I mentioned buying a ‘toy’ to learn more about electronics. And in near the same breath, crowed how I hate the flood of processors in everything remotely electric.
Well, there are some things I really like in our modern world. Brushless DC motors for one: their instantaneous torque, better use of power with less heat (but not zero heat,,,) NO SPARKING internally (thats a safety feature to those of us that work around fumes and gasses that could go BOOM!) That tech comes at a price though: Internal processors that manage the pulses to the motor coils. Not really something that can be repaired in field short of having a replacement part on hand.
I digress. Why would I want to learn more about those things when I would rather figure out the analog equivalent? Because that shit ain’t goin’ away anytime soon, and is in near everything you touch now. Knowing how it works is a big motivator for those inclined to repair. (note: there is an analog electric equivalent to the processor that controls brushless DC motors. But the triacs and mosfets take up a lot of space and do make a lot of heat. Works best on large units, not the things in our power tools these days.)
and like my simple 2switch 2 diode solution for limit switches, there may be an analog replacement for something dominated by a processor nowdays. (likely IS an analog replacement as the digital realm took over the analog.)
An example to wet the minds appetite.
electronics took over where mechanical was the norm, and digital took over where analog was the norm.
Maybe in 100 years, quantum tech could replace digital and things will appear as magic to those of us that live so long. Edison would shit his breeks over hearing an Apple shuffle playing a library of music through a set of headphones. A sound source the size of a folded dollar bill with no moving parts but near perfect reproduction of original recordings. (near perfect as digital does cut down some information for file size needs. Most people can’t hear the difference.)
I have no desire to try and learn the microscopic electronics thing. I need my cheaters to see the bands on resistors now, and those dinky little pieces on most circuit boards these days,,, HA! I use my nose and a magnifying glass to find the burned components on failed boards: full replacement is the only option for me in those cases.
But knowing is one step in repairing, even if repairing is replacement with a good analog equivalent. And knowing IF an analog replacement will work: with some processors, that would be a “no”.
Sadly, that won’t be in the new normal of the automotive world. Too many computers interlinked and controlling everything, from the fuel management to the tailgate release. In order to fix something of that magnitude would constitute complete replacement. I’ve already seen one vehicle shut down because of a bad circuit in the brake lighting. The computers wouldn’t even let the engine start. To ‘fix’ that, I would pull the whole harness and replace with an old GM 7 fuse racing harness and figure out how to feed fuel to an engine not designed for carburation. And the damned e-shift (e-shit) transmissions,,, Christ, the 3500 I drive for work has a 6 speed auto that costs $5700 to replace and NO ONE in this state will rebuild it; replace with factory crate model only. Swap it out with an old Bulldog stickshift and call it good. Maybe. It may not be doable, and those old Bulldogs are getting pretty rare too. (Bloo has one and I LOVE IT, May only be RWD, but the thing will pull a house in 1st gear.)
to whit, I’m wanting to learn this stuff because its a hole in my knowledge and one that has bit me more than once. Self education may not fill all of the holes, but it will smooth the rutted way I have been operating on. And I DO need to learn more about this stuff for my own needs, as shown in the current project. Even if its just a simple circuit soldered together without a PCB, so long as it does what I need it to do,,,
Not much progress on the project yesterday as it rained purt much all day. Weather finally broke towards sunset (was able to get some good power through the panels for a short spell.) but not enough to do much of anything ON the array setup itself.
At least I got my laundry done,,,,
More laters.
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