Posted by nick | Posted in Hobbies, RC Helicopters | Posted on 17-04-2012
Flying remote control helicopters is becoming one of America’s fastest growing hobbies. It is inexpensive to do, entertaining for all ages, and can teach about the basics of flying. Learning to fly these rc helicopters can be a difficult task for some. It is recommended all new flyers practice a few exercises before taking the helicopter on a full flight. These tips will make the beginner a better pilot and possibly increase the lifespan of your vehicle.
The first thing everyone should do is consult the owner’s manual to learn how the rc heli will be controlled. Once you have a basic understanding of how the helicopter will operate, then the actual flying will begin.
Some people will recommend adding training gear to your rc heli. This is not mandatory, however it can prolong the life of your helicopter.
Once you fire up the rc helicopter, try doing small “hops” about 6 inches off the ground. This will show you how the helicopter responds to the controls, how fast it takes off, and how fast it comes down for landing.
After your “hops” have been perfected, time to move onto hovering. Fly the remote control helicopter approximately six inches to a foot off the ground. This is the time to notice how the vehicle reacts to wind gusts when it is closer and further from the ground.
Slowly take the rc helicopter higher, closer to three feet and then to six. You’ll notice as the wind increases so does the reaction of the vehicle.
While still flying relatively low, begin walking with the rc heli as you fly. *Note – Be careful to watch where you are walking and not to get too close to the helicopter.
Begin practicing turns while you walk with the vehicle to learn how it responds. Next try flying in small, slow circles, this can be difficult so have patience.
Once you have mastered the basic commands you can begin going higher and faster. Just make sure to do this in small steps and remember to pace yourself when it comes to flying. Once you have mastered basic flying more tricks will naturally come along.
The biggest thing to remember when learning to fly these remote control helicopters is to take it slow, and practice. Often people will assume the helicopters are easy to fly, and make mistakes which damage the vehicle. Always keep in mind, practice makes perfect.
Posted by nick | Posted in tools | Posted on 06-04-2012
Multimeters are tools used to measure current, voltage and resistance. They are very useful instruments that can be utilized in a number of fields, the primary users being electricians. There are two primary types of multimeters, one begin the analog and the other is the digital. The primary difference between the two is the display, an analog multimeter uses a needle to show the value, while a digital multimeter will show the results as numbers on a screen. There are pros and cons to both device, and this article will tackle both these issues.
To make measurements on a scale calibration a analog multimeter moves a needle along the scale. These devices are excellent for reading voltage, current, resistance, frequency and signal power. A switched-range analog multimeter can be very affordable, however they can be a bit difficult to use. For users who are new to multimeters may have trouble reading the resistance scale. The analog multimeter also exhibits low resistance and high sensitivity with scales down, which can make it difficult to use. The advantages of using an analog multimeter is when checking a diode the analog is usually more accurate. Other than that, many professionals choose to use a digital multimeter.
As mentioned above, the main difference between a digital and analog multimeter is the display. The digital multimeter displays the reading in digits most times on a LED or LCD screen. This makes taking measurements much more accurate. These tools are often used for measuring voltage because of its higher resistance of 1 M or 10 M.
Overall, digital multimeters are much easier to read and provide more accurate readings. These days many analog multimeters are a thing of the past, and many professionals choose to use digital multimeters. Hopefully this article has explained the difference of the two multimeters and will be helpful when shopping for a multimeter.
Posted by nick | Posted in Hobbies, How To | Posted on 17-02-2012
Stepper motors can be found in a number of hobby activities, from robotics to radio-controlled toys. These small motors are easy to replace, for some people, and offer an inexpensive way for home electronic repairs. To make sure the motors you are working on are operating properly there are a few steps that should be taking to test the stepper motor. With basic information specific to the chosen stepper motor and minimum equipment, your stepper motor can be properly setup in no time.
The first thing to do is review the specification sheet that came with the stepper motor packaging. The information on this sheet will show which pin supplies the common voltage for all the windings. Additionally, the spec sheet will also specify which pins are connected to particular motor windings. Next check the stepper motor’s wiring harness to make sure it is accessible, and if it is not, disconnect it from the driver circuit. The connector pins must be exposed to enable testing the motor windings, this must be done if the motor is straight from the box or out of a circuit.
Take your digital multimeter and plug in the probe test leads, making sure the directions above were followed. Once you are hooked up, turn on the multimeter and select the highest resistance range possible. You will need to check each of the motor windings to ensure the stepper motor will be operating correctly. Insert one of the probe leads into the voltage pin connector and the other into a winding pin connector. If the digital multimeter reads a resistance of infinity you will know this is a good motor winding. Proceed through each winding and connecter with this process until each one has been tested. Once you are finished remove the multimeter probes and turn the machine off.
The final step is to connect the stepper motor to the driver circuit to see how it operates. Plug the wiring harness into the connector on the driver circuitry, making sure all the connections are secure. It is important to vary the pulse widths over a broad range to make sure the stepper motor is working correctly. Everything on the motor should operate correctly, which means the stepper motor can be disconnected, if you are finished.
Posted by nick | Posted in Hobbies | Posted on 04-01-2012
Hobbyists around the world are discovering the many uses of stepper motors, and how they are making life easier. Stepper motors are used in a number of different applications, both commercially and industrial. These motors are used in everyday machines that many of us may not even realize, like a printer or washing machine. By using stepper motors to repair your own, broken machines, you can potentially save yourself thousands of dollars on repairs and /or new products.
Stepper motors are what we call constant power devices which are also brushless. These electric motors are capable of dividing complete rotations into a number of smaller steps. The stepper motors are controlled without a feedback mechanism, however they must be sized correctly based on the application. If a stepper motor does not fit the application correctly torque and speed can be lost and the motor may even be knocked of course. With this in mind it is vital to make sure the proper stepper motor is selected.
Typically the nameplate of a stepper motor will give the winding current and in some cases will also have the voltage and winding resistance. This makes selecting the proper stepper motor easy for which ever application you will need it. The rated voltage will produce the rated winding current, however this rating is often meaningless. With many modern drivers current limiting and the drive voltage will greatly exceed the motor rated voltage. 
Posted by nick | Posted in Garden | Posted on 29-09-2011
Just about every person loves seeing the sight of butterflies flutter around their yard or garden. These are some of the most beautiful and attractive creatures on the planet and they are considered insects. When particular plants are placed in a garden they may attract butterflies from all over. Having butterflies around your home can be v
ery beneficial.
Butterflies are very particular when it comes to laying their eggs on plants. Many butterflies will only lay their eggs on one species of plant which is usually only native to a certain region. If these plants are cleared from area the butterfly population may begin to drop. By planting “host plants” for butterflies you can ensure many more generations of butterflies live on.
Research conducted by the University of Florida shows having a butterfly garden or butterfly house in your yard can be very therapeutic. Butterfly gardens provide a very soothing retreat and can be very helpful with stress and anxiety. For centuries cultures have believed butterflies to be mythical creatures that have served many purposes. Even today many people believe a butterfly landing on you will carry your prays to the beyond.
Above are just a few reasons why many people decide to build butterfly gardens for their yard. There are additional reasons, not mentioned above, of why butterflies are great for the environment. Help keep a strong ecosystem in your yard by building a butterfly garden or mounting a butterfly house.
Posted by nick | Posted in Garden | Posted on 08-09-2011
Just about everyone takes pride in their garden, yard and home. We want it to stand out to others and be the best on the block. However, no matter what we do there are always some things we cannot stop, and one of those things is mother nature.
Bunnies are notorious for getting into gardens and destroying vegetable plants. Certain types of insects can be deadly to plant species and lets not forget rain, wind and snow. All of these can be a potential danger to your garden, but lets not forget about the dreaded squirrel. Squirrels can burrow holes underneath patios, through gardens and int
o sheds. The love bird seed and are often the culprits when it comes to large quantities of bird seed disappearing fast. Luckily there are some great garden products that can help deter squirrels from the garden.
The most common purchase are squirrel baffles which fits over top or underneath a bird feeder. When placed underneath the feeder the squirrels are unable to climb up the pole or post. The quickly realize they need a new way to get to the bird feeder. Often squirrels will come from top branches and land on the bird feeders to get to the seed. When a squirrel baffle is placed on the top of the bird feeder the squirrels stand on the baffle and slide off, landing safely on the ground.
If you would like something a bit more technologically advanced you may want to consider a squirrel proof bird feeder. These feeders feature weight mechanisms that are activated once a squirrel steps onto the feeder. The feeding ports close up, making it impossible for the squirrel to get the seed. Once the squirrel steps off the ports open letting the birds continue feasting.
These are a few safe and effective ways to keeping squirrels out of your bird seed. There are alternatives such as sprays and pest control, but often these are just temporary solutions. Get a product that has proven itself time and time again.
Posted by nick | Posted in Hobbies | Posted on 27-07-2011
Soldering stations have many uses and can be one of the most useful tools you purchase. Choosing the best one to fit your needs is important, so we have provided some tips to picking the right one. The purpose of these tools is to solder electronic components onto a printed circuit board, in some cases they can de-solder as well. Every soldering station comes with different features which users will need to determine will fit their needs or not.
One thing to consider is if you will be performing extensive repair, if so you will want to choose a soldering station that has a de-soldering tool. On these devices there is a small suction tip that is used with the soldering tip to melt solder and remove it from the pad. The nice part about these de-soldering components is how nice the pad is cleaned after using. One drawback is the price. A soldering station with this device usually is more expensiv
e and may not fit into your budget.
Will you be working on boards with different kinds of components? Make sure to use a soldering station that has multiple tips of different sizes and shapes. Many electronic chips that have a large number of pins will require fine tips for soldering. In other situations it may be easier to use and angeled tip, in other cases a straight tip. It is always a good idea to have different types and sizes of tips available.
Another very important accessory to have on your soldering iron is temperature control. Soldering pins tha connect to large-area planes will require much higher temperatures. Using excessive heat can damage a component, making it important to have a temperature controlled soldering station.
These are just a few tips that are important to take into consideration when picking out a soldering station. Some extras may not be needed for the type of work you plan on doing. In the other case, some of the add ons will be essential in finishing your work properly.
Posted by nick | Posted in Garden, Hobbies | Posted on 14-07-2011
Your backyard is something to be proud of, to show off to friends and family. We can decorate our yards with anything our hearts desire, from ceramic bird baths to funny garden gnomes. People view their gardens and yards as a reflection of who they are and what they enjoy.
A popular item that is placed in many gardens is an outdoor gazebo. These structures are great for blocking the sun and rain on days when mother nature is not permitting. Gazebos can be added to just about any backyard and make grilling, eating, and socializing more comfortable when the elements are against you.
There are a few factors that should be taken into consideration when purchasing a new gazebo. The first thing you need to do is set a budget. This seems like the obvious first step, but it can be easy to spend more than you would like to. Many of us cannot simple go down to the store, pay up front for a gazebo and have someone come assemble it. You can save a good amount of money if you decide to build yourself, but only undertake this task if you know what you are doing. If not, play it safe and have a professional do it for you.
One of your number one concerns will be the size of the gazebo. You will want it big enough to accommodate all your guest, while not to big to take up to much of the backyard. Once you decide on the size you will need to think about building materials. Many gazebos are constructed with wood and cement, while others may include brick for walls or even the flooring.
Once your gazebo is constructed it is time to start decorating. Plant some flowers around the outside to add some color, then throw up a bird feeder to attract some of the local wildlife. Next it is time to share your new addition with friends and family. Everyone will love the new gazebo and you will love showing it off.
