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James L @baldengineer.com · 1d

Why and how to replace electrolytic capacitors in vintage computers -- my VCF Midwest 2025 talk www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMRC...

Replacing Ticking Time Bombs: Electrolytic Capacitors | VCFMW 20 (2025)

YouTube video by VCF Midwest

www.youtube.com

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Reposted by James L

adafruit @adafruit.com · 16d

Build an MP3 audio player with #CircuitPython and parts from #Adafruit ! This personal music player features a tft display and mechanical key switches. Learn guide: learn.adafruit.com/walkmp3rson-... youtu.be/fgalBx2QSJ0 #3DPrinting

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Reposted by James L

🌟Cyber City Circuits🌟 @cybercitycircuits.com · Jul 31

Before there were multimeters, there was the galvanometer. Born from Ørsted’s magnetic needle experiment, the galvanometer became the 19th century’s essential instrument for detecting and measuring electricity. This is the story of the Galvanometer.

emedia.digikey.com/eMagazine-Vo...

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James L @baldengineer.com · Jul 9

I love modern smartphones, but I really do miss the Palm Pilots.

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James L @baldengineer.com · Jul 8

Just came across Visashot - A Python tool to create beautiful screenshots from vintage test equipment. Up to 120 instruments supported.

damien.douxchamps.net/elec/visashot/

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James L @baldengineer.com · Jul 7

TDK introduced a 1uF, 100V capacitance in an EIA 0603-sized case. The press release suggests it targets 48V systems (like data centers.) At 50V, the effective capacitance isn't even 200 nF.

product.tdk.com/en/search/ca...

That DC bias effect is real.

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James L @baldengineer.com · Jul 7

Before PDFs, you could order a Microfiche version of test equipment manuals to stay up-to-date.

Also listed on the title page of this manual is a Microfiche part number. This number can be used to order 4 x 6-inch microfilm transparencies of the manual. Each microfiche contains up to 60 photo-duplicates of the manual pages. The microfiche package also includes the latest Manual Changes supplement as well as all pertinent Service Notes.

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James L @baldengineer.com · Jul 7

A fully open-source alternative to the Analogue Pocket is coming to a Crowd Supply campaign. Game Bub targets GB, GBC, and GBA games. It's an FPGA-based emulation platform. And it looks pretty slick. www.crowdsupply.com/second-bedro...

Game Bub

An open-source FPGA retro-emulation handheld

www.crowdsupply.com

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James L @baldengineer.com · Jul 1

Definitely a similar idea.

Agreed that the Fruitjam is far more refined, and I'm sure its CircuitPython support will make it a more interesting device.

James L @baldengineer.com · Jul 1

Maker News June 2025 Update. Lots of cool stuff to check out from great makers:

Kayaks on treadmills, rogue sparks in shielded boxes, and a payment terminal that gives up root in 30 seconds

makernews.substack.com/p/maker-news...

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James L @baldengineer.com · Jul 1

It's giving me retro-computing vibes with USB-Host, DVI/HDMI, and an Audio codec. Plus 8 MB of RAM.

My first 386 PC only had 2.

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James L @baldengineer.com · Jul 1

The RP2350pc appears to be an open-source single-board computer from @Olimex, based on the RP2350 microcontroller. Their shop lists it at 25 EUR. bald.ee/rp2350pcolimex

RP2350pc Open Source Hardware all in one computer with RP2350B, 8MB PSRAM, 16MB Flash, Four USB host, DVI/HDMI output and Audio Codec for retro computer emulation and education

RP2350pc is an Open Source Hardware complete computer with: RP2350B Dual Core ARM/RISCV processor build in 520KB RAM, 8MB PSRAM, 16MB Flash Four USB ports Two UEXT connectors DVI/HDMI output Audio …

bald.ee

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James L @baldengineer.com · Jul 1

GuitarML on Github created an ESP32/Arduino-based Space Station Tracker. Add 2.8" LCD and watch its path around the world.

github.com/GuitarML/Spa...

$20 "Yellow" LCD showing path of Space Station powered by an ESP32

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James L @baldengineer.com · Jun 16

CT Scan of Switch 2 (Animated GIF), including the Tegra SoC via Reddit: www.reddit.com/r/nvidia/com...

CT Scan of Switch 2 with callouts for the 5220mAh Li-Ion battery, Realtek audience codec, SK Hynix 256GB UFS, Meditek WiFi/BT, 2x6GB RAM, and Nvidia Tegra SoC

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James L @baldengineer.com · Jun 3

If there were a real-life Undo button... mine would have broken by now.

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Reposted by James L

Ken Shirriff @righto.com · May 30

This photo of magnetic core memory popped up, taken by Ansel Adams. I investigated a bit: this memory holds 4000 bits, each stored in a tiny magnetized ferrite ring. It may be from an IBM 705 vacuum-tube business computer. 1/N

A photo with the caption "'Hands weaving magnetic-core memory, IBM, Poughkeepsie, New York', 1956. Photograph by Ansel Adams. This photograph was made on a commercial assignment for IBM."

This black-and-white photo shows a core memory plane being assembled. It consists of an 80 by 50 grid of wires in a frame with tiny toroids on the wire intersections. Each wire is attached to metal terminals on the frame. Someone is using tweezers to thread the tiny cores onto the wires. The plane is about 4/5 completed. One hand is below the plane, palm-up, visible through the wires. The other hand (with nail polish) is above the plane, holding tweezers.

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James L @baldengineer.com · May 22

Found an LLM for the Commodore 64 (with 2MB REU). It isn't a chat bot, but it will tell you a story... like a 3 year old.

github.com/ytmytm/llama...

C64 Screenshot. Prompt: Zoo, Output: Zoo was a little girl named Lily. She loved to play outside in the park. One day, she saw a big, red ball. She wanted to play with it, but she didn't want to play with

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James L @baldengineer.com · May 20

Thinking of 3d printer hubs, I know of Thingiverse and Printables. What other ones are popular?

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Reposted by James L

johndmcmaster.bsky.social @johndmcmaster.bsky.social · May 6

Mountain View Reverse Engineering (mtvre) meetup Wed the 14th at Wagon Wheel BBQ, 7:00. Talks pending. See you there!

www.meetup.com/mountain-vi...

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Reposted by James L

Bradán Lane @bradanlane.bsky.social · Apr 27

For any given PCB design, I have a few ideas of what might fail. I add a legend along the break off rail so I just circle any issue detected by the smoketest.

This makes test and rework quicker.

(Ideally there would be no issues and no rework but I'm not THAT good 🫣)

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Reposted by James L

Echoskope @echoskope.bsky.social · Apr 1

First time playing with a linear actuator. Controlling it with a UM FeatherS3 and an Adafruit Motor Featherwing.

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James L @baldengineer.com · Apr 1

No. Way.

xot @xot.bsky.social · Apr 1

Ten. Lines. Of. BASIC!

Atari Scene News @philsan.bsky.social · Mar 31

Intruder Alert!, #Atari8bit computers game for BASIC 10Liner Contest 2025. Gameplay: youtu.be/PsbD_jUDYLY Info & Download: www.vitoco.cl/atari/10line... #atari #retrogames #BASIC

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Reposted by James L

Oak Dev Tech @oakdevtech.bsky.social · Mar 30

I’m really stepping up with this LSM6DSV CircuitPython driver *rim shot*

@anneb.bsky.social (hopefully publishing the driver soon, potentially contributing to the official LSM6DS driver 👀)

RP Watchy display showing 19 steps taken as calculated by the LSM6DSV on the watch board.

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Reposted by James L

Anne @anneb.bsky.social · Mar 28

I'm scouring the interwebs to find the best content relating to Python on hardware. Please consider signing up so I can show you one of the best resources on the galactic internet.

#CircuitPython @circuitpython.org · Mar 28

The Python on Microcontrollers Newsletter: subscribe for free
A nice issue is shaping up for Monday delivery. Be sure you get to read it first by subscribing at www.adafruitdaily.com #Python #RaspberryPi
blog.adafruit.com/2025/03/28/t...

The Python on Microcontrollers Newsletter: subscribe for free

The Python for Microcontrollers Newsletter is the place for the latest news involving Python on hardware (microcontrollers AND single board computers like Raspberry Pi). This ad-free, spam-free wee…

blog.adafruit.com

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James L @baldengineer.com · Mar 27

oh yeah. I add it to almost every query.

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