Mailbag Monday 189

There's an interesting looking variety of packages in the mailbox today. Including a couple of unexpected donations!
Grab yourself a drink and let's get into it.
www.fortwhyte.org/ is the beneficiary of the beer's fundraiser
Links:
Desoldering Braid Welding Solder Remover Wick Wire Lead Cord Flux BGA Repair
pileofstuff.ca/r/sl935
50 PCS ESD Small 1.5" x 2.8"_4 x 7cm Anti Static Zipper Bags Electronic Packing
pileofstuff.ca/r/p71xy
BTBcoin 19+1 20Pin 4 Port USB 3.0 HUB Front Panel Combo Bracket USB3.0 Hub Adapter for PC Desktop 3.5" FDD Floppy Disk Drive Bay
pileofstuff.ca/r/8oypy
C2C caberQU USB-C Cable Tester
pileofstuff.ca/r/tcp40
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Some other links to products may be affiliate links
odysee.com/@pileofstuff
#ElectronicsCreators
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This isn't the only way to do it.
It's probably not the best way to do it.
But it's how I did it.

[@zebrasprite]

Seriously among my favourite channels on KZbin. There's something very calming about your videos.

[@astromanian_UK]

[USB bus-tester] The screw behind the button cell is to prevent children accidentally swallowing the cell if left around. Good design.

[@pault6533]

Or accidentally falling out into your Bison Beer.

[@pileofstuff]

That's a much more concerning outcome.

[@TheDefpom]

I showed that USBC tester as well after seeing EEVBlog feature it, super useful item to check suspect cables.

[@delinuxspecialist]

You best try the drone inside, this size will be easily blown away outside.

[@alanevans4955]

Yep, little drones like this are like babies. They bounce... :) Even the lightest breeze will grab that size drone and add considerable frustration to learning to fly. Just remember, small stick movements and patience. Cheers!

[@markfergerson2145]

Also, drones can be addictive. You have been warned.

[@hoggif]

I have that usb cable tester and I find it very useful for example to separate usb-c cables that may be 100W PD but yet have only old usb d+/d- low speed connection.

[@ronm6585]

Nice haul. Thanks for sharing.

[@davetreadwell]

The screw is there as many places like etsy/Tindie have got a bit stricter about products with coin cell batteries needing to have a means of preventing removal of the the cell by children, due to the high risks of injury if/when coin cells are swallowed

[@tisrettamton153]

I've no idea why but the drone reminded me of a crab trap from the Deadliest Catch show.

[@kdt85]

i was just thinking of building a usb tester like that, that's awesome!

[@loveminis31]

You really got some good stuff and useful stuff.

[@lorisrobots]

Nice Mailbag! Thanks for posting.

[@meinsda5983]

I talk with andreas about this cable tester, but i found a litte better one. It also supports other types of USB Cables. Its from Treedix

[@SidneyCritic]

That 3.5" USB has the special USB3 MB connector, USB2 MB connectors have less pins. Be very careful plugging it in because the pins are very fine and easy to bend, ie, I bought a 2nd hand PC where someone mashed pins and I had to replace the socket on the MB.

[@pileofstuff]

Oh damn, I hadn't considered that point.

[@danman32]

My dad's MB he bought years ago has that dual USB 3.0 header. I did bend the pins trying to plug in that connector, was in an awkward place and angle on the MB. I was able to straighten the pins and get it connected. The one you showed with the hub shows to have 2 USB 3, 2 USB 2 probably tapped into one or both USB 3 ports

[@eDoc2020]

They're not _that_ easy to bend but somehow I managed to do it as well. My excuse is that there's negative clearance in my case. Instead of straightening the pin broke so now one of the ports is only 2.0.

[@fredflintstone1]

yea a Bank Holiday Monday post Bag 🙂

[@robertalabla]

Check your solder wick with a magnet. Lots of copper coated steel nonsense floating around out there! The listing you showed states 100% copper so it should be easy to get a refund if necessary, Also, you might want to check any Chinese alligator clip leads and "DuPont" cables.

[@pileofstuff]

Good tip.

[@GnuReligion]

Carleton made Christmas come Easter-early!

[@sparkyprojects]

Those solderwick reels should stack and clip together I got a usb cable tester that can do all connector types

[@HazeAnderson]

SMD works requires more visibility, more flux ... and more wick! I get the thicc wick from NorthRidge Fix.

[@jordanwaeles]

1:30 if you have auto-generated subtitles on, you'll see youtube thought you dropped the F bomb when you talked about flux, and censored all your flucks

[@pileofstuff]

That's funny. I know the auto-subtitles can be a bit random, but I hadn't noticed that.

[@markgoodrich941]

That's funny

[@frankowalker4662]

The drone looks like it could be fun.

[@pileofstuff]

It does. I'm hoping I can learn to fly it before I destroy it trying to learn...

[@frankowalker4662]

@@pileofstuff It looks sturdy enough to take a few knocks.

[@pileofstuff]

@@frankowalker4662The plastic seems like it would bend more than break... unless I do a really big job of crashing it...

[@frankowalker4662]

@@pileofstuff LOL.

[@TheUnofficialMaker]

you should xray any packages from NY. lol

[@parthsahni8952]

cool

[@DirtyPlumbus]

Do you use paste and a heat gun for surface mount? I find it much easier than fiddling with an iron on tiny parts.

[@HazeAnderson]

I use a regular soldering iron for SMD work but I also have a great microscope camera and I can see everything up close with a monitor. Added bonus I am not over the board, but rather sitting away comfortably. I also have a hot air station but I haven't needed to use it yet ... I find hot air requires a lot more experience than soldering irons, which I find are much easier at preventing other parts from flying off the board into the ninth dimension. 😆

[@DirtyPlumbus]

@@HazeAnderson interesting perspective. 🤔 I'm sure we've all blown components off the board atleast once, I know I have. I personally find it much more forgiving. If you get the paste and components in about the right area they tend to place themselves...assuming you're not blowing too hard. I'd imagine having the microscope does make a huge difference. I have a headset from when I repaired watches that could probably do similar but I've always hated using it. Lol

[@pileofstuff]

I've tried paste, but I do SMD so seldom that it dries up in the package before I return to it.

[@kyleallred984]

Im pretty sure there are pcie cards with usb3 headers if you don't have any on your motherboard.

[@pileofstuff]

I'm out of PCIe slots, though...

[@kyleallred984]

@@pileofstuff m.2 to pcie adapter?

[@kyleallred984]

Since the dawn of crypto mining there has been an explosion of pcie expansion boards. Converting a single slot to multiple slots. Although reliability is a bit hit or miss. Jeff gerlings video on petabyte pi shows that. There are also adapters. Like u.2, m.2, oculink. All pcie just different form factors that can easily be adapted to each other.

[@eDoc2020]

There are also adapters to go between the 2.0 and 3.0 internal headers. Or if you have rear ports there are cables you can stick through a hole in the back.

[@pileofstuff]

@@eDoc2020That's worth looking into. Thanks!

[@gordanmilne7034]

Dog chew Drone

[@pault6533]

With Etch-A-Sketch controller

[@erikburman530]

Meh.