Daemons of a Young Electronics horder and Procrastinator. - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: CM800
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 01, 2016, 07:02:39 pm
content: Right…This is a daemon that’s been troubling me for a while.I am someone who has been interested greatly in electronics for many years, most of my life in fact. I have become… a debatably serious hoarder of electronic components and equipment, by far not the worst… but I’d say pretty ‘impressive’ for 20 years of age. It has got to the point now I have over 600kg of gear including:High voltage transformersPower transistors / semiconductors upwards of 600V/600A and double that.Heatsinks that weigh more than a small child.Boxes upon boxes of old wire, components, boxes and things of unknown origins from years back.Variacs, power supplies, a server even.More than my one weight in high voltage capacitors.…. I could go on for a long time.The problem is. I do so little with it. The amount of stuff and unfinished projects makes me feel rather depressed… so I buy more and complete less (spending money on eBay is FAR too easy and feels FAR to good...) It’s a self-fuelling circle.I feel trapped in this ever increasing pile of things I want to do, tiredness and depression, and stacks of ever growing electronics.A lot of which I have more than I may ever need.. but the cost of new parts of that which I have salvaged puts what I own to an excessive value (Piles of used but still functional 1700V 1200A IGBTs are worth a small fortune new, but still work used..) Things that I feel if I ever needed them again after throwing them out / selling them, I would lose out money and time.I really need some support and advice on how to handle all this and get things on track again. I want to start up a company and design my own projects, but this is all holding me back, along with a lack of skill and understanding that I’m finding hard to grasp amongst my depression, ‘stuff’ and mound of untouched / unfinished projects.I would love to hear people’s thoughts, especially from those who have been (or are) in a similar situation.

author: Gribo
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 01, 2016, 07:51:23 pm
content: Get married, your wife will make it disappear in no time

author: CJay
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 01, 2016, 08:28:42 pm
content: I feel your pain, I've been there too and have to make a conscious effort to avoid it.Sell some or find a local maker group, give some away if it cost you nothing, it's carthartic and will make you feel better about your hoarding,Might even make you enough cash to buy some stuff you''ll use.

author: bitslice
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 01, 2016, 09:04:11 pm
content: Yeh I'm familiar with this,hoarding tends to be linked with depression, so right now (do not put this off) you need to go and see someone, simply so you can talk it through with a non judgemental person.The big problem is the assigning of an unreasonable monetary value to all your stuff; Like it might technically be worthsomethingtosomebody, but right now you need to recognise it has a largenegativevalue for you in terms of your mental health.You are trading a diminishing ability to cope, simply to retain control of a few quids worth of second hand stuff.Which is worth more to you today, your mental health or £1000?Take those IGBT's, realistically there's not a single thing you can do with any of them, yet you've assigned them a value that makes it hard to just dump them. Catch 22.Imagine putting them all on eBay and getting say £1 for all of them,now imagine the freedom you've gained from never ever having to think about that freaking dusty box of IGBT's ever again, or the space they take up, or the projects you may or may not have used them forThat's just made your life simpler, freed up space, freed up the time you spend thinking about them, and mentally you've just taken amassivestep forward.That is totally worth swapping £1000 for isn't it?Lastly, get off eBay for a few months and do something else. Walk the cat, anything.There will always be bargains to be had, but just let them disappear into someone else's hoard and be their mental millstone.Buying new things is just drip feeding the obsession like a sugar craving.Actually you might try not thinking about doing any new projects for a while, face the fact that you are walking a very narrow line with your mental health, and this obsession is just waiting there to drag you down. Until you are able to clearly recognise what is happening to you and the danger it presents, then a break would be good.Take this problem seriously, it's quite capable of eating you up and spitting you out.Good luck.

author: bitseeker
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 01, 2016, 09:20:28 pm
content: Lots of good advice here.Definitely get off of eBay for now to stop the influx of new stuff and the stimulation you're getting from the hunting/shopping/bidding process. Remember that it's designed to be addictive, so it's not all your fault and you can regain control. Take a break from electronics for a little while to re-orient yourself.When you feel up to it, start moving some of what you've acquired. Selling it can help put some perspective on what your items are actually worth as opposed to what you perceive their value to be. Giving them to those who can make use of them in the short term and, even better, seeing them being put to use will help satisfy the need to make all your stuff useful.As for projects, put them in a list and prioritize them. That'll get them off your radar without feeling like you're losing them, and you can work on the first one until it's done. And for that first project, make a separate task list where you break down the project into manageable pieces (or even smaller) that you can check off as you complete them. These lists will enable you to organize your thoughts as well as gain satisfaction from seeing your progress, however small that may be.

author: CM800
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 01, 2016, 09:42:10 pm
content: Thank you for your responses thus far.I am contemplating moving it all into storage instead at about £10 per week. (Just a few less drinks each week I suppose)but i think the first movement of action will be to begin making my project list... WITHOUT looking at my stuff, and seeing what I truly need to keep.I shall buy one of those wire strippers, I must have a good 40kg or more of pure copper here along with 60kg of raw aluminium.I shall put the aluminum heat sinks / heat blocks outside of the house, I can scrap them at a later date... or melt them down with (oh god) a future project..Once I have the projects down I suppose I can begin pileizing things into projects too for organization.EDIT:Just got told off for saying I might be depressed in that 'I have no reason to be'...

author: Tomorokoshi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 01, 2016, 10:16:33 pm
content: Once upon a time all one had was a multimeter, perhaps a computer, and maybe a video game machine with a couple radios on the side. With just these there was plenty of time to dig into and work with each of them to a fulfilling extent.Now one has 20 or 30 various pieces of equipment, some ostensibly purchased to make some other project easier to work on, but instead those pieces become projects in and of themselves because, well, ebay equipment isn't necessarily the best.This damped exponential of enthusiasm is a tricky thing. Part of the let-down with all that stuff is the diminishing return of what was thought possible; having 10x the equipment does not result in 10x the productivity. Additionally, the dilution of time for each piece as they stack up, along with the associated projects, soon makes the project list get too long for any progress to be made.I justified a recent round of purchases on the following points:1. Need to fill in some gaps where I couldn't measure properties of things in order to properly understand, repair, or engineer them.2. As an alternate to taking classes or other education where although the cost would have been the same, I wouldn't have the time anyway, and the result wouldn't be as useful for me at this time.If your task list has gone from 5 to 50 items, pare it back down to 5 and put the others on hold. Pick one or two from that list and finish them off. For me anyway this keeps things fresh and moving along.I also have about 400 pounds of scrap metal, appliances, etc. to get rid of. The trouble is the municipal recycling program has no interest in high-value materials like that. One of these weekends I'll be hauling it to a recycler where they pay by weight for materials sorted the proper way. It's a really good feeling to do that. For me it happens about every 10 years! I got rid of 14 CRTs that way once, and even with a $5 charge per CRT, I still made money on the deal because of all the rest of the high-value material.

author: Macbeth
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 01, 2016, 10:20:15 pm
content: £10 per week just for storage of junk is £520 per year. That is quite a lot - like a 20 year olds (small car) insurance + road tax. Don't have a car yet? It's plenty enough for lessons and your licence application.Get rid of this stuff and have a car instead! (But you will soon find loads more mechanical shit and tools getting stockpiled if you are anything like me)I utterly sympathise with you though, it's hard to let go of your "precious"Hell, even Dave who started EEVBlog from his home, then got kicked out by SWMBO and got an office space, then got an additional basement bunker somewhere - IS STILL LOOKING FOR MOAR HOARD SPACE, MOAR MOAR!Even the old Altium building was a candidate

author: CM800
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 01, 2016, 10:47:30 pm
content: Quote from: Macbeth on September 01, 2016, 10:20:15 pmAt one point I was spending that much a month on nights outI've slowed down my drinking and clubbing... which is probibly part of what has caused my mental flop to get worse.Indeed there is a lot of precious.those 20 duel 1700V 1000A IGBTs I'm saving for that 40kW worlds largest Tesla Coil.I tried establishing 'something goes in, something goes out' but it ended up with me holding a few things at work too. I have a 300W (LASER OUTPUT) broken greenlight surgical laser unit sitting at work now :/I will put up the 40 odd 600V 600A IGBTs up on ebay tomorrow evening. for say... £7.50 a peice with best offer.Same goes for the 3000F Maxwell super capacitors.Not sure about my big high voltage caps. I'd rather keep them, they fit pretty nicely under my bed at least.7ft linear actuator... Keeper. Would make for a great tesla coil winding rig one day and there is no chance of me getting one ever again for free. I know how much they go for used (my company sells similar)Here we go again....It's such a difficault thing. Much of the stuff i own, I see the 'buy new' prices and cringe so hard at the idea of throwing things away or selling for anything less then half the price.

author: MK14
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 01, 2016, 11:30:44 pm
content: Quote from: TCWilliamson on September 01, 2016, 09:42:10 pmNo, please don't!If you do, you will end up, with the some pile ofjunk rubbish nonsensestuff, in 10 years time, and be £5,200+++ lighter.Also you will go WOW, I've got so much room now, let's celebrate by going on a massive ebay buying spree, what could possibly go wrongYou will then end up with two giant piles of ..., an ever increasing storage bill, and maybe further issues.tl;drNo!, Say no to storage!

author: bitseeker
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 01, 2016, 11:34:42 pm
content: I second the "No" to paying for storage. It'll only exacerbate the problem and make you poorer at the same time. You're already lamenting anticipated loss of value. Renting storage will compound the issue.It's actually better that you see that you have too much. You don't want to hide it away. Stick with your plan to sell off bit by bit and enjoy seeing the collection reduce. It's a measure of success!

author: bitslice
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 01, 2016, 11:36:25 pm
content: Just to echo the above posters, please don't move anything into storage.Deal with the problem as it is now.People who hoard continue to do so until all the space is used up, it makes no difference if that is one room or a whole house.The very fact you reach for this as a possible solution, only highlights the insidious and destructive nature of the problem.Remember as with all problems of a mental nature, it's your own brain that is trying to destroy you, to sabotage you and to make everything as difficult as possible.This is why it is helpful to talk to other people, they can point out the little skews in direction that we all take.

author: bitseeker
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 01, 2016, 11:43:40 pm
content: Quote from: TCWilliamson on September 01, 2016, 10:47:30 pmJust as you have to blind yourself to the good deals on eBay, likewise refrain from looking at "buy new" prices. Remember that your health is worth more than whatever your stuff is worth. Stick with your plan. It'll take time to develop new habits.

author: chickenHeadKnob
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 02, 2016, 01:57:41 am
content: QuoteI am a professional level procrastinator, its really not all bad. Said to be one sign of intelligence. Procrastination which has been induced byoption paralysis, that is having too many available choices, is an adaptive tactic. You will often find that if you delay action long enough the need to act either goes away or you will have figured an optimized way of going forward. The hoarding on the other hand is pretty much all bad. I am moderately affected so I can sympathize. We have to recognize Dave is one of our enablers (wrong word but I can't think of a better one here) I blame him!QuoteIt may either encourage you or depress you further to know that super caps have a limited shelf life, I was just reading Nichion and Maxwell data sheets. One of them said 2 years guaranteed before things go downhill. The oxide layer will degrade if they are not regularly reformed. Have you tried charging them? They may be aging out already. Of course the normal electrolytics also age-out, just more gradually.

author: TerraHertz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 02, 2016, 02:07:21 am
content: TCWilliamson, what country are you in?I gather from your mention that you are 20 and storing things under your bed, and talking of hiring commercial storage, that part of the problem is lack of storage space?The problem with hoarded stuff bogging you down, and thus leading to depression, isn't so much a direct result of having that stuff. It's more from having the stuff intruding on your life and space. It's critical to be able to work and play without having the 'stuff' constantly getting in the way and reminding you of all the things you maybe could do with it. It's supposed to be a resource you use when needed, not a demand for your time.I'm lucky (in some ways) in that I've an established large property, and so have a lot of storage space. Of course it's not enough and the 'stuff' now intrudes a bit into my work areas. So I do need to cull - but on the other hand I may be moving in the next few years and the plan is to set up something with a much larger separate warehouse type storage space.Good luck with the ebay selling.I don't suppose you considered taking photos of the cool things, and posting them in the eevblog Buy/Sell section? You were thinking of paying silly amounts of cash to store things you're unlikely to use, so isn't the idea of selling them very cheaply (and no selling fees!) to other enthusiasts reasonable?Btw, I sympathize regarding depression. I suffer from this too, though for other, complex external causes that are difficult to resolve. Please do try to seek assistance. Oh, and take at least 2000 IU of vitamin D3 daily. Seriously, it really helps. Also make sure you regularly do active outdoors stuff, in nature if at all possible. And whatever happens, don't let anyone talk you into trying SSRIs. Seehttp://everist.org/archives/links/__SSRI_files.zip

author: NiHaoMike
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 02, 2016, 02:17:44 am
content: Do you know any DIY EV builders in your area? They'll be super interested in high power electrical stuff in the few hundred volts range that typical homemade EVs run at.

author: Muxr
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 02, 2016, 02:24:33 am
content: I've been wrestling with the unfinished projects problem as well. I can tell you what helps at least for me. Is to define small goals. Pick a goal you can do in a weekend, and try it out. Nothing brightens my weekend like a finished project. Or at least the one where I've at least given an honest try to. All it takes sometimes is a few of those small victories to get you in the zone.What happens to me is I get too consumed by technical problems at work and I lose focus when it comes to hobby projects.. or I will go on a business trip for work and when I get back I am not really in that same head space I was before I left for the trip, it might take me a few weeks to get back in the mood of working on my hobby projects again.I also have about 4-5 instruments I should really sell as I've either replaced them with better alternatives or I no longer need them. Maybe put a few of the things you don't need on ebay. Extra cash can improve your mood as well.

author: bitseeker
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 02, 2016, 05:37:11 pm
content: Here's a recent listing from someone who needed to clean out all the parts-or-repair stuff he'd hoarded over the years with the intent to cash in on fixing them to resell or tearing them down for scrap recovery. Realizing it was more than he could ever handle, he listed everything in one lot and sold it all to one buyer.That's one way to overcome the "but this is worth this much, and this one's worth this much" hurdle.http://www.ebay.com/itm/Bulk-Lot-180-pallets-mixed-Server-Pc-Printers-Phone-Home-Electronics-E-Waste-/112116844382

author: Buriedcode
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 02, 2016, 06:10:03 pm
content: Ahh, like many here I can completely sympathise..From buying 'spares/repairs' stuff off ebay, to taking a heatgun to *anything* remotely electrical/electronic my family or neighbours were throwing out. My mind would immediately be filled with possible 'cool' projects, and I got into the habit of saying 'I could use that!'.But there's only so much time one has, and often the cool/interesting part of a project is only a fraction of it... finding an enclosure, wiring it up, and no matter how many parts you have in stock, there's always one or two you need to finish the project.. so you make another order.. and whilst you're at it.. add on more stuff! Eventually my garage was *full* and I spent five times longer just 'finding' parts I knew I had, than on the actual project itself. Ahh yes, unfinished projects, I have about a 1 in 10 hit rate on completion.So, I ebayed some stuff, rest - skip. I still have kept certain things that are either worth a fair bit (industrial EL displays, mil spec stuff) or are 'seeds of motivation' for finishing projects - that is, its sitting there, a glaring reminder it needs to be put to work for projects that are >60% complete.I'll admit, theres been several times where I've needed something and immediately knew I had it somewhere, only to realise it went in the skip. I coped (loosely speaking) by asking myself, in order to put it to good use, how much of my time it would take? for say a low low rate of £7 an hour... how much money would that be? say a day or two just to make a flyback driver, that can't be regularly turned on because it'll interfere with everything that's £140 for something that will get a few minutes of use. One ends up building things, not out of need, or even curiosity, but just to 'put that thing to good use'. Being a strict utilitarian helps to reationalise, but not the minimalist 'get rid of all your stuff!' which is too far.Don't be too hard on yourself, the silver lining here is that you most likely buy/pick up this stuff because you have plans for its use, ambitious projects that spark ingenuity and creativity - we can all agree those are both positive aspects of your personality.The danger is, these days its ridiculously easy to 'buy' almost anything, and buying things is often a substitute for doing the hard work - just like those who buy home gym equipment, or membership.... but use it once .. sure the first step is getting the equipment, but by then one has either lost interest, or can't be bothered. I would sell the larger parts on ebay. Its a hassle, but you can set the minimum price so its at least worth your time, and it sounds like you could recoup some money you've spent - which you could put towards projects that are high on your list.Lastly, with the unfinished projects.. I made it my mission to finish some. Planning is key, breaking it down into smaller tasks, theneven smallerones. That way you don't have to set aside an entire day or afternoon hacking something together but 10-30 minute jobs that you can tick off (which feels awesome when you've ticked off a lot). Also, document the projects with photo's and notes, store in a zip file on a USB key or whatever so you can show future employers, colleagues, friends, partners (if you want them to see you get all giddy over a HV IGBT's) something to look back on and say 'I did that, it was worth it!'Btw, just re-read Wilfreds post... couldn't have put it better. If there's one thing I've learned from depression its, sometimes you just have to go on autopilot and do exactly what someone tells you.. as long as you trust them, then letting them take the reigns takes you in another direction which may or may not be better, but you've tried it your way, and it hasn't made you happy so...

author: CM800
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 02, 2016, 06:35:32 pm
content: Quote from: Buriedcode on September 02, 2016, 06:10:03 pmI think that describes what's going on with me in a nutshell, gym membership included.I'm moving forward with one of my projects, Had the bare full-bridge running recently, I just purchased the current transformer and circuit components from farnell today for monday, then I can look at adding current control / feedback to the system. I also have made a fan enclosure and ordered the fans for the unit.I'll post some stuff up for sale tomorrow here. (I'm going out tonight for a good club night)Thanks for all your positive responses.I know several people in similar situations to me have read this thread and it has helped them too.Quote from: bitseeker on September 02, 2016, 05:37:11 pmYes, I saw that. It was a wake-up call (and admittedly somewhat amusing in a scary way)I'm planning on making a blog, that will be a good way of documenting my efforts with my projects and also a bit of motivation to continue them.

author: Buriedcode
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 02, 2016, 06:55:37 pm
content: Quote from: CM800 on September 02, 2016, 06:35:32 pmExcellent idea! The topic title would suit a blog perfectly. Clearing stuff out whilst posting about interesting bits and bobs and potential applications - something that readers might chime in on, and maybe even offer you cash for them. Sprinkled with projects, its bound to get people reading!

author: CM800
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 02, 2016, 07:05:03 pm
content: Quote from: Buriedcode on September 02, 2016, 06:55:37 pmI wasn't quite planning on focusing that online. I kinda want it to be something to show my future employers. Showing I'm a semi-depressed hoarder with power and storage problems doesn't ring too good for a CV addition.Honestly I'd rather delete this thread for long term reputations sake (Last thing I want is this being found as a CEO, political careers man, dictator of a tiny nation or whatnot.) However I see it has helped other people so I hesitate to ask such a thing.

author: bitslice
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 02, 2016, 07:09:43 pm
content: Quote from: TerraHertz on September 02, 2016, 02:07:21 amSorry but I reckon its unwise to offer medical advice on a forum when you are not qualified to do so.It probably doesn't matter for this chap as he doesn't sound suicidal at all, but you might inadvertently suggest the same thing to someone who is, and frankly that's putting their life at risk.I'd agree that SSRI's can have all sorts of effects -in some people,but they have also stabilised the emotions of millions of other people and have kept them from jumping off tall bridges.TC, just ask a mod for a name change if you are worried about being outed

author: CM800
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 02, 2016, 07:18:59 pm
content: Quote from: bitslice on September 02, 2016, 07:09:43 pmPeople have already written my name down anyway. xDAlso, check this out:Anything to add?

author: PA0PBZ
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 02, 2016, 07:42:27 pm
content: Quote from: TCWilliamson on September 02, 2016, 07:18:59 pmDue date?

author: CM800
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 02, 2016, 07:52:02 pm
content: Quote from: PA0PBZ on September 02, 2016, 07:42:27 pmDon't push it.

author: Red Squirrel
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 02, 2016, 08:07:13 pm
content: Unfinished projects... I know the feeling. I keep having these great visions and ideas of projects I want to do either for fun or for serious, whether it's electronics, or other stuff. Some I start on, some I only plan, some I never get to that phase. Then it ends there. I sometimes wonder if I have mild ADD or something because I'm just bad for going all in then getting bored and going all in into something else. I should build something it would be fun... oh look a SQUIRREL!Actually setting a due date on projects is not a bad idea, but it only works if there is a motivation to really get it done by then. Either you told a lot of people what you're working on and they can't wait to see it, or it's something you will actually need, etc. I had a portable solar project for camping that I was procrastinating on, until I realized it was like 2 weeks before I'm actually going camping again. I worked on it quite a bit from that point.

author: vk3yedotcom
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 02, 2016, 08:44:07 pm
content: There is a cathartic exhilaration felt when:1. Throwing out stuff and creating a bit more space2. Cutting down your list of projects to a manageable number (say 3 or 4), and3. Getting to work on one of those until it's finished.A blog doesn't have to have your name on it or show your face. It's main benefit is potentially as a discipline. That is you're more likely to act on it if other people are watching as there's an accountability obligation. Or maybe there's someone in your life that could perform that role, eg ask to get regular updates?

author: bitseeker
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 02, 2016, 08:55:48 pm
content: This forum may be a good alternative to a blog for accountability (more people checking out the project), motivation (people commenting on what you're doing), and, as you've experienced first hand, moral support.Glad to hear you're going to keep this thread online. I'm sure it'll continue to help folks in a similar situation.

author: Keicar
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 03, 2016, 07:29:35 am
content: When it comes to eBay purchases & whatnot -you can acknowledge that something is cool, desirable & even a bargain - yet still not buy it. It's what we do all the time for things that are out of our price-bracket, after all - but you can apply the same principle to the stuff youcanafford too.Acquiring stuff, even good & useful stuff, won't actually make you happy - and while there's satisfaction in executing and completing a project, spending too long in the 'ideation phase' is ultimately unsatisfying. You need to move forward with something - and it ultimately doesn't matter much what, it doesn't need to be the coolest project ever, just something to motivate you to engage with the world around you.Also, when you're selling stuff at a loss - you can think about the losing money angle, or you can think of it as 'sharing the love'. If a fellow electronics enthusiast gets the opportunity to acquire something useful to them at a bargain price, and I get to clear some space, that's a win-win in my book.

author: TAMHAN
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 03, 2016, 07:37:40 am
content: From my point of view, the advice about getting married is dangerous madness: the total upkeep of the spouse (including disposal, aka divorce) will by far exceed the cost of even the most expensive of storages.Plus, getting married for that reason sets a bad precedent: the spouse will then think that it is the owner of the house and will make your life the living hell. I know this from personal experience of a business partner, who got married while having a health problem...the issue has since gone away, but the bossyness still remains even though he makes all the green. It took consistent effort to get silence when he feels like grabbing a glass of Martell VSOP when heading to the lab - he was in a fortunate situation as most of his assets are offshore and the government of (random european nation) can not get to them. So divorce rape is out of the question...Re disposal: I know that it can be quite painful. I am also hoarding a bit, but I simply stopped buying any more stuff now that I am fully decked out...

author: TerraHertz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 03, 2016, 01:32:17 pm
content: Quote from: bitseeker on September 02, 2016, 05:37:11 pmHoly shit! The guy with the huge collection of electronics parts in neatly sorted and labeled food containers had nothing on that fellow.I wonder what happened with that disaster area? The guy pulled the ebay auction (but the original listing with photos is still there.) His first description paragraph is "Full Price is 2,500,000$.... 20,000$ non-refundable deposit cash bank or PayPal Rest ( 2,480,000$ ) to be paid in 7 days bank"He might as well have said "I'm a raving lunatic." Not to mention breaking ebay's rules by posting a listing with a price that isn't the actual sale price. 2.5 MILLION $ for that pile of junk? Even if there's a genuine original Apple I board in there somewhere (faintly conceivable) it still would not be worth it. In fact he's going to have to pay someone many thousands of dollars to cart it all away to the tip. But he won't, it's all just going to sit there."This listing was ended by the seller because the item is no longer available."We need some street drive-by photos. What did he do, insure it for 2.5Mil then have a tragic fire?"Item location: St Albans, VIC, Australia"Can anyone get lucky with google streetview?

author: TerraHertz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 03, 2016, 02:50:17 pm
content: Quote from: bitslice on September 02, 2016, 07:09:43 pmEvery person is qualified to review information and form an opinion on it, and then exercise free speech. _F**K_ that 'not qualified' bullshit. Also, regarding SSRIs, google 'ssri mass shootings' mass murder, suicide, etc. And the many other downsides mentioned in that resource I linked.QuoteI specifically mentioned it, because I've come to the view from *much* research and a few personal connections, that in general SSRIs are a death sentence for whatever remaining humanity a suffering person had, and quite often for their literal life and lives of one or (many) more people they know. And that the medical establishment is aware of this, but they continue pushing this stuff for a variety of reasons, none of them good or honest. This is the view I've arrived at, and so I feel morally bound to offer that advice any time I think someone is at risk of being offered or prescribed SSRIs, and accepting them in ignorance of information contrary to what they'll be told by doctors. I will continue to do so.It doesn't bother me if people ignore anything I say. It's their choice.It does bother me when people try this 'shut up, you are not qualified' ploy. For one thing, it's an insulting abuse of the fundamental nature of individual intelligence and debate. It also stands on an assumption that medical professionals (and medical research) are always right and honest - and that's a fallacy. I've personally experienced so called qualified doctors being lying, ignorant fools. Also, check out recent revelations of how large a proportion of published medical research is turning out to be unreproducible and often outright knowing fabrication. Google this too. Here's some starter search terms:http://www.collective-evolution.com/2015/05/16/editor-in-chief-of-worlds-best-known-medical-journal-half-of-all-the-literature-is-false/

author: joeqsmith
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 03, 2016, 03:43:46 pm
content: Quote from: wilfred on September 02, 2016, 12:20:47 amAll kidding aside, I limit my electronics stuff to two tote boxes, once their full I don't get anything until I make room for it.If you can't carry it to the rubbish bin in one trip you have got to much.I'm so screwed! Been a pack rat my entire life. Combined with lots of hobbies.... Read this thread yesterday and followed some of the advice given. Been cleaning out my area for the last few weeks. Gave a fair amount of things away. I was planning to move some of the less used stuff (but things I actually still use) to the basement, which is my storage area. Went down stairs and thought, nothing is going down here unless I remove more than I am putting in. Recycle bin is full and the trash is pretty close and our bins here are huge...I agree, no rentals.

author: bitslice
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 03, 2016, 05:07:23 pm
content: Quote from: TerraHertz on September 03, 2016, 02:50:17 pmTry voicing out loud that the holocaust didn't happen, and see how far that freedom gets you.QuoteI didn't tell you to shut up, I suggested that your comment was unwise.If you had prefaced your post with"I'm not a medical professional but I watch a lot of Infowars", then your comment would have context, otherwise it is merely misleading.QuoteYou didn't offer advice, you directlytolda random person on the internet,"don't let anyone talk you into trying SSRIs", simply because you have a personal tinfoil agenda to promote. And you did that whilst being wholly ignorant of their situation, level of vulnerability and mental state.That is immoral and reckless.Whatever you think you know, you are in an extreme minority back on Planet Reality, so try rewording your opinion as something other than a medical fact. I don't want a debate on this, I think we both know where we stand.

author: bitseeker
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 03, 2016, 05:13:09 pm
content: Quote from: TerraHertz on September 03, 2016, 01:32:17 pm$2.5MM?! Woah, I didn't see that when I made my post. It was meant to be an example of (1) the direction things can go if left unchecked and (2) that selling everything in one lot may be a useful strategy rather than doing it piecemeal.I guess the listing was only for the down payment.

author: Macbeth
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 03, 2016, 06:27:38 pm
content: The funny thing is you know he was ruminating and machinating to himself that his "precious" must be worth a lot more than $2,500,000 and that he's an idiot for giving it away to any old Tom, Dick or Harry who may wander by with a spare (non refundable) $20,000 in their back pocketjustto be allowed to look at his pile. So he pulled the listing.The sad thing is he says he has 4 children under 10 who have to crawl around all this shiteI wonder if social services are on his case and the ebay ad was proof that he's doing something? Somebody should get this guy on those "Hoarders" reality TV programs.

author: CM800
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 06, 2016, 09:44:18 pm
content: Good thing is, this re-organization has finally pushed me to begin doing things once more!

author: TAMHAN
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 06, 2016, 11:13:26 pm
content: Getting started is the hardest thing, I know...

author: CJay
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 07, 2016, 08:23:17 am
content: Heh, nice, I've wanted to build a Jacob's ladder for years, just never managed to get my hands on a MOT or neon transformer (never really occurred to me to grab them when available.)Now you've got going we can look forward to more youtube goodness?

author: TAMHAN
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 07, 2016, 08:25:11 am
content: Youtube is super addictive, yes - I recently started posting some videos too...One question, however: what do you use to film?

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 07, 2016, 09:02:53 am
content: I inherited a "might come in useful" gene from my father, but as I do electronics for a living need to keep it under tight control.A few tips :Forget all notion of what something cost, what it might be worth someday, maybe. It's just taking up space, and as such is actively costing you money. Stick it on ebay with a low start and accept whatever it goes for. For non-sellable stuff, offer it free or take it to the dump.A trip to the dump with a car full of stuff can be a very cathartic experience.If you have radio rallies/hamfests where you are, fill a car & take a stall, with the aim of returning empty, even if you end up giving stuff away towards the end of the day.Look at each thing in turn and ask yourself if you've done anything with it in eh last year or two, or if there is any realistic chance of using it in the next year or so, and if you did decide you needed it, how much would it cost to replace, given how cheap a lot of stuff is these days.Do an area/room at a time to sort out stuff to be disposed of, and don't get distracted.DO NOT under any circumstances get more storage, as this will just fill up with more stuff you'll never used. It also provides a pathway to getting more storage as it fills up.If something is too buried to easily get at, you might as well just throw it away.Allocate a distraction-free day every so often to sort out stuff to get rid of, list on ebay etc. List everything to end at the same time so you can deal with it all in one go.

author: CM800
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 07, 2016, 09:55:45 am
content: Quote from: CJay on September 07, 2016, 08:23:17 amIndeed! But it depends how often I'm willing to crawl under my bed to try and get to the damn socket to replace that 13A fuse. I managed to draw 31.7A through the thing, the 13A cable was nice and flexible!I'd suggest keeping an eye out for old microwaves then... but honestly I hate those transformers, nasty little buggers that catch on fire.Why not make your own transformer? Buy some big ferrites (talk to your local transformer shop or find online) and wind one up on a bobbin with thin wire. Insulate ever layer and pay mind to creepage distance and you can easily get up to 10-20kV or more.My 70kV X-ray transformer shown in the video is a beast. I can barely lift it, Operates at 20kHz and takes up to 20kW Momentary. The entire case is >10mm thick cast Aluminium!!!Quote from: TAMHAN on September 07, 2016, 08:25:11 amJust my Phone camera... I brought a nice camera and tripod once for £250.... First time I used it, I was filming large chunks of sodium going into boiling water, a large gust of wind knocked the tripod over and smashed the front of the camera in, breaking it without hope for repair.... I'll consider getting a GoPro or two.Quote from: mikeselectricstuff on September 07, 2016, 09:02:53 amMy father has the same gene, He has collectively filled up:3 single Garages (floor to ceiling, front to back without a path into it)1 LARGE cellar (3 single Garages big)2 small sheds1 freight container(He is a DIY maintainance man for 30 flats these days owned by him and his mother)Meanwhile I'm only allowed 1 medium sized room....I really want to find somwhere in the UK I can rent out to begin building a proper workshop up. It's pretty difficult.

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 07, 2016, 10:09:13 am
content: When my father died, I had to cleaar 2 rooms full of crappy trains and Meccano, and a huge garage full of wood/metal offcuts and other random junk - took months.One problem he had was that if one of a thing was actually useful ( e.g. filing trays, storage bins, drain covers, meccano) , he felt compelled to 'rescue' every single one he subsequently saw going cheap at boot sales etc.

author: macboy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 07, 2016, 01:51:57 pm
content: I hoard too. A little (cough). I do try to purge a little now and then, and being confined to a little corner in the basement helps a lot.I am starting to understand that holding on to something with actual monetary value "just in case" isexactlythe same as buying it. For example, bynotselling those three extra power supplies that I could sell today for $200 each, I am in effect spending $600 on three power supplies. I don't need three more power supplies, I have many others. If I had $600 to spend on my hobby stuff itsure as hellwould not be on those three power supplies. So why do I still keep them in a box on the floor where they have sat unused and unseen for 5 years now? Looking at it from that perspective changes things.I once won a really nice handheld multimeter and a clamp meter from a manufacturer contest. I wanted to keep them, but I understood that I could sell them for hundreds of dollars and that I would never have spent that much on them. So I sold them. I bought a cheap Uni-T clamp meter with just a small portion of the proceeds and still had a lot of money to spend on other trinkets. I don't regret it for a second.I am going to build a new bench soon. To do that I will need to move everything out of my space. Before putting it back in, I am going to attempt to assign a realistic value to it: not what I paid (usually next to nothing), not what it once was worth new (e.g $1k for those power supplies) but what I could realistically sell it for today (e.g. $200). I will ask myself, what will benefit my hobby and happiness more: this item, or the cash to spend freely plus the re-claimed space. I think I will end up with a pile of things to sell, and eventually, a pile of money to spend on things that I will actually use.Don't keep stuff just because you got it cheap/free and it might be useful maybe someday. If it has real monetary value today, then bykeepingit you arebuyingit.Start selling. Start with anything. Once you see your Paypal balance growing upward and the doors that opens for your hobby, then you will get as hooked on selling as on buying.

author: CM800
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 07, 2016, 02:06:41 pm
content: Thanks for the insight.My big trouble is that I don't horde test equipment, rather I horde expensive components (usables)I know that I will destroy components... so the question is... how many should I really keep?

author: dexters_lab
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 07, 2016, 02:13:35 pm
content: i think we're all guilty of hoarding, my farther is a terrible hoarder but thankfully that did mean i notice when i am hoarding myself and now often find myself saying "why the f**k do i have this?", having only a small workspace also means i can only hold onto so much stuffregarding projects, i have a rational approach... get everything to hand and finish it in one session, don't tinker on it a bit every few months or it will never get finished.that said, i do have several still unfinished projectsi will second mikes suggestion of radio rallies, you'll be surprised what gets bought, sold and given away at them... well worth having a clear out once in a while even if you give it away or sell it for pennies. It's a good social event too!Quote from: CM800 on September 07, 2016, 02:06:41 pmtwo, one to use and one to replace it when you blow it up the first one

author: Blastcap
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 07, 2016, 03:53:00 pm
content: Quote from: CM800 on September 01, 2016, 10:47:30 pmGet those cells out on eBay, they retail for 35$ and 25$ for refurbs.Charge 20$ each and they will be gone in no time.And if you ever needs some in a few years, then go buy some, but they are too expensive to bunker if you don't plan on using them anytime soon.And they aren't rare.If you need some in the future, then pick up a bunch of Nesscap or any other cheap alternative, its not like you are building something for industrial use that has to run at 60°c for 25 years.