Although modern fast chargers can put out a range of voltages with a suitable communication chip, the older standard was limited to just 5V. For higher voltages like 9V and 12V you can use these little adapters that take the 5V in and boost it up to the desired voltage.

Note that these are probably only suited to about 500mA at 12V.

An interesting use for these could be for powering short sections of 12V LED tape from a USB power bank. For longer run time you could also power the tape from a 9V version at the expense of intensity. The lower voltage and current could allow you to run much longer strips.

The voltage selection is either hard wired in with two resistors forming a bridge, or on some it can be adjusted with a small knob. For the fixed voltage versions it is viable to modify the resistor values to get a custom voltage. The boost converter chip in this unit is looking for a feedback voltage of about 0.6V at the required output voltage.

You can buy these from many online sellers. Here's a link to a typical one on AliExpress (not a sponsor):-
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005006890061479.html



If you enjoy my videos enough to buy me a coffee or cookie, you can do so by supporting me on Patreon. I release videos without adverts for critique and feedback on Patreon as soon as they have been made. I also release Patreon-only backstage videos when I'm working on shows.

https://www.patreon.com/bigclive

Alternatively, for a single contribution you can use PayPal:-
https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/bigclive


#ElectronicsCreators
...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOTj-4wwwBU

This device is intended for clipping on the DIN rail in an electrical panel and extinguishing any internal fire that may occur. However, it's actually quite violent and seemed to produce masses of particulate smoke.
...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYkx0L9y15I

Now to be fair, when this absolutely exploded big-time on my garage bench it would theoretically have been inside an enclosure and would also theoretically have put its own fire out......

I now know how much air gets drawn into my attic from the garage area by my ventilation system, as all that vapour/smoke came into the house!

I've got mixed thoughts about this type of device. An electrical fault in a panel can often self sustain by the passage of current through carbonised insulation, so even if this did put a fire out, it may then reignite. This device also shot its flames and burning matter so wide that it damaged equipment on both sides of it, and has left a notable skidmark on my new bench.

If you wish to leave a huge skidmark on your own bench then this came from AliExpress (not a sponsor) and came from this listing:-
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005008986318521.html

Note that this is TWICE the price of other listings like these:-

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005009878973524.html

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005009184863672.html



If you enjoy my videos enough to buy me a coffee or cookie, you can do so by supporting me on Patreon. I release videos without adverts for critique and feedback on Patreon as soon as they have been made. I also release Patreon-only backstage videos when I'm working on shows.

https://www.patreon.com/bigclive

Alternatively, for a single contribution you can use PayPal:-
https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/bigclive


#ElectronicsCreators
...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BftBRaU4dQw

Another multi-order super-bag of stuff from AliExpress (not a sponsor).

Here are the (non affiliate) links to the listings. Note that some listings may not work for some countries and if the items are sold out you can use suitable keywords to search for alternate sellers.

Hand pumped syphon bulb:-
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005815033245.html

Circlips kit M1.5/2/3/4/5/6/7/8/9/10:-
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005007473841367.html

Traditional hackable cap-dropper corn cob LED bulb:-
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005009701012191.html

"It gets dark, dawn and die" nightlight:-
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005892628874.html

String of resin-blob addressable LEDs:-
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005007539134185.html

Suspicious 6-way trailing USB socket:-
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005008047732583.html

Xmas tree projector:-
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005007967843264.html

Mushroom night light:-
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005006859449257.html

Colour selectable night light:-
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005006195403930.html

"Cubic zirconia" type crystals:-
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005006359841717.html

Plastic body fuel filter/water separator:-
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005007467189598.html

USB and bluetooth pixel strip controller:-
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005268284797.html

Solar turntable:-
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005007244986343.html

LED starburst display:-
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005557319899.html

Spring hose clips kit 6/7/8/9/10mm:-
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005007000888388.html

"100W" (20W) LED light bulb:-
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005009727857131.html

Extendable LED bulb festoon/string (240V, but they work well on 110V):-
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005007466384930.html

The very expensive (note the high postage charge) electronic firecrackers, that I have since made a video about, and the circuitry was very weird and interesting.
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005002137964794.html




If you enjoy my videos enough to buy me a coffee or cookie, you can do so by supporting me on Patreon. I release videos without adverts for critique and feedback on Patreon as soon as they have been made. I also release Patreon-only backstage videos when I'm working on shows.

https://www.patreon.com/bigclive

Alternatively, for a single contribution you can use PayPal:-
https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/bigclive


#ElectronicsCreators
...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_6pP_ftOkg

What is it about fishing stuff that it often has cutting edge circuitry? These cute little flashing lures are no exception with literally a regulated 5V supply inside them that runs from a single AA cell, either disposable or rechargeable.

The units use a mini boost converter to power a standard flashing LED, and will run at full intensity down to about 0.8V and then get progressively dimmer down to 0.25V.

Even with a relatively low capacity NiMH AA cell they have a run time of many hours.

They have two seals. An O-ring and a secondary tapered compression ring to make them extremely waterproof.

Note that the barbs are an optional version and they are just glued in. I managed to pull them out while they were cased, so maybe not great for monster squid.

I could see other uses for these cheap lights as decorative tree lights for adding sparkle to trees in outdoor events without any need for wiring.

As with many items these days, these came from AliExpress (not a sponsor):-
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005007046856981.html
Cost is typically less than £2 space credits.



If you enjoy my videos and wish to support the channel to keep it independent, you can do so by supporting me on Patreon. I release videos without adverts for critique and feedback on Patreon as soon as they have been made. I also release Patreon-only backstage videos when I'm working on shows.

https://www.patreon.com/bigclive

Alternatively, for a single contribution you can use PayPal:-
https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/bigclive


#ElectronicsCreators
...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRi1Ec5Ddu0

Not everyone will have a use for one of these, but if you do troubleshooting on systems with buck/boost converters for current and voltage regulation, then this could be a useful tool for doing a quick check on whether an inductor is being pulsed.

The circuitry is strange. Like a prototype or one that has been badly copied. It has some oddities, and the button on this unit looks like a legacy feature from the original lithium cell powered version.

Should you need to probe for oscillating inductors then this unit came from AliExpress (not a sponsor):-
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005009418679205.html
Cost should be in the region of £3 or less. This is one of those products that if you search for it and view some listings then it will probably pop up in the bundle deal section.



If you enjoy my videos enough to buy me a coffee or cookie, you can do so by supporting me on Patreon. I release videos without adverts for critique and feedback on Patreon as soon as they have been made. I also release Patreon-only backstage videos when I'm working on shows.

https://www.patreon.com/bigclive

Alternatively, for a single contribution you can use PayPal:-
https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/bigclive


#ElectronicsCreators
...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsEJgODLN6Q

The camera actually did a great job of suppressing the loudness of these things. They spark internally in a loud and percussive way.

Note that this device holds a charge and can give a shock if opened, even with the main switch off. If you open one, use a screwdriver with an insulated handle to short both spark gaps.

I've been trying to find these high voltage electronic firecrackers for a long time, and finally found some being sold on AliExpress. They were expensive and the postage charge was very high too. (£40 plus £25 shipping!)

These units don't just use a speaker for the sound effect. They have high voltage circuitry that discharges capacitors across air gaps to make very loud percussive bangs.

The ones I was hoping for (and the ones shown in the listing's demo video) had the high voltage sparkers inside some of the fake firecrackers, but the unit I received has the sparkers inside the main case. That makes sense as it limits the amount of wiring and keeps all the electronics in one housing with suitable audio ports for the loud sparks.

This unit has a string of fake firecrackers for visual effect and a length of flashing LEDs that only worked once and ceased to operate after a single use of the high voltage section. It turns out that the LED wires were run right across the high voltage circuitry!

The design of the whole unit is surprisingly complex, with a dedicated power and high voltage PCB and a separate control module. The microcontroller generates the bursts of high frequency switching used for the high voltage generator, and it also triggers an audio chip to make a single firework whistle that is amplified and used to drive an extremely loud alarm sounder style speaker.

I'll give you a link to the listing I bought these from, but it does seem to expensive for what it is.
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005002137964794.html
...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ONvHtysag4

This little torch is designed to plug into your phone's charging port and be powered from the phone.
The main advantage of this is that it provides a more directional beam than your phone's camera flash, and will also operate with the phone off.

I wasn't expecting much circuitry in this. Just a little control chip, transistor and resistor to limit current through the LED. But I was wrong. It has a complex two transistor toggle switch and a current regulated LED driver.

The complex circuit and tiny PCB made this a very difficult device to reverse engineer.

It came from AliExpress and will usually appear in the bundle deal section:-
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005008959702525.html
It should typically cost less than £2.


If you enjoy my videos and wish to support the channel to keep it independent, you can do so by supporting me on Patreon. I release videos without adverts for critique and feedback on Patreon as soon as they have been made. I also release Patreon-only backstage videos when I'm working on shows.

https://www.patreon.com/bigclive

Alternatively, for a single contribution you can use PayPal:-
https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/bigclive


#ElectronicsCreators
...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cC-1N3eF9yE

I noticed how thin the flakes on a supermarket black forest gateaux were and decided to measure the thickness.

So how do they make the chocolate flakes so thin? They're too clean to be shaved, so I reckon the chocolate is sprayed onto a continuous non-stick surface, cooled and then cracked off by going over a roller, the diameter of which probably affects the flake size.
...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPTeZxCBxN8

This is a tool for detecting the polarity of magnets and giving a rough indication of their strength based on the sensing distance.

I've used this unit in previous videos, and some of you wanted to see what was inside.

I don't recommend taking these apart, as it is quite destructive.

If you have a use for one of these then they are available from AliExpress and other online marketplaces:-
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005007659036369.html
The cost should be around £6, and if you browse them then they may appear in the bundle deal section of their site.


If you enjoy my videos and wish to support the channel to keep it independent, you can do so by supporting me on Patreon. I release videos without adverts for critique and feedback on Patreon as soon as they have been made. I also release Patreon-only backstage videos when I'm working on shows.

https://www.patreon.com/bigclive

Alternatively, for a single contribution you can use PayPal:-
https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/bigclive


#ElectronicsCreators
...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXD3zIXNgU4