Official NB.org Inventor's Thread

[FineExampl]

Hi...

I hereby declare myself and inventor!

(let's all say this when we use this thread and then state your invention...it'll be fun)

I have invented SATELLITE RADIO! (Hoohoo tell em Fred)

I am building a kickass XM radio out of a spare car kit for a SkyFi2 receiver, an old pair of walkman speakers, and a miniature Hot Wheels lunchbox.

So far i've mounted the cradle onto the side of the box and drilled holes for and mounted one speaker to it. It is going to be portable, but not 100% portable, meaning it will need a power supply for the receiver as well as the speakers. I will take pics as soon as i can, you really have to see this. It's pretty awesome.

Does anyone know if i can wrap a circuit board in cardboard of it will be less conductive so that i don't electrocute myself?

John

ps - i know nothing about cicuitry and wiring...i am literally guessing for the entire project. So if i kill myself by electrocution i will leave my Beetle to Amy so Skittle can have a boyfriend.

later

[jcroft]

Wait, I thought I was the NB.org inventor?

[VW2.0Driver]

I have an idea for a REMARKABLE invention...

I won't say what it is, cause I don't want anyone stealing it.

[Steinola]

Originally Posted by FineExampl

Does anyone know if i can wrap a circuit board in cardboard of it will be less conductive so that i don't electrocute myself?

ps - i know nothing about cicuitry and wiring...i am literally guessing for the entire project. So if i kill myself by electrocution i will leave my Beetle to Amy so Skittle can have a boyfriend.

I guess I'm not sure how this qualifies as an "invention", or qualifies you as an "inventor", since satellite radios already exist... but no matter... sounds like a cool, fun project.

As far as wrapping a circuit board in cardboard, I wouldn't recommend it. Plastic (or even wood) would be better. Fry's and Radio Shack typcally sell what they call "project cases", which are just little plastic, non-conductive boxes or varying sizes built to hold PCBs. You might look to see if they might have one that's a decent size for your appplication.

At any rate, it's unlikely that you'd "kill yourself by electricution". You're talking milliamps of electricity, at only a few volts... you'd probably only get a tingle if you were to touch anything power-wise. But what you want to watch out for is actually static electricity. If your body is loaded up with static electricity, and you touch a PCB, you'll overload the circuits and wipe any programming in the chips. Meaning, your handling an unshielded circuit board is more dangerous for the circuit board than it really is for you. I would definitely suggest you wear a anti-static grounding strap (a small bracelet you wrap around your wrist and connect to a metal grounding point) before you handle the PCB anymore. And definitely keep it away from the metal sides of the lunchbox. You'll want to stand it up off the walls with plastic risers.

[neko]

Originally Posted by FineExampl

Hi...

I am building a kickass XM radio out of a spare car kit for a SkyFi2 receiver, an old pair of walkman speakers, and a miniature Hot Wheels lunchbox.
.....

Does anyone know if i can wrap a circuit board in cardboard of it will be less conductive so that i don't electrocute myself?

....

This sounds dangerous and wierd a lot like a frankenproject ... But it can be done !!!
(again, what are you tring to do ??)

[noR]

submerse it in mineral spirits. That stuff's non conductive.

Hmmm... I'm a self-described crack-pot, but I can't think of anything close to an invention I've made.

I've modified a couple tools to do various things, does that count? Grinded the edges of a socket to make a strut tower removal tool when the impact wrench wouldn't do the job; etc. not necessiarly my idea. I think I got that idea from Bug_Power.

[BUGINME]

I invented the internet.....no wait.....that wasn't me..... Sorry, couldn't resist! The only thing I have ever come close to inventing....is three kids, but that's not really inventing......oh, nevermind.....

[FineExampl]

Originally Posted by Steinola

I guess I'm not sure how this qualifies as an "invention", or qualifies you as an "inventor", since satellite radios already exist... but no matter... sounds like a cool, fun project.

As far as wrapping a circuit board in cardboard, I wouldn't recommend it. Plastic (or even wood) would be better. Fry's and Radio Shack typcally sell what they call "project cases", which are just little plastic, non-conductive boxes or varying sizes built to hold PCBs. You might look to see if they might have one that's a decent size for your appplication.

At any rate, it's unlikely that you'd "kill yourself by electricution". You're talking milliamps of electricity, at only a few volts... you'd probably only get a tingle if you were to touch anything power-wise. But what you want to watch out for is actually static electricity. If your body is loaded up with static electricity, and you touch a PCB, you'll overload the circuits and wipe any programming in the chips. Meaning, your handling an unshielded circuit board is more dangerous for the circuit board than it really is for you. I would definitely suggest you wear a anti-static grounding strap (a small bracelet you wrap around your wrist and connect to a metal grounding point) before you handle the PCB anymore. And definitely keep it away from the metal sides of the lunchbox. You'll want to stand it up off the walls with plastic risers.

It's an invention cuz i say so...i invented satellite radio remember? Tell em Fred!

But seriously...thanks for the advice on not elctrifying me or anything. It looks like i may have to run back to Radio Shack...i hate that place. Those kids never know a damn thing about what they sell there. The kid yesterday wanted me to buy a 30 adapter for this very project. What is he nuts??

Anyway, glad to know cardboard would be bad.

This is a project i decided to take on since my $200 XM/CD boombox took a dump and broke on me and i wanted a replacement. This will be good to sell to people as i can make them fairly cheap. All i'd need are old computer speakers, lunchboxes, and a car kit.

john

[boblamb58]

Originally Posted by noR

submerse it in mineral spirits. That stuff's non conductive.

Mineral Spirits? Kinda smelly, and will evaporate after a while

I invented a spaghetti sauce jar drainer. And no, I won't show it to you. Some day I might even try to patent it.

[skittle buggy]

Originally Posted by BUGINME

I invented the internet.....no wait.....that wasn't me..... Sorry, couldn't resist! The only thing I have ever come close to inventing....is three kids, but that's not really inventing......oh, nevermind.....

Michele you've just invented the art of spoiling Grandkids... Oh wait that's been invented... May be you've just perfected it

[Fowvay]

I invented a couple of very popular mods for the New Beetle but other than that I really haven't invented much.

[FineExampl]

I would like to announce that i have successfully completed my invention of "satellite radio". I even got the satellites in orbit last night as well. Damn rocket ship had a hard time starting, but i managed.

Yeah, so i'm listening to it now. It's amazing what you can make when you need something. I even learned how to solder last night. Had to reattach the wires for the speakers as they ripped off the speakers and the circuit board. No problem, back to perfect working order.

THe sound is average at best. No EQ and zero bass to speak of, it sounds like ..well..cheap computer speakers. I will have pics eventually. Maybe later today, but that's kinda doubtful. It has it's own antenna and everything.

later...

john

[FineExampl]

I have a new invention!!

My latest creation will REVOLUTIONIZE the world!

It is called "The Nose Snake".

Sounds good so far, right? I knew it would.

Ladies and gentleman let me tell you what i've done. In the spirit of Ron Popeil i have come up with one item that will change the way you run your day.

Ever sit around either at work or at home and you brush your hand by your nose to scratch an itch and you feel something tickling in your nasal passage? What do you do? You can't pick in mixed company and risk someone seeing you. It's not appropriate. You may not have a tissue either. What do you do???

You get the Nose Snake!

It's a similar concept to a push pop or the specimen swabs CSI teams use combined with a toilet snake or a paintball gun squeegee.

See my diagram. I'll be accepting advance orders immediately.

Asking price is $99.95 plus applicable shipping. Cash only. Unmarked, untracable bills please.

[dnyed]

What's the difference between shoving a finger up there, or shoving a Nose Snake up to get that errant booger? Both are not good ettiquette.

Your prototype scares me......

Excuse yourself, and get a tissue!

[AmyJane]

Wouldnt that grab nose hairs?! OUCH!

[FineExampl]

Originally Posted by dnyed

What's the difference between shoving a finger up there, or shoving a Nose Snake up to get that errant booger? Both are not good ettiquette.

Your prototype scares me......

Excuse yourself, and get a tissue!

No, this is a lovely idea and very ok in company of others. The case of the Nose Sake will have fancy stickers and paint and be really cool.

Amy Jane from Holbrook, NY had this to say, "I used the Nose Snake at my neice's birthday party and everyone complimented me on how clever an invention it was. I was able to contain my unsightly nose debris in a handy container for later consumption or disposal"

So, as you can see, the Nose Snake is sweeping the nation...one nose at a time.

[FineExampl]

Originally Posted by CyberGreenBaby

Wouldnt that grab nose hairs?! OUCH!

No! In fact the design is such that it actually has an attachement that trims AND brushes nose hairs to effectively filter out debris that might be inhaled through the nose. Sorry coke users, gonna have to mainline from now on.

[dnyed]

For later consumption? Oh my God!

[AmyJane]

Originally Posted by FineExampl

No, this is a lovely idea and very ok in company of others. The case of the Nose Sake will have fancy stickers and paint and be really cool.

Amy Jane from Holbrook, NY had this to say, "I used the Nose Snake at my neice's birthday party and everyone complimented me on how clever an invention it was. I was able to contain my unsightly nose debris in a handy container for later consumption or disposal"

So, as you can see, the Nose Snake is sweeping the nation...one nose at a time.

LMAO!! Thats fraud...or something! You used my name...or half of it anyway, without my permission!
So it combs the nose hairs? So not only does it clean them, it grooms them too! Clever!
Ron Popeil would be proud!
As far as the consumption part...umm i think you need to leave that out. Yeah. Gross.

[PhoenixRising]

I want to see the pics of the lunchbox...