Computers & Mobile

The latest DIY ideas, techniques and tools for digital gadgetry, open code, smart hacks, and more. Processing power to the people!

Circuitry, Anatomy, and Repair Tips for Common CFL Lamps

Circuitry, Anatomy, and Repair Tips for Common CFL Lamps

I don’t know about you, but I’m so used to the paradigm established by old-style incandescent bulbs that when one of my CFL’s “blows out,” it doesn’t even occur to me that I might be able to repair it in the garage. Or at least, it didn’t until I saw this page from Pavel Ruzicka, which does a good job of explaining the general principles of operation of CFL lamps and gives great details about their most common failure modes. Apparently, replacing a single capacitor will often do the trick. [via Hack a Day]

Giant Machete-Shooting Slingshot

Giant Machete-Shooting Slingshot

I love Cory Doctorow’s droll description of this creation almost as much as I love the thing itself:

This handy gentleman has built an (arguably ill-conceived, but nevertheless impressive) rifle-cum-slingshot that fires machetes, should you find yourself with the need to fire machetes.

The handy gentleman in question is YouTuber Jörg Sprave, slingshot enthusiast par excellence. He blogs about it here. [via Boing Boing]

Camera Hotshoe iPhone Mount

Camera Hotshoe iPhone Mount

Have you ever found that you needed to mount your iPhone on your DSLR? This can come in handy when you’re using apps like Pocket Light Meter and PanoTool. German photographer Nigel Nowhere pieced together this quick iPhone hotshoe mount for just such a purpose. You can build one for yourself with his easy to follow how-to.

A Clock That Eats Flies

A Clock That Eats Flies

This prototype clock from UK designers James Auger and Jimmy Loizeau is powered by a microbial fuel cell. It features a conveyor belt of flypaper that attracts flies and drops their bodies into the fuel cell. Depending on the available fly supply, the process can generate enough power to sustain itself and power a digital clock, as well. [via Boing Boing]