EEVblog #1127 - Mailbag Monday

[ogden]

That's the thing, if I don't shoot the video then and there it usually never happens. And as I said previously I'd then have to shoot two versions of the video, one a long detailed one, and one as a short summary for the mailbag.

If there are no more than two packages per week sent, then we don't even need this discussion. - New format is OK If there are more than few and some packages are going to never be opened in front of the camera - then there's problem.

[wilfred]

The problem is that I shoot the mailbag as if all the content is going to be in the mailbag. I do get a feel for how much I've waffled on on each item, but I'm not really sure until go do the edit.
And by the time I do the edit and go "gee, that item is a bit long and warrants it's own video", I don't really have the proper intro or summary material for either a shorter Mailbag OR a longer dedicated video, so I likely have to go back and shoot some more commentary or other footage.
So for a shorter "summary" mailbag version to work I have to know at that point what type of video I'm going to do and shoot both versions of the footage. It gets logistically messy.

If you're set to do a Mailbag video why not take it as you've already decided what type of video you are going to do. None of your audience care about how logistically messy it gets for you. They only care if it prevents you from making videos. Surely that is the lot of a professional video blogger.

You can make the videos to suit yourself or you can make it according to the way your audience told you in a poll how they wanted it. But don't ask them and then not do it. Just don't ask.

[Brumby]

I, too, wondered about the 1KV rating for the screwdriver. 

How am I supposed to test that?
This is a Whia, best in the business, I have zero doubt it's properly rated and certified as a HV screwdriver.

My reservation was not about the rating itself ... but for the use case that would warrant it.

[Brumby]

You can make the videos to suit yourself or you can make it according to the way your audience told you in a poll how they wanted it. But don't ask them and then not do it. Just don't ask.

If a poll had said they wanted Dave to shoot videos while skydiving do you think he is obligated to do so?

Getting feedback is an important part of any pursuit - but it is not necessarily going to dictate an action plan.  Influence it, yes, but not dictate it.

[Quarlo Klobrigney]

Your mailbag is/was fine as is. I like it either way.

As far as the WIHA screwdriver, I was excited to see it work...then fail on every count. Ease of operation 0, Functionality 0, Necessity 0, Battery 0, A clean yellow parts surface after 3 months or real use 0, price -4.

As far as the schematic, the user has no clue how to use Eagle. See the post at: https://www.eevblog.com/forum/blog/eevblog-live-soldering-haasoscope/msg1857213/#msg1857213 After 1 hour, I refuse to spend any more effort to "fix" a garbage drawing. Easier to redo from start.
Bad schematic, so how is the actual electronic design? Garbage as well?
Python 2.7 is ok, but why not an up to date version of Python. Meh...Fail

[Bud]

There were changes in Python v3 that (may) cause v2 scripts to fail. It maybe a tedious work to re-write the code.
Python may be a great tool for developers but the idea of having the end user deal with it is ill.

[hayatepilot]

You are correct. This is VDE 603 certified product, certified for use on live circuits. And yes, that extension is THE torque limiter (fixed one) named easyTorque. On their full kit you get 5 of them, for different torque settings. All in all it is specialized, good quality product and expensive for that. And probably not something you would want to buy unless you need it.

If it's a torque limiter then it must be less than the 0.4Nm the instructions clearly show as being for the main motor electronic torque stop feature. So these must be a less than 0.4Nm which is naff all really. The electronic stop is barely enough for anything serious, so having less than that seems pointless 

The torque limiter is for when the motor has finished and you tighten it by hand. The standard set comes with a 2.8Nm torque limiter.

[Ferenc]

There are no words to describe that schematic. 

[McBryce]

That screw driver is a rather special tool made for working on potentially life circuits. So compare this more to an CAT 4 meter.  It's a lot about the electrical insulation and less about motor speed / battery.  I find it nice to have the supposed maximum torque on the bit's. There is positive side of having such a weak motor: one would not that likely slip on the screw head at the low torque.
The extension part might be for torque limiting (e.g. the slip clutch) and this might be a significant part of the price point.
I am still not a big fan of the implementation.

The Panasonic driver is a completely different tool - more suitable to undo the screws on the instrument and similar, but nothing you like on a life circuit. The isolated screw driver is more about working on a fuse panel or similar.

The doctors recommendation is a little odd.  There is a issue with normal screw drivers: if used a lot they put a lot of strain on the wrists and elbows. So they are really not a good idea for frequent use because of poor ergonomics.

If I'm working on live circuitry, the last thing I need is some toy screwdriver to distract me. Safety should be my priority, not speed. And if I want a German brand electric screwdriver I can buy a Bosch IXO for a 10th of the price and get up to 4.5nm in around the same size. Wiha has disappointed on this one.

McBryce.

[tszaboo]

There were changes in Python v3 that (may) cause v2 scripts to fail. It maybe a tedious work to re-write the code.
Python may be a great tool for developers but the idea of having the end user deal with it is ill.

You can create an executable from python, which includes all used library, the interpreter and everything. No installation required. It is called py2exe. While I wouldn't recommend using it for high performance applications (although it can be a wrapper for CUDA and such) it is fine for these programs. But the fork in Python 2-3 and the fact that they didnt solve easy installation of both on a system (for example renaming python 3 to anaconda or something) makes it indeed tedious.

[mrpackethead]

Python is a garbage. There is absolutely no excuse to write and ship software on Python.
It is a scripting language. Yes, it is okay to write some quick and dirty script to process some data on Python, run it, and then throw the script away.
And no, it is not okay redistribute those scripts for users who are not "experts" in Python scripting.

Bollocks.  Guess the IEEE doe'snt know whats its talking about.

The IEEE ranked Python as the #1 programming language in 2018 after ranking as the #1 language in 2017 and #3 top programming language in 2016. RedMonk's June 2017 ranking, had Python at #3, which was up one slot from their same ranking two years earlier.

[mrpackethead]

I did'nt like it at all. I had it playing in the background while i was packing products for shipping.

I dont' need to see you opening boxes.  I can accept that they actually got sent to you.   
I'd rather see a lot more things in much less detail.    If i'm interested in it further i can follow the links to it.
20 minutes with 20 products would be awesome.
 

[McBryce]

Python is a garbage. There is absolutely no excuse to write and ship software on Python.
It is a scripting language. Yes, it is okay to write some quick and dirty script to process some data on Python, run it, and then throw the script away.
And no, it is not okay redistribute those scripts for users who are not "experts" in Python scripting.

Bollocks.  Guess the IEEE doe'snt know whats its talking about.

The IEEE ranked Python as the #1 programming language in 2018 after ranking as the #1 language in 2017 and #3 top programming language in 2016. RedMonk's June 2017 ranking, had Python at #3, which was up one slot from their same ranking two years earlier.

Eh, no. The IEEE rated Python as the most POPULAR language. This says nothing about its capabilities or suitability for a particular job, just how often it's being used: https://spectrum.ieee.org/static/ieee-top-programming-languages-2018-methods

McBryce.

[cj]

Just saw a video on youtube (veritasium) on how being bored is good for creativity.
This new mailbag format is excellent for my creativity.

Sorry, just liked the old format.

CJ

[FloFo]

With his VDE-Rating, the Wiha Sscrewdriver is clearly made for Electricians. I guess someone assembling/modifing switchboards all day long may very well enjoy a tool like this, saving his ankles from all the turning Even they most likely don't work in live circuits most of the time, they will be required to use VDE certified tools just in case ...
I guess that's also the reason for the relative low speed, the screws in these terminals only have to be moved a few mm, so no need for high speed. All in all a product taylored to a very specific use, but definitively worth it's money if you work in an enviroment like this ...

Edit: just found on the wiha homepage: 800 screws per charge

[BrianHG]

Recommendation: Maybe spend 3-5 minutes per package on mailbag Monday and here in the post on this forum, offer a vote of which packages we would like to see torn down, and at the end of the week, or even next week, create the 20-40minute video tearing down the 1 or 2 top items in the voted list.

[ckambiselis]

The red Wihas are of the electricians line all made to current standards, it doesn't have 2 torque/speed modes cause it's not made for that, it's made for electricians doing building installations, wall sockets, switches etc, all those usually have plastic covers that would break/stripped if over torqued and the speed it good enough because the screws used have a course pitch or are not that long, also people in the field usually want something that is quick to use without many adjustments, cause if it has adjustments they are usually dialed to the max. For device repair a Makita of the same style as the Panasonic you showed has been serving me pretty well and the price was lower. Also import taxes in Australia seem crazy, the price went almost double.

[Fungus]

Python is a garbage. There is absolutely no excuse to write and ship software on Python.
It is a scripting language. Yes, it is okay to write some quick and dirty script to process some data on Python, run it, and then throw the script away.
And no, it is not okay redistribute those scripts for users who are not "experts" in Python scripting.

Bollocks.  Guess the IEEE doe'snt know whats its talking about.

The IEEE ranked Python as the #1 programming language in 2018 after ranking as the #1 language in 2017 and #3 top programming language in 2016. RedMonk's June 2017 ranking, had Python at #3, which was up one slot from their same ranking two years earlier.

Eh, no. The IEEE rated Python as the most POPULAR language. This says nothing about its capabilities or suitability for a particular job, just how often it's being used: https://spectrum.ieee.org/static/ieee-top-programming-languages-2018-methods

So? A few years ago it was Visual Basic.

I'm with Dave. As soon as I see "Python" and "Github" then whatever it is, it isn't going to be installed.

Unfair? Make it so that Python can live in a folder that's distributed alongside the app and the whole thing works by unzipping a file and double-clicking a bootstrap exe.

There were changes in Python v3 that (may) cause v2 scripts to fail. It maybe a tedious work to re-write the code.
Python may be a great tool for developers but the idea of having the end user deal with it is ill.

Yep. Whatever the supposed merits of Python are, it totally fails when it comes to distribution/compatibility.

[Mr. Scram]

I did'nt like it at all. I had it playing in the background while i was packing products for shipping.

I dont' need to see you opening boxes.  I can accept that they actually got sent to you.   
I'd rather see a lot more things in much less detail.    If i'm interested in it further i can follow the links to it.
20 minutes with 20 products would be awesome.

What's the point of just opening packages? That doesn't sound enjoyable at all.

[itdontgo]

Now that's a man's schematic

[Mr. Scram]

Now that's a man's schematic

I'm not sure how I feel about this trend of broken up schematics where it could just as easily be a bigger and more readable single or fewer part schematic. Parts also seem unconnected in this specific one?

[itdontgo]

Maybe it's an Eagle thing.

[Quarlo Klobrigney]

Not an "Eagle thing". It's an operator of Eagle has no clue how to lay out a schematic. His board is nothing to look at either.
Quote from: itdontgo on Today at 07:11:39

Maybe it's an Eagle thing.

[rsjsouza]

Now that's a man's schematic

I'm not sure how I feel about this trend of broken up schematics where it could just as easily be a bigger and more readable single or fewer part schematic. Parts also seem unconnected in this specific one?

This has to be sarcasm... This schematic is quite bad as well.

[taydin]

We should have a topic for this where all horror schematics go into