Unhappy Thread

[Malc]

I had to give up making circuit boards when my wife complained of the funny colour her not so stainless sink was going.

[daveg]

I can sympathise with line 1 but I'm refusing to join so staying at an ever-young almost 70!

As for the rest of your postNinO z, I have absolutely no idea what you are talking about but it sounds awful!

Hope you get better soon. 

Dave G

[steve836]

This getting old trip is very depressing.
Made a PCB for 4 CT current sensors as test prototype board unit works fine, then decided I also need a couple of PCBs with only 2 current sensors on each.  So run Eagle and delete 2 sensors of components.  Make a couple of the 2 sensor boards, populate one and test.  Doesn't work.
Try to see what I did wrong, an hour later realise that the comparator chip has been wired for inputs 3 & 4 but the outputs are for 1 & 2.  :'(  Some copper track cutting and some jumper wires and IT WORKS.  OK back to Eagle to fix the errors.

Decided to make some PCBs for my arduino to Loconet circuit.  Prototyping board ones work fine but I need about 20 so PCB it is.  Trusty Eagle out again, make PCB design, print, etch, drill, tin, and populate.  Doesn't work!   Can set board addresses but it won't respond to DCC requests.
Found the problem, had hooked the comparator inputs the wrong way around.  Just need to cut some tracks, move a resistor, add two wire jumpers.  Cut out the 22K resistor rather than the 220K resistor, arrrrgh. 

CFJ

What's that in English?

[NinOz]

See what happens when you get old.

Can't even hype intullegbly.

[steve836]

Getting old is compulsory. Growing up, however, is entirely optional and I have no intention of doing so!
After all I'm only 70.

[mickeyflinn]

Growing up, however, is entirely optional .......................

I quite agree.
I'm still young at 54, but I still watch Thunderbirds (both the original & the new series) & buy models & toys relating to it.
I also enjoy looking through Hot Wheels cars whenever I see them (but I am mainly looking for TV related models).
I was also bought a Lego VW Beetle for Christmas to add to my Lego VW Camper Van & Lego Mini Cooper!!

[railsquid]

Gawdammit I hate smate@r$3phones, Mrs. Squid managed to get hers slightly damp a while back and it decided to no longer work, so I procured a replacement (there's a locomotive which won't get bought) which decided to give up the ghost in some other interesting way. Fortunately it seems in the intervening period the original phone seems to have dried out and work again, but it cost me an evening faffing about. Grrr.

[dannyboy]

Gawdammit I hate smate@r$3phones, Mrs. Squid managed to get hers slightly damp a while back and it decided to no longer work, so I procured a replacement (there's a locomotive which won't get bought) which decided to give up the ghost in some other interesting way. Fortunately it seems in the intervening period the original phone seems to have dried out and work again, but it cost me an evening faffing about. Grrr.

Look on the bright side - you now have a spare phone, (if you have another evening spare to faff about to get it working).   

[railsquid]

Gawdammit I hate smate@r$3phones, Mrs. Squid managed to get hers slightly damp a while back and it decided to no longer work, so I procured a replacement (there's a locomotive which won't get bought) which decided to give up the ghost in some other interesting way. Fortunately it seems in the intervening period the original phone seems to have dried out and work again, but it cost me an evening faffing about. Grrr.

Look on the bright side - you now have a spare phone, (if you have another evening spare to faff about to get it working).   

The faffing about has revealed that the "spare" device will probably need its battery replaced, which I could probably do myself if I follow a 20-step guide off the interwebs after acquiring the requisite specialist tools, or farm out to a specialist shop, which will cost the equivalent of another couple of coaches (this is how I measure things these days ). Still, #firstworldproblems, there was a time in my life living in the former East Berlin when I was unable to have even a humble landline phone.

Oooh, did I mention the Squidlet has managed to dislodge an elastic band-like traction tyre from his "Plarail" tram? Repairable but it seems I need to acquire a special triangular screwdriver (cost: ca. 1 Japanese freight wagon) to do that.

[daffy]

Oooh, did I mention the Squidlet has managed to dislodge an elastic band-like traction tyre from his "Plarail" tram? Repairable but it seems I need to acquire a special triangular screwdriver (cost: ca. 1 Japanese freight wagon) to do that.

If you mean a triangular socket in a screw or bolt head, many of these will undo with a standard flat-head screwdriver bit. Just needs to be a snug fit and ever so slightly smaller than one side of the triangle.

Or use a Birmingham screwdriver.

[Newportnobby]

Or use a Birmingham screwdriver.

[joe cassidy]

I just discovered I have arthritis in my hands.

Is this a deal breaker for N gauge modelling ?

Best regards,


Joe
(59 years old)

[dannyboy]

I just discovered I have arthritis in my hands.

Is this a deal breaker for N gauge modelling ?

Not at all Joe. You may well find that you have to use the help of the numerous aids that are available, like the 'third hand', even things like pegs, foldback clips, rubber bands etc., but arthritis is not a bar to modelling - even 'n' gauge. I have arthritis in my thumbs - it just means I have to be a bit careful. Hope it is not too bad. 

[joe cassidy]

Thanks for the words of encouragement.

I too have it in my thumbs.

I had difficulty taking selfies one-handed with my phone this weekend - my other arm was round my girlfriend's shoulders.

Best regards,


Joe

[austinbob]

I don't think so Joe. SWMBO is an avid knitting fan and was diagnosed with arthritis some years ago and was advised to keep knitting - and that's exactly what she did. She's just knitted half dozen cardigans and a blanket for our great granddaughter.
So just keep at it while you can would be my advice. What does your doctor say?