I built a stylish energy-efficient desk lamp, entirely from scratch. I have always enjoyed Art Deco and Machine Age industrial styling, and was inspired to use it for the lamp when my son and I were watching Batman, the Animated Series. A desk lamp worthy of Wayne Manor was in order.

One of my contributions to Project Gutenberg was proofreeading and formatting of the Radio Amateur's Handbook by Frederick Collins, 1922. You can read the entire book here, including all illustrations.

Older books like this are great for learning from. Since everything about radio was new to everyone, the book does not assume that you have a lot of knowledge to start with, and explains everything starting with the basics.

I have an old laser printer which does not have a decent standby power-saving mode.  I built a computer-controlled power switch for it, so the computer turns on the printer when there is a print job, then turns it off again later.

When working with electricity, it is important to ensure you have electrical wires large enough to carry the load. The diameter of the wire is referred to as the wire gauge. A smaller number is a larger wire.

If your wires are too small for the current, they can overheat and start a fire. Of course, for any questions, consult a licensed electrician.

Wire size requirements are based on amperage, not voltage. There are tables available to tell you what wire gauge you need for a given amperage.

I acquired an older Connect-Tek KVM (PC keyboard/video/mouse) switch. I got it for free because it was missing the power supply. I decided to make one.