EEVblog #888 - Mailbag - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 07, 2016, 12:36:53 pm
content: More Mailbag!SPOILERS:Electronics Dummy Load and the problems with paralelling MOSFET'shttp://github.com/dangrie158/SmartDummyLoadhttp://www.nupo-artworks.deAtheist Book: Christian Mythology for Kidshttp://christianmythologybook.com/Metal Rectifier, / Selenium Rectifier.Hornby Triang model train P5A Power Controller.Gtronics Protoshield Plus for Arduino:http://www.gtronics.net/en/products/arduino-proto-shield-plusMitsubishi MT-398FOR6A Analog Mobile PhoneSwiss Tools Screwdrivers

author: HighVoltage
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 07, 2016, 04:23:37 pm
content: Really nice to see those PB Swiss Tools in your mailbag.I have a set of PB-Swiss-Tools ALLEN BALL END Hex tools.And they are by far the most precision Hex key Wrenches I ever had.I should check out, what else they have.

author: Brumby
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 08, 2016, 12:20:22 am
content: The Triang train controller - I have one too!Recognised it at this point...Must see if I can dig mine out...

author: Barny
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 08, 2016, 05:57:41 am
content: I have an "Kleinbahn" train controller.Its an very interesting one.Its content is a Transformator & a red dipped selen rectefier, a bimetal strip for overload protection and a switch to reverse the polarity.Nothing else.The speed was controlled by tapping of the voltage from the exposed top windings of the transformator with an slider.

author: imidis
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 08, 2016, 07:37:56 am
content: More mailbags please! My addiction and jealousy can't help but request!

author: samnmax
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 08, 2016, 08:33:38 am
content: Quote from: Barny on June 08, 2016, 05:57:41 amOld Spanish "Ibertren" train controllers worked the same way, although i think the rectifier was a normal silicon diode bridge.

author: TheAmmoniacal
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 08, 2016, 08:52:06 am
content: You have to do another mailbag on the small ones / letters. I have already assumed that my letter (non-paper stuff in it though!) got lost in the mail or something, but it might show up eventually

author: TheAmmoniacal
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 08, 2016, 01:09:58 pm
content: He should try that one day, put them in piles in order of arrival and take the most recent pile for each mailbag.

author: jancumps
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 08, 2016, 01:34:04 pm
content: Quote from: Barny on June 08, 2016, 05:57:41 amThe same principle was used in my Jouef HO controller. Aaaah those were the days

author: bryanrj1
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: June 09, 2016, 04:38:06 am
content: If your mailbag item isn't showing up when you expect it to, then use the following "from" address: Ally Sheedy, Shermer High School, Shermer, Illinois, and use a Shermer High School T-Shirt as packing material.Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk

author: tszaboo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 09, 2016, 08:33:02 am
content: Two thumbs up!Yarr!

author: Flipflop
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: June 09, 2016, 11:45:29 am
content: I had a triang Scalextric transformer that was similar to the train transformer but only had an overload breaker on the front sloping panel and a single pair of 12volt terminals on the rear. I can't remember if it had proper rectifier diodes or not though.

author: VK3DRB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 09, 2016, 01:39:37 pm
content: The only thing worse than religious nutters is atheist nutters.

author: TheAmmoniacal
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 09, 2016, 02:03:22 pm
content: Quote from: VK3DRB on June 09, 2016, 01:39:37 pmWhy?

author: rt
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 09, 2016, 02:27:22 pm
content: FSM: I presume after the Brymen Dave will be bringing out a EEVblog branded colander?After all tongue-at-correct-angle doesn't cut it without the correct head gearrt

author: Fungus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 10, 2016, 06:24:53 am
content: Quote from: VK3DRB on June 09, 2016, 01:39:37 pmI assume that was a troll.(at least, Ihopeit was a troll...)

author: Fungus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 10, 2016, 07:55:03 am
content: Quote from: wilfred on June 10, 2016, 07:07:00 amHitler was entitled to his beliefs?How about slave owners, were they 'entitled' to theirs...?Modern day suicide bombers?People who refuse to take their sick baby to prayer session instead of a hospital?Quote from: wilfred on June 10, 2016, 07:07:00 amI can go on all day long listing people who are not entitled to their beliefs, but I can't think of a single atheist belief that somebody shouldn't be entitled to. Can you think of one?

author: TheAmmoniacal
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 10, 2016, 07:59:47 am
content: Quote from: wilfred on June 10, 2016, 07:07:00 amOne is right and one isn't, I think that makes a difference.

author: VK3DRB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 11, 2016, 12:57:38 pm
content: Quote from: Fungus on June 10, 2016, 07:55:03 amYou sound like you are a member of the Stasi. Devout atheists can believe what they want to, as can devout followers of Jesus Christ. Everyone is entitled to believe that they want. You cannot control what people think. And you cannot control what anyone believes. You don't own them. Even Illuminati believers are entitled to believe their conspiracy theories. Its a basic human right.However it is not a human right to harm or kill innocent people based on misguided beliefs or downright lies. The Islamic State Mujahideen execute those who do not believe their exact beliefs. As the Roman Catholic Church did to the Cathars. In some ways Mao's Cultural Revolution was the atheist version. The result was the same, by psychopaths with the same mindset: Either believe as I tell you to believe or be humiliated, tortured or executed.An issue here is when people have to put up with unsolicited ear-bashings from Illuminati believers, Jehovah's Witnesses, devout atheists, politicians or high pressure salesmen. It is bloody annoying.

author: Fungus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 11, 2016, 03:16:46 pm
content: Quote from: VK3DRB on June 11, 2016, 12:57:38 pmYes, many dictatorshaveapplied the label "Atheist" to what they do. Mao's Cultural Revolution, Lenin's misuse of Marx's remark that 'religion is the opiate of the people', etc.Look ateenybit deeper though and you'll find that their 'atheism' was just a label, nothing more. What they really wanted was a way to destroy the church because the church has power, and, well... they were dictators. State-enforced atheism was a means to that end. Hardly any of their actions demonstrated actual Atheism though.Quote from: VK3DRB on June 11, 2016, 12:57:38 pmThere's your problem, right there. You think Atheists are selling something.They literallycan'tbe doing that though because they don't have any beliefs to sell you. Atheists don't have beliefs, they accept evidence. It's not the same thing at all.eg. I don'tbelievein evolution, Iacceptevolution (until a better theory comes along).If you're hearing atheists tell you what to 'believe' it means:(a) You're not actually listening to them, and(b) You think all opinions are equally valid.

author: rrinker
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 11, 2016, 05:31:41 pm
content: But who are you to decide which opinions are valid and which are not?The idea of enslaving a people is totally unacceptable by TODAY'S societal norms. But in past human history, it was standard practice for a conqueror to enslave the conquered. By today's standards - that is evil. By the standards of the day, it was an absolutely normal concept.That's part of the problem with looking back and 'interpreting' history. LOTS of things done in the past are reprehensible to modern society, but to really understand what was going on you need to apply the morals of the day, NOT modern morals. There are things we do that we consider proper civilized behavior that past cultures would consider absolutely reprehensible. Problem is, until someone invents a fully functional flux capacitor, we can only look back at recorded history, they can't see forward, nor can we, so see what 'normal' will be 1000 years from now.No, everyone is entitled to whatever opinion they want, no matter how reprehensible it may seem to others. ACTING on such opinions is a different story. There is not nor do I hope there EVER is a "thought police". There is no crime in thinking about offing your nutcase neighbor who wakes you up every weekend by mowing his lawn at the crack of dawn, but if you actually go and attempt it - THAT is a criminal act.

author: Fungus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 11, 2016, 06:21:37 pm
content: Quote from: rrinker on June 11, 2016, 05:31:41 pmNope:a) There have always been people speaking out against slavery. At the end of the day peopleknewit was wrong.b) If you were a slave would you sit around thinking, "Well, I guess master's entitled to his opinions..."?Quote from: rrinker on June 11, 2016, 05:31:41 pmNope. Sick babies should be taken to hospital to see a doctor, not prayed over.Quote from: rrinker on June 11, 2016, 05:31:41 pmYou wouldn't go downstairs and try to change his personal belief system?

author: rrinker
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 12, 2016, 03:24:25 pm
content: You are making exactly the mistake I mentioned, you are applying modern day moral standards to history. Who was speaking out against slavery in ancient Egypt?There's nothing wrong with someone having the belief that should their child get sick, some fantasy creature will heal them. Again, should that come to be, and they then ACT on that belief, then they are committing a crime based on the laws put in place by contemporary moral standards. How do you prevent this, other than better education? It is equally reprehensible to go around and ask everyone what they believe and if they say they believe god will heal their sick child, arrest them or take the children away even if they aren't sick and haven't been harmed.Free thought and free speech means you need to accept that some people will say or think things you personally can't stand. We can't go down that rabbit hole of policing thoughts. Actions - that's a different story.

author: TheAmmoniacal
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 12, 2016, 04:17:53 pm
content: Moral and cultural relativists are the worst.

author: Fungus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 12, 2016, 04:21:06 pm
content: Quote from: rrinker on June 12, 2016, 03:24:25 pmNobody's proposing anything remotely like that. What's needed is a society where it wouldnever happen in the first place, a society where praying to heal a sick baby is viewed on about the same level as going to Africa to catch slaves or state-sponsored courts trying young girls for witchcraft.What shouldn't be happening is the government adding "In God We Trust" to the banknotes or putting the Ten Commandments in courtrooms.This new society can only come through education and atheists not being afraid to speak out publicly.....andthatis why Daveshouldbe putting a bit of atheism in his videos. A bit here, a bit there, it all helps. If somebody watches the James Randi video after watchinga Dave videothen it's a bit more light shone on a few more cockroaches.PS: It's also Dave's channel and he can say what he likes.Quote from: rrinker on June 12, 2016, 03:24:25 pmThat's all fine and dandy... until they organize themselves intogangs.Me? When I see stuff likethathappening then I speak up (and I don't understand why you just shrug).

author: apis
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 12, 2016, 07:34:33 pm
content: I believe the problem isn't religion in itself but rather that religion is considered a valid excuse for being irrational. Normally when we do things that affect others we need to explain why it's necessary/beneficial in a rational manner, based on empirical evidence and formal logic. There is one exception though: religion.If you ask a doctor to chop of pieces of your kids, the doctor would typically say no and report you to the authorities (unless there's a good medical reason for doing so). Except if you say "religion" then all logic is suddenly thrown out the door and the hospital happily assist you mutilating the poor kid. Want to kill someone? that's a no-no, unless of course: religion! Then religious people cheer as you chop of the head of the infidels. Want to brainwash your kids into believing the earth is at most 10000 years old? no way, unless of course: religion! Christians who insist being gay is a sin have obviously not even read the bible, they just scream religion! as if that justifies them being bigots.Insisting on reason, logic, critical thinking and empirical evidence should be minimum standard everywhere. "God told me so" should never be a valid excuse for anything. Then we might have a chance against the stupidity.

author: Fungus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 12, 2016, 09:02:18 pm
content: Quote from: apis on June 12, 2016, 07:34:33 pmWhy do they print "In God We Trust" on their banknotes, but don't allow "God told me to..." as a legal defense?

author: bitslice
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 12, 2016, 09:47:44 pm
content: Quote from: apis on June 12, 2016, 07:34:33 pmThere is empirical evidence that my cat sees an open door as a wormhole, because he always stops before going through.There is a lot of solid reasons to curtail typical male behaviour, the downside is a feminised male who is deeply unhappy with his new role in society. Evolution is sometimes a better decider of what works than a gender studies group.

author: Donziboy2
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: June 12, 2016, 10:30:45 pm
content: Hey Dave, is there a formula for figuring out how large the Ballast/balance resistors need to be?Im working on a high power/compact CC Dummy Load and I want to keep my high sense resistance so I have less issues with amplifying noise.Would adding small <=0.01R resistors work?

author: Fungus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 13, 2016, 01:16:13 am
content: Quote from: bitslice on June 12, 2016, 09:47:44 pmIs the choice between:a) Him being unhappy,orb)Otherpeople being unhappy as a result of his behavior?That's an easy choice to make.

author: bitslice
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 13, 2016, 01:36:06 am
content: Quote from: Fungus on June 13, 2016, 01:16:13 amIs it?Remember the film"Invasion of the Body Snatchers",the aliens replacing the humans, offering them a world where submission to reason, logic, critical thinking would rid them of war.Progressive liberal thinking is really just totalitarianism with better PR

author: tszaboo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 13, 2016, 08:44:57 am
content: Quote from: Fungus on June 12, 2016, 04:21:06 pmYep. There should be freedom of religion. Also there it should be illegal to teach children religion (with prison time). Everyone is free to choose which religion they want to believe in, after they are adults, can vote, drink alcohol and drive a car.But no, look at all the mayor religions. They are mandatory starting at an early stage, when children are gullible. They believe in the Tooth Fairy, Santa Claus, God or the Monster under the bed, if you tell them.

author: apis
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 13, 2016, 10:55:37 am
content: Quote from: Fungus on June 12, 2016, 09:02:18 pmYeah, makes no sense in a country that is supposed to separate state and church.

author: Fungus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 13, 2016, 11:07:38 am
content: Quote from: bitslice on June 13, 2016, 01:36:06 amYep. Putting people in giant pea-pods and replacing them with clones istotallywhat would happen if Atheists ever got power.

author: apis
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 13, 2016, 11:33:27 am
content: Quote from: bitslice on June 12, 2016, 09:47:44 pmNot sure what your point is. Isn't curtailing typical male behaviour what the church is most interested in (men in skirts preaching celibacy and taking 10% in tax)?Evolution isn't a good decider though, it's just an explanation of how the species evolved. Unless you wan't to submit to the mosquitoes and cockroaches (who appear to be much more evolutionary successful than us humans for example). Evolution just is, it's neither something good nor bad and it has no purpose.

author: bitslice
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 13, 2016, 11:57:30 am
content: Quote from: Fungus on June 13, 2016, 11:07:38 amAs a metaphor it's close enough. You do understand that a painting is not simply a really bad photograph right?There are lots of good reasons not to drive at more than 56mph, hands up who wants to live in a society whereeveryonewants that idea enforced.Quote from: apis on June 13, 2016, 11:33:27 amSimply that basic humanity is absent from a lot of atheist thinking.QuoteIt's advantage is that it takes into account the entirety of the nature of an organism, it does not seek to suppress traits simply in a desire to conform to a spurious ideal.

author: Fungus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 13, 2016, 12:13:28 pm
content: Quote from: NANDBlog on June 13, 2016, 08:44:57 amI like the cut of your jib.Children is where it's at. I'm not sure it should be jail-worthy (lids need their parents) but schools could have a lot more "religion isn't true" teaching.What does that mean? Stuff like opening up the Quran and reading them the exact same stories as they heard in the Bible.When the parents come to school to complain, sit them down read it to them, too. I'm sure it would make them even angrier.(nb.This^is the sort of things I'd do if I was king - plant seeds of doubt,notlock people up in pea-pods...)

author: Fungus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 13, 2016, 12:44:21 pm
content: Quote from: bitslice on June 13, 2016, 11:57:30 amI'll go with the German system: In Germany you can drive past a Police car as fast as you like and they'll just admire your car.Tailgate? Change lanes without indicating? Eat? Talk on your cellphone while driving? They'll be down on you like a ton of bricks.I've driven in the USA, I've driven in Germany, I know which felt safer (it's the German speeders)The Autobahns have plenty of police cars but they're there to remind you that there's other people on the road, not just you. They make you drive considerately, not slowly.Consideration of others is the real key. Countries like Germany prove that the right sort of governmentcannudge people in the right direction.At night, when the autobahns are empty of commuters? That's when the real speeders come out to play. Can your car do 200mph? Let's find out...

author: Fungus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 13, 2016, 12:50:50 pm
content: Quote from: bitslice on June 13, 2016, 11:57:30 amDo you have evidence for that...?How would it be less harmful than making (eg.) abortion and pornography illegal just because it offends some religious people?

author: HeywoodFloyd
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: June 14, 2016, 03:03:32 pm
content: Ah, just what we needed, another atheist vs religion thread...Back (almost) on topic, I guess logically one has to put a small item into a very large box before sending it off, and then perhaps it gets selected. Just fill up the box with a lightweight filler and you'd stay below the 500 grams.Thanks for the mailbag; I had a jolly good laugh at those pictures of the phone launch.

author: bitslice
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 14, 2016, 10:08:50 pm
content: Quote from: Fungus on June 13, 2016, 12:50:50 pmevidence? that's like asking for evidence of a god.I can point out that someone in a trench in WWII did not make himself feel better by calculating his odds of survival, but by investing some belief in a sky pixie.Men are not inherently logical beings, we are a bunch of hormones and instincts designed to reproduce.QuoteAnother Strawman? how interesting

author: Fungus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 15, 2016, 01:11:17 pm
content: Quote from: bitslice on June 14, 2016, 10:08:50 pmNo, it's like asking for evidence that "basic humanity is absent from a lot of atheist thinking"(your words, written exactly one line above the part where I asked "Do you have evidence for that...?")Oh, wait, I get it: You removed that partdeliberately, didn't you?In that case it looks like you're done.

author: bitslice
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 15, 2016, 01:25:34 pm
content: Quote from: Fungus on June 15, 2016, 01:11:17 pmErr, it's called "quoting a post correctly",you remove the obviously extraneous information for clarity.Amazingly you can still read my previous posts if remembering the gist of a thread causes you problemsQuoteMost certainly, you appear to be one of those annoyingly vague posters looking for an argument about their favourite topic.

author: Fungus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 15, 2016, 05:16:57 pm
content: Quote from: bitslice on June 15, 2016, 01:25:34 pmAnd yet you left it so unclear that you answered a completely different question than the asked on the line above.

author: apis
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 15, 2016, 10:16:58 pm
content: Quote from: bitslice on June 14, 2016, 10:08:50 pmActually if God wanted to prove he (she?) exist he could simply reveal himself to everyone and show us a couple of miracles that would convince even the most stubborn atheist. It would be piece of cake for an omnipotent being!You can not prove God doesnotexist though. How would you prove God isn't simply hiding in a parallel dimension? Impossible.So please, some evidence to back up the statement: "basic humanity is absent from a lot of atheist thinking." Shouldn't be too hard, in fact I do not doubt it. Just as it is absent from a lot of religious thinking. Atheists are much more in touch with "basic humanity" than the major religions though, because atheist are forced to rely on rational thinking, empirical evidence and logic, in contrast tofaithin what a guy in a fancy skirt tells you.Quote from: bitslice on June 14, 2016, 10:08:50 pmThat depends on what type of person it is. Maybe some people like to be comforted by fairy tales, but I would guess most people prefer the truth even if it is not as comforting. I don't really mind if people believe in a sky pixie but: if they start killing people because the sky pixie told them so, or they insist we should teach children the sky pixie created the earth less than 10 000 years ago, or that no-one should be allowed to masturbate because the sky pixie doesn't like it, then we have a problem.For example, the catholic church doesn't allow contraceptives since they claim it is a sin to have sex unless the purpose is to make babies and in that case you do not need contraceptives. Yet, millions of people have sex for pleasure and get unwanted pregnancies and diseases that could have been prevented if the church was not so out of touch with basic humanity.Quote from: bitslice on June 14, 2016, 10:08:50 pmAlmost agree, but we are not designed, evolution has no intent or purpose. Doesn't mean we can't demand rational arguments when people want to do things that affect others.