Light testing of a motherboard with a dead battery, no spare CR2032s on hand.
CR2016s are the same diameter and voltage, but at half the height and roughly 40% of the capacity (probably less in my case, the donor cell in this experiment was a cheapo from DealExtreme, intended for replacing the cheaper-yet cells included in the mini flashlights I give to people, also from the same site).
It probably would have worked as-is, provided the case wasn’t jostled too badly while installed, but I figured I’d make it fit ‘better’. Paper wouldn’t work in this case, and I didn’t trust aluminum foil (also, had none within reach).
According to some random research from the other night, the outer layer of an American penny (officially a ‘One Cent’ coin) from the last couple of years (and possibly much earlier ones too, I forget) is made from mostly-pure copper. Copper is a great conductor, typically used in, ya know, wires and such. Under that copper plating, there’s a mix of other, cheaper metals, but those aren’t important here.
Anyways, point is that a penny placed placed top (the positive end) of a CR2016 battery ends up being almost exactly the size (and function, aside from longevity) of a CR2032. Note that the penny is slightly smaller in diameter, so it doesn’t ‘clip in’ as securely as the intended battery in my application. Maybe a similar coin in another nation’s currency system would work even better? As it is, this setup is probably no safer from jostling than it would have been sans-penny, and worse considering that I’d now have two pieces of bare metal tumbling about instead of one, should the battery become dislodged…
I doubt I’m the first to come up with this, but I’m happy now. Having not slept for over 20 hours may also have some effect…
Work in progress.
It’s been so long since I envisioned this (and since I last made any real progress) that I doubt I’d make any real use of the result. But that’s always how these things go for me, and I’ve been fully aware of that since I started.
I’ve never denied my obsession with Toshiba’s Gigabeat (F series) players.
Left to right:
My first Gigabeat, an F10, in blue. First host of 32GB CF with adapter
Ebay (eBay/EBay?) scavenge #1, an F10 (failed backlight inverter)
Most recent primary player, stock F40, now refuses to charge batteries
eBay scavenge #2, an F20 (refuses to charge batteries, unstable)
Newest addition, my second F40, stock firmware until I get Rockbox going tomorrow
Also pictured: 32GB CompactFlash card in Gigabeat-compatible adapter, three stock Gigabeat batteries and one iPod 4G battery modified for use in a Gigabeat (~20% extra capacity), (broken) 20GB ZIF HDD from a different MP3 player with compatible adapter. Random other bits.
…None of this is for sale, I’m just feeling the sudden need to babble about my Gigabeat obsession. And who knows? It might be useful someday if anyone refuses to believe that a person could be so crazy about such an MP3 player.
‘Line out’ on a Sansa Fuze via dock connector!
edit: This should link to a second post containing relevant pictures
I’ve been using a Sandisk Sansa Fuze (with Rockbox) ever since my most recent (beloved) Gigabeat F40 (also with Rockbox) started refusing to recharge its battery. For months (or has it been years?) I’ve had plans to mount the dock that came with the Gigabeat in my car to utilize the line out to my stereo, eliminating the need to adjust the volume to a level my earphones would strongly disagree with. Anyways, like I said, I’ve had plans, and that’s about it.
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Located somewhere that probably isn’t here, returning at a time that probably isn’t now. Probably.
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One of my random, one-time AIM statuses. I’m pretty sure (almost) nobody ever reads them. I’m also pretty sure that (almost) nobody uses AIM anymore anyways.
…Am I crazy to quote myself? Probably.
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I have no idea where this came from.
It ended up on the back of my uniform while I was at work.
It appears to be printed on an address label.
I don’t know what to think of it.
But I will admit, I’m thoroughly amused. Thank you, whoever did this?
I am 100% behind every computer user taking this quiz, from geeks like myself to those like my grandmother who log in to check email maybe once a month or two.
These scams aren’t part of one of my hypothetical ‘you should know this in case of…’ talks; they exist and multiply in massive numbers because, unfortunately, they fool a large number of internet users EVERY DAY.
Take the quiz. It might be the best way you could spend the next two minutes. Read the ‘Find out why’ under each example at the end, even if you guessed right. Did you get a few wrong? Not sure why this is important? Tell me. I don’t judge, and I’d be happy to help further explain anything you don’t understand (though I think OpenDNS did an excellent job of explaining in easy-to-understand language). Heck, I’ll personally help you set up an extra layer of protection against these scams, no payment of any sort involved. Just ask!
(I am not affiliated with OpenDNS in any way, just a very happy user of their excellent DNS services. Of course, they’re welcome to hire me and change that! haha)
