Homelite ST385 Brush Cutter Strimmer Autopsy. Another blown engine!
We have a lot of undergrowth, brambles etc in the garden and have always used the Homelite ST385 to keep it under control. Well up until last week!! It looks as if the engine has given up, again. Yes, it's happened before! Watch the video and see what I found was the cause. ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oq9Wi0_ct7Y
This is part 2 of the video showing how I made an air driven briquette maker.
Aldi is a place I occasionally shop. When I do go through the doors I have nothing in mind that I want to buy but usually come out with something I need! The last time it was a wood grenade, 2 axes and a briquette (Brickette) maker. This was a few years ago shortly after I had installed our log burner so I thought these items would be useful. Truth be told I have only ever used the smaller axe. Anyway, a few years on I took a look at the briquette (Brickette) maker as I was going to give it a go but thought, hang on, Mike Makes It could go one better! Hopefully I have.
This video describes how I went about repurposing 2 large pneumatic cylinders and some scrap steel and scaffold tube.
I'd be interested in what you think and how improvements could be make.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjvXCiKe89E
We hadn't used the Kenwood KM200 for a while. When it was recently plugged in it let out the magic smoke!
In this video I explain what I found and how it was repaired. With a few tips alone the way.
Link to Ebay for the parts used:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Kenwood-Chef-A901D-E-Excel-KM200-250-Series-Evox-Motor-Repair-Kit-Guide
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXxXeo9EMMg
I’ve owned a Norbar torque wrench for over 35 years and it has always performed well. This year though it came time to retire the old thing and replace it with a WERA C3 torque wrench. It is able to perform all the tasks I have asked of the old wrench but now I’ll be able to see the display!
To enable the socket to be locked onto the ½” drive the socket need to be the correct type ie, has a locating hole or groove in it to enable the ball in the square drive to locate in the socket.
As stated in the video, after double checking it appears the wrench is only suitable for RIGHT HAND torquing. There are links to my google drive below about this.
Things to be aware of when it comes to torque wrenches in my opinion:
Treat them with respect, they can be a delicate tool and can be damaged if abused.
Don’t use them for breaker bar.
Don’t drop them.
Always return the setting of the tools to the minimum after use, this way you won’t leave the mechanise in a stressed state.
Link to Amazon for the wrench: https://amzn.to/3pGyHxi
Wera shop on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3tDnleV
Wera home page: https://www-de.wera.de/en/
Link to my Google drive with information/manuals on this tool: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1oQm-fur8oTW_eGWN-3uJEtYnHldA1iNv?usp=sharing
*Full disclosure. Some of the links above may earn a few pennies for the channel at absolutely no cost to yourself. Thanks for watching. *
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bxul1Pb0GDg
Hi, if you watched an earlier video of mine I tested a rather poor mains tester. Well today I'll try out one from a really well known manufacturer, Fluke.
Whilst the outcome in the video didn't quite meet my expectations I think I was asking a little too much as the fuse box is full of spurious energy which was bound to set off the tester. However it is still a very useful, non-contact device to test for energised circuits and defective grounds, whether it's for an electrician on the factory floor or the do-it-yourselfer around the house. It will be used whenever I'm fault finding on mains equipment. A DVM will of course be used for pin pointing the issue but the Volt Alert could set me in the right direction.
****Remember to always test the Volt Stick on a known live mains supply to make sure its working correctly.****
Fluke offer a 2 year warrantee and the Volt Stick comes with the required pair of AAA batteries so you are ready to go.
Links as alway are below:
1AC-II On/off switch and beeper on mains detection 90-1000VAC https://amzn.to/46rMLxx
2AC Always on + battery check button 90-1000VAC https://amzn.to/3ETifku
LVD2 +flash light built in 90-600VAC https://amzn.to/3Zu1cPo
My Google drive link to the manuals:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1cvKwJFBKc58q6CQjOoDDxi5nA7YbqUJS?usp=share_link
Fluke web site:
https://www.fluke.com/en-gb/product/electrical-testing/basic-testers/fluke-1ac-ii
*Full disclosure. Some of the links above may earn a few pennies for the channel at absolutely no cost to yourself. Thanks for watching. *
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMM6BdbzLN8
We have had an "Zero In" Bug and fly zapper for a few years and to my knowledge it has never caught a fly! This year I'm hoping to change that.
I have removed the mains powered UV (Ultra Violet) bulb and replaced it with 10 3watt Luzon star type LEDs powered by an old laptop PSU.
This video describes who I mounted the LEDs and fitted them to the lamp unit.
Links to the items used:
Ebay UV led's: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3W-Epistar-Bridgelux-Epileds-LED-Grow-Aquarium-Lights-PCB-Heat-sink-Chips-DIY
Amazon Heat sink compound used on the LED's: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07H1PZWWX
Banggood for plastic bolts (multipack set) used on LED's: https://www.banggood.com/custlink/mvGdWtvHvJ
Banggood for Constant Current Voltage Step Down Buck Power Supply Module (5pack): https://www.banggood.com/custlink/DDDRpJM1nh
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XgqXebMdn_w
About a year ago I decided the interior light, or courtesy light of my Land Rover Defender TD5 was too dim so sourced an LED replacement. I was still disappointed so looked further on Ebay until I found what I wanted. Take look and tell me what you think.
The seller I bought from Ebay is no longer listing the item. The link is to a similar bulb but you may need to bond together 3 of them. I was fortunate to get mine in a single array. There is a link to Banggood below also which seems to have a bank of them.
Ebay link:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/153037949846?_trkparms=aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20180105095853%26meid%3D514b9fb76e8f439f96de8d35085d5047%26pid%3D100903%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D20%26mehot%3Dpp%26sd%3D370547069884%26itm%3D153037949846%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D1%26pg%3D2510209&_trksid=p2510209.c100903.m5276
Banggood seem to have the same item that I purchased although they are bundled with other bulbs but are a great price for what you get:
https://www.banggood.com/custlink/vKDhoiD4Yl
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sSUsXlhqSR8
I've used flashlamps or torches for as long as I could walk. For business, I always look for the best available and have been through a few I can tell you over the years. My latest purchase is from RS, a UK company. They are renowned for selling good kit to the professionals and the two torches in the video are NOT an exception to the rule. What do you think?
Link to the torches on RS and data sheets available from these pages:
1500lumen torch: https://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/torches/2198131
1800lumen torch: https://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/torches/2198132
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXfvWJ2sdLU
I went shopping at Banggood again and bought 5 different usb LED sticks. They have their uses, indeed I use them in my Defender.
I've used my new GoPro Hero8 Black for the first time to shoot this video. What do you think? Let me know. I still need to fine tune it to get the best results!
There is a link to a similar video that I used my usual Apple iPhone 7+ @ 4K below:
https://youtu.be/pOIHw6RTE30
Links to Banggood LED’s in no particular order:
£1.47 each DC5V U Shape SMD5730 3W USB LED Rigid Strip Night Light for Reading Camping - Pure white.
https://www.banggood.com/custlink/KG3DfI8iiH
£2.08 each LUSTREON 1.5W SMD5050 Mini Button Switch Colourful USB LED Light for Mobile Power Bank DC5V.
https://www.banggood.com/custlink/vG3vwS98ld
£1.54 each DC5V USB Finger Touch Stepless Dimming Book Table Night Lamp Power Bank 6 LED Rigid Strip Light.
https://www.banggood.com/custlink/vKvmTS9SOc
£1.02 each USB Finger Touch Adjust Brightness Reading Table Lamp Power Bank Book LED Rigid Strip Night Light – White
https://www.banggood.com/custlink/GD33TS9SoV
£1.50 each Mini Touch Switch USB Mobile Power Camping 0.5W LED Rigid Strip Light Night Lamp DC5V - Warm White
https://www.banggood.com/custlink/DmKmTSSZl8
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YF99uPhw2oU
I thought it would be interesting to take a quick look at one of these devices called the BOXYM oFit-2 from from our friends at Banggood. Once they cost hundreds of £’s. This one cost me less than £9 delivered to my door from the land of China.
The unit seems to be well made and feels quite good, no flimsy plastic feel. It takes 2 AAA batteries which are not supplied. The claim of 8 hours of battery life has not been tested by me. You would realistically only be using it for seconds then it turns off when removed from your finger however it is effectively always drawing power from the batteries as there is no "hard" off switch.
The menu is simple, intuitive and fairly well laid out but remember the display is not too large, ok if you are young but for the older folk among use, reading glasses may be required. Also available from Banggood!
I've included quite a good description on how it works below.
“The measurements are obtained by simply shining two wavelengths of light (one is a visible red beam, the other an invisible infrared beam) from LED emitters set inside the device at one side of the fingertip.
By measuring how much light has passed through the fingertip and thus deducing how much been absorbed by the oxygen in the blood, an oxygen saturation or “sats” reading is established and displayed on the built-in screen as a percentage of the maximum amount of oxygen the blood could carry.
The Pulse Oximeter or SATs monitor looks for minute changes in absorption as the blood is pumped past the measurement site by the beating of the heart, so selecting somewhere with strong pulse is important. A weak pulse or restricted blood flow may limit the oximeter’s ability to obtain accurate measurements.
In the same way, introducing false pulses of blood, such as extreme movement of the measurement site, could equally affect the oximeter’s performance. It is important to understand what the oximeter is doing to ensure you get the best out of your SATs machine.”
The above description was taken from:
https://www.pulmolink.co.uk/pages/how-does-a-fingertip-pulse-oximeter-work
I hope you find the video of some interest and if so please give me a thumbs up and consider subscribing. Thanks!
Link to Banggood:
https://www.banggood.com/custlink/mvKDMwV7sy
Don't forget to give me a THUMBS UP and SUBSCRIBE. This gives me a boost to go onto making more content that I hope you will find interesting. Thanks. Hitting the notification bell will alert you to other videos new to my channel.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCiH7N5aQZU