(no subject)

[ewt]

I'd really like to see this trilogy of films. I've heard about it from various people, watched a small amount during a class last year, want to see more. I wonder if the DVDs are available from the Trinity library.

What Gaelan said about generators from old box fans.

I would like to learn more electronics. I know very, very little and what I do know was learned in grade school and I forget it easily. I can just about keep voltage, wattage and amperage clear in my head. I know what an electromagnet is. I know a circuit has to be closed to work. I can wire a plug, just. I know, in a very rough way, how fuses and circuit breakers work, but had to have an RCD explained (and can't remember what the acronym stands for now) to me last night. Every time I want to do anything like the project above, though, I have to get someone else to help, or look everything up from scratch. I can't read a circuit diagram. I don't even have a soldering iron, and when I do use one it is messy. I always forget what transistors, capacitors, resistors, diodes do (um, diodes make the electricity only go one direction _I think_). I had an electronics kit when I was a child but all I did was make flashlights.

Who will teach me? Where should I start learning? I do not have much money to spend on this, so loan or donation of tools/books/materials would be great.

Are you self-employed? Discuss your experiences.

What work can you do from home/remotely? Brainstorm/discuss.

Comments

[scalarparty.livejournal.com]

Koya and Powaquatsi are amazing!! but truley its a weird thing with the third one, because a) was done way later... but mostly because Godfrey Reggio dumped Ron Frike after the second one (RF is the cameraman and aded a lot more than just his amazing eye to the forst two) so there is an accepted position that another reason why th etriilogy is funny is because Frieke's next film Baraka is a better 3rd installmentthan Naqoyquatsi can ever be Naq looks like an ok VJ set) at the very least if you do indulge, please also check out Baraka (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0103767/)

[vampwillow]

I really like Koyaanisqatsi (saw in cinema, have on tape, love Philip Glass's music too) but wasn't so taken with Power- and haven't seen the third one.

My dad taught me electronics from the age of 6½ and I've since taught many others ... personal opinion is that it is best to learn by doing rather than from books (Maplin do various little kits, etc. for practical options.) Soldering is something one gets better at with practice, practice, practice.

I have been mostly self-employed/self-unemployed since 1984; mostly it is ok but it depends on how good you are at getting new customers, it isn't just about doing the task that you want to do.

"home/remotely" depends upon what you actually mean. One job - where I worked for someone else - I only had to go into my office one or two days each month. Two weeks a month I'd be in other countries, and the rest of the time I'd work from home. Similarly when I worked as an electrician - mostly doing rehab work for housing associations - I was in different places each week - which is sort of 'remote' - so depends on whether you are just looking to *not* work in a single place or *to* work in a given place (ie home)

[hairyears.livejournal.com]

Very little 'office' work is available from home unless you have sucessfully developed an office-based career, and maintain a network of work contacts whom you see on a regular basis.

That leaves crafts-based work, and it is notable that all the people who make a successful living from it put in a great deal of work exhibiting and being seen at meets, exhibitions and craft fairs, as well as really pushing the boat out on cultivating an online profile in relevant communities.

[martling.livejournal.com]

I got a boxed set of Koyaanisquatsi and Powaquatsi on DVD at Christmas last year and haven't watched them yet...

And I would really enjoy teaching you some electronics, as I think I've mentioned before. There are a few good books that I could help you work through (The Art of Electronics by Horowitz & Hill is the classic one - pricey new but there are a lot of old copies arond) if you want, or I could just improvise.

Where are you for the next days, and what are you up to? I'm heading down south tonight, leaving for Berlin early 27th, no plans in particular except on the 25th - would be lovely to see you.

[ewtikins.livejournal.com]

I'm in Bath until probably 27th. Come visit if you like!

Are you stopping by London on your way back from Berlin?

[martling.livejournal.com]

Sure! When's good for you? Saturday or Monday would be best for me I think; tomorrow could also work. Friday lunchtime/evening I think I want to be in London.

[ksta.livejournal.com]

I don't understand electronics.

I am self-employed, my experiences involve lots of stressful chasing of people who I am supposed to be working for, and watching lots of awful films.

KOYYYYYYYYYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANIS-QAT-SI

It's ok, but a little pretentious and a little dull. To be fair, I havenae watched the whole thing.

[ewtikins.livejournal.com]

Saturday I'm probably going to be busking at least part of the day; ditto tomorrow, although either of these are somewhat flexible.

Monday may be difficult for transport if you're taking the train, because there aren't any.

I should also ask shevek whether it is okay to invite random guests, although I don't think he'll mind and if you're only going to be

[ewtikins.livejournal.com]

if you're only going to be here for the day it doens't much matter anyway (but there is a spare, although cold, room for overnight visitors and I can ask him about letting you have that for a night if it would make htings easier).

*sings the male bass part*:

[ksta.livejournal.com]

KO-YAAAAA-NIS-QAT-SI

[sci.livejournal.com]

It may interest you to know then that I intend to run a 5minute segment in each episode of the Scavengers Workshop, running through basic electronics and concepts. It'll probably quite information dense, but I hope to supply each episode with a resource bundle. :3

Also, do you have a library card? There's lots of books on basic electronics out there, and a basic soldering iron is only £6 or so.

[martling.livejournal.com]

If you're going to be busking for some of the time, I'd be happy to (a) sit and listen for a while, and (b) wander around Bath, since I don't think I've been there before, and I still have some Christmas shopping to do.

I could stay the night tomorrow, if that's helpful for timing (allows evening for film watching perhaps?) and okay with shevek.

[ewtikins.livejournal.com]

I'll ask when he's awake, and let you know sometime this evening...

[ewtikins.livejournal.com]

Scavengers Workshop? When? Where?

[sci.livejournal.com]

The video project I'm filming. Should have everything filmed by July. The incredible-edible internet.

[ewtikins.livejournal.com]

He's awake, he says it's fine for you to stay over tomorrow night.

:))

Let me know when you have some idea of travel plans and I can meet you at the station and so on.

[pfy.livejournal.com]

You have an A-level physics textbook of mine. I believe it has sections on electricity and basic electronics. I also have a couple of electronics textbooks hanging around at my place, so come round and borrow them.

I will teach you the bits and pieces I know, and I have a soldering iron and various other things you can borrow.

Maplin are a reasonable source for electronic parts and gizmos. They have an annoying habit of never quite holding enough stock, but IIRC they will order in anything they don't have in stock so you can pick it up later.

A few words of advice: you can get el-cheapo soldering irons for a few quid on market stalls and at most electronics shops. However, I find they have a tendency to stop working after a while. It's probably better to spend a few quid extra to get a decent-quality one that won't break so easily. You will also be able to get useful things like replacement tips for the decent-quality brands. The 'Antex' branded ones are worth buying, and I think they even sell a basic beginner's soldering kit with things like an iron, a stand, and a desoldering tool.

resistors

[(Anonymous)]

Hi Dear,

A resistor resists. A capacitor stores. A diode "directs" (one way transmission of energy). DC circuits are a good place to start. AC circuits have "impedance" which is much harder to understand.

Good Luck,

Love,
ADa

electronics training

[(Anonymous)]

Hi Daughter Dearest,

I found a web site that has an online book here:

http://science-ebooks.com/electronics/table_of_contents.htm

This should get you started :)

Love,
Dad

[hopeness.livejournal.com]

I'm self-employed. Currently I am enjoying it because I prefer working in a private home as opposed to a daycare centre. But that's not very helpful because it's very career-specific.

We did try to start a small business at one point. I learned a lot from that experience. The biggest thing is to research what you want to do, what your competition would be, demand, what you should price (for example, we discovered that our prices would barely cover our travel costs), and then research it all again.

[martling.livejournal.com]

Only got to my parents' in the last half hour - train ran late out of Edinburgh, so I missed the tube and ended up on the sodding N18 ghetto-on-wheels.

So, er, if I get a decent few hours sleep now, I can get a 9:30am train from here and be in Bath at noon. Let me know if that suits you? I'll check this thread in the morning, or text me.

[martling.livejournal.com]

Bleurgh. Awake. Make that 1pm :-)

[ewtikins.livejournal.com]

Mid-afternoon would suit me a bit better as I only just got up. Will text you now to find out if you're on the train and I need to go into 'get dressed now' mode!