Peter Jones
@droffgrid.bsky.social
Dad, Energy Scavenger, Electronics, Software, Fabrication. PhD Computational Neuroscience. Researching AGI but off-grid nerd in my spare time. The technology around that last bit is what this is all about.
#OffGrid
#OffGrid
Well, someone's enjoying the sunshine :)
October 9, 2025 at 1:10 PM
Well, someone's enjoying the sunshine :)
Washing machine gave up a few days ago. The BLDC Motor controller was to blame - 20 days and £160 for a full replacement, so decided to repair.
Getting the thing out and removing the 3mm conformal coating on both sides of the PCB for diagnosing and H-Bridge replacement made me wish I hadn't.
Getting the thing out and removing the 3mm conformal coating on both sides of the PCB for diagnosing and H-Bridge replacement made me wish I hadn't.
August 25, 2025 at 12:04 PM
Washing machine gave up a few days ago. The BLDC Motor controller was to blame - 20 days and £160 for a full replacement, so decided to repair.
Getting the thing out and removing the 3mm conformal coating on both sides of the PCB for diagnosing and H-Bridge replacement made me wish I hadn't.
Getting the thing out and removing the 3mm conformal coating on both sides of the PCB for diagnosing and H-Bridge replacement made me wish I hadn't.
I've been meaning to get this little lot together in one place for some time now.
July 31, 2025 at 5:32 PM
I've been meaning to get this little lot together in one place for some time now.
July 31, 2025 at 5:17 PM
What’s common knowledge in your field, but shocks outsiders?
Some computer Flash Memory relies on electrons 'magically' transporting from one side of an insulator to another via quantum tunnelling.
Some computer Flash Memory relies on electrons 'magically' transporting from one side of an insulator to another via quantum tunnelling.
What’s common knowledge in your field, but shocks outsiders?
Your immune system does not just protect you from pathogens and parasites, it is constantly gardening you: tissues do not turn over and renew on their own, immune cells show up and oversee the whole process.
Your immune system does not just protect you from pathogens and parasites, it is constantly gardening you: tissues do not turn over and renew on their own, immune cells show up and oversee the whole process.
June 19, 2025 at 7:41 AM
What’s common knowledge in your field, but shocks outsiders?
Some computer Flash Memory relies on electrons 'magically' transporting from one side of an insulator to another via quantum tunnelling.
Some computer Flash Memory relies on electrons 'magically' transporting from one side of an insulator to another via quantum tunnelling.
I just found one of my original photos of the fingertip. Even in 2017 it was possible to squeeze a MEMS pressure sensor, temperature sensor, microphone, opamp and ADC onto this tiny PCB. Around the outside is wound a nichrome heater. The 'skin' is moulded RTV silicone.
May 2, 2025 at 10:00 PM
I just found one of my original photos of the fingertip. Even in 2017 it was possible to squeeze a MEMS pressure sensor, temperature sensor, microphone, opamp and ADC onto this tiny PCB. Around the outside is wound a nichrome heater. The 'skin' is moulded RTV silicone.
I love it when I can re-purpose an old PCB for a new project.
This is a prototype water quality (TDS) sensor. The electronics were originally part of a biomimetic robotic fingertip sensor that I designed nearly a decade ago. It has a nice low-noise op-amp and I2C ADC on it which found use here.
This is a prototype water quality (TDS) sensor. The electronics were originally part of a biomimetic robotic fingertip sensor that I designed nearly a decade ago. It has a nice low-noise op-amp and I2C ADC on it which found use here.
April 23, 2025 at 6:26 PM
I love it when I can re-purpose an old PCB for a new project.
This is a prototype water quality (TDS) sensor. The electronics were originally part of a biomimetic robotic fingertip sensor that I designed nearly a decade ago. It has a nice low-noise op-amp and I2C ADC on it which found use here.
This is a prototype water quality (TDS) sensor. The electronics were originally part of a biomimetic robotic fingertip sensor that I designed nearly a decade ago. It has a nice low-noise op-amp and I2C ADC on it which found use here.
Everything's getting smaller, except my fingers :(
April 8, 2025 at 1:32 PM
Everything's getting smaller, except my fingers :(
Reposted by Peter Jones
I prefer my version, Elon.
March 2, 2025 at 12:43 PM
I prefer my version, Elon.
Eu-Can has a bit of a ring to it, don't you think?
March 1, 2025 at 9:13 PM
Eu-Can has a bit of a ring to it, don't you think?
This reminds me of an interview question I set 30 years ago. Not one interviewee got it right:
"How do you swap 2 8-bit values without using any form of temporary storage"
If anyone's wondering :)
B = A XOR B
A = A XOR B
B = A XOR B
"How do you swap 2 8-bit values without using any form of temporary storage"
If anyone's wondering :)
B = A XOR B
A = A XOR B
B = A XOR B
February 20, 2025 at 7:54 AM
February 19, 2025 at 4:59 PM
They may have had their wobbles in the past, but frankly I don't think the Nobel Committee are that dumb.
February 13, 2025 at 2:45 PM
They may have had their wobbles in the past, but frankly I don't think the Nobel Committee are that dumb.
Feels like a slow-motion car crash being played at Benny Hill speed.
February 3, 2025 at 12:19 PM
Feels like a slow-motion car crash being played at Benny Hill speed.
Quick and cheap ESP32 USB programmer made from an old NodeMCU D1 I had kicking around. Just remove the ESP8266 keeping the parts associated with the CH340.
Only needs using for the original programming - all updates via OTA.
Only needs using for the original programming - all updates via OTA.
February 2, 2025 at 4:48 PM
Quick and cheap ESP32 USB programmer made from an old NodeMCU D1 I had kicking around. Just remove the ESP8266 keeping the parts associated with the CH340.
Only needs using for the original programming - all updates via OTA.
Only needs using for the original programming - all updates via OTA.
Reposted by Peter Jones
🧪
If I were Canadian PM I would immediately:
1. Create a new $15B science fund
2. Offer any credentialed US scientist funding for lab startup and replacement of NIH grants if they move to Canada
3. Immediate permanent residency
4. Citizenship after 2 years
Overnight a science superpower
If I were Canadian PM I would immediately:
1. Create a new $15B science fund
2. Offer any credentialed US scientist funding for lab startup and replacement of NIH grants if they move to Canada
3. Immediate permanent residency
4. Citizenship after 2 years
Overnight a science superpower
January 31, 2025 at 10:04 PM
🧪
If I were Canadian PM I would immediately:
1. Create a new $15B science fund
2. Offer any credentialed US scientist funding for lab startup and replacement of NIH grants if they move to Canada
3. Immediate permanent residency
4. Citizenship after 2 years
Overnight a science superpower
If I were Canadian PM I would immediately:
1. Create a new $15B science fund
2. Offer any credentialed US scientist funding for lab startup and replacement of NIH grants if they move to Canada
3. Immediate permanent residency
4. Citizenship after 2 years
Overnight a science superpower
Whoever thought USB-C was going to standardise anything other than power was a gaslighting bastard.
January 23, 2025 at 5:09 PM
Whoever thought USB-C was going to standardise anything other than power was a gaslighting bastard.
3 years behind the curve, my new Rokid Air AR glasses arrived today (AliExpress £133 excl, although once in the UK they were given to Evri, so obvs lost, found & delayed for a week before they got to me).
January 22, 2025 at 1:28 PM
3 years behind the curve, my new Rokid Air AR glasses arrived today (AliExpress £133 excl, although once in the UK they were given to Evri, so obvs lost, found & delayed for a week before they got to me).
7 years later, and the Farm's IoT process controllers get a much needed upgrade.
January 18, 2025 at 12:06 PM
7 years later, and the Farm's IoT process controllers get a much needed upgrade.
A someone who grew up alongside misaligned R,G and B guns, the TikTok logo is still triggering even now.
a tik tok logo with a glitch effect
ALT: a tik tok logo with a glitch effect
media.tenor.com
January 17, 2025 at 4:12 PM
A someone who grew up alongside misaligned R,G and B guns, the TikTok logo is still triggering even now.