Henri Keinonen

ESP8266 modules also expose json data that will be integrated to the Home Assistant for data logging. Some sensors are still disconnected, hence the errors. Most difficult part was parsing the uart debug output from Thermomatic ERA valve controller. Space separated data sucks.

I built and programmed sensor data interface for the central heating system. Two boxes with ESP8266 modules and custom PCB:s that are connected to dallas 1Wire temperature sensors, BMP280 temp.&barometers, DHT11 humidity sensors and also uart interface with 4-way valve controller

Volvo was making a horrible screeching noise. I thought the brake show was stuck and dragging, but all it was was a tiny stone lodged between the brake rotor and shield. Actually kind of stupid reason for car to make noises.

How (not) to DIY clean your boilers hot water spiral tube thingy. 15 liters of citric acid and water and a drill pump to circulate it. Learned quickly that garden hose will collapse on suction when at 80°C. But hot showers finally (I hope so)

New custom control panel for my arcade machine finally arrived!

Compatible systems🤔

@Foone I did some poking around with USB_FDD@1306 floppy drive adapter and drew schematics. R3 jumper resistor changes the drive ID to MITSUMI USB UFDD 061M.

This is mobile CPU, 100MHz Pentium 1. As you see, somehow the battery acid had gone under the CPU heatsink, and corroded thin gold wires that connect the die to he PCB. I don't think I can repair this one :(

I bought old Toshiba Satellite 200CDS. Nice laptop with up to 32MB memory, Pentium 1 processor and SB16 compatible soundcard with real OPL3! Only problem is that both internal Ni-Mh backup batteries had started to leak...

3D printed HP 200LX serial connector shells. I tried to print flexible strain reliefs, but that did not work, I think layer times were too short for filament to cool off.

Baby Face (Universal)

And yes, it can do serial mouse, which is wacky how large the Logitech mouse is compared to the palmtop :D

My tiny 200Lx palmtop doing some real work. Programming/diagnosing coin mech for arcade machine.

Second version of the serial port connector. This turned out tidier. I only connected RTS/CTR flow control lines, other control lines are just loop backed.

I built a crude but working serial port adapter for the HP 200LX. Had 2mm pitch 2x5 connectors lying around. The connector shell is actually from SATA cable. Had to sand it a bit narrower, and also modify inside to get the header to sit perfectly. Not paying 60€ for original one

@peabnuts123 These go now for exorbitant money. Exactly same numbers that were on the ads in the late 90s. Same goes to lot of other retro devics too.

@KetturiFox Bizarre, one of these just came up in my saved searches today (although they want $400 bucks for it…)

I finally found one! HP 200LX palmtop computer. XT-Class machine with MS-DOS 5.0, that fits into pocket and runs on 2 AA batteries. Was also dirt cheap too, but LCD turns just black when powered on. Hopefully easily fixable.

HP 200LX display fixed! It was just the gunk between flat flex and display contacts, that prevented it from working.

This concerns me a bit though, there is little dent and scratch on the flex, where case has been rubbing against. Hopefully traces are okay, and I can just cover it with tape.

I think I found problem. LCD contacts had glue gunk, that had leaked from the rubber foam pad holding contacts together.