#power-supply-units
27 episodes
#5767: Inside Private Grids That Run Themselves
From hospital CHP plants to remote mines, private grids already run like miniature utilities. Here's where the fence line sits.
#5759: Why Servers Have Two Power Cords
Dual-corded servers, transfer switches, and the layered engineering behind keeping data centers online.
#5758: Why Your Outlet Is 120 Volts and Europe's Is 230
The US isn't really a 120-volt country — it's 120/240 split-phase. Here's the engineering logic behind the numbers on your panel.
#5757: Why the Grid Still Runs on AC When DC Won
Every reason AC beat DC has been overturned by power electronics. So why is your wall socket still AC?
#5754: Your Home Rack's Power Problem, Solved
Data centers look immaculate, your rack looks like a raccoon got into a cable box. Here's what actually transfers from pro PDUs to home.
#5735: The Breaker Protects the Wire, Not You
How service size, load calculations, and the 80% rule actually determine what your outlets can deliver.
#5734: USB Amps: What Actually Happens When You Plug In
Your device pulls current, it doesn't get pushed — and that changes everything about picking USB adapters.
#5609: IEC Cables: Terminate, Split, or Extend?
Rewireable C13 connectors, splitters, and the length ceiling — the practical answers to running power without daisy-chained plug strips.
#5266: Why Cordless Rotary Tools Sag Mid-Battery
A dead USB port, a sagging battery, and the real physics behind why cordless rotary tools lose their bite mid-charge.
#5204: Why Your First Power Tool Is Really a Battery Decision
The drill is a consumable. The battery is the platform. Here's how to pick a voltage tier and brand you won't regret in year two.
#5090: Drill Accessories: Useful or Gimmick?
Cleaning brushes work, jigsaw converters don't. We break down which drill attachments are worth your money.
#5024: Voltage Tiers: What Your Drill Battery Really Means
Why 12V tools can't do sustained work, what 18V really buys you, and how battery platforms—not tools—are the real commitment.
#4396: Can a Credit Card Power Bank Really Charge Your Phone?
The physics of fitting a full phone charge into a 5mm credit card power bank — and what actually works today.
#4385: USB-C Charging Station for Your Tool Belt
Can you build a custom charging station for your tool belt? We break down the electrical engineering behind USB-C Power Delivery.
#4284: Kill the Wall-Warts: Centralized DC Power for Your Rack
Ditch the brick sprawl. One power supply, one distribution panel, and a huge efficiency gain for your homelab.
#4273: UPS vs Generator: Where's the Line Now?
Lithium batteries are making home UPSs bigger and cheaper. But when does a generator still win?
#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?
#3810: What's Inside Those Fenced Electrical Compounds?
Distribution substations step down high voltage for neighborhoods. Here's how they work and why we need them.
#3058: How to Get 15 Hours of Light From Your UPS
Turn your UPS into an emergency light source with the right LED bulb, NUT, and Home Assistant automation.
#2885: How to Choose Your First Real Drill
Voltage numbers are misleading. Here’s what actually matters when buying a drill that will last.
#2621: Wartime Ingenuity: Powering Connectivity in a Faraday Cage
Four 18650 cells can't stack to 230V. The secret is switching, not stacking.
#2358: ESP32 vs Raspberry Pi: The Microcontroller Mindshift
Why your smart thermostat doesn’t run Linux—and why that’s a feature. The surprising differences between microcontrollers and single-board computers.
#2256: The One-Charger Dream: Specs, Trade-offs, and Reality
Drowning in chargers? We break down the specs for a single, powerful desktop charging station that can handle laptops, phones, and more—and where t...
#896: The Hidden Trap of Power Allocation
Stop settling for slow charging. Learn how GaN 6 and high-wattage hubs are redefining bedside power and reliability for 2026.