Electronics

A Simple Guide to How Smart Battery Chargers Operate

Basically, a battery is constructed of a number of cells with a lead-acid battery cell generating around 2V. Smaller batteries usually contain 6 cells in one container, making a total of 12V at the terminal points. Even though this type of batteries is referred to as 12V batteries, the voltage can vary. Namely, it changes from 12.6V-10V when discharging, to 15V-16V when charging. Read More →

A Simple Guide to the Usefulness of Residential LED Outdoor Lights

Technological advances have made it possible to find an energy efficient and long lasting replacement of traditional lightbulbs. I am talking about LED lights – an environmentally friendly lighting option that can bring a number of improvements to your outdoor space. Read More →

A Simple Guide to Picking the Right RC Wheels

With the wide range of different RC cars comes a wide range of rims and tyres. Every RC vehicle type can use different sized wheels with a varying profile, and your choice can severely impact how your RC vehicle performs on or off the road. The first thing you want to do when buying wheels for RC cars are to check the manual for the recommended tire and wheel size. As far as tyres and wheel sizes go, most RC vehicles use wheels that are around 2.2 inches in diameters, but depending on the type of vehicle, the size may vary. Read More →

A Simple Guide to Military Tactical Flashlights

When it comes to flashlights, different people have different needs. The average user just wants something that will illuminate their way in case of a power outage, or when they drop something between the seats of their car, while campers and hikers need something that’s far more reliable and potent. The more advanced, reliable and potent flashlights are also known as military tactical flashlights, and they’re typically used by security, military personnel, and police officers.

Lately, due to the massive advancements in flashlight technology, tactical military flashlights have become available to everyone at very affordable prices. That being said, there’s a wide range of models available, which makes shopping for the inexperienced user quite difficult. In order to make the right purchase, you first need to familiarise yourself with the features that matter most in military tactical flashlights.

First and foremost, a quality military tactical flashlight should be made of tough materials which can withstand a lot of abuse, like for instance anodised aluminium or other high-grade metal and stainless steel for the smaller components. These materials are capable of withstanding a ton of abuse, and they’re moisture, scratch and corrosion resistant. Additionally, they typically include O-ring seals which protect them against long exposure to water.

Next, tactical military flashlights produce a lot of illumination. Generally, tactical flashlights use LED bulbs, as they’re the most advanced bulb type that is extremely energy efficient and durable. Furthermore, the flashlight should have multiple output modes that you can switch between with the press of a button. The ability to illuminate low amounts of light is important when you’re trying to remain unnoticed. Generally, the switch is placed somewhere convenient like the tail, so that you can easily press it when holding it together with a pistol.

Lastly, tactical flashlights can be fitted with extra accessories, like weapon mounts, which allow you to attach them to any type of weapon. This transforms the tactical flashlight from a handheld tool to a weapon-mounted light, which can be extremely beneficial as it adds versatility for hunters and tactical users who need a free hand. That being said, tactical flashlights are capable of handling recoil and shock that’s a result of the weapon firing. Usually, this is done with dual-contact springs and specifically designed circuitry that’s extremely secure. All of these small things eventually add up and differentiate tactical flashlights from conventional ones.

A Simple Guide to Picking the Best Head Torch for Your Outdoor Adventures

The dark, gloomy weather is not a reasonable excuse to hibernate all winter long. In fact, you can still go out for hikes and cold weather camping trips which do have their own advantages, not to mention how they’re scientifically proven to improve quality of sleep. Ready to try out some winter outdoor adventures? If so, all you need is to come to terms with the cold and get a quality head torch that’s bright enough to light your way. Here are some great tips to help you choose one.

What’s Your Budget?

There’s a torch out there for everyone, but it all depends on how much you’re willing to spend. A sturdy waterproof head torch made of high-grade materials might be a bit more expensive than a standard, plastic one. But for the quality and functionality you’re getting, it’s definitely worth the investment. Because when you’re exposed to unpredictable weather, a quality head torch might be your lifesaver. Just imagine getting lost in the mountains with heavy rain or snowfall – a waterproof torch is guaranteed to remain functional and help you navigate to safety. But if you need a torch for a single night-time hike, then a reasonably cheap and simple model might do the job just fine.

How Much Brightness Do You Need?

The light output of head torches is measured in lumens, ranging from 50 to as much as 1000 lumens of blinding light. Now, in order to deduce how much brightness you need, you need to consider the activities you’re planning to engage in and the location you’re staying on. For instance, if you’re hiking or camping in pitch darkness and far from the city, a torch with 300 lumens and up can provide adequate illumination. For activities that need exceptional illumination, such as mountain biking, you should consider a torch with more than 700 lumens output.

The Type of Bulb

Head torches can use either LED, krypton, halogen, or some sort of a hybrid bulb. Today, halogen and krypton bulbs are considered outdated, and are found in older models of torches. Modern, quality torches come with LED lights which are the longest lasting of all types, providing an average of 50 000 hours of light. Although they might be more expensive initially, they are considered more cost-efficient in the long run as you won’t have to replace them that often.

Other Useful Features

If you plan on using your torch very often and for longer periods of time, then it’s definitely worth investing in something that can improve your experience. Like for instance, go for a waterproof head torch, as it can prove to be your best friend if you need to quickly set up (or take down) a tent and it’s pitch dark and raining. Many head torches also offer a red-light mode which is great if you’re camping with friends as this mode is much softer on the eyes opposed to white light. The option to adjust the head torch is another great feature as it can allow you to position the light precisely where you need it without having to turn your head.

A Simple Guide to Understanding the Differences Between RC Trucks and RC Cars

Most people often use the term RC cars as a way to refer both to RC cars and RC trucks. However, these two are nothing alike. Their most obvious difference is their design. RC cars are designed to be driven on a road and that is why they are built to be positioned close to the ground as that way they can reach high speeds and remain stable on flat and smooth surfaces such as pavements. RC trucks, on the other hand, are designed to be driven off road and have a lot of clearance in order to be able to overcome obstacles. In order to get a better understanding what stands behind this division, we’d have to go through some of the more crucial components of both types of vehicles.

Suspension

RC cars usually have a suspension that has very little travel. The wheels don’t move up and down that much as RC cars are designed to be used on smooth surfaces and are not made to handle large bumps or obstacles. In addition, RC cars have a stiff suspension springs that limit wheel travel. In contrast, RC trucks typically have very large suspension travel, larger shocks, and have shock springs that are very soft and allow for better shock absorption when going off road. Read More →

Simple Guide to Buying Control Cables

One of the most essential objects in our everyday lives are the cables. They are extremely helpful, yet we often times find them annoying. Luckily for us, the advancements in wireless technology make us see less and less cables around our homes as time goes by. However, this doesn’t mean that cables are going to go completely out of use any time soon. For instance, in the automotive industry, cables are still one of the key components. Read More →

A Simple Guide To LED Headlamps

Finding your way in the night without a sustainable source of illumination can be extremely difficult, that’s why every outdoor (hiking, cycling, camping) kit should include a good flashlight that can show you the path in the most darkest of hours. However, there’s something even better than a flashlight, something that will be way more convenient and effective in critical moments while in the outdoors – a headlamp. Whether you’re camping in the woods, hiking on a mountain or doing an off-road ride with your bike, headlamps will always have your back…and your front!

But if you think purchasing a headlamp is nothing complicated, I’m sure you haven’t found yourself in a hardcore situation like climbing a steep mountain in the middle of the night. In such moments, the need for a powerful source of light is definitely one huge point in the direction of staying alive. In the light of the aforementioned, it should go without saying not all headlamps are the same. Some of them look nice and are not meant to be used in such extreme situations, some are way too heavy and uncomfortable while others are so powerful you can use them to see as far as several hundreds of meters in front of you. Read More →

Beginner’s Guide to Servo Motors

Servo motors have been around for quite some time and they’re utilized in countless applications. They vary in size, but regardless of it, they can all pack quite the punch and are extremely energy-efficient. They can be used in industrial applications, in-line manufacturing, food services and pharmaceutics, so they’re ubiquitous even though we don’t always realize they’re the ones doing all the work behind the scenes. Read More →