Circuit building block time. The capacitance multiplier and how it gives almost negligible power supply ripple compared to a voltage regulator. Whiteboard theory and then some bench demonstrations and experiments. Plus a twist at the end that proves that the “Capacitance multiplier” is perhaps one of the most mis-named circuits of all time. Forum HERE

Dave looks at some traps in chips and their modes of operation. In this case the TI LM2776, a look a the classic 7660 charge pump voltage inverter, and output ripple and ways to reduce it. Parametric searching, and a look at some interesting rail inverters. The uSleeve Forum HERE

Review of the new 18W USB-C TS80 temperature controlled portable soldering iron. TLDR; Highly recommended, money well spent if you need a portable iron solution, but you need a QC3 battery pack.

The Australian Computer Museum Societies’ warehouse has to shut down next week, so Dave goes warehouse diving. If you know of someone willing to donate warehouse space in Sydney, please let me know. UPDATE: Please don’t contact them with offers of small donations space, they need a HUGE space, as in hundreds of square meters. ...

A look at one of the world’s first handheld electronics games, the classic 1978 Parker Brother game Merlin The Electronic Wizard. It just so happens to use the world’s first microcontroller, the 4 bit Texas Instruments TMS1000 Some history and a teardown. Nice history of the Merlin development Forum HERE Using the Merlin PART2

More than an hour of Mailbag! Forum HERE SPOILERS: Sony DVO-1000MD medical device video DVD recorder teardown 8:09 Security ISA card teardown from the 1980’s 18:39 Power Grid the board game! 25:02 USB soldering iron 27:21 TI-nSpire CAS+ calculator PROTOTYPE! 35:28 DIY JBC/Hakko soldering iron controller 41:49 UV LED lamp for PCB exposure 45:10 DIY ...

A step-by-step walk-though of a typical modern low cost 3GHz “All Digital IF” spectrum Analyser design. Forum HERE

How do Casio make a full size velocity sensitive electronic keyboard for US$175? Teardown of the CT-X700 Forum HERE

Why does this 4K BENQ monitor mysteriously switch off on it’s own? Inadvertently re-visiting an old video. The chair strikes back! Forum HERE

A look at the new low cost US$220 Pace ADS200 130W cartridge tip AccuDrive Production Soldering Station Can it beat the higher priced JBC CD-B station? 7:00 The new 130W TD200 soldering iron pencil 9:34 Teardown 14:18 First Turn On 16:10 Temperature accuracy test 18:06 Setup options 20:58 Burn proof lead test 21:42 Soldering ground ...