What Electronic Kit Would You Design as a Toy? - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

SeanStevens · 25th Nov 2010, 3:07 pm

There are hundreds of them out there.... Little electronic kits that can make almost anything from a synthesiser , Theramin, to to modern/retro valve radio.

Most of them are rubbish, look like a little bit of fun, but not much else.

My suggestion is an emergency charger/power supply:

Comprising of a small motor/generator, a spring device and key, a few resistors and capacitors allowing voltage output selection and possibly an LED to show it is working. (think Baygen radio, without the radio)

This could possibly power up a mobile phone, power the toy that you get at Christmas that needs batteries you don't have, etc.

Q. What kit would you design for this market?

Suggestions please:

SEAN

Station X · 25th Nov 2010, 4:37 pm

A capacitor tester which would check capacitors for leakage and capacitance at their full working voltage. I have no use for such a kit, but I'm sure a lot of forum members would like one.

Darren-UK · 25th Nov 2010, 4:53 pm

This sounds like one of Lord Sugar's tasks!

I've often thought about some contraption like what they use at garages on cars, those diagnostic things, but for tired old radios. Just connect your latest acquisition from a boot sale to it and it tells you all about it; what caps must be changed, what resistors are out of tolerance etc etc.

25th Nov 2010, 6:40 pm

Darren, I think it's called an AVO.

Herald1360 · 25th Nov 2010, 7:08 pm

Ahh, but to do it in one, it would need to be multiplexed- sounds like a job for some uniselectors and a multivibrator.....

Station X · 25th Nov 2010, 7:11 pm

Membrain tester?

ppppenguin · 25th Nov 2010, 7:24 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Station X

Membrain tester?

BRAIN tester

More volts, Igor!

Station X · 25th Nov 2010, 7:44 pm

I was referring to a device used for testing PCBs. The PCB was placed in a jig and a number of spring loaded probes made contact with the PCB tracks. A cable connected the jig to a software controlled box of electronics which measured resistances etc. In the case of a digtal PCB it would also flex various inputs and check for the correct outputs. I may be wrong about it being called Membrain though. There was a similar device for testing backplane wiring on equipment racks/shelves.

I have vague recollections of a Zentel sp?? tester for testing components in circuit.

Diabolical Artificer · 25th Nov 2010, 8:50 pm

Ive been giving this some thought what with Xmas and all.I got a Theramin last year for my daughter.My thinking being,all she has to do is woft her hands about,and she,ll be astounded(I was).
But no,she found it interesting for 5 minutes tops.So this year I,m thinking of a flashy lighty buzzy box,with plugs,leads and the odd few small 10 mm bolts to unscrew type thing.Easier said than done.Its got to be safe,but challenging,etc,etc.
Cant let her loose with a soldering iron just yet(shes three) and shes too young for a chemistry set.If such a thing still exists.Theres not much out there,except whack a few shapes with a hammer,plastic rubbish.
Tricky!....,Andy.

25th Nov 2010, 3:07 pm	#1
SeanStevens Octode Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Bath, Somerset, UK. Posts: 1,033	What Electronic Kit Would You Design as a Toy? There are hundreds of them out there.... Little electronic kits that can make almost anything from a synthesiser , Theramin, to to modern/retro valve radio. Most of them are rubbish, look like a little bit of fun, but not much else. My suggestion is an emergency charger/power supply: Comprising of a small motor/generator, a spring device and key, a few resistors and capacitors allowing voltage output selection and possibly an LED to show it is working. (think Baygen radio, without the radio) This could possibly power up a mobile phone, power the toy that you get at Christmas that needs batteries you don't have, etc. Q. What kit would you design for this market? Suggestions please: SEAN __________________ There are only 10 types of people, those who understand the binary system, and those who don't.

25th Nov 2010, 4:37 pm	#2
Station X Moderator Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4, UK. Posts: 21,289	Re: What Electronic Kit Would You Design as a Toy? A capacitor tester which would check capacitors for leakage and capacitance at their full working voltage. I have no use for such a kit, but I'm sure a lot of forum members would like one. __________________ Graham. Forum Moderator Reach for your meter before you reach for your soldering iron.

25th Nov 2010, 4:53 pm	#3
Darren-UK Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Blackpool, Lancashire, UK. Posts: 4,061	Re: What Electronic Kit Would You Design as a Toy? This sounds like one of Lord Sugar's tasks! I've often thought about some contraption like what they use at garages on cars, those diagnostic things, but for tired old radios. Just connect your latest acquisition from a boot sale to it and it tells you all about it; what caps must be changed, what resistors are out of tolerance etc etc.

25th Nov 2010, 6:40 pm	#4
Guest Guest Posts: n/a	Re: What Electronic Kit Would You Design as a Toy? Darren, I think it's called an AVO.

25th Nov 2010, 7:08 pm	#5
Herald1360 Dekatron Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Leominster, Herefordshire, UK. Posts: 16,536	Re: What Electronic Kit Would You Design as a Toy? Ahh, but to do it in one, it would need to be multiplexed- sounds like a job for some uniselectors and a multivibrator..... __________________ ....__________ ....\|____\|\|__\|__\_____ .=.\| _---\__\|__\|_---_\|. .........O..Chris....O

25th Nov 2010, 7:11 pm	#6
Station X Moderator Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4, UK. Posts: 21,289	Re: What Electronic Kit Would You Design as a Toy? Membrain tester? __________________ Graham. Forum Moderator Reach for your meter before you reach for your soldering iron.

25th Nov 2010, 7:44 pm	#8
Station X Moderator Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4, UK. Posts: 21,289	Re: What Electronic Kit Would You Design as a Toy? I was referring to a device used for testing PCBs. The PCB was placed in a jig and a number of spring loaded probes made contact with the PCB tracks. A cable connected the jig to a software controlled box of electronics which measured resistances etc. In the case of a digtal PCB it would also flex various inputs and check for the correct outputs. I may be wrong about it being called Membrain though. There was a similar device for testing backplane wiring on equipment racks/shelves. I have vague recollections of a Zentel sp?? tester for testing components in circuit. __________________ Graham. Forum Moderator Reach for your meter before you reach for your soldering iron.

25th Nov 2010, 8:50 pm	#9
Diabolical Artificer Dekatron Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Sleaford, Lincs. UK. Posts: 7,667	Re: What Electronic Kit Would You Design as a Toy? Ive been giving this some thought what with Xmas and all.I got a Theramin last year for my daughter.My thinking being,all she has to do is woft her hands about,and she,ll be astounded(I was). But no,she found it interesting for 5 minutes tops.So this year I,m thinking of a flashy lighty buzzy box,with plugs,leads and the odd few small 10 mm bolts to unscrew type thing.Easier said than done.Its got to be safe,but challenging,etc,etc. Cant let her loose with a soldering iron just yet(shes three) and shes too young for a chemistry set.If such a thing still exists.Theres not much out there,except whack a few shapes with a hammer,plastic rubbish. Tricky!....,Andy. __________________ Curiosity hasn't killed this cat...so far.