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ADB-USB Wombat Manufacturing Trouble
Today I received a new batch of Wombat boards from my manufacturing partner. Too bad none of them work! Connected devices aren’t recognized, in either ADB or USB input modes. Oops. After some lengthy...
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Windows 10 Crashes Part 4 – 2K Video
I’m still chasing after unexplained errors and crashes with the new Windows 10 powered HP EliteBook x360 1030 G2 laptop that I bought in May. See part 1, part 2, and part 3 for the backstory. The...
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Floppy Emu and Disk Daisy Chainer Restock
After a few weeks’ absence, the BMOW Floppy Emu disk emulator for vintage Apple computers is back in stock. Get yours now at the BMOW store. This is the latest version Floppy Emu Model C, with OLED...
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Wombat Released into the Wild
The Wombat ADB-USB input converter is now back in stock at the BMOW Store. Head there to get yours now. Wombat what? The Wombat is a bidirectional ADB-to-USB and USB-to-ADB converter for keyboards and...
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Windows 10 External Video Part 5 – Failure
I’m either very persistent or very stupid. After 4+ months, I’m still chasing unexplained problems with external video on the HP EliteBook x360 1030 G2 laptop that I bought in May. Recently I thought...
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Floppy Emu SoftSP Warning
I’m calling attention to a hardware issue with the third-party “softSP” card that can damage your Floppy Emu when the two are used with a Disk II controller card in an Apple II+ or Apple IIe. This...
View ArticleBMOW Store Trouble
Yesterday’s upgrade to PHP 7.1 has broken the BMOW store checkout process. You can add items to your cart and authorize your payment, but the final “confirm payment” step leads to a blank screen. The...
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Backyard Metal Foundry Dreams
Sometimes my brain works in unexpected ways. I haven’t started any new electronics projects lately, but my thoughts have been spinning in other directions. Last weekend I jokingly told my kids that I...
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Shelter In Place
My family and I have been ordered to shelter at home until at least April 7, to help stop transmission of COVID-19 in the San Francisco area. Many of you may already be living under similar orders, or...
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Constant Power Battery Discharge
Recently I’ve been looking at battery datasheets, in preparation for an off-grid solar project. I’ve noticed something strange about the “constant power discharge” numbers in the datasheets of several...
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Small-Scale Solar Experiments
While sheltering in place this week, I’ve been tinkering with a small-scale setup for solar power generation. I’ve got a 100 watt solar panel, and access to the sun. What fun things can I do with...
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Batteries – Lead Acid or Lithium?
What’s the most expensive component in a small off-grid solar setup? You might assume it would be the solar panels, but the cost of panels can be surprisingly low. For many people, the batteries are...
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Used Lithium Battery Mysteries
My used LiFePO4 battery (lithium iron phosphate) arrived yesterday. Who buys used batteries? I do, apparently. I’ve been putting the battery through its paces to see how much of the original capacity...
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Used LiFePO4 Battery Fiasco
After more thorough testing of the used LiFePO4 battery that I described in my previous post, I’ve reached the sad conclusion that it’s essentially a worthless piece of junk. Encouraged by stories...
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Residential Solar Power and the Duck Curve
Sometimes you can have too much of a good thing. Take a look at the growth of residential roof-top solar power in California. For individual customers who are blessed with sunny weather, installing...
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New Features for ADB-USB Wombat
New firmware 0.3.5 is now available for the ADB-USB Wombat! The Wombat is a bidirectional ADB-to-USB and USB-to-ADB converter for keyboards and mice. Connect modern USB keyboards and mice to a classic...
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Building a 12V DC MagSafe Charger
Now that I have a solar-powered 12V battery, how can I charge my laptop from it? An inverter would seem absurdly inefficient, converting from 12V DC to 110V AC just so I can connect my Apple charger...
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Sorry, Europe. International Shipping Woes
The Covid-19 virus has disrupted pretty much everything, including shipping of BMOW hardware. The impact on international shipments to Europe has been especially severe. Typical post office delivery...
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Windows 10 External Video Crashes Part 6 – Conclusion
For most of 2019 I was going crazy trying to solve unexplained problems with Windows 10 external video on my HP EliteBook x360 1030 G2 laptop. I bought the computer last May, with the idea to use it...
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Floppy Emu Update: Favorites, Lisa Fixes, and More
New features have arrived for the BMOW Floppy Emu disk emulator! This update has something for everyone. Favorites Menu If your SD card contains hundreds of disk images or many deeply-nested...
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