#hardware-engineering
224 episodes · Page 5 of 10
#4124: Building a Safe AC-to-DC Enclosure for MQTT Traffic Lights
Learn to safely build a constant-voltage enclosure for a Raspberry Pi-powered traffic light with MQTT control.
#4123: LoRa Through Concrete: Parking Sensor Deep Dive
Can LoRa punch through 4 floors of concrete? We break down the real-world range, hardware, and regulatory details.
#4085: The Clinton Email Server: A Technical Autopsy
What was actually in that Chappaqua basement? A technical breakdown of the most infamous self-hosted email server in history.
#4077: Is Bosch's Entry Pro Drill Actually Good?
Daniel's new Bosch feels amazing after years of a Xiaomi screwdriver. Is it genuinely good, or just a big upgrade?
#4065: What a Blurred Laptop Reveals About IDF Secrets
Why the IDF now blurs laptop chassis and cables — not just screens — in field photos.
#4015: Why Phone Camera Manual Mode Breaks DSLR Rules
DSLR exposure rules will ruin your smartphone photos. Here's why ISO, shutter speed, and exposure work differently on tiny sensors.
#3993: Installation Drivers vs Precision Screwdrivers: Which Tool for Which Job?
Why drills strip laptop screws and which tool actually bridges the gap between furniture assembly and electronics repair.
#3966: Building Custom Furniture That Hides a 6U Server Rack
How to embed a proper 6U rack into living room furniture — rails, spacing, toddler-proofing, and cooling.
#3960: The $40 Difference Between Safe and Dangerous Tire Inflation
Consumer Reports found 3 PSI errors in budget inflators. Here's what to actually buy.
#3929: How a $50 Strobe Reshapes Traffic
Trip boards and amber strobes let anyone command deference. The psychology and legality explained.
#3877: The Real Workbench Problem: Modular vs. IKEA for Electronics
From IKEA hacks to industrial Lista systems — what actually works for electronics workbenches in small apartments?
#3869: How a Bendy Stick Transmits Torque
The surprising engineering inside flexible screwdriver extensions and how they transmit torque around obstacles.
#3867: Drill, Impact Driver, or Hammer Drill? The Real Difference
Most people buy the wrong drill. Here's how to match the tool, bit, and material so you don't ruin your project.
#3864: How to ID Mystery Metal Before You Drill
A practical workflow for identifying unknown metals before you engrave, drill, or grind them at home.
#3863: Mohs Scale to Dremel Bits: What to Buy First
From Friedrich Mohs to your Dremel: what hardness means for engraving wood, metal, glass, and stone.
#3817: Hide Your Desktop in a Closet: The Gear You Need
USB4, Thunderbolt 5, and active cables now let you stash your PC in another room. Here's how.
#3815: Should You Rack-Mount Your Desktop PC?
Tower form factor fighting you? We explore when and how to rack-mount a desktop for better serviceability and cooling.
#3799: Why Printers Demand PDFs (And PNGs Fail)
PDFs are shipping containers for print. PNGs are loose cargo. Here's what actually matters for large-format output.
#3794: The Screw That Beat Me for Two Hours
Why that M4 screw stripped — and the one tool that actually saves you.
#3789: What Virtualization Actually Costs on 2026 Hardware
Real benchmarks show 2-6% overhead for single-VM setups. Here's what's actually happening at the CPU level.
#3715: The Head-Mounted Tool Belt
What if we moved our wallets, power banks, and speakers from our pockets to our heads?
#3694: The Hidden World of Electronic Component Distributors
Digikey, Mouser, and Farnell aren't normal retailers—they're the backbone of global electronics manufacturing. Here's how they work.
#3544: What 4U Actually Means: Rack Gear for Home Labs
Rack height units, case costs, and cabinet types explained for home users and small businesses.
#3484: How the IDF Built Shabbat-Compatible Tech
The IDF's ingenious workarounds for Shabbat observance — from disappearing ink to indirect causation keyboards.