Headphones use standard-sized but proprietary rechargeable batteries

phillips-aaa-brand-loyalty

Here's something we haven't run across before. We're familiar with proprietary battery shapes (we're looking at you, digital camera manufacturers), or custom recharge connections (look of death directed toward cellphone manufacturers), but using electrical tricks to force AAA brand loyalty is a new one. It seems that's exactly what is happening with [OiD's] wireless headphones which were … [Read more...]

Revive your tired Dremel battery pack

battery-pack-replacement

It turns out there's nothing more than six Nickel Cadmium AA rechargeable batteries inside of that cordless Dremel battery pack. Yep, standard rechargeable AA's that you can buy most anywhere, and now you can revive that aging battery pack by following [Stuuf's] guide. Since you're already at it, a few more bucks will yield a real upgrade by using the superior Nickel Metal Hydride batteries which … [Read more...]

Solar powered WiFi repeater

solar-wifi-repeater

For all those times you need to broadcast your own access point where there's no outlet [Larry] shows us how to make a solar-powered hotspot. He started by slapping a solar panel on the lid of a cigar box and attaching it to five rechargeable AA batteries inside. These power the mainboard from a router which is the perfect size to friction fit in the opening. It has been flashed with a copy of … [Read more...]