Product tests

SilverCrest SWS-A1 IoT power outlet

SilverCrest SWS-A1 is an IoT controlled electrical outlet device sold by Lidl.  It connects to home Wifi network and that can be controlled with smartphone app anywhere where you have Internet connection. Silvercrest app allows to control the electrical outlet on and off (ON is meaning contact the power between electrical appliance and power supply.

Qi charger board analysis

I have written several postings on Qi wireless power. To get a good idea how Qi really works, I bought cheap bare Qi charger board Qi Wireless Charger PCBA Circuit Board + Coil Charging (costs only slightly over two Euros / USD).Qi Wireless Charger PCBA Circuit Board + Coil Charging kit consists ofQi Wireless Charger

Tiny Drones

Latest-generation drones now cost around $1,000, if not more. Or how about … $10? Seriously! Teardown: A tiny drone and its controller article tells about Cheerson CX-10 Quadcopter that can be picked for around $10. I picked one at slightly higher price (around €15) from Banggood or DX, to get the idea of today’s drones. I

Perf+ prototyping board

Stripboard is the generic name (also known as Veroboard) for a widely used type of electronics prototyping board characterized by a 0.1 inch (2.54 mm) regular (rectangular) grid of holes, with wide parallel strips of copper cladding running in one direction all the way across one side of the board. Stripboard is available from many vendors. Stripboards

Smart phone lens set

Smart phone cameras are useful in many ways. Smartphone cameras are great, or at least close enough to great that you don’t notice the difference in many cases to traditional camera.Compared to a DSLR, smart phone cameras are still pretty lame. But the camera in your pocket is crazy good considering the limitations manufacturers work

Power supply module tested

I needed a new small power supply for my electronics project table. I was checking several options for a lab power supplies, but when I saw DC-DC Step Down Power Supply Adjustable Module With LCD Display With Housing Case I decided that I could use it to build easily the power supply I need. In

Netcon GW502 found to be “competently hardened”

I work for Netcontrol that makes provides energy network automation solutions for utility communication, distribution automation, substation automation, and control centers. I have done lots of work with their embedded systems and their security. And I write to this blog actively covering many topica from electronics to network security. Now some news from my daily

Second bad fluorescent starter

On my earlier Bad safety starter posting I told about problems in one electronic fluorescent starter Axxel S10. I was wondering if this was a problem was on just this one unit I had or was it a more widespread problem problem (manufacturing or design error). Now I suspect manufacturing or design problems, because second

Bad safety starter

In my earier posting LED tube replaces fluorescent I wrote that due real Fluorescent lamp fire danger I have pretty much tried to get rid of potentially dangerous tradtional starters in the fuorescent lamps. So I replaced the starter with electronic safety model – if bulb does not start, it will stay off without heating.

LED tube replaces fluorescent

Due real Fluorescent lamp fire danger I have pretty much tried to get rid of potentially dangerous tradtional starters in the fuorescent lamps. So I replaced the starter with electronic safety model – if bulb does not start, it will stay off without heating. Or at least should. I got one Axxel S10 starter that