Comments for The Bits 2.0 http://www.thebits.info Not your everyday tech journal Thu, 26 Aug 2010 11:35:44 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 Comment on Maplin N56FU Digital Multimeter by Clive Harris http://www.thebits.info/general/n56fu-172.htm/comment-page-1#comment-5940 Clive Harris Thu, 26 Aug 2010 11:35:44 +0000 http://www.thebits.info/?p=172#comment-5940 The screen light bug can be avoided if the light is turned off manually (press Hold/Light button for > 2 seconds) before the light times off (10 seconds). Once the light has timed off automatically, a subsequent press of any button is likely to initiate the bug causing a high current (>40mA) draw from the 9V battery. Once started, the high current draw continues until the function switch is moved to OFF; whether or not the lamp is on. When employing the manual light switch off workaround, the meter uses about 10mA when the light is on, and 4mA when the light is off. The screen light bug can be avoided if the light is turned off manually (press Hold/Light button for > 2 seconds) before the light times off (10 seconds). Once the light has timed off automatically, a subsequent press of any button is likely to initiate the bug causing a high current (>40mA) draw from the 9V battery. Once started, the high current draw continues until the function switch is moved to OFF; whether or not the lamp is on. When employing the manual light switch off workaround, the meter uses about 10mA when the light is on, and 4mA when the light is off.

]]> Comment on Maplin N56FU Digital Multimeter by Lord TCT http://www.thebits.info/general/n56fu-172.htm/comment-page-1#comment-5939 Lord TCT Wed, 25 Aug 2010 16:05:40 +0000 http://www.thebits.info/?p=172#comment-5939 Thanks for the tips Clive! It should also be noted that the screen light is very power hungry - draining a carbon-zinc battery in just 5 hours on! I think I'll be replacing the white-ish LEDs with more power friendly yellow LEDs! Thanks for the tips Clive! It should also be noted that the screen light is very power hungry – draining a carbon-zinc battery in just 5 hours on! I think I’ll be replacing the white-ish LEDs with more power friendly yellow LEDs!

]]> Comment on Maplin N56FU Digital Multimeter by Clive Harris http://www.thebits.info/general/n56fu-172.htm/comment-page-1#comment-5936 Clive Harris Mon, 23 Aug 2010 16:41:09 +0000 http://www.thebits.info/?p=172#comment-5936 Thanks for posting your article and the links. They provide fascinating insights to the innards of this remarkable meter. Through use, I've found that the N56FU has a bug which can rapidly discharge the meter's internal 9V battery. When measuring with the meter, if you use the screen light, then wait for the light to time off, then press max/min (twice if max/min not previously pressed), the meter draws more than 40mA from its internal 9V battery. The only way I've found to stop this high current drain is to move the function switch to OFF. Thanks for posting your article and the links. They provide fascinating insights to the innards of this remarkable meter.

Through use, I’ve found that the N56FU has a bug which can rapidly discharge the meter’s internal 9V battery. When measuring with the meter, if you use the screen light, then wait for the light to time off, then press max/min (twice if max/min not previously pressed), the meter draws more than 40mA from its internal 9V battery. The only way I’ve found to stop this high current drain is to move the function switch to OFF.

]]> Comment on Disabling/Tweaking Vista’s Multimedia Class Scheduler by Lord TCT http://www.thebits.info/windows/vista-mcs-56.htm/comment-page-1#comment-5935 Lord TCT Sun, 22 Aug 2010 16:42:26 +0000 http://www.thebits.info/?p=56#comment-5935 Make sure you're using Windows Vista SP1 and above HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Multimedia\SystemProfile Make sure you’re using Windows Vista SP1 and above
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Multimedia\SystemProfile

]]> Comment on ESET offers free online virus scanner + cleaner by Jackson Hill http://www.thebits.info/security/eset-online-scanne-57.htm/comment-page-1#comment-5934 Jackson Hill Sat, 21 Aug 2010 19:15:48 +0000 http://www.thebits.info/?p=57#comment-5934 i am only using free virus scanners like avast and avira but they seem to be great tools though;.~ i am only using free virus scanners like avast and avira but they seem to be great tools though;.~

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