chip swelling up and getting fried

[CWatters]

"Watson A.Name - "Watt Sun, the Dark Remover"" <NOSPAM@dslextreme.com> wrote
in message > Problem is that

the AC line going to the motor is usually hot all the
time. The soundmaker would have to be wired _after_ the float switch,
which in the sump pumps I've seen, isn't easily accessible because it
has to be insulated from the water.

So you really need to detect the change in current when the motor switches
on rather then the voltage (which is constant).

 

[CWatters]

"Steve Grubb" <steve@sgpr.net> wrote in message
news:5edb58d2.0409200517.64bd7563@posting.google.com...

Hi, I'm looking for something with AC male on one end, and AC female
on the other, that can plug an AC device (sump pump) into, that will
emit an audible tone when the device is running and consuming current.
Kind of like an audible pilot light, or an electric meter that
sings.. I want this so I can be aware upstairs when the sump pump runs
in the cellar, since occasionally it sticks on. This would also alert
us to a plumbing problem. It's a dirt cellar.

I saw a gadget advertised in a PC mag recently... It looked like a 4 way
extension block with one special socket into which you plug your PC. It
detected when you switched off your PC (by measuring the current drop) and
then 10 seconds later it automatically switched off power to the other
devices. Perhaps this would do the job.

 

[CWatters]

"Bill Bowden" <wrongaddress@att.net> wrote in message
news:ad025737.0409212101.32394a31@posting.google.com...

Just wire the circuit in parallel with the AC
connections to the pump.

He said that wasn't possible because the float switch and motor connections
are sealed inside the pump. He only has access to power going in so he has
to measure the current somehow.

 

[John Fields]

On 20 Sep 2004 06:17:32 -0700, steve@sgpr.net (Steve Grubb) wrote:

Hi, I'm looking for something with AC male on one end, and AC female
on the other, that can plug an AC device (sump pump) into, that will
emit an audible tone when the device is running and consuming current.
Kind of like an audible pilot light, or an electric meter that
sings.. I want this so I can be aware upstairs when the sump pump runs
in the cellar, since occasionally it sticks on. This would also alert
us to a plumbing problem. It's a dirt cellar.

It seems like would be a simple device, but I don't know what it would
be called.

---
FWB
+----+
+-------------|~ +|------+-----+
| +-----|~ -|--+ |+ |
| | +----+ | [C] [BUZZER]
MAINS>---+--[R]--+----+ | | |
| +---+-----+
[PUMP]
|
MAINS>----------------+

Select the lowest voltage buzzer (beeper, Sonalert, etc.) you can
find, and choose R so that the current drawn by the pump motor will
drop the voltage needed by the buzzer plus 1.4V for the diodes in the
bridge. That is:


R = (Vbuzzer + 1.4V) / I motor


The capacitor, C, will be:


C = IdT/dV

where C = the capacitance in Farads
I = the steady-state current ion the buzzer
dt = the period of the rectified waveform
dv = the permissible ripple voltage across the buzzer

For example, lets say you have a pump which draws 1A and you've chosen
a 6 volt Sonalert which needs 100mA.

For R,

R = (Vb + 1.4V) / 1A = 7.4/1 = 7.4 ohms.

7.5 ohms is a standard value, and then, since the resistor will drop
7.5V at 1A, it will dissipate 7.5 watts, so you'll need to get
something like a 15 or 20 watt resistor.
A 20 watter won't get as hot as a 10 watter, so that would be the way
to go, IMO. A good idea would be to use a wirewound metal-cased 25
watt resistor which you could bolt onto the inside of a small metal
minibox which you could use to house the rest of the components.
Restricting all of the electrical connections to the inside of the
enclosure and making sure there were no electrical connections made to
the [metal] housing itself would go a long way to reducing the danger
of shock, since you're using the unisolated mains to run the buzzer.


For C, assuming you can tolerate 1/2 a volt of ripple:


C = Idt / dV = 0.1A*0.0083s/0.5V = .00166ľF ~ 1700ľF

Since the tolerance on the capacitance of cheap electrolytics is
often rated at -20 to +80%, you'd need about 2200ľF to make sure you
got 1700ľF, and the cap would need to be rated for at least 6V. 12V
wouldn't hurt.

Pretty much any old bridge would work, or you could make up something
out of 1N4000s, so your circuit would wind up looking like this:

FWB
+----+
+----------------|~ +|-------+-------+
| +-----|~ -|--+ |+ |
| | +----+ | [2200] [BUZZER]
MAINS>---+--[7.5R]--+----+ | | |
| +----+-------+
[PUMP]
|
MAINS>-------------------+


If you wanted to cut down on the dissipation you could substitute a
current transformer for the 7.5 ohm resistor, but that's another
story.

Whatever you decide to do be careful, since mains voltage can kill.

--
John Fields

 

[CWatters]

"Roy Conrad" <roy.c@bigfoot.com> wrote in message
news:e22b6c12.0409220337.158d5e1d@posting.google.com...

I'm looking for a COB(chip on board) PCB with a blinking led. This can
be found in toys and electronic candles.
I need to find manufacturers or resellers which I think are mainly in
China.
If the cob+led isn't available, I'll also be interested just in the
cob.
I've already seen some kits from kitsrus and some cob from Comedia but
they don't do what I need: 10Hz, 1/4 duty-cycle.

10 Hz is quite fast. Why so critical?

 

[CWatters]

"Roy Conrad" <roy.c@bigfoot.com> wrote in message
news:e22b6c12.0409230802.28e18b60@posting.google.com...

10Hz is to pretend to be a candle light. I've tried other frequencies,
but this is th better. Of course when we say 10Hz, 9 or 11 is almost
the same thing

Ah yes. I guess a slightly random flickering would be even better.

Try using a PIC micro in a SOT23 package perhaps...

http://www.reed-electronics.com/electronicnews/article/CA425783?pubdate=06%2F06%2F2004

 

[Watson A.Name - \"Watt Su]

"Bill Bowden" <wrongaddress@att.net> wrote in message
news:ad025737.0409212101.32394a31@posting.google.com...

steve@sgpr.net (Steve Grubb) wrote in message
news:<5edb58d2.0409200517.64bd7563@posting.google.com>...
Hi, I'm looking for something with AC male on one end, and AC female
on the other, that can plug an AC device (sump pump) into, that
will
emit an audible tone when the device is running and consuming
current.
Kind of like an audible pilot light, or an electric meter that
sings.. I want this so I can be aware upstairs when the sump pump
runs
in the cellar, since occasionally it sticks on. This would also
alert
us to a plumbing problem. It's a dirt cellar.

It seems like would be a simple device, but I don't know what it
would
be called.

Thanks for any ideas. -Steve

Well, you could use a piezo buzzer and a
few other parts. One resistor, one diode and
one capacitor. The piezo buzzer should be
the type that operates on a low DC voltage
and doesn't require a driver.

Just wire the circuit in parallel with the AC
connections to the pump. You can adjust the 16K
resistor for more or less volume, but don't take
it too low or the thing might fry. The diode needs
to be a 200 volt variety or greater for 120 AC
use. A 1N4003 or 1N4004 should work.


16K Diode
Pump ---\/\/\------->|------+-------+
AC + | |
--- Piezo buzzer
10uF --- |
| |
| |
Pump -----------------------+-------+
AC

You omitted one very important specification. The 16k resistor must be
able to handle the power, and IMNSHO, it should be able to handle the
amount of power the whole AC line would put on it. In this case that's
120VAC * 120VAC / 16000, which is 0.9 watts. So call it an even watt.
And it should be flameproof.

> -Bill

 

[~^Johnny^~]

On Thu, 23 Sep 2004 16:39:19 GMT, Don Bruder <dakidd@sonic.net> wrote:

Unless, of
course, you're at Radio Shack, where you'll get a look that's not just
puzzled, but positively bovine in its utter lack of anything resembling
the spark (Errr... no pun intended) of intelligence.

Be nice! A lot of RS stores have gone to Hell in a hand basket, but I resent
the stereotype, nonetheless.

Up until fairly recently (I'm talking 6 or 7 years ago), my local RS stores
had quite knowledgeable staff.

But let me tell you what happened to me about 19 or 20 years ago.

There was a local RS office in downtown ("Old Town") Eureka. It was a few
years prior to the start of the "Urbanization of Eureka" project. God Damn
the city council!

In this event, there was an employment ad run in the local job market, for a
"manager trainee" position. This point is important to note! I did not want
to be a salesman. I like dynamics, not stagnation. Thank you very much!

Well, it turns out that the so-called "manager trainee" position was a hoax:
A come-on. Truth is: ANY employee can be later considered, trained, and
promoted. I didn't realize that then, but I do now.

Let's backtrack.

OK. I applied for the job.

At the interview, we talked turkey. This is where I probably shot myself
down, but I didn't care at the time. I was blinded by intellect. During the
course of the interview, I was alarmed to learn that RS was phasing out the
"smart salesmen", in a quest for volume sales push. The interviewer started
to explain the policy to me. Here is what I heard him say:

"Actually, we are not looking for manager with electronics knowledge. The
less they know about electronics, the better."

I asked, "Why?" (big mistake)

"Well, it's a distraction. We don't want customers calling up our store to
pick our brain. We want to be able to keep sales on an even keel, and
basically just run the store."

I proceeded to tell him, quite frankly, what I thought about that protocol.
I didn't get the job, needless to say. But at least I left an impression.


Yeah, it's sad.
In the past 20 years, ost of the knowledgeable staff in my area RS stores have
either been transferred, fired, or have gotten frustrated and quit!


--
-john
wide-open at throttle dot info

 

[Jim Thompson]

On Fri, 24 Sep 2004 17:49:09 GMT, Don Bruder <dakidd@sonic.net> wrote:

In article <0sc8l0dopocvkubu3u9meglbgesc6scp4k@4ax.com>,
~^Johnny^~ <nospam@gyrogearloose.com> wrote:

On Thu, 23 Sep 2004 16:39:19 GMT, Don Bruder <dakidd@sonic.net> wrote:

Unless, of
course, you're at Radio Shack, where you'll get a look that's not just
puzzled, but positively bovine in its utter lack of anything resembling
the spark (Errr... no pun intended) of intelligence.


Be nice!

Be nice, my ass.
Too damned many people in this world are "being nice" in an effort to
avoid offending the tender sensibilities of some worthless waste of
humanity, when what's needed is a good solid smack upside the head with
a dose of reality.

A lot of RS stores have gone to Hell in a hand basket, but I resent
the stereotype, nonetheless.

Resent it all you like. Your resentment means *EXACTLY NOTHING* to me,
as my view is dead-on accurate: If you walk into pretty much any Radio
Shack today, you cannot find anyone with even the amount of electronic
know-how needed to point you at the capacitor rack, let alone give you
any useful information to decide why "This one is the one you want,
rather than that one." You'll find a shitload of salesdroids that'll try
and sell you a cell-phone when what you want is a 33K resistor, but
beyond that, you're walking into an intellectual wasteland.

Most of them wouldn't know a capacitor from a resistor from a pimple on
their ass. Of course, this assumes that the store you walk into even
*HAS* a capacitor rack. It's getting to the point where Radio Shack
should seriously consider renaming itself to "Cell phone and satellite
TV shack" to reflect their true business.

Radio Shack:
You've got questions, we've got blank stares.

Despite being something of a cliche, it's dead-on accurate in the huge
majority of RS stores.

And no, I don't care whose feelings I hurt by saying so. Get over it. If
you don't want to be seen as "the imbecile behind the counter", you've
got two options: Learn something, or get the hell out. But don't expect
any touchy-feely "spare your poor sensitive feelings" bullshit from me.
I call 'em as I see 'em, and if you don't like what I'm seeing, you need
to change what it is I see. At Radio Shack, I see morons. Don't like
that? Then change it - Get yourself at least rudimentary education in
the field you're supposedly working in, so that when I come in with a
question, you've got an actual answer, instead of a blank stare or a
line of bullshit that's so obvious even a blind man couldn't miss seeing
it.

Izzat clear enough for you to understand, "Johnny"?

There was an RS "droid" who really cracked me up trying to convince me
that a gold-anodized antenna was required to receive color signals ;-)

...Jim Thompson
--
| James E.Thompson, P.E. | mens |
| Analog Innovations, Inc. | et |
| Analog/Mixed-Signal ASIC's and Discrete Systems | manus |
| Phoenix, Arizona Voice480)460-2350 | |
| E-mail Address at Website Fax480)460-2142 | Brass Rat |
| http://www.analog-innovations.com | 1962 |

I love to cook with wine. Sometimes I even put it in the food.

 

[~^Johnny^~]

On Fri, 24 Sep 2004 10:56:45 -0700, Jim Thompson <thegreatone@example.com>
wrote:

On Fri, 24 Sep 2004 17:49:09 GMT, Don Bruder <dakidd@sonic.net> wrote:

In article <0sc8l0dopocvkubu3u9meglbgesc6scp4k@4ax.com>,
~^Johnny^~ <nospam@gyrogearloose.com> wrote:

On Thu, 23 Sep 2004 16:39:19 GMT, Don Bruder <dakidd@sonic.net> wrote:

Unless, of
course, you're at Radio Shack, where you'll get a look that's not just
puzzled, but positively bovine in its utter lack of anything resembling
the spark (Errr... no pun intended) of intelligence.


Be nice!

Be nice, my ass.
Too damned many people in this world are "being nice" in an effort to
avoid offending the tender sensibilities of some worthless waste of
humanity, when what's needed is a good solid smack upside the head with
a dose of reality.

A lot of RS stores have gone to Hell in a hand basket, but I resent
the stereotype, nonetheless.

Resent it all you like. Your resentment means *EXACTLY NOTHING* to me,
as my view is dead-on accurate: If you walk into pretty much any Radio
Shack today, you cannot find anyone with even the amount of electronic
know-how needed to point you at the capacitor rack, let alone give you
any useful information to decide why "This one is the one you want,
rather than that one." You'll find a shitload of salesdroids that'll try
and sell you a cell-phone when what you want is a 33K resistor, but
beyond that, you're walking into an intellectual wasteland.

Most of them wouldn't know a capacitor from a resistor from a pimple on
their ass. Of course, this assumes that the store you walk into even
*HAS* a capacitor rack. It's getting to the point where Radio Shack
should seriously consider renaming itself to "Cell phone and satellite
TV shack" to reflect their true business.

Radio Shack:
You've got questions, we've got blank stares.

Despite being something of a cliche, it's dead-on accurate in the huge
majority of RS stores.

And no, I don't care whose feelings I hurt by saying so. Get over it. If
you don't want to be seen as "the imbecile behind the counter", you've
got two options: Learn something, or get the hell out. But don't expect
any touchy-feely "spare your poor sensitive feelings" bullshit from me.
I call 'em as I see 'em, and if you don't like what I'm seeing, you need
to change what it is I see. At Radio Shack, I see morons. Don't like
that? Then change it - Get yourself at least rudimentary education in
the field you're supposedly working in, so that when I come in with a
question, you've got an actual answer, instead of a blank stare or a
line of bullshit that's so obvious even a blind man couldn't miss seeing
it.

Izzat clear enough for you to understand, "Johnny"?

There was an RS "droid" who really cracked me up trying to convince me
that a gold-anodized antenna was required to receive color signals ;-)

Jim, I always read and enjoy your posts in s.e.d., and I always will.

There is no doubt in my mind that Radio Shack is starting to suck.
I have made light of this several times.

Nevertheless, Mr. Bruder has taken it upon himself to personally attack me,
and flame me. That wouldn't be so bad, in and of itself. I can handle a
good flaming, believe me.

But Mr. Bruder has gone beyond that, with his general condescending attitude.
I have filtered his posts, and I will continue to filter him, until he loses
his nasty little disposition.

The only hope RS (or any other retailer) has, is its customer base.
With condescending assholes in the field, it can only get worse.
I'll tell you: Every time I walk into a RS store, I express my feelings,
and they are not ALL good. For instance: They are carrying less and less in
the way of discreet electronics components, like IC's, connectors, small
accessories, and even resistors and capacitors. I tell them that. But I do
it constructively. Will it get better? Probably not. It's largely driven by
the market trend.

But still, I have little empathy for railers like Don Bruder. He needs to
take a chill pill! I find it in my best of interest to simply filter him.

YMMV.


--
-john
wide-open at throttle dot info

 

[Don Bruder]

In article <d0t8l0l6j5obn03nje5ermkr2m6e68h5bv@4ax.com>,
~^Johnny^~ <nospam@gyrogearloose.com> wrote:

=plonk!=

Awwww... Guess I hurt his poor widdle feelings...

On Fri, 24 Sep 2004 17:49:09 GMT, Don Bruder <dakidd@sonic.net> wrote:

In article <0sc8l0dopocvkubu3u9meglbgesc6scp4k@4ax.com>,
~^Johnny^~ <nospam@gyrogearloose.com> wrote:

On Thu, 23 Sep 2004 16:39:19 GMT, Don Bruder <dakidd@sonic.net> wrote:

Unless, of
course, you're at Radio Shack, where you'll get a look that's not just
puzzled, but positively bovine in its utter lack of anything resembling
the spark (Errr... no pun intended) of intelligence.


Be nice!

Be nice, my ass.
Too damned many people in this world are "being nice" in an effort to
avoid offending the tender sensibilities of some worthless waste of
humanity, when what's needed is a good solid smack upside the head with
a dose of reality.

A lot of RS stores have gone to Hell in a hand basket, but I resent
the stereotype, nonetheless.

Resent it all you like. Your resentment means *EXACTLY NOTHING* to me,
as my view is dead-on accurate: If you walk into pretty much any Radio
Shack today, you cannot find anyone with even the amount of electronic
know-how needed to point you at the capacitor rack, let alone give you
any useful information to decide why "This one is the one you want,
rather than that one." You'll find a shitload of salesdroids that'll try
and sell you a cell-phone when what you want is a 33K resistor, but
beyond that, you're walking into an intellectual wasteland.

Most of them wouldn't know a capacitor from a resistor from a pimple on
their ass. Of course, this assumes that the store you walk into even
*HAS* a capacitor rack. It's getting to the point where Radio Shack
should seriously consider renaming itself to "Cell phone and satellite
TV shack" to reflect their true business.

Radio Shack:
You've got questions, we've got blank stares.

Despite being something of a cliche, it's dead-on accurate in the huge
majority of RS stores.

And no, I don't care whose feelings I hurt by saying so. Get over it. If
you don't want to be seen as "the imbecile behind the counter", you've
got two options: Learn something, or get the hell out. But don't expect
any touchy-feely "spare your poor sensitive feelings" bullshit from me.
I call 'em as I see 'em, and if you don't like what I'm seeing, you need
to change what it is I see. At Radio Shack, I see morons. Don't like
that? Then change it - Get yourself at least rudimentary education in
the field you're supposedly working in, so that when I come in with a
question, you've got an actual answer, instead of a blank stare or a
line of bullshit that's so obvious even a blind man couldn't miss seeing
it.

Izzat clear enough for you to understand, "Johnny"?

--
Don Bruder - dakidd@sonic.net - New Email policy in effect as of Feb. 21, 2004.
Short form: I'm trashing EVERY E-mail that doesn't contain a password in the
subject unless it comes from a "whitelisted" (pre-approved by me) address.
See <http://www.sonic.net/~dakidd/main/contact.html> for full details.

 

[Don Bruder]

In article <vct8l09aunur0ns6eor1cccb98icp24883@4ax.com>,
~^Johnny^~ <nospam@gyrogearloose.com> wrote:

On Fri, 24 Sep 2004 10:56:45 -0700, Jim Thompson <thegreatone@example.com
wrote:

On Fri, 24 Sep 2004 17:49:09 GMT, Don Bruder <dakidd@sonic.net> wrote:

In article <0sc8l0dopocvkubu3u9meglbgesc6scp4k@4ax.com>,
~^Johnny^~ <nospam@gyrogearloose.com> wrote:

On Thu, 23 Sep 2004 16:39:19 GMT, Don Bruder <dakidd@sonic.net> wrote:

Unless, of
course, you're at Radio Shack, where you'll get a look that's not just
puzzled, but positively bovine in its utter lack of anything resembling
the spark (Errr... no pun intended) of intelligence.


Be nice!

Be nice, my ass.
Too damned many people in this world are "being nice" in an effort to
avoid offending the tender sensibilities of some worthless waste of
humanity, when what's needed is a good solid smack upside the head with
a dose of reality.

A lot of RS stores have gone to Hell in a hand basket, but I resent
the stereotype, nonetheless.

Resent it all you like. Your resentment means *EXACTLY NOTHING* to me,
as my view is dead-on accurate: If you walk into pretty much any Radio
Shack today, you cannot find anyone with even the amount of electronic
know-how needed to point you at the capacitor rack, let alone give you
any useful information to decide why "This one is the one you want,
rather than that one." You'll find a shitload of salesdroids that'll try
and sell you a cell-phone when what you want is a 33K resistor, but
beyond that, you're walking into an intellectual wasteland.

Most of them wouldn't know a capacitor from a resistor from a pimple on
their ass. Of course, this assumes that the store you walk into even
*HAS* a capacitor rack. It's getting to the point where Radio Shack
should seriously consider renaming itself to "Cell phone and satellite
TV shack" to reflect their true business.

Radio Shack:
You've got questions, we've got blank stares.

Despite being something of a cliche, it's dead-on accurate in the huge
majority of RS stores.

And no, I don't care whose feelings I hurt by saying so. Get over it. If
you don't want to be seen as "the imbecile behind the counter", you've
got two options: Learn something, or get the hell out. But don't expect
any touchy-feely "spare your poor sensitive feelings" bullshit from me.
I call 'em as I see 'em, and if you don't like what I'm seeing, you need
to change what it is I see. At Radio Shack, I see morons. Don't like
that? Then change it - Get yourself at least rudimentary education in
the field you're supposedly working in, so that when I come in with a
question, you've got an actual answer, instead of a blank stare or a
line of bullshit that's so obvious even a blind man couldn't miss seeing
it.

Izzat clear enough for you to understand, "Johnny"?

There was an RS "droid" who really cracked me up trying to convince me
that a gold-anodized antenna was required to receive color signals ;-)

Jim, I always read and enjoy your posts in s.e.d., and I always will.

There is no doubt in my mind that Radio Shack is starting to suck.
I have made light of this several times.

Nevertheless, Mr. Bruder has taken it upon himself to personally attack me,

How, when and where? Since you so conveniently included the full text of
my post, it was an easy matter to re-read, and I can see nothing that
looks even a little like an attack. A definite dose of "too bad if you
don't like it", but nothing like an attack. If you refer to the use of
"you" in the final paragraph, and assume that I'm trying to say you're a
Radio Shack drone, my apologies for poor wording. I should have made it
more obvious that my statement was intended as a "generic" you - As in
"you, the offended counter-droid at Radio Shack", rather than a specific
"You, John, the guy I'm typing at." Aside from that, I'll stand by every
word I said, and make no apology whatsoever for saying it, regardless of
who might be offended.

and flame me. That wouldn't be so bad, in and of itself. I can handle a
good flaming, believe me.

When did I flame you? Where? How? <puzzled look> You trying to say that
stating an opinion and the facts that it's based on is now considered
flaming??? I guess I shouldn't be surprised, since it's coming from
someone who has already expressed indignation over someone saying he
thinks the droids at Radio Shack are a bunch of morons.

But Mr. Bruder has gone beyond that, with his general condescending attitude.

Condescending attitude? Hardly. More like righteous disgust at the
ruining of what was once a good company.

I have filtered his posts, and I will continue to filter him, until he loses
his nasty little disposition.

Keep your filter handy, then, since my attitude isn't likely to change.
Meanwhile, a sop for you:

Oh, woe! I've been killfiled by John! My life is over! The rejection and
hurt is intolerable! I can't go on like this! Somebody pass me the
hemlock!

Feel better now?

The only hope RS (or any other retailer) has, is its customer base.

True enough. And unless/until they change, they've lost me as part of
it. I can spend my money other places, and actually get something
resembling service in the process. No problem at all there.

With condescending assholes in the field, it can only get worse.
I'll tell you: Every time I walk into a RS store, I express my feelings,
and they are not ALL good. For instance: They are carrying less and less in
the way of discreet electronics components, like IC's, connectors, small
accessories, and even resistors and capacitors. I tell them that. But I do
it constructively. Will it get better? Probably not. It's largely driven by
the market trend.

But still, I have little empathy for railers like Don Bruder. He needs to
take a chill pill! I find it in my best of interest to simply filter him.

A chill pill? Heh... Apparently you ain't seen me get rolling on
something I'm TRULY passionate about then, John.

Have a nice time sticking your head in the sand.

--
Don Bruder - dakidd@sonic.net - New Email policy in effect as of Feb. 21, 2004.
Short form: I'm trashing EVERY E-mail that doesn't contain a password in the
subject unless it comes from a "whitelisted" (pre-approved by me) address.
See <http://www.sonic.net/~dakidd/main/contact.html> for full details.

 

[Bill]

In article <Gb%4d.15004$54.225958@typhoon.sonic.net>, Don Bruder
<dakidd@sonic.net> wrote:

Don Bruder - dakidd@sonic.net - New Email policy in effect as of Feb. 21, 2004.
Short form: I'm trashing EVERY E-mail that doesn't contain a password in the
subject unless it comes from a "whitelisted" (pre-approved by me) address.
See <http://www.sonic.net/~dakidd/main/contact.html> for full details.

PLONK

 

[Daniel J. Stern]

On Fri, 24 Sep 2004, Don Bruder wrote:

~^Johnny^~ <nospam@gyrogearloose.com> wrote:

=plonk!=

Awwww... Guess I hurt his poor widdle feelings...

Well, yeah, but he's got this *great* gold-plated DVD player dust cover,
which you need if you're going to watch DVDs put out by Disney in the
widescreen format, and it's available for only $39.99. It's also eligible
for the Radio Shack Protection Plan for only an additional $13.49. How
many would you like today? Three dozen? Four dozen? Let's start by giving
me your home address and telephone number...

 

[Daniel J. Stern]

On Fri, 24 Sep 2004, ~^Johnny^~ wrote:

There is no doubt in my mind that Radio Shack is starting to suck.

Umm..."starting"?

They *started* a little over a decade ago. They've pretty much finished
the job.

For instance: They are carrying less and less in the way of discreet
electronics components

Right, they mostly carry the loud and impolite kind, nowtimes.

But still, I have little empathy for railers like Don Bruder.

You think DB is a "railer"? Shug, you ain't seen *nothin'* yet!

DS

 

[Bob Ward]

On Fri, 24 Sep 2004 17:49:09 GMT, Don Bruder <dakidd@sonic.net> wrote:

Radio Shack:
You've got questions, we've got blank stares.

Despite being something of a cliche, it's dead-on accurate in the huge
majority of RS stores.

Since you are making this statement as some sort of authoritative
comment, are we to assume that you have personally visiterd over 3500
stores (more than half would be a bare majority - we'll give you the
benefit of the doubt) in doing the research that leads you to this
conclusion?

Name them.

 

[Bob Ward]

On Fri, 24 Sep 2004 12:47:49 -0700, ~^Johnny^~
<nospam@gyrogearloose.com> wrote:

The only hope RS (or any other retailer) has, is its customer base.
With condescending assholes in the field, it can only get worse.
I'll tell you: Every time I walk into a RS store, I express my feelings,
and they are not ALL good. For instance: They are carrying less and less in
the way of discreet electronics components, like IC's, connectors, small
accessories, and even resistors and capacitors. I tell them that. But I do
it constructively. Will it get better? Probably not. It's largely driven by
the market trend.

Is there a discreet way to point out the difference between "discrete"
and "discreet"?

I guess not.

 

[Watson A.Name - \"Watt Su]

"Don Bruder" <dakidd@sonic.net> wrote in message
news6Z4d.14971$54.225510@typhoon.sonic.net...
[snip]

Radio Shack:
You've got questions, we've got blank stares.

Despite being something of a cliche, it's dead-on accurate in the huge
majority of RS stores.

Why just RS? Include McD and BK in there too.

I call 'em as I see 'em, and if you don't like what I'm seeing, you
need
to change what it is I see. At Radio Shack, I see morons. Don't like

In the education biz, they're called intellectually challenged, among
other things..

that? Then change it - Get yourself at least rudimentary education in
the field you're supposedly working in, so that when I come in with a
question, you've got an actual answer, instead of a blank stare or a
line of bullshit that's so obvious even a blind man couldn't miss
seeing
it.

Izzat clear enough for you to understand, "Johnny"?

Oh, bruder - er, brother!

--
Don Bruder - dakidd@sonic.net - New Email policy in effect as of Feb.
21, 2004.

 

[Daniel J. Stern]

On Fri, 24 Sep 2004, Watson A.Name - "Watt Sun, the Dark Remover" wrote:

You've got questions, we've got blank stares. Despite being something
of a cliche, it's dead-on accurate in the huge majority of RS stores.

Why just RS? Include McD and BK in there too.

The critical key difference is that Shit Shack *used* to be useful.
McDeath and Booger King have *always* sold crapola.

 

[Ian Stirling]

Charlie+ <charlie@xxx.net> wrote:

I need an easily brewed small quantity of electroplating solution for
silver on copper without going to cyanide based commercial stuff
(this is only for a couple of lumped tuned circuits and I dont have
plated wire) and wondered if anyone had a homebrew recipe!?

I vaguely remember a solution made with film hypo being mentioned in
the distant past in a magazine, anyone up on this or similar? TIA
Charlie+

Any reason why solid wire wouldn't work?
You'll probably find sourcing plated wire much easier than
electroplating good quality low-resistance silver.