Twin USB Mains Adaptor/ Charger with suppression

Masterplug Surge Protected Twin USB Mains Charger with pass-through mains socketI stumbled across this USB Mains Adaptor from Masterplug which boasts several handy features: firstly it has twin 5V 1,000mA USB sockets into which you plug your choice of USB lead, so you can charge two devices at once. Handily it also has a pass-through mains socket so you don’t lose the use of a mains outlet.

Unlike other chargers, this adaptor also has mains suppression to help protect your precious phone(s) from damage caused by e.g. motors, surges or the effects of lightning. Once a suppressor "blows" then the unit should be discarded.

It sports two garish LEDs indicating that power is on and the suppressor is intact. The unit is sealed for life and there is no accessible fuse carrier.

The Masterplug SRGAUSBPB (black) or SRGAUSBPW (white) Surge Protected Mains USB Charger is available from Amazon, Argos, B&Q, ebay and more for approximately £9.

Unfortunately, my first one failed because it wasn’t that good a fit and the earth pin got pushed inside! The replacement has been fine so far.

Startech USB Combi lead has mini and micro connectorsYou might also like the Startech USB Combo Cable – it’s a useful Mini USB and Micro USB to USB lead that you flip over depending on what size your phone needs.

The lead is available in black or white, see http://uk.startech.com/Cables/USB-2.0/Micro/3foot-USB-to-Micro-USB-and-Mini-USB-Combo-Cable-A-to-B~USBHAUBMB3. I also spotted it for sale on Amazon, but typical ebay seller prices were silly so don't pay over the odds.

Update on Wednesday, October 9, 2013 at 1:51PM by Alan W

Pass me that screwdriver...

Internals, showing the suppressors (blue MO varistors, heatshrunk) and gas discharge tube to earth. In fact two fuses are onboard as well.I wanted to know why the Earth pin of one of mine sank into the plastic body. The charger's tamper-evident label concealed a tamperproof screw, so a quick twizzle and the case was prised open (invalidating the warranty).

Only take switched-mode adapters like this apart after allowing plenty of time (e.g. overnight) for high-voltage components inside to discharge, and even then be wary of high voltages lurking within. I've fried a fingertip this way before now.

Generally the construction is far better than many Chinese ones I've seen. My photos (click them to view) show the suppressor components. There are two MOVs (Metal Oxide Varistors) and also two fuses (F1 and F2 on the silkscreen) all heatshrunk together. A Gas Discharge Tube (GDT) nearby connects to Earth. When the suppressors are intact an l.e.d. glows.

Earth pin solder joint (circled) on p.c.b. Click to enlargeWhen fitted together the Earth pin is held in place laterally in all directions by the plastic moulding. However it's soldered to a thin strip (only) of p.c.b. copper foil which is subjected to insertion forces of the Earth pin. A small spigot of plastic on the cover therefore clamps the Earth pin down when the case is closed up, to "brace" it.

I guess mine had a dry solder joint and the Earth pin came away from the p.c.b., or that section of the p.c.b. broke altogether.

Something to bear in mind, the Earth assembly is not hugely strong so don't be rough with it when you're plugging it into a mains socket.

Interview Part 4: All the Muscle You Need!

Part 4 of my potted history kicks off with some more ambitious projects, starting with the Bench Power Supply of March 1981. You can download reprints of all my published project articles and read my background notes, as well as seeing photos of the original prototypes that still exist today, as well as one or two projects that were never published. Read more...

Counterfeit mains cable warning

Approved Cables Initiative will publicise details of fake or counterfeit cableThe UK is being deluged with tens of thousands of kilometres of dodgy mains cable – sub-standard, counterfeit mains cable is entering the supply chain from overseas and is passed off as genuine product.

However, the fake cable's actual specification and quality are anything but safe, and they could burn out and cause dangerous electrical fires or even worse. They may all bear authentic markings but even ordinary flexible mains flex can be faked, using under-rated copper cores that have a higher resistance; these will overheat and burn out under load.

Cables destined for emergency lighting or alarm systems that should withstand heat for hours can burn out in a few minutes and emit poisonous fumes at the same time, because cheap PVC insulation is used instead of fire-resistant materials.

Up to one in five reels of electrical cables sold in the UK could be fake and about 20 million meters of this dangerous, non-compliant electrical cable were seized in just nine months by UK trading standards. It's shredded and the copper is recycled.

High metal prices have made it more attractive for disreputable manufacturers to cut corners on cable quality. One well-known UK DIY chain has been struggling to ensure that sub-standard Turkish-made cable had been withdrawn from sale. Some product slipped through the safety net and the same Atlas Kablo brand of cable may also have been used in the trade by electrical contractors.

The Approved Cables Initiative (ACI) has been established in the UK to address the issue of unsafe, non-approved and counterfeit cable entering the UK marketplace. Thay say their role is to investigate and publicise the findings of cables found to be faulty, counterfeit or non-compliant with British, European or International Standards.

It's hard to tell whether cable is genuine or not, so buy from reputable sources only that have a quality-controlled supply chain. More details, news and videos on the ACI website at http://www.aci.org.uk.

Hang on to your cables...

I’ve a multitude of computer and photo peripherals, mobile phone accessories and electronics that all have to be plugged into something or other. USB mice, Firewire video cameras and scanners, mains adaptors for mobile phones, cameras and radios... a problem I often have is how to keep the USB cables or power leads handy and stop them disappearing behind the desk when I disconnect them for any reason.

Handy stick-on cable-clips stop PC connection cables from disappearing off the deskI found these handy stick-on cable clips that will retain any leads up to roughly 6mm diameter. You can stick them on the desk or tabletop and feed the cables through them, and the connector plug will always be to hand and won’t vanish, whip-lash style, out of view the moment you unhook it.

They keep the PC lead for my camcorder handy, as well as my wireless mouse mains adaptor, portable radio PSU lead, USB extension leads too. They also tidied up some errant wires that trailed down from the top shelf.

The soft and rubbery plastic clips are available in bright colours and sized just over 1” diameter, fitted with double-sided foam disc. You can buy them on eBay for a couple of pounds for twelve. I repeated my order for a dozen more of these handy things.

They could also be used to grip pens, CF memory cards or maybe the edges of card etc. What else could you use them for?

 Sticking up four fingers to Android

KitKat 4 mega-bite Mobile version

The next version 4.4 of Android will be dubbed not Key Lime Pie but..... KitKat.  They have a sweet tooth at Google HQ, and Nestlés iconic four-fingered chocolate wafer bar has been chosen as the face of Android’s next iteration, following hard on the heels of the current Jelly Bean.

Nestlé has joined in the fun, being impressively quick off the mark by re-engineering its website in anticipation of this latest upgrade.  KitKat 4.4 has arrived, says the home page, and by scrolling down the page you can learn more about KitKat’s hardware and accessories.

KitKat 4 mega-bite version will be ideal for mobile or i-Tea workersKitKat 4.4 features include adjustable orientation, allowing data to be consumed in landscape or portrait mode. Accessories include mugs of coffee in various colours, and it comes with 2 mega-bites, 4 mega-bites or Chunky options. It’s Mobile, too, so you can take one to work.

To learn more about this essential accessory for i-Tea workers, head over to www.kitkat.com and slowly scroll down to immerse yourself in the benefits of KitKat 4.4. 

More details on www.android.com. Let's hope you don't have to keep your Android 4.4 phone or tablet in the fridge during hot weather though...

EPEMag.Net revisions

Today EPEMag.Net - the independent website supporting EPE - was slightly re-jigged in order to better carry product reviews, reference articles and generally make navigation more direct and clutter-free. The legacy PIC micro source code page from the original EPE website (which I handled until the USA took over – then I took it back over again!) is still there and the site has been groomed for broken links etc. and some redundant pages have been removed.

A new How-To’s page is the start of a collection of various technical projects for enthusiasts, not necessarily purely electronics-based  but involving electronics tech. somewhere.

The Reviews page is a bit ad-hoc, I know.  I wanted to cover some useful bits and bobs that I’ve had in mind for a long time and is still relevant today, so I started by examining some interesting battery rechargers.

The FAQ page has been updated to reflect current developments at EPE. I think it’s safe to say that the subject of Silicon Chip involvement is now a settled question and most readers accept the situation, so there’s no need to bang on about that.

The changes should make it easier to add web pages, reviews, articles etc.  as I have a mountain of material in the pipeline that I’d really like to share, including PICmicro-related articles. So hopefully EPEMag.Net will start to expand into a useful resource.

Visit the site at www.epemag.net

New Basic Soldering Guide (Kindle Edition) launched

In association with Antex (Electronics), the UK's leading maker of soldering irons and equipment, I'm pleased to launch my new Basic Soldering Guide Kindle Edition.  You can read a bit more about it  here.

Not just Pocketmags

Many views have been exchanged about the new Pocketmags version of EPE. Readers who don’t get along with it too well don’t hesitate to let their feelings be known, but at the same time a good proportion of mobile & tablet users have found EPE for the first time and think EPE Pocketmags’ version is great – just the job, and they tell us so.

When the PDF version was replaced by the Pocketmags service, it would be true to say that EPE grafters, especially Stewart and I, were all but kicked to death by a small number of vocal readers and in the recent past we’ve been subjected to some pretty vile emails from individuals. Stewart has attempted to patiently reply to each and every one, but in one or two examples readers’ comments have been extraordinarily obnoxious and aggressive: judging by their tone, anyone would think that life support had been withdrawn when EPE Online (the PDF version) came to a halt. I usually find that hardened engineers are happy to shoot from the hip and they couldn’t really care that real human beings are on the other end. Such behaviour is nothing to be proud of, and sadly there were one or two whom we eventually refused to deal with any further at all.

Why was the PDF version withdrawn?  The online version of EPE was engineered many years ago by Techbites in the USA, who designed the reader download and subscription system, which was all bespoke coding.  In mid-late 2012 the servers, which were based on the Joomla CMS, were subjected to repeated hack attacks which eventually damaged the website beyond repair and made the service unsustainable. As fast as it was repaired it was wrecked again.

It’s more complicated still: the fact is that the original design firm in the USA no longer existed by that time and the owners had gone their separate ways. EPE Online was being run single-handedly by Alvin, who did his best to keep it afloat and provide a service to EPE subscribers but the codebase was obsolete and couldn't be updated readily. EPE PDF was also being pirated to death by then, to the detriment of our paying subscriber base, and we weren’t willing to let that continue.  

It was never going to be possible to rewrite the entire bespoke system from scratch, and the difficult decision was made to relocate back to the UK at very short-notice at the end of 2012. None of this was of our making or choosing but if we did not act fast then EPE readers would have had nothing left to download at all. Much credit goes to Alvin and Dean for helping in the transition back home.

A new website was built (www.epemag.com) at short notice, domains were transferred back to the UK and the entire EPE database of back issues, updates, cover shots, source codes, PCBs had to be totally rebuilt by hand – work that is going on to this very day. I prioritised the latest issues and worked backwards through the pile, and I update the website with Dreamweaver every month.

There’s no disputing that the Pocketmags service has had a mixed reaction, and for some users it plainly will not work and they have been quick to say so. The days of selling an unprotected  PDF of EPE are over. Given the costs and niche volumes involved, it will probably never be possible to cover every platform though. A replacement PDF-based system has been under trial for some time, which requires a plug-in that is designed for Adobe Reader for Windows only. We can say that the PDF can be stored and archived on disk: it is unlocked in the reader’s software and the plan is that several licences will be made available to let the PDF be read on e.g. two Windows machines.

Other platforms may follow in due course (no promises) but for now it is felt the Windows Reader will satisfy the requirements of most of our readership. Trials have generally been encouraging but it takes a long time for a very small company to introduce a key service like this, and we’re determined to ensure it meets our needs as well so that we have a sustainable service for the foreseeable future.

EPE Chat Zone: cabal-stripping

The EPE Chat Zone forum - basic but solid and well-mannered. Usually.I've run the EPE Chat Zone electronics forum since the 1990's, which is provided to enable hobbyists to help each other out and exchange views in a (I insist!) good-natured, civil and abuse-free professional  environment. It's based on the now obsolete but very robust Perl-based Discusware program which has withstood the test of time, unlike many other PHP programs. Discus disappeared out of business but kept the support pages up for several years, which I'm grateful for.

My first Chat Zone in the 1990s used Matt's WWWboard program, which (unbelievable now) was open to anyone to post. It was OK until it was destroyed by Russian pornographers of the illegal kind. I hope to modernise the entire forum when I get the chance: IPBoard or Xenforo are on my short-list.

The EPE Chat Zone forum has never been a formal channel of communication with me or the Publishers as we have a deliberate policy of providing individual replies to individual queries. Why is that? Partly because Email is more manageable than having a live forum. Otherwise I end up fighting battles on multiple fronts in real time which diverts me from other more productive work. Sometimes the forum could take up an entire evening of herding cats and I've emerged from it all pretty well drained or exhausted. The feeling of being kicked to death is not a pleasant one.

Life gets difficult when I am put into a position where individuals want to grab the steering wheel and use our forum for their own ends, or (often) to try and provoke a tussle with the Publishers.  Users would never be allowed to do the same in counterpart forums and I think I generally apply a light touch only to the running of the EPE Chat Zone. History proves that only a tiny fraction of posts are deleted, and that's because they contain damaging mis-information or abuse that we should not be expected to tolerate. It is better than the other option of having a 100% pre-moderated forum which kills the fun for everyone.

If now't else, EPE has been highly successful in developing reader loyalty and it's absolutely recognised that some users might have a complaint or grievance they wish to air, especially following the unforeseen demise of the USA EPE Online site and the rapid introduction of Pocketmags. Most users observe the  Chat Zone forum's AUP and rules of netiquettes well enough, but the whole of the rest of the Internet is available in which to form cabals or garner support for user's own views. I might do something in EPE Net Work to help get people started on Facebook, once I puzzle out their 54 privacy settings.

EU Business Register Alert!

It's back again - I received the same old EU Business Register mail (previously, World Trade Register)  - with the €995 price tag hidden in the small print. Don't be fooled by the 'updating is free of charge' - read my post here.

===  email spam ===

Dear Madam/Sir,

In order to have your company inserted in the EU Business Register for 2013/2014, please print, complete and submit the attached form (PDF file) to the following address:

EU BUSINESS REGISTER
P.O.BOX 3079
3502 GB UTRECHT
THE NETHERLANDS

Fax: +31 205 248 107

Updating is free of charge.