On this page: LED Driver List | O-rings & Tailcaps | Inventions & Fabrications | Solar Power | Swimming Pool Maintenance | Research

LED Driver List

• A fully searchable list of commonly available LED drivers. Maintained in a database with more than 1,360 entries, and several have multiple configurations or versions.

  The parameters for LED driver searches are passed in the URL so it's easy to bookmark the results of a particular search (although getting Google not to hit it up for gigabytes of downloads each month was a mission). If bookmarking a URL you can just use the parameters you want and delete the ones you don't.

• 14 November 2019 – all Lights Castle drivers removed; the site is now a scam site.

• December 2022 – Fasttech has closed. The drivers are still included for reference.

O-ring, Tailcap, Cable Grommet & Silicone Grease List

• A searchable list of commonly available silicone o-rings, tailcaps, cable grommets and grease. More than 370 items listed.

• 14 November 2019 – all Lights Castle o-rings removed; the site is now a scam site.

Inventions & Fabrications

Super Soaker Reservoir Expansion. How do I make the water in my Super Soaker CPS 1000 or CPS 2500 last longer? 12 February 2000.
Air Cannon/Water Gun. How do I make the Mother of All Water Guns? 28 May 2000.
LED Torch (LED Flashlight). How do I make something useful from a pathetic little torch? 5 October 2004, last updated 13 May 2009. (FYI - a torch is what Americans call a flashlight. But those Yanks are crazy anyway. If they say "I've got gas in my pickup" or "I'm fully gassed up" they're not talking about gastrointestinal rumblings. I've added a bit of history on the term "flashlight" to the page.)
Car interior lighting. Every so often I get sufficiently annoyed with the feeble lighting inside my car that I do something about improving it. 18 December 2007, last updated 8 November 2010.
Caving headlamp. Lots of notes I made designing a cave-worthy headlamp. 24 January 2010 to 15 May 2012.

Solar Power and Camping

• Solar panel types. At time of writing there are just three main types of solar panels that produce enough electricity and are widely enough available to be worth considering.

• Battery types. Quite a few types, but it boils down to just two that are worth considering, and one of those isn't suitable for camping.

• Solar charge controller. Some considerations of what is needed to make a good DIY solar power camping setup.

• Camping fridge types. Three types, each with its own benefits.

• Review: 200 W solar panel. Surprisingly well commoditised, and at a reasonable price.

• Review: 12 V fridge. Also 12 V fridge specs (because the seller sadly doesn't provide accurate info) and 12 V fridge testing.

• Review: Solar battery cell suppliers. Not a huge number of suppliers, and none I can presently recommend.

Swimming Pool Maintenance

• Chlorine Shock Treatment. What it's all about, what to use, etc. This article stemmed from frustration about ridiculous and sometimes stupid advice given by pool professionals (and others) who should know better. Last updated 16 December 2001.

• Non-Chlorine Shock Treatment. By using a non-chlorine product to shock your pool you can save money and time. Last updated 16 December 2001.

• Chlorine Stabilisation. Unfinished, sorry.

Research

Recommended articles are marked with a *.