bigclive

How I used to link to the "net" while travelling

In the early days of the Internet, finding a connection was often very tricky while travelling.

I used this antenna to find open networks, as a mobile Internet connection was not a thing back then. I often had to hold it out of open windows and try and grab my mailing list and newsgroup updates with Demon's Turnpike so...

Weird vintage analogue trackball

I remember buying this from a surplus supplier, and I think there may have been a manufacturing tolerance issue with the design. It also has a very "firm" ball action versus the more common, but expensive free-rolling optical type. (My preferred input device is an optical trackball for use with PCB CAD.)

At the time ...

Different format air fryer teardown

The air fryer was so big that it was easier just to sit it on my lap to take it apart.

The airflow was different to what I was expecting, and the unit has lots of useful components that would cost more than the complete machine (a ridiculously low £20!)

The main assembly may also find use in making a temperature ...

A closer look at the LED Indian amulets

A closer look at one of the Indian amulets we were maintaining during the run of the show. For its cheapness and simplicity, it gives a stunning effect.

The performers with these had one on each wrist, and turned them on at a key point in the act.

They are literally just nine strips of 12V blue LED tape wired in ...

Just quickie

A nice simple teardown for a change. It's a common oil vaporiser for deterring the presence of flying insects. I'm not sure how effective it is, since they're not a huge issue here.

The custom ceramic heater is very nice. The devious way they have made the unit one time use less so. I wonder if it's just to stop peo...

Better quality solar floodlight from a high street store

Compared to the mass of cheap eBay lights with very suspicious lithium charging circuitry, this unit takes a safer and more traditional approach to charging.

It seems a fairly well designed and functional light.

https://youtu.be/xtaIOZTnANw

Inside a hover ball

Something refreshingly simple for a change. It's a ball themed puck that glides on a bed of air created by an internal fan.

The construction is very simple, but it still manages to squeeze in a PCB, albeit purely for marshaling power to the LEDs.

2024-09-01 03:19:36 +0000 UTC View Post

Streams are resuming

If all goes to plan I intend to stream as usual.

https://www.twitch.tv/bigclivedotcom

Less than ideal lithium battery packs

This is the second time the Indian act has come with less than stellar lithium battery packs for their illuminated props/costumes. This year most of it was OK, but what appeared to be professionally made lithium 12V packs turned out to be cobbled together from random reclaimed 18650 cells with very dubious DIY spot welding, s...

Job done!

The show is complete and the lights, cables and truss are all on their way back.

There's a great feeling when the doors of the trucks are closed and we head off to a local Thai restaurant for a meal generously provided by Vince the crew chief.

This truck was the last one, so the flight cases aren't stacked quite a...

Accommodation room tour

A quick tour of the accommodation I was staying in while in Edinburgh.

It's student accommodation - although it's also used by visiting labour and tourists.

There's a sign in the room that basically says "Manage your expectations - this is not a hotel."

2024-08-30 16:52:37 +0000 UTC View Post

YouTube's latest "thing"

If you've noticed that my name has changed to a random string of characters in my replies to comments, it's because of the latest YouTube mystery action.

Do you have a head for heights?

This is what it's like going up in the crane's elevator. It's very open and very wobbly. Definitely not for the faint hearted.

Sorry for the shady footage - it was filmed late at night. It would have been better to film this in daylight, although that would have made the experience a bit more intense.

2024-08-26 23:46:02 +0000 UTC View Post

The crane we use during the castle derig

The crane we use is very tall. It folds out from a compact driveable unit, and has an elevator just for the driver to get to the top.

https://youtu.be/99kzuosyTQ4

Derigging our lighting gantries with a rail system

I'm not aware of any other venue that uses this system. I suggested it during the design of the new stadium, and it has been very helpful indeed in moving the high number of extremely heavy lights we use.

https://youtube.com/shorts/1qwRJlio4sU 2024-08-26 23:40:28 +0000 UTC View Post

Inside the exploded farting ninja

A look inside the farting ninja toy after it had been powered with a 240V supply.

The blob chip seems to have borne the brunt of the carnage.

https://youtu.be/PCHf8pzw3Z0

Light bar video now visible

Sorry. Mixture of long hours and a blip that set all recent uploads from unlisted to private, meant that video wasn't visible. It should be fixed now.

https://youtu.be/5tCf84AopnM

Inside a LIDL "four light" bar

Spoiler - you can't change any of the four lights...

Quite neat design though, and a good example of mass production and the illusion of providing something more complicated than it is.

https://youtu.be/5tCf84AopnM

Blowing up a farting ninja at work

When we're not fixing stuff we're breaking stuff. In this instance we decided to destroy one of the many farting ninja toys dotted around the workshop.

https://youtu.be/eNFHEifHUSI

New Air Wick atomiser unit

This is a new variant on the Air Wick essential mist oil atomiser. It has a nice illuminated panel on top that glows quite brightly while the unit is emitting mist.

I've experimented with DIY aroma oils, and while you can get a fairly strong aroma from pure essential plant oils diluted with very refined mineral oil, th...

View from the control room during first Saturday show

The Indian act again, because it's fairly colourful. I don't have many cues to do during the first show on a Saturday, as it is done in daylight. (The show is best seen in the later, darker show.)

I popped through to the production control room to make a short video.

The outer three circles of dancers are actual...

Old unreleased video from past year

I didn't release this video at the time, because I felt I messed it up a bit.

Now I'm reviewing it, it's not too bad, even if I was a bit perplexed as to what to call the stator.

I was expecting a capacitor for speed control, but it's simpler than that.

2024-08-21 12:03:14 +0000 UTC View Post

Arabian incense burner for in-car use

Another interesting gift from Vince the crew chief. He travels a lot internationally with work, and finds weird and wonderful gadgets.

This one came from Qatar, but as with almost every other gadget, it is made in China.

The incense box says that it is made in the UAE (United Arab Emirates).

2024-08-21 02:53:02 +0000 UTC View Post

Holographic fly repeller (FLICKER ALERT)

An unusual device bought from a local shop (Home Bargains in Edinburgh).

It has a spinning holographic blade that must appear as some sort of monster predator to flies.

The battery/USB switching circuitry is very novel and intriguing.

https://y...

Vince made me do this!

Bubble whistling. I'm almost too embarrassed to release this on YouTube...

I'm just miming along to a little musical bubble machine, which I will be taking apart for your viewing pleasure later on.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/ezUw9e...

So much haze!

They're going all in on the haze this year. These machines use a very small amount of vegetable glycerine to create dense clouds of haze that swirl in the wind.

The glycerine haze fluid is pumped in as pulses by a solenoid pump, mixed with air and bubbled through a wide heater tube. It atomises due to the water conten...

Show fly-past

Some of the shows have an RAF flypast at the start. The first one was a jet with that hit the show countdown literally to the nearest second, and that was followed by the Red Arrows and other random aircraft.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Y...

Indian illuminated amulet

General repairs to the illuminated Indian props. This is one of many illuminated amulets worn by the performers during the Indian act. The main issues we've had have been damaged LED sections caused by overzealous clashing of amulets during the dance routines, and rogue switches going intermittent.

For something so s...

Novel solar insect trap

I'm undecided whether the blue light in this is actually effective at aiding in luring insects to the beer inside, but it's a visually nice feature.

The high value inductor means it should have a fairly long run time at night.

https://...

Neat little LIDL rechargeable worklight

I'll guess that this same light is probably available under different brands elsewhere in the world, but in the UK it's sold under the Parkside brand by LIDL.

Very simple operation, but an interesting design that gives the microcontroller an override facility for the charge circuitry, and can also allow maximum charge v...