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Nomura tin cars

Dave Farquhar Toy trains November 13, 2017February 1, 2022

I like to use Nomura tin cars, and other similar postwar Japanese toys, on my train layout. The cars are simple and have attractive tin lithography on them. I think they fit in well with tin lithographed trains, and my tin downtown that my trains run around and through in circles.

People who like Japanese tin like it a lot. But there’s not a ton of information about it out there, although this all-Japanese layout does have a nice mix of information (in English) and pictures. And he talks about different Japanese trains than I do, though there’s nothing at all wrong with Mito and Mizuno.

Fix bent plug prongs

Dave Farquhar DIY November 10, 2017October 26, 2022

If the prongs on one of your electrical gizmos is bent and you can’t plug it in, there’s hope. Here’s how to fix bent plug prongs.

American Flyer track terminal

Dave Farquhar Toy trains November 9, 2017September 29, 2019

The American Flyer track terminal, part# 690, is easy to install as long as it isn’t too bent up. Here’s how to install it properly, and how to fix it if you’re having trouble connecting it.

Types of computer memory chips

Dave Farquhar Hardware November 8, 2017November 21, 2018

It’s easy to confuse the different types of computer memory, but they aren’t completely interchangeable. Here’s a look at the various different types of computer memory chips.

Baking SSDs: The SSD oven trick

Dave Farquhar data recovery, Hardware November 7, 2017March 12, 2021

This sounds crazy, but sometimes baking SSDs fixes them if they break. This process causes the solder to reflow. So here’s how to do the SSD oven trick.

Do I need gigabit Ethernet?

Dave Farquhar Hardware November 3, 2017March 13, 2021

Ever since I first saw gigabit Ethernet, sometime around 1999 or 2000, I wanted it for my home network. Of course it was crazy expensive then. But today it’s not very expensive, and I want it. But do I need gigabit Ethernet? Do I need a gigabit router? Do you?

It depends on the speed of your Internet connection. If your Internet connection is 100 megabits or lower, a gigabit router or gigabit Ethernet won’t make your Internet faster. On the other hand, if you have a 200 megabit Internet connection and only a 100 megabit router, you’re wasting half your Internet speed. So even though gigabit sounds like overkill for a 200-megabit connection, you need it.

Most popular computer brands

Dave Farquhar Hardware November 2, 2017November 30, 2018

There aren’t a lot of big computer brands left today, unlike the 1990s. Here’s a look at the most popular computer brands of today and what you might need to know about each.

Personally, I don’t worry a lot about brand anymore. Most popular computer brands actually use the same suppliers these days, so there isn’t a lot that differentiates them besides styling. All of them have outsourced their tech support. And all of them run the same computer software, at least if you buy a PC. But let’s run through the most popular computer brands and then I’ll tell you what I look for in a computer beyond brand name.

Why my house didn’t pass inspection

Dave Farquhar Landlording November 1, 2017March 13, 2021

While getting a rental house ready for a new tenant, we had to get it reinspected. It failed, on several minor issues. Most failures are due to minor issues. Here’s why our house didn’t pass inspection, and what we did to fix it.

None of these issues ought to be showstoppers. If you’re not comfortable fixing it yourself, a competent handyman can fix these types of issues, and it probably won’t take more than a couple of hours.

GFCI without ground wire

Dave Farquhar DIY October 31, 2017May 17, 2023

A GFCI outlet without ground wire isn’t ideal, but it’s better than a 2-prong outlet. A GFCI outlet will work without a ground wire and it’s legal. Here’s how to properly wire a GFCI outlet without the ground wire, and label it to meet code. If the outlet shorts out for any reason, it will still trip for safety, even without ground.

A GFCI without ground wire won’t protect electronic equipment from static electricity, so you have to label it as such, but it will protect human life in the event of a short circuit. And, if your goal is to pass an inspection, an electrical tester will cause it to trip. Installing a GFCI is an acceptable alternative to the dangerous and illegal practice of a bootleg ground.

American Flyer bulb cross reference

Dave Farquhar Toy trains October 30, 2017February 23, 2019

A.C. Gilbert didn’t use standard bulb numbers for its products, so locating the correct bulb can be difficult today. Here is a cross reference chart between Gilbert’s American Flyer bulb part numbers and standard manufacturer part numbers.