There is a consensus in the electronics community that a quality power supply is crucial for computer engineering but most variable power supplies plug in to a wall outlet and they are large and very inconvenient to carry while traveling.
Mike Zhao, a systems architect and designer of the VariPower 500A device explains how the device came about. "Many times while traveling, I have had the need to debug my firmware on a circuit board. Unfortunately, I was not carrying a power supply. So in turn, I had to wait until I reached my lab before I could power my circuit board to test the new firmware. This new innovative project, the USB Based Variable Power Supply, will solve this issue effectively, affordably, and reliably."
VariPower-USB-500A is open source hardware, all hardware design files and firmware source code are released under the GPL v2 license.
With 24 pledges on Kickstarter and over $800 potentially raised the first day, this device appears to have caught the eye of their target audience.
Brad Hunter, also an inventor, designed the devices sticker and t-shirt that is a pledge reward. Brad says this about the VariPower USB power supply, "When Mike first asked me my opinion about the concept, I was floored that there was not something in the market already. The premise is simple and the function is needed. There is a whole community of students, hackers and engineers that can benefit from this device. Devices like Arduino and similar project boards will benefit greatly from a stable and easy to use power supply."
The project is on Kickstarter.com and is officially called "USB Based Variable Power Supply for Small Projects." Currently, Kickstarter.com is the only way to get one of the devices. The basic device on Kickstarter requires a $30 pledge. To make a pledge and or get a unit, go to www.kickstarter.com and search "variable power supply".
*) This is list spam, but for something that I genuinely am interested in supporting. Hence, is it really spam?
*) If we had a project on kickstarter or indiegogo, spamming all the hackspace lists in the world would be a viable way of achieving the funding goal - which is a difficult thing to get by word of mouth alone.
What does everyone think? Are you tempted or put off supporting this by this email?
On 20 May 2012, at 07:19, mikexz...@gmail.com wrote:
> There is a consensus in the electronics community that a quality power supply is crucial for computer engineering but most variable power supplies plug in to a wall outlet and they are large and very inconvenient to carry while traveling.
> Mike Zhao, a systems architect and designer of the VariPower 500A device explains how the device came about. "Many times while traveling, I have had the need to debug my firmware on a circuit board. Unfortunately, I was not carrying a power supply. So in turn, I had to wait until I reached my lab before I could power my circuit board to test the new firmware. This new innovative project, the USB Based Variable Power Supply, will solve this issue effectively, affordably, and reliably."
> VariPower-USB-500A is open source hardware, all hardware design files and firmware source code are released under the GPL v2 license.
> With 24 pledges on Kickstarter and over $800 potentially raised the first day, this device appears to have caught the eye of their target audience.
> Brad Hunter, also an inventor, designed the devices sticker and t-shirt that is a pledge reward. Brad says this about the VariPower USB power supply, "When Mike first asked me my opinion about the concept, I was floored that there was not something in the market already. The premise is simple and the function is needed. There is a whole community of students, hackers and engineers that can benefit from this device. Devices like Arduino and similar project boards will benefit greatly from a stable and easy to use power supply."
> The project is on Kickstarter.com and is officially called "USB Based Variable Power Supply for Small Projects." Currently, Kickstarter.com is the only way to get one of the devices. The basic device on Kickstarter requires a $30 pledge. To make a pledge and or get a unit, go to www.kickstarter.com and search "variable power supply".
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It wouldn't have been difficult for the guy to write it in a way that
doesn't make it sound so much like spam.
I think if he just went, "Hi, I've made this cool thing that's on
Kickstarter, thought you might be interested, here's some info: ..." it
wouldn't put people off at all.
Em
On 20 May 2012 12:25, Mike Pountney <mike.pount...@gmail.com> wrote:
> *) This is list spam, but for something that I genuinely am interested in
> supporting. Hence, is it really spam?
> *) If we had a project on kickstarter or indiegogo, spamming all the
> hackspace lists in the world would be a viable way of achieving the funding
> goal - which is a difficult thing to get by word of mouth alone.
> What does everyone think? Are you tempted or put off supporting this by
> this email?
> On 20 May 2012, at 07:19, mikexz...@gmail.com wrote:
> There is a consensus in the electronics community that a quality power
> supply is crucial for computer engineering but most variable power supplies
> plug in to a wall outlet and they are large and very inconvenient to carry
> while traveling.
> Mike Zhao, a systems architect and designer of the VariPower 500A device
> explains how the device came about. "Many times while traveling, I have had
> the need to debug my firmware on a circuit board. Unfortunately, I was not
> carrying a power supply. So in turn, I had to wait until I reached my lab
> before I could power my circuit board to test the new firmware. This new
> innovative project, the USB Based Variable Power Supply, will solve this
> issue effectively, affordably, and reliably."
> VariPower-USB-500A is open source hardware, all hardware design files and
> firmware source code are released under the GPL v2 license.
> With 24 pledges on Kickstarter and over $800 potentially raised the first
> day, this device appears to have caught the eye of their target audience.
> Brad Hunter, also an inventor, designed the devices sticker and t-shirt
> that is a pledge reward. Brad says this about the VariPower USB power
> supply, "When Mike first asked me my opinion about the concept, I was
> floored that there was not something in the market already. The premise is
> simple and the function is needed. There is a whole community of students,
> hackers and engineers that can benefit from this device. Devices like
> Arduino and similar project boards will benefit greatly from a stable and
> easy to use power supply."
> The project is on Kickstarter.com and is officially called "USB Based
> Variable Power Supply for Small Projects." Currently, Kickstarter.com is
> the only way to get one of the devices. The basic device on Kickstarter
> requires a $30 pledge. To make a pledge and or get a unit, go to
> www.kickstarter.com and search "variable power supply".
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Personally, if this had ended up in the moderation queue I'd probably have marked it as spam (I wouldn't have read the whole thing either, the first paragraph is spammy enough)
On 20 May 2012, at 13:02, "Emma O'Sullivan" <e...@ejosullivan.com> wrote:
> It wouldn't have been difficult for the guy to write it in a way that doesn't make it sound so much like spam.
> I think if he just went, "Hi, I've made this cool thing that's on Kickstarter, thought you might be interested, here's some info: ..." it wouldn't put people off at all.
> Em
> On 20 May 2012 12:25, Mike Pountney <mike.pount...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Interesting, for two reasons:
> *) This is list spam, but for something that I genuinely am interested in supporting. Hence, is it really spam?
> *) If we had a project on kickstarter or indiegogo, spamming all the hackspace lists in the world would be a viable way of achieving the funding goal - which is a difficult thing to get by word of mouth alone.
> What does everyone think? Are you tempted or put off supporting this by this email?
> On 20 May 2012, at 07:19, mikexz...@gmail.com wrote:
>> There is a consensus in the electronics community that a quality power supply is crucial for computer engineering but most variable power supplies plug in to a wall outlet and they are large and very inconvenient to carry while traveling.
>> Mike Zhao, a systems architect and designer of the VariPower 500A device explains how the device came about. "Many times while traveling, I have had the need to debug my firmware on a circuit board. Unfortunately, I was not carrying a power supply. So in turn, I had to wait until I reached my lab before I could power my circuit board to test the new firmware. This new innovative project, the USB Based Variable Power Supply, will solve this issue effectively, affordably, and reliably."
>> VariPower-USB-500A is open source hardware, all hardware design files and firmware source code are released under the GPL v2 license.
>> With 24 pledges on Kickstarter and over $800 potentially raised the first day, this device appears to have caught the eye of their target audience.
>> Brad Hunter, also an inventor, designed the devices sticker and t-shirt that is a pledge reward. Brad says this about the VariPower USB power supply, "When Mike first asked me my opinion about the concept, I was floored that there was not something in the market already. The premise is simple and the function is needed. There is a whole community of students, hackers and engineers that can benefit from this device. Devices like Arduino and similar project boards will benefit greatly from a stable and easy to use power supply."
>> The project is on Kickstarter.com and is officially called "USB Based Variable Power Supply for Small Projects." Currently, Kickstarter.com is the only way to get one of the devices. The basic device on Kickstarter requires a $30 pledge. To make a pledge and or get a unit, go to www.kickstarter.com and search "variable power supply".
>> http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/210251816/usb-based-variable-powe... >> Thanks
>> Mike
>> Etonnet LLC
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It's really not very functional. Doesn't even allow USB setting of the
voltage : even though almost all the necessary hardware is there, it
uses a knob. And he wants a $14,000 kickstart ?
On Sun, May 20, 2012 at 6:40 PM, Toby Cole <t...@tubs.org.uk> wrote:
> Personally, if this had ended up in the moderation queue I'd probably have
> marked it as spam (I wouldn't have read the whole thing either, the first
> paragraph is spammy enough)
> On 20 May 2012, at 13:02, "Emma O'Sullivan" <e...@ejosullivan.com> wrote:
> It wouldn't have been difficult for the guy to write it in a way that
> doesn't make it sound so much like spam.
> I think if he just went, "Hi, I've made this cool thing that's on
> Kickstarter, thought you might be interested, here's some info: ..." it
> wouldn't put people off at all.
> Em
> On 20 May 2012 12:25, Mike Pountney <mike.pount...@gmail.com> wrote:
>> Interesting, for two reasons:
>> *) This is list spam, but for something that I genuinely am interested in
>> supporting. Hence, is it really spam?
>> *) If we had a project on kickstarter or indiegogo, spamming all the
>> hackspace lists in the world would be a viable way of achieving the funding
>> goal - which is a difficult thing to get by word of mouth alone.
>> What does everyone think? Are you tempted or put off supporting this by
>> this email?
>> On 20 May 2012, at 07:19, mikexz...@gmail.com wrote:
>> There is a consensus in the electronics community that a quality power
>> supply is crucial for computer engineering but most variable power supplies
>> plug in to a wall outlet and they are large and very inconvenient to carry
>> while traveling.
>> Mike Zhao, a systems architect and designer of the VariPower 500A device
>> explains how the device came about. "Many times while traveling, I have had
>> the need to debug my firmware on a circuit board. Unfortunately, I was not
>> carrying a power supply. So in turn, I had to wait until I reached my lab
>> before I could power my circuit board to test the new firmware. This new
>> innovative project, the USB Based Variable Power Supply, will solve this
>> issue effectively, affordably, and reliably."
>> VariPower-USB-500A is open source hardware, all hardware design files and
>> firmware source code are released under the GPL v2 license.
>> With 24 pledges on Kickstarter and over $800 potentially raised the first
>> day, this device appears to have caught the eye of their target audience.
>> Brad Hunter, also an inventor, designed the devices sticker and t-shirt
>> that is a pledge reward. Brad says this about the VariPower USB power
>> supply, "When Mike first asked me my opinion about the concept, I was
>> floored that there was not something in the market already. The premise is
>> simple and the function is needed. There is a whole community of students,
>> hackers and engineers that can benefit from this device. Devices like
>> Arduino and similar project boards will benefit greatly from a stable and
>> easy to use power supply."
>> The project is on Kickstarter.com and is officially called "USB Based
>> Variable Power Supply for Small Projects." Currently, Kickstarter.com is the
>> only way to get one of the devices. The basic device on Kickstarter requires
>> a $30 pledge. To make a pledge and or get a unit, go to www.kickstarter.com >> and search "variable power supply".
>> --
>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups
>> "BuildBrighton - the Brighton Hacker Space" group.
>> To view this discussion on the web visit
>> https://groups.google.com/d/msg/brightonhackerspace/-/m69AM81kgKwJ.
>> To post to this group, send email to brightonhackerspace@googlegroups.com.
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>> brightonhackerspace+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
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It's spammy. But acheives it's goal insomuch as I went to the website to find out more about it.
But then I thought about a PP3 and a voltage divider which would probably suffice for the duration of any travelling I was doing until I could get to a power socket in a wall. I don't understand the whole charging li-ion batteries with a variable supply - if you're using a charging IC, just give it 5v and it takes care of the charging curve for you. If you're not, then you deserve to have hot batteries in your pocket anyway! Also, this supply probably uses more power for its own 3x7-segment display than I'd get use out of - if you're using a rotary pot, why not just draw a dial on it and do away with the LEDs?
I wasn't put off by the initial email - it sounded quite interesting (so is it spam or not, I'm still not sure!) What put me off was reading more about the product - I just don't get it.
On Sunday, May 20, 2012 6:40:50 PM UTC+1, Toby Cole wrote:
> Personally, if this had ended up in the moderation queue I'd probably have > marked it as spam (I wouldn't have read the whole thing either, the first > paragraph is spammy enough)
