industrial electrician/technician/engineer (not a cubical engineer), and bricks are shit.They don't like 'time wasters' like 'connect the wires and then turn the equipment on'. After this, sparks occur. I would put a 6? amp limit on when PhD's get scary. Under 6A you might get smoke or a replacement.If you do something smart, like connect wires then take five minutes to make sure the area is clean and there is nothing wrong, check the polarity, maybe even double check the wiring diagram, flip the switch, its like lighting a wad of money on fire to them.

author: 0culus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 08, 2020, 11:23:20 pm
content: At my job, the PhDs are mostly not complete idiots about practical things. But, as Ron White so eloquently put it, you can't fix stupid. A PhD certainly won't fix stupid.But my impression of styropyro is that he isn't nearly as much of an idiot as heactsfor entertainment value.

author: dbctronic
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 09, 2020, 01:37:26 am
content: When I was in high school (late 60s), a friend made a Jacob's ladder using the transformer from an X-ray unit that was used in shoe stores (many years before) to check for foot bone problems caused by ill fitting shoes.Imagine working around that all day, selling shoes.The transformer was as big as a breadbox, and made a very thick, noisy, turbulent arc that easily started at 6" and walked up to points at the top of the ladder about 14" apart, where it died with a pop. I hadnodesire to play with it, ever. No, no, no.

author: Red Squirrel
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 09, 2020, 05:22:35 am
content: I'm normally not one to freak out over this stuff, but the fact that a laser like this can blind someone instantly, I do feel it was used in a very unsafe manner. Even the testing was being done in a room with a window. If anyone walking outside happened to glance in and catch a refraction of the laser. Instant blindness. You will not see it since it's IR which makes it even worse as your pupils won't naturally close, but even if it was visible light, at those power levels it will not happen fast enough anyway.Something like this should have been done inside a completely enclosed area with no windows and everyone wearing proper eye safety gear.As cool as it was, it was just super unsafe to anyone that happened to be in the area.

author: paulca
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 10, 2020, 09:36:29 am
content: Quote from: Cyberdragon on August 01, 2020, 01:58:07 amPeople messing around with high tech stuff.... This guy made my jaw drop. So much press about people worried about the scientists in white lab coats in ivery castles in BIG PHARMA, when the most cutting edge (and probably illegal) genetic modification and virus creation is happening with human testing in "Mom's basement"

author: paulca
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 10, 2020, 09:37:58 am
content: Now imagine Mythbusters sacked all the health and safety lawyers and moved to Finland?

author: Red Squirrel
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 11, 2020, 01:23:13 am
content: Honestly I'd say explosives are less dangerous than high powered lasers. You setup a proper exclusion zone, follow basic safety protocols and all is good. The radius of danger is much lower.With lasers out in the open there is too much chance of striking an aircraft or person as the danger zone is pretty much within LOS. At high power levels you don't even need a direct hit, just the reflection off an object is enough to cause blindness.I feel this test should have been done inside a hockey rink or other fully enclosed area with no windows. Rent the ice for a day (probably get a good rate at this time of year given there is no actual ice) and do all the experiments in there. Replace the laser with a spot light to do the outside stuff for the sake of showing off the vehicle mount.I remember hearing about Marvin Heemeyer, TBH I side with him and it's a really sad story really. There is nothing more infuriating than bureaucracy involving zoning, permits, land use, and all that BS. Try to make a living and the government always gets their dirty hands in your affairs, it's probably one of the most frustrating things in life to deal with when you're told you can't do something in the very place you live and paid for to live in.