I'm from Saudi Arabia, I used to watch Tim show when i was a kid and he was a young man, now I'm in 40th and he is in 70th and still watching him. Wow how years passed away so fast. Thanks Tim
Huge fans of Tim. We used to watch his show on channel 4 here in Dublin. When my brother was 11 he wrote to Tim about help with a slot machine in 1983. Tim replied with a hand written letter with hand drawn diagrams. How cool is that of him to do that. 👍🏻
I'm a 58 year old journeyman industrial instrumentation mechanic in the Alberta oil and gas industry. I've got to say, 5 minutes with Tim Hunkin is worth a year of apprenticeship. This man is an international treasure and we are very lucky he is sharing his knowledge. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
I can’t tell you how much I agree with that statement... I’ve already began introducing the shows, including the original shows, to my 9 year old son.. although I must say it’s been a real challenge to compete with the iPad, but I must say Tim’s shows have made more progress in competing with the iPad than anything else. I think as soon as my son starts getting more interested in making things in his own like his dad, he will be glued to these shows as I am.. even after all these years. Please keep making more shows!!!! Every topic is gold and extremely valuable. Ive been learning things about switches, springs and connectors that I never thought of before. It’s nice to see these thing being used in real scenarios and the different types, positives, negatives, etc. Thank you Tim!!!!!!
This is an invaluable service that you're providing to the Makers of the world, Tim. Thank you for dumping out the storage drawers of your mind for us. :)
@@frogz Who's BigClive?!?! Actually don't answer that I know who it is....but I've been in awe of Tim and Rex for 30 years!! These youtube tenapennies.....
I’m fascinated by Tim Hunkin’s delivery. He delivers his explanations so naturally and isn’t afraid to admit of mistakes. If I had a pound for each mistake I’ve made I be rich! I’m 67 and spent all my working life in the telecoms industry. A big mistake is almost every time forgetting to pass the multi way cable through the gap in the hood before soldering 36 wires!!
The extra bit on the IDC connector is not to lock it - it's a cable strain relief - you fold the cable back over the rear of the connector and clamp it down with the locking bar. A vice is better than pliers for crimping as the jaws stay parallel
Channel-lock pliers or other similar parallel-jaw pliers work okay for those types of IDC ribbon connectors; as a former tele-data technician we used parallel-jaw pliers for installing one particular type of Category 5 data connector (Siemens or Panduit?, I can't remember which). The manufacturer probably had a specified tool (plastic-jawed, perhaps) for this, but specialized tools were rarely provided by our cheapskate employer and so Channel-lock pliers were invariably used.
@@AlienRelics - a cheap hobby vice (or pana-vice) is great for crimping IDC ribbon cable connectors. And plain old scissors cuts the ribbon cable nicely but use a sharp pair to avoid getting small strands possibly sorting out adjacent wires. I have put many of these together, going back more than 35 years now.
The purpose of the gap produced by the last piece of the IDC plug is to allow the ribbon cable to be tucked through it so that the doubling back provides a degree of strain relief.
When I was around 10 years old (38 now), I recorded EVERY single "Secret Life of Machines" Episode that came out. Watching Tim and Rex build contraptions and explaining how they work was the greatest thing for an aspiring tinkerer. [Favorite part in an episode] ~ When Tim stabs an oil filter on a running engine and pressurized oil sprays all over him. 😂
To crimp an IDC connector reliably, use a vice! The hat that clips over it is used to fold the ribbon over itself and under the hat, this provides strain relief.
Another connector you might want to consider are Anderson Powerpole connectors. In recent years they've become standard in the ham radio community for low-voltage (12-48v) high-current (15+ amp) applications and they're genderless so you don't need to worry about what connector you use on the power supply side vs the load side. They're also available in a wide array of colors which makes it easy to tell apart different applications/voltage levels. I've used them myself and I can definitely recommend them.
Added bonus of needing just a standard indent crimp, and a range of interchangeable terminals that easily accommodate all sizes of cable. I think they go to 350A. Their other connectors are also nice.
@@johnalexander2349 They cost an arm.....but are worth their weight in GOLD !!! Lol ! I was lucky to pick-up a whole crate of assorted ratings at an auction ., for peanut value.
Another great video Tim! You make such interesting content. I was heart broken to find out about Rex's passing. He added a cheeky mirth to The Secret Life of Machines. I hope his family drew solace from the fact that he made such happy memories for so many viewers.
I’m a Canadian tinkerer and the “full circle” of twisting two wires together with an insulator on top is like the Canadian invented wire nuts (we call them Mars or Marettes) and to me the simplicity and the fact that for home wiring has used them for over a century with few issues when used correctly makes them incredibly reliable and simple devices for termination for lighting fixtures and special wiring devices. I have used Wago connectors, crimp terminals and other connections on my electrical projects in the home and on my trailer and they haven’t failed me yet unlike the other aforementioned connectors. They aren’t as nice looking but do the job nicely.
I rather suspect that should Tim ever create a video on, say, putting a spoonful of sugar into a cup of tea, I would still watch to the very end. It would be at this point that I would realise that had had a smile on my face throughout the process. My favourite, and possibly the oldest device, he revealed to me, on TV, was the Fax Machine. The revelation: "Did you know the Fax machine preceded the telephone?" has made me the life and soul of so many parties. I don't get out much. Thank you for this channel
It's one of those things that sound surprising at first, but when you think about it, sending an image is a lot easier than transmitting sound in real time.
@@Kalumbatsch Not...really. o.O lol maybe sending a single image is, yes...but, i think this is a bit obvious.. -moving- images are considerably more complex and require a much higher bit/data rate or indeed bandwidth if Analog signaling and splitting the image into colour, dark and light... And sending audio along with it! Then there are tuners and de-muxing..
@@ChaosHusky But no one was talking about moving images. In a fax the image isn't moving. You can do it by laying a grid over the image and then shouting "black black white black" or you can use any number of simple contraptions to do it automatically, because you have all the time in the world to do it.
I've been using a wire wrap tool instead of soldering on my projects. It was popular back in the 1960s and 70s but is little known now. Phone companies used it in their switching centers and prototype computers used the technique. It makes a secure connection with no soldering. Thanks for the new video.
Wire wrap for the win. One caveat, it’s not enough to buy the right size wire with the right size insulation for your gun, it has to be from the right manufacture as well.
I am going on 80 years of age... and started back in about 1965 as a design engineer in a huge business firm making connectors. First, the connectors you show are uncannily similar to the ones we sold, and the tools are MUCH more expensive today than before. Ours of my company were made of two types, one for the military and one for domestic use. The military types were provided with a way to guarantee the accuracy of the connection and were also made with check tools to make sure that the mechanisms and the crimps were accurate. Other than the fact that the American sockets and plugs usually have no fuses, they are cheaper to make and less robust and safe.
I think they used to be called "chocolate boxes" or "chocolate blocks" because the originals were brown bakelite before the modern cheap plastic ones arrived.
These blocks are actually not so bad if you move the wire all the way through the block, then strip both wires at the distance of both screws, then mix the wires like the yellow pages bind, and then pull it back in and screw them together. Both wires will then be held by 2 screws each.
I've also used candles and lighters for longer runs before I got a heat gun. The only thing to be aware of with a naked flame is that you can easily exceed the maximum heatshrink temperature and it will start to burn, but as long as you keep turning it and putting it in and out of the heat (a few centimetres above the flame) so that it doesn't overheat then it works really well and I sometimes still use this method when a candle is closer than the heat gun.
This is a great opportunity to pass a tip of mine for attaching wires to D connectors very quickly. Partly fill each bucket with solder, leaving a little tails of unmelted solder sticking out of each bucket by a few mm. Tricky at first to do. The wire ends then don't need to be tinned beforehand. Attaching each wire by hand in turn is easy with soldering iron in other hand. Tin the end and attach it as one operation at the same time. No need to add solder because there is fresh solder ready on each bucket. D connectors are brilliant, they connect great and can't plug them wrong way round. If you have all of as different sized ones you'll never plug them in wrong place either.
There is a brotherhood of people like us, people who get excited over connectors and cables. Thank you very much for posting this, I loved it (like I loved SLoM). New subscriber!
I've found this as well, but it doesn't fix the random spade-to-socket tightness variation from connector to connector. I avoid spade terminals, too, for this reason alone.
I believe that the relevant standards for use of crimped terminals, state that the wires must not be twisted. I hate them, if I have to use them on automotive stuff I either solder them (Lucar) and then heat shrink over, or use the type that comes with a adhesively lined heatshrink boot, so you can crimp them and then heat them to glue them to the insulation. Lucar connectors need a proper crimp tool (not unlike the Molex), not the cheap shit from Halfords/eBay but the good stuff from RS that is beyond most DIY people.
@@donaldasayers I've heard that you shouldn't solder wires for automotive applications because the solder acts as a stress point on the individual wire strands. So over time the wire cracks due to vibration at the point the solder has wicked to.
@@naikrovek It's not random, it's in the spec. If you look for them at farnell or wherever, there are at least three different thicknesses to choose from. (IIRC). And there are slightly different widths, like 6.0 and 6.35mm. It's a bit of a mess. To a good degree you can tighten up a 'large' receptacle to accept a 'thin' spade by squishing the curly bits at the sides just the right amount. They're still a fairly disappointing connector though - only really to be used for fixing cars.
One thing with heat shrink is to wait until the solder joint cools and if you have to place the heat shrink on the wire before soldering place it as far back as you can. While soldering the wire transfers heat well down the copper and will pre-shrink the heat shrink. Also, thanks a bunch for these videos. I always refer back to different sections when working on a project sometimes for something to listen to. Passing on your wisdom and experience in life is amazing and it's completely free. Thanks a lot sir.
Tim's a national treasure. Used to love his Secret life of machines series on Channel 4 many years ago. Also it was Tim who made the very famous flying pigs for Pink Floyds shows and album covers.
Sir, the glee you demonstrate in the destruction of various component parts is quite possibly disgraceful, however, as it matches my own, I must applaud. I have learned so much from your programs over the years. Thank you with all heart and mind from South Texas.
Using white heat shrink, writing on them and then shrinking it for a label... very clever! A new use for the versatile stuff. Another Quick tip, got some heat shrink that is too small? Put it around some needle nose pliers and gently heat it while spreading the jaws apart makes it expand nicely. It can also be done cold but its easy to go too far and split the tubing. Loving the content and its great to see your talent again. Watched you back in the original series as well. Cheers,
Wonderful gentleman combines experience, humour and a gentle conversational delivery. And clearly Tim enjoys making the episodes, his enthusiasm is infectious. Deserving of huge success, as was the Secret Life series that now seems to belong to another age, but still a real treasure trove. Superb use of the utube medium to deliver genuinely worthwhile, intelligent....and “entertaining” content. Fond memories of Rex also, much missed.
21:12 - Tim, if you're not already using them, try XT60 connectors. They have those "buckets" too, can carry a lot of current, and make a good physical connection. Also, you might want to get a different tip for your soldering iron. That tiny conical tip you use in most of these videos is meant for SMD work (as you probably know). For connectors and through-hole components you really should be using a "C-type" bevel tip (like the TS-BC2), which will heat the solder much more evenly, and make it flow right into the buckets (or to the pads, etc.). No ugly blobs caused by uneven heating, as happens with those tiny conical tips (you even mentioned this in a previous video - the tip not transferring enough heat - but then continued to use the same tip). TS-100 irons have a nice selection of tips, are quite short (which makes them great for precision work, it's almost like using a a pen), and can run fine off lithium cells (as few as 3, though they heat much faster with 4 or 5).
Thank you! Tim for filling my youthful TV hours in the 80's with the wonders of mechanics and electronics. Like our Dutch "Griet Titulaer" and his tv program "Wondere Wereld" , you inspired me. I feel very blessed being able to do similar things from my own workshop :-), You bring Joy and Excitement to all creative minded people. And also blowing up things and set them on fire now and then :-D.
Marvellous as always. I think Tim has launched thousands of people around the world into careers in Science and Engineering over the years with his enthusiasm, clarity and brilliant teaching.
Mr. Hunkin, I used to watch your show when I was younger and I loved it. I have a youtube channel called Antimatter Skunkworks and I put some little figures inside on the circuits like you used to do, but I couldn't give you credit because I couldn't remember your name or the show, so I just said, "Thank you, whoever you were." Well somehow your channel suddenly popped up for my viewing and I am so excited to see that you are alive and well and you have new content as well as the old show. I have subscribed and I intend to watch every single video. Thank you so much for what you do and thank you for the idea of putting the little construction workers inside my creations. I can finally give you credit.
Blutack is your friend for soldering small connectors, it holds both the connector and the wire and is reuseable. I keep a big blob on ,my solder reel.
Quite comprehensive video, but for anyone reading, do note: MAKE SURE the spring or screw in a connector DOESN'T grab onto the wire's insulation. This will create heat, sparking, and maybe fire.It should be holding onto the copper. You can see him make this mistake a couple times in the video, but it probably is because he has a camera in the way. If you're still learning, always double check this, particularly in household wiring.
Luigig44, yes, for most connections and connector types the amount of wire from which you strip the insulation and the length of the exposed copper is critical for making a good reliable connection, and is one of the things that most people get wrong due to lack of experience. Not to mention that most connectors function better if you twist the strands together tightly before attaching the connector. Matching the connector to the cable type is critical. Many IDC connectors do not function correctly with stranded wire, only with solid wire. Many types of crimp connectors are designed primarily for use with stranded wire, and use of solid-core wire can be problematic unless you also solder it. Stranded wire *that is factory pre-tinned wiith solder* has properties that make it crimp like a stranded wire but can be used with IDC connectors where it functions like a solid-core wire; plus, its extremely easy to solder because its pre-tinned!
Several years ago my oven stopped working. When I investigated I found that it had been wired through a chocolate block. There were 4 wiring errors in the chocolate block itself, and at least two others in other parts of the wiring (including a 1.5mm flex being wired through a 32A breaker) photos.app.goo.gl/d41y5hGxcAkuXwws6 I feel lucky the house didn't burn down.
At 31:18, IDC stands for Insulation Displacement Connectors. I worked in the telecom field for a few years and "punched down" many a telephone or data wire onto type 66 or 110 blocks. Worth noting that the spring-loaded punch tools send a mechanical shock up your wrist and arm with each wire you " punch"; carpal tunnel syndrome, arthritis and other repetitive-motion injuries are common in the industry.
Thank you Mr. Hunkin for giving us some of your wisdom and knowledge. I was a fan of your Secret Lives of Machines when you were were making them. When I found them on youtube a few years ago it was like finding a treasure. I showed them to my son who was in college then and he really enjoyed them. You sir are an inspiration and I hope that you continue to find subjects to share with us as long as physically possible!! Thanks again!!!! Take care of yourself.
Excellent demonstrations and useful tips on using electrical connectors. I have used a majority of connectors shown in this video in my 37 year career in electrical engineering. In many of the custom car/motorcycle and car restoration projects I have done, I've used the skeleton crimp connectors with the clear slide on sleeving. These are much more reliable than the plastic covered crimp connectors because they use the rollover or fold technique to fold the metal connection into the wire strands, like the Molex style but larger. Much more mechanically robust and looks much more professional than the red/blue/yellow crush crimp connectors. Another mistake I have come across often during fault finding is tinning/soldering of stranded cables before inserting them into screw clamps or even crimp connectors. Never solder or tin a stranded cable before inserting it into any kind of clamp/crimp terminal. The joint compresses because the solder is softer than the copper. This leads to fatigue of the solder causing the joint to 'relax', fatigue or crack making an unreliable connection. I have seen this cause arcing and catching fire within connectors melting them, particularly in high current high voltage applications.
Ever since seeing NASA requires transparent heat shrink, that's what I've used. I've been amazed at how nice it is to be able to still see the joint after adding heat shrink. Next time anyone reading this buys heat shrink tubing, try some transparent heat shrink. It is harder to find and often a bit more expensive but in my opinion it's well worth the effort and price.
The problem with heat shrink I have is when the wire breaks off it doesn't fall off and you cannot pull it out. So you don't see them problem with visual inspection. When I use electrical tape, when the wire breaks off, it either falls out or slight tug on it makes it fall out, so the problem is obvious. Hoewever electrical tape fails with time.
When I worked in TV & VCR repair back in the early 90s, many a customer would extend their mains leads merely by “twizzling” the stranded wires together and sloppily wrapping some loose-fitting insulation tape around the whole mess. Their twizzling could well have caused some *sizzling*
Wow, thanks for this video. It's a real blast from the past for me since I began as a trainee engineer making-up computer cables and wiring harnesses for mainframes. Lots of soldering of d-type connectors for RS232 and RS422 comms cables and IDC cables to connect computer system components to their boards. Back then it was cheaper to pay a trainee with a soldering iron than invest in crimping pliers and crimps. lol.
I remember a short film on Channel 4 called Click. ( Not BBC Click) and it was about connectors and joining things. It went from a simple Kettle that now clip together, through to how many in a Boeing 747. This is the stuff we should be teaching our children.
We do but the nanny state lefty parents want to keep the kids dumb and be always safe...ie apps on a tablet... Even adults do it to save their jobs too.
Muahah...i like the "moral of the story" at the end of the video.. That speaks to me from the heart... Tim is obviously a man with a lot of experience and he puts all his knowledge well together in this series.. Thanks for producing and uploading.... Greets from Germany.
I saw all of your episodes when I was young. It was always interesting. Thanks for coming back to RUclips, you don't have the time pressure here like on TV. Best 73 from Switzerland.
We all started out twizzling bits of wire together, sometimes bothering to wrap some tape around. I'm thoroughly enjoying this series, thankyou Sir, for gifting us with your humour, knowledge and experience.
In making a holiday display with a 1/10 scale (5 foot) helicopter that revolved 360 degrees, I solved the problem of giving it a 5 V feed for its LED running lights using a jack plug. Thanks for a great video!
Tim I just want to say thankyou, I watched your original shows way back in the the 80's, I taught myself electronics and repairing all sorts of things by taking them to bits and watching how things connect and work. This to this day I still continue to learn and repair. People like yourself explain things in a non complicated way with just enough back ground to make it interesting. Glad to see that you are still going strong with the inventing of interesting machines. All the best Darren
Thank you sir for a lovely presentation. I have been in engineering and tech services for 46 years and all your talking points are quite familiar. I am still amazed at all the connector types, adapter types and difficulties caused by all the non sense!
IDC = Insulation Displacement Connector. The snappy bit provides strain relief by wrapping the ribbon back through. My preference for splicing 1 conductor wires: tin the leads if stranded, then tight J-hook together for best mechanical connection. Heat shrink first ! Enjoyed your show for more decades than I'll admit to.
Could you do a video about sound effects? I would love to see the details of how your machines hit bells nicely and so on, and what modern contrivances you use too.
Another awesome show. I watched your show in the US in the 80s I think. That was before DVR so I had one shot at taking in all the information you were putting out. I was so relieved when I found the old shows on RUclips years later. The sewing machine and telephone were my favourites back then.
I have used those molex micro fit connectors, they are good. The parallel port ones can be overheated easily with iron temperature set for lead free solder. The tiny JSC ones with the smaller than 0.1 inch spacing are a miserable crimping job for those with small hands, let alone normal hands. Those things, and eye strain are why I do software now.
This was a treat, especially at the end. I fondly recall "twiddling together" wires and covering them with electrical tape. That is until I learned to soder in Electric Shop in Junior High. I'm passing these videos on to friends who build stuff. They are most amused by your machines.
Tim,on the spade connectors,i often use the next size up for the wire i am using(if the loop wont fit in the proper size) and fold the wire into a loop on the end,insert it then crimp,it makes a near impossible to pull out wire. Also the quality spade parts are much better than the cheap junk we see on the market these days.
Tim's "pipe wrench" is Knipex Cobra pliers. These are expensive but *worth the money* because of how they grip. As they say--"buy once, cry once." Good tools are worth the money.
too much useful information here. thank you for still making these videos. i only stumble across your old videos yesterday. then i know that you are still making these during this covid era. many2 thanks. i wish i get to see all your videos when i am still at school times. now i am 36. but we still learns everyday. thanks..
The episode pertaining to Spade connectors probably should have also included Bullet connectors (and crimp type butt splices as well). I must have installed a zillion bullet connectors as a car stereo and alarm installer in the eighties. Many radios came with factory-crimped bullet connectors on the wiring harness, often with clear vinyl rubber booties that could be slid over the connectors, which would further insulate them from the already slim chance of accidental shorts to the chassis of the car.
MAG NETs Also, I'm so glad you covered IDC and Molex. That's my world. (Except for that year I lived in a Winnebago - never want to see a spade connector again!)
Tim, you are an absolute national treasure.... a life's worth of following your curiosity. Remarkable. It's a gift to be able to share in your decades of knowledge and experience. Seeing how things have advanced, and knowing how things used to be is also profoundly valuable. Your inimitable curiosity is infectious. Thank you for all you do and have done to demystify and engage people in how the things around them are made, and came to be.
I'm only 10-minutes in and you've given me ideas. Thing is, I'm just a hobbyist, and I didn't know the names of these connectors (or sometimes that they even existed). Amazing content! Thank you for taking the time to make these videos.
Tim, I've enjoyed your work since I discovered Secret Life of Machines in my formative years. This particular episode came in handy today as I was trying to fasten some miniscule 30AWG wires into screw terminals that wouldn't clamp on them, and remembered your bootlace ferrules. I don't happen to have any of them on hand, but I do have some crimp-on pins for 0.1" pitch headers, and they did the trick perfectly. Thank you, enjoying this series immensely.
D-sub connectors are my jam, I'm glad you covered them. In the US, we have a bad habit of referring to all shell sizes as DB, even when talking about DA, DE, etc. sizes. I never liked the crimp type D-sub connectors, solder cups are my preferred choice.
I'm from Saudi Arabia, I used to watch Tim show when i was a kid and he was a young man, now I'm in 40th and he is in 70th and still watching him. Wow how years passed away so fast.
Thanks Tim
Huge fans of Tim. We used to watch his show on channel 4 here in Dublin. When my brother was 11 he wrote to Tim about help with a slot machine in 1983. Tim replied with a hand written letter with hand drawn diagrams. How cool is that of him to do that. 👍🏻
That's a fantastic story, it's good of him to take the time.
You own a Tim Hunkin original...I would love to own one of his hand carved men.
I'm a 58 year old journeyman industrial instrumentation mechanic in the Alberta oil and gas industry. I've got to say, 5 minutes with Tim Hunkin is worth a year of apprenticeship. This man is an international treasure and we are very lucky he is sharing his knowledge. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
do you know 'ave'..? youtube
@@PvtChuff I know of the channel.
@MichaelKingsfordGray ......and, he is also neither Micro......or Macro !!!
Same thing with most college.
i was going to make a comment, until i read yours. no way i could have said it better. 5 minutes with this guy is like 5 years of "school"
.
I can't imagine anyone I’d want to sit down with a cup (or a dozen) of coffee more than with Tim Hunkin.
I need Tim to come and live in my house for a month and sort out my electrical equipment x
This channel will be part of my boys homeschooling curriculum
I watched the originals as a kid. They had a huge effect on my life!
I can’t tell you how much I agree with that statement... I’ve already began introducing the shows, including the original shows, to my 9 year old son.. although I must say it’s been a real challenge to compete with the iPad, but I must say Tim’s shows have made more progress in competing with the iPad than anything else. I think as soon as my son starts getting more interested in making things in his own like his dad, he will be glued to these shows as I am.. even after all these years. Please keep making more shows!!!! Every topic is gold and extremely valuable. Ive been learning things about switches, springs and connectors that I never thought of before. It’s nice to see these thing being used in real scenarios and the different types, positives, negatives, etc. Thank you Tim!!!!!!
I got boarding school and forced to know that technology is a fad.. heh
Anyway here I am now exploring my interest more
@@jagboy69 Same here. Secret Life and Connections really shaped my brain.
@@5roundsrapid263 What is this connections you speak of??? I dont know what that is.
"The jack plug is somewhere in between the cruise ship and the camera"
I love this kind of humor.
3:27 Thanks for doing this, Tim, so that we don't have to! I love your work. cheers from the US.
Mr Hunkin is like everyone's dream uncle - wise, lucid, knowledgeable, practical and generous.
A little stray wire in a connection is called a "George Michael," because it's a careless whisker. I'm here all week! Thank you, Mr. Hunkin!
This man and this channel deserve a lot more attention.
You’re about 30 years behind; he and Rex had a Channel Four tv show for years.
@@unlokia You assume... It's the young ones whose attention I was referring to.
Being a gent Mr Hunkin hasn’t enabled ads on his videos…. and unless you do the RUclips algorithm doesn’t promote your content.
This is an invaluable service that you're providing to the Makers of the world, Tim. Thank you for dumping out the storage drawers of your mind for us. :)
He's like Adam Savage's mild-mannered English uncle, isn't he?
“Makers”
Ugh, there’s that word again 🤦
@Ignatios Nelson "Adam Cabbage..."
That, sir, is an absolutely Savage comment. ;-)
Ah, to imagine Tim and BigClive talking at length about their love of molex connectors.
right??? i had no idea who tim was until i found him on bigclive's channel!!
@@frogz Who's BigClive?!?! Actually don't answer that I know who it is....but I've been in awe of Tim and Rex for 30 years!! These youtube tenapennies.....
@@trefwoordpunk2225 I highly suggest you look up his youtube channel if you like Tim!!
That would be amazing ☺️☺️☺️☺️ molex in pc builds are rubbish. Much better connectors now. @bigclive @ave @tested.com. We can him there
@@frogz he is a legend from my childhood. He exploded my imagination taking my car's apart.
I’m fascinated by Tim Hunkin’s delivery. He delivers his explanations so naturally and isn’t afraid to admit of mistakes. If I had a pound for each mistake I’ve made I be rich! I’m 67 and spent all my working life in the telecoms industry. A big mistake is almost every time forgetting to pass the multi way cable through the gap in the hood before soldering 36 wires!!
Found this after watching several episodes of "The Secret Life of Machines". It's awesome to see you here in 2021 still making fantastic new content.
The extra bit on the IDC connector is not to lock it - it's a cable strain relief - you fold the cable back over the rear of the connector and clamp it down with the locking bar.
A vice is better than pliers for crimping as the jaws stay parallel
Channel-lock pliers or other similar parallel-jaw pliers work okay for those types of IDC ribbon connectors; as a former tele-data technician we used parallel-jaw pliers for installing one particular type of Category 5 data connector (Siemens or Panduit?, I can't remember which). The manufacturer probably had a specified tool (plastic-jawed, perhaps) for this, but specialized tools were rarely provided by our cheapskate employer and so Channel-lock pliers were invariably used.
There are clamping pliers with parallel jaws made just for IDC.
@@goodun2974 A fancy LAPP Cat 6 IDC actually said "Our tool, or a Knipex plier wrench".
Ahhh, I wanted to write exactly that, saved me some keystrokes :D Thanks Mike
@@AlienRelics - a cheap hobby vice (or pana-vice) is great for crimping IDC ribbon cable connectors. And plain old scissors cuts the ribbon cable nicely but use a sharp pair to avoid getting small strands possibly sorting out adjacent wires. I have put many of these together, going back more than 35 years now.
The purpose of the gap produced by the last piece of the IDC plug is to allow the ribbon cable to be tucked through it so that the doubling back provides a degree of strain relief.
When I was around 10 years old (38 now), I recorded EVERY single "Secret Life of Machines" Episode that came out. Watching Tim and Rex build contraptions and explaining how they work was the greatest thing for an aspiring tinkerer. [Favorite part in an episode] ~ When Tim stabs an oil filter on a running engine and pressurized oil sprays all over him. 😂
Do you know if these are available online now?
Couldn't believe my luck ... uploaded 15 seconds ago - wonderful content!
Mr Tim, you are the grandfather i never had, i love your videos. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
To crimp an IDC connector reliably, use a vice! The hat that clips over it is used to fold the ribbon over itself and under the hat, this provides strain relief.
Another connector you might want to consider are Anderson Powerpole connectors. In recent years they've become standard in the ham radio community for low-voltage (12-48v) high-current (15+ amp) applications and they're genderless so you don't need to worry about what connector you use on the power supply side vs the load side. They're also available in a wide array of colors which makes it easy to tell apart different applications/voltage levels. I've used them myself and I can definitely recommend them.
Added bonus of needing just a standard indent crimp, and a range of interchangeable terminals that easily accommodate all sizes of cable. I think they go to 350A.
Their other connectors are also nice.
@@johnalexander2349 They cost an arm.....but are worth their weight in GOLD !!! Lol ! I was lucky to pick-up a whole crate of assorted ratings at an auction ., for peanut value.
Another great video Tim! You make such interesting content. I was heart broken to find out about Rex's passing. He added a cheeky mirth to The Secret Life of Machines. I hope his family drew solace from the fact that he made such happy memories for so many viewers.
Tim s a national (international) treasure. His style over the years has not changed and continues to be engaging.
I’m a Canadian tinkerer and the “full circle” of twisting two wires together with an insulator on top is like the Canadian invented wire nuts (we call them Mars or Marettes) and to me the simplicity and the fact that for home wiring has used them for over a century with few issues when used correctly makes them incredibly reliable and simple devices for termination for lighting fixtures and special wiring devices. I have used Wago connectors, crimp terminals and other connections on my electrical projects in the home and on my trailer and they haven’t failed me yet unlike the other aforementioned connectors. They aren’t as nice looking but do the job nicely.
I rather suspect that should Tim ever create a video on, say, putting a spoonful of sugar into a cup of tea, I would still watch to the very end. It would be at this point that I would realise that had had a smile on my face throughout the process. My favourite, and possibly the oldest device, he revealed to me, on TV, was the Fax Machine. The revelation: "Did you know the Fax machine preceded the telephone?" has made me the life and soul of so many parties. I don't get out much. Thank you for this channel
You are definitely going to the right sort of parties.
neil degrasse tyson explains: warm blankets
....yeah, neil explained blankets
It's one of those things that sound surprising at first, but when you think about it, sending an image is a lot easier than transmitting sound in real time.
@@Kalumbatsch Not...really. o.O lol maybe sending a single image is, yes...but, i think this is a bit obvious.. -moving- images are considerably more complex and require a much higher bit/data rate or indeed bandwidth if Analog signaling and splitting the image into colour, dark and light... And sending audio along with it! Then there are tuners and de-muxing..
@@ChaosHusky But no one was talking about moving images. In a fax the image isn't moving. You can do it by laying a grid over the image and then shouting "black black white black" or you can use any number of simple contraptions to do it automatically, because you have all the time in the world to do it.
I've been using a wire wrap tool instead of soldering on my projects. It was popular back in the 1960s and 70s but is little known now. Phone companies used it in their switching centers and prototype computers used the technique. It makes a secure connection with no soldering. Thanks for the new video.
Wire wrap for the win.
One caveat, it’s not enough to buy the
right size wire with the
right size insulation for your gun, it has to be from the
right manufacture as well.
I am going on 80 years of age... and started back in about 1965 as a design engineer in a huge business firm making connectors. First, the connectors you show are uncannily similar to the ones we sold, and the tools are MUCH more expensive today than before. Ours of my company were made of two types, one for the military and one for domestic use. The military types were provided with a way to guarantee the accuracy of the connection and were also made with check tools to make sure that the mechanisms and the crimps were accurate. Other than the fact that the American sockets and plugs usually have no fuses, they are cheaper to make and less robust and safe.
Oh my god! I have gone through the Secret Life of Machines every few years! Did not know new videos were being made.
I think they used to be called "chocolate boxes" or "chocolate blocks" because the originals were brown bakelite before the modern cheap plastic ones arrived.
What Tim didn't show was the ceramic version of these, capable of operation at very high temperatures, often used to connect kiln elements, etc.
@@cambridgemart2075 here, in brazil, we use the ceramic conectors in the electrical shower too kk
In Finland they are called sugarbits cause we have sugar cubes for tea, that looks the same..
These blocks are actually not so bad if you move the wire all the way through the block, then strip both wires at the distance of both screws, then mix the wires like the yellow pages bind, and then pull it back in and screw them together.
Both wires will then be held by 2 screws each.
@@seculi7757 yeah I was thinking this, it's a better way!
I’m surprised he never mentioned a pocket lighter for heat shrink. I’ve used that more than my hot air gun.
Amazing series!
Most underrated comment. Smoker or not, a humble pocket lighter is an essential tool in the tinkerer's toolbox.
Particularly one of the ‘wind proof’ ‘jet’ lighters!
Watch the cue: "I'm not an expert on..." That means, pay attention now, boys and girls!
If you don't have a heatgun, matches will also work, and if you don't have matches or a lighter, then pure rage should do it :)
....or....call Superman !
I've also used candles and lighters for longer runs before I got a heat gun. The only thing to be aware of with a naked flame is that you can easily exceed the maximum heatshrink temperature and it will start to burn, but as long as you keep turning it and putting it in and out of the heat (a few centimetres above the flame) so that it doesn't overheat then it works really well and I sometimes still use this method when a candle is closer than the heat gun.
Sunlight and magnifying glass and you can regulate the surface temperature by regulating the spot size.
This is a great opportunity to pass a tip of mine for attaching wires to D connectors very quickly. Partly fill each bucket with solder, leaving a little tails of unmelted solder sticking out of each bucket by a few mm. Tricky at first to do. The wire ends then don't need to be tinned beforehand. Attaching each wire by hand in turn is easy with soldering iron in other hand. Tin the end and attach it as one operation at the same time. No need to add solder because there is fresh solder ready on each bucket.
D connectors are brilliant, they connect great and can't plug them wrong way round. If you have all of as different sized ones you'll never plug them in wrong place either.
Mr. Hunkin, using white shrinking tubing is brilliant, thank you so much!
There is a brotherhood of people like us, people who get excited over connectors and cables. Thank you very much for posting this, I loved it (like I loved SLoM). New subscriber!
For crimp spade type connectors, twist the wire first - makes a much stronger joint
I've found this as well, but it doesn't fix the random spade-to-socket tightness variation from connector to connector. I avoid spade terminals, too, for this reason alone.
I believe that the relevant standards for use of crimped terminals, state that the wires must not be twisted.
I hate them, if I have to use them on automotive stuff I either solder them (Lucar) and then heat shrink over, or use the type that comes with a adhesively lined heatshrink boot, so you can crimp them and then heat them to glue them to the insulation.
Lucar connectors need a proper crimp tool (not unlike the Molex), not the cheap shit from Halfords/eBay but the good stuff from RS that is beyond most DIY people.
@@donaldasayers I've heard that you shouldn't solder wires for automotive applications because the solder acts as a stress point on the individual wire strands. So over time the wire cracks due to vibration at the point the solder has wicked to.
I noticed he didn't twist the wires together for the solder splice either. I respect that honestly. just skip that step to save time, it will be fine.
@@naikrovek It's not random, it's in the spec. If you look for them at farnell or wherever, there are at least three different thicknesses to choose from. (IIRC).
And there are slightly different widths, like 6.0 and 6.35mm. It's a bit of a mess.
To a good degree you can tighten up a 'large' receptacle to accept a 'thin' spade by squishing the curly bits at the sides just the right amount.
They're still a fairly disappointing connector though - only really to be used for fixing cars.
Connectors seem to be a mirror of life in general. Rarely perfect, and usually a compromise. Thank you for another enjoyable video.
45 minutes of Tim hunkin who can say no to that, going to get a snack or two together to watch this one.👍👍
One thing with heat shrink is to wait until the solder joint cools and if you have to place the heat shrink on the wire before soldering place it as far back as you can. While soldering the wire transfers heat well down the copper and will pre-shrink the heat shrink. Also, thanks a bunch for these videos. I always refer back to different sections when working on a project sometimes for something to listen to. Passing on your wisdom and experience in life is amazing and it's completely free. Thanks a lot sir.
Tim's a national treasure. Used to love his Secret life of machines series on Channel 4 many years ago. Also it was Tim who made the very famous flying pigs for Pink Floyds shows and album covers.
I could watch all Tim's video's back to back. Very informative and entertaining.
Sir, the glee you demonstrate in the destruction of various component parts is quite possibly disgraceful, however, as it matches my own, I must applaud. I have learned so much from your programs over the years. Thank you with all heart and mind from South Texas.
Great tip using heat shrink for labelling, I’ll be using that in future.
Ken, on large wires and rope too I have used a label or just written on the object and then used clear heatshrink over the writing - lasts forever!
Using white heat shrink, writing on them and then shrinking it for a label... very clever! A new use for the versatile stuff.
Another Quick tip, got some heat shrink that is too small?
Put it around some needle nose pliers and gently heat it while spreading the jaws apart makes it expand nicely. It can also be done cold but its easy to go too far and split the tubing.
Loving the content and its great to see your talent again. Watched you back in the original series as well.
Cheers,
Wonderful gentleman combines experience, humour and a gentle conversational delivery. And clearly Tim enjoys making the episodes, his enthusiasm is infectious. Deserving of huge success, as was the Secret Life series that now seems to belong to another age, but still a real treasure trove. Superb use of the utube medium to deliver genuinely worthwhile, intelligent....and “entertaining” content. Fond memories of Rex also, much missed.
21:12 - Tim, if you're not already using them, try XT60 connectors. They have those "buckets" too, can carry a lot of current, and make a good physical connection.
Also, you might want to get a different tip for your soldering iron. That tiny conical tip you use in most of these videos is meant for SMD work (as you probably know). For connectors and through-hole components you really should be using a "C-type" bevel tip (like the TS-BC2), which will heat the solder much more evenly, and make it flow right into the buckets (or to the pads, etc.). No ugly blobs caused by uneven heating, as happens with those tiny conical tips (you even mentioned this in a previous video - the tip not transferring enough heat - but then continued to use the same tip).
TS-100 irons have a nice selection of tips, are quite short (which makes them great for precision work, it's almost like using a a pen), and can run fine off lithium cells (as few as 3, though they heat much faster with 4 or 5).
I work with these things all day and all year long and you still managed to teach me a whole lot more about them. Very well constructed video!
Few can claim any real expertise of anything, still fewer could claim to be a bricoleur factotum. You're work is absolutely fantastic 👍
Thank you! Tim for filling my youthful TV hours in the 80's with the wonders of mechanics and electronics.
Like our Dutch "Griet Titulaer" and his tv program "Wondere Wereld" , you inspired me.
I feel very blessed being able to do similar things from my own workshop :-), You bring Joy and Excitement to all creative minded people.
And also blowing up things and set them on fire now and then :-D.
Hunkin is on RUclips?! Oh my goodness - instant subscribe :)
thank you...lots of connections made in my brain
Yes!
Never saw this show when it was new, thank you so much for uploading new and old episodes!
Like a little boy when he let the smoke out of that connector. Loving the videos Tim.
Marvellous as always. I think Tim has launched thousands of people around the world into careers in Science and Engineering over the years with his enthusiasm, clarity and brilliant teaching.
Mr. Hunkin, I used to watch your show when I was younger and I loved it. I have a youtube channel called Antimatter Skunkworks and I put some little figures inside on the circuits like you used to do, but I couldn't give you credit because I couldn't remember your name or the show, so I just said, "Thank you, whoever you were." Well somehow your channel suddenly popped up for my viewing and I am so excited to see that you are alive and well and you have new content as well as the old show. I have subscribed and I intend to watch every single video. Thank you so much for what you do and thank you for the idea of putting the little construction workers inside my creations. I can finally give you credit.
Blutack is your friend for soldering small connectors, it holds both the connector and the wire and is reuseable. I keep a big blob on ,my solder reel.
Same
Quite comprehensive video, but for anyone reading, do note:
MAKE SURE the spring or screw in a connector DOESN'T grab onto the wire's insulation. This will create heat, sparking, and maybe fire.It should be holding onto the copper.
You can see him make this mistake a couple times in the video, but it probably is because he has a camera in the way. If you're still learning, always double check this, particularly in household wiring.
Luigig44, yes, for most connections and connector types the amount of wire from which you strip the insulation and the length of the exposed copper is critical for making a good reliable connection, and is one of the things that most people get wrong due to lack of experience. Not to mention that most connectors function better if you twist the strands together tightly before attaching the connector.
Matching the connector to the cable type is critical. Many IDC connectors do not function correctly with stranded wire, only with solid wire. Many types of crimp connectors are designed primarily for use with stranded wire, and use of solid-core wire can be problematic unless you also solder it. Stranded wire *that is factory pre-tinned wiith solder* has properties that make it crimp like a stranded wire but can be used with IDC connectors where it functions like a solid-core wire; plus, its extremely easy to solder because its pre-tinned!
Several years ago my oven stopped working. When I investigated I found that it had been wired through a chocolate block. There were 4 wiring errors in the chocolate block itself, and at least two others in other parts of the wiring (including a 1.5mm flex being wired through a 32A breaker)
photos.app.goo.gl/d41y5hGxcAkuXwws6
I feel lucky the house didn't burn down.
This is just gold.. learnt about 20 years worth in 20 mins.
At 31:18, IDC stands for Insulation Displacement Connectors. I worked in the telecom field for a few years and "punched down" many a telephone or data wire onto type 66 or 110 blocks. Worth noting that the spring-loaded punch tools send a mechanical shock up your wrist and arm with each wire you " punch"; carpal tunnel syndrome, arthritis and other repetitive-motion injuries are common in the industry.
Krone are the best
Thank you Mr. Hunkin for giving us some of your wisdom and knowledge. I was a fan of your Secret Lives of Machines when you were were making them. When I found them on youtube a few years ago it was like finding a treasure. I showed them to my son who was in college then and he really enjoyed them. You sir are an inspiration and I hope that you continue to find subjects to share with us as long as physically possible!! Thanks again!!!! Take care of yourself.
A truely gifted person, one of life's great teachers. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.
Excellent demonstrations and useful tips on using electrical connectors. I have used a majority of connectors shown in this video in my 37 year career in electrical engineering. In many of the custom car/motorcycle and car restoration projects I have done, I've used the skeleton crimp connectors with the clear slide on sleeving. These are much more reliable than the plastic covered crimp connectors because they use the rollover or fold technique to fold the metal connection into the wire strands, like the Molex style but larger. Much more mechanically robust and looks much more professional than the red/blue/yellow crush crimp connectors.
Another mistake I have come across often during fault finding is tinning/soldering of stranded cables before inserting them into screw clamps or even crimp connectors. Never solder or tin a stranded cable before inserting it into any kind of clamp/crimp terminal. The joint compresses because the solder is softer than the copper. This leads to fatigue of the solder causing the joint to 'relax', fatigue or crack making an unreliable connection. I have seen this cause arcing and catching fire within connectors melting them, particularly in high current high voltage applications.
Ever since seeing NASA requires transparent heat shrink, that's what I've used. I've been amazed at how nice it is to be able to still see the joint after adding heat shrink.
Next time anyone reading this buys heat shrink tubing, try some transparent heat shrink. It is harder to find and often a bit more expensive but in my opinion it's well worth the effort and price.
The problem with heat shrink I have is when the wire breaks off it doesn't fall off and you cannot pull it out. So you don't see them problem with visual inspection. When I use electrical tape, when the wire breaks off, it either falls out or slight tug on it makes it fall out, so the problem is obvious. Hoewever electrical tape fails with time.
When I worked in TV & VCR repair back in the early 90s, many a customer would extend their mains leads merely by “twizzling” the stranded wires together and sloppily wrapping some loose-fitting insulation tape around the whole mess.
Their twizzling could well have caused some *sizzling*
The white heat shrink tubing labeling trick was brilliant.
Wow, thanks for this video. It's a real blast from the past for me since I began as a trainee engineer making-up computer cables and wiring harnesses for mainframes. Lots of soldering of d-type connectors for RS232 and RS422 comms cables and IDC cables to connect computer system components to their boards. Back then it was cheaper to pay a trainee with a soldering iron than invest in crimping pliers and crimps. lol.
Thank you for your years of service. You’ve meant a lot to me.
I remember a short film on Channel 4 called Click. ( Not BBC Click) and it was about connectors and joining things.
It went from a simple Kettle that now clip together, through to how many in a Boeing 747.
This is the stuff we should be teaching our children.
We do but the nanny state lefty parents want to keep the kids dumb and be always safe...ie apps on a tablet... Even adults do it to save their jobs too.
@Fred Garvin I like both tbh. Study and use hands.
Muahah...i like the "moral of the story" at the end of the video.. That speaks to me from the heart... Tim is obviously a man with a lot of experience and he puts all his knowledge well together in this series.. Thanks for producing and uploading.... Greets from Germany.
I learn more in one of your videos than I would have in a week of school.
I saw all of your episodes when I was young. It was always interesting. Thanks for coming back to RUclips, you don't have the time pressure here like on TV. Best 73 from Switzerland.
We all started out twizzling bits of wire together, sometimes bothering to wrap some tape around.
I'm thoroughly enjoying this series, thankyou Sir, for gifting us with your humour, knowledge and experience.
In making a holiday display with a 1/10 scale (5 foot) helicopter that revolved 360 degrees, I solved the problem of giving it a 5 V feed for its LED running lights using a jack plug. Thanks for a great video!
Tim I just want to say thankyou, I watched your original shows way back in the the 80's, I taught myself electronics and repairing all sorts of things by taking them to bits and watching how things connect and work. This to this day I still continue to learn and repair. People like yourself explain things in a non complicated way with just enough back ground to make it interesting. Glad to see that you are still going strong with the inventing of interesting machines. All the best Darren
Tim Hunkin is Britain's answer to Adam Savage - lol. It would be cool to have a beer with both of them!
Thank you sir for a lovely presentation. I have been in engineering and tech services for 46 years and all your talking points are quite familiar. I am still amazed at all the connector types, adapter types and difficulties caused by all the non sense!
IDC = Insulation Displacement Connector. The snappy bit provides strain relief by wrapping the ribbon back through.
My preference for splicing 1 conductor wires: tin the leads if stranded, then tight J-hook together for best mechanical connection. Heat shrink first !
Enjoyed your show for more decades than I'll admit to.
I was supposed to mend a punctured bicycle tube and tyre, but then there was a new Tim video... So that project is delayed 45 minutes 🙂
I'm reminded of the many rounds I've played of find the loose wire. I refer screw type connectors over the various push in connectors.
Could you do a video about sound effects? I would love to see the details of how your machines hit bells nicely and so on, and what modern contrivances you use too.
Another awesome show. I watched your show in the US in the 80s I think. That was before DVR so I had one shot at taking in all the information you were putting out. I was so relieved when I found the old shows on RUclips years later. The sewing machine and telephone were my favourites back then.
I have used those molex micro fit connectors, they are good. The parallel port ones can be overheated easily with iron temperature set for lead free solder. The tiny JSC ones with the smaller than 0.1 inch spacing are a miserable crimping job for those with small hands, let alone normal hands. Those things, and eye strain are why I do software now.
white heatshrink - genius
This was a treat, especially at the end. I fondly recall "twiddling together" wires and covering them with electrical tape. That is until I learned to soder in Electric Shop in Junior High. I'm passing these videos on to friends who build stuff. They are most amused by your machines.
thank you very much for taking the time to make this video. i have worked with electronics/electrical for 35+ years and even learned a thing or two.
" but in fact... I struggle with these ones too..." ahahahah I love this man!
3:41 Always nice to see the magic white smoke that signals the death of an electrical part
Tim,on the spade connectors,i often use the next size up for the wire i am using(if the loop wont fit in the proper size) and fold the wire into a loop on the end,insert it then crimp,it makes a near impossible to pull out wire. Also the quality spade parts are much better than the cheap junk we see on the market these days.
@29:00, For end-to-end connections, I always push the strands of the wires into one another, then solder.
Tim's "pipe wrench" is Knipex Cobra pliers. These are expensive but *worth the money* because of how they grip. As they say--"buy once, cry once." Good tools are worth the money.
Never, ever lend tools like this to anyone, ever. Not even if they are working 4 feet away.
I’ve just also discovered speakon and powercon connectors - lovely to use
@Jannie Kirsten , Speak-on connectors are frequently used for high wattage amplifier to speaker connectors, which means they are passing AC!
They are nice, but not the cheapest; they do have the major advantage of locking, unlike IEC C14s
too much useful information here. thank you for still making these videos. i only stumble across your old videos yesterday. then i know that you are still making these during this covid era. many2 thanks. i wish i get to see all your videos when i am still at school times. now i am 36. but we still learns everyday. thanks..
The episode pertaining to Spade connectors probably should have also included Bullet connectors (and crimp type butt splices as well). I must have installed a zillion bullet connectors as a car stereo and alarm installer in the eighties. Many radios came with factory-crimped bullet connectors on the wiring harness, often with clear vinyl rubber booties that could be slid over the connectors, which would further insulate them from the already slim chance of accidental shorts to the chassis of the car.
MAG
NETs
Also, I'm so glad you covered IDC and Molex. That's my world. (Except for that year I lived in a Winnebago - never want to see a spade connector again!)
Tim, you are an absolute national treasure.... a life's worth of following your curiosity. Remarkable. It's a gift to be able to share in your decades of knowledge and experience. Seeing how things have advanced, and knowing how things used to be is also profoundly valuable. Your inimitable curiosity is infectious. Thank you for all you do and have done to demystify and engage people in how the things around them are made, and came to be.
I'm only 10-minutes in and you've given me ideas. Thing is, I'm just a hobbyist, and I didn't know the names of these connectors (or sometimes that they even existed). Amazing content! Thank you for taking the time to make these videos.
Tim, I've enjoyed your work since I discovered Secret Life of Machines in my formative years. This particular episode came in handy today as I was trying to fasten some miniscule 30AWG wires into screw terminals that wouldn't clamp on them, and remembered your bootlace ferrules. I don't happen to have any of them on hand, but I do have some crimp-on pins for 0.1" pitch headers, and they did the trick perfectly. Thank you, enjoying this series immensely.
D-sub connectors are my jam, I'm glad you covered them. In the US, we have a bad habit of referring to all shell sizes as DB, even when talking about DA, DE, etc. sizes. I never liked the crimp type D-sub connectors, solder cups are my preferred choice.
I'm totally enjoying this series! Thank you Tim for sharing you lifetime's worth of knowledge!
I'm rather fond of our mains plug old chap !.....Love your work, cheers.