# Ep 244: Fake Chips, Drinking Radium, and Spotting Slippery Neutrinos

- Show: [Hackaday Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast)
- Published: 2023-11-17
- Length: 45m
- Episode: 244
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2023-11-17-ep-244-fake-chips-drinking-radium-and-spotting-slippery-neutrinos
- Listen: https://hackaday.libsyn.com/ep-244-fake-chips-drinking-radium-and-spotting-slippery-neutrinos

## Summary

Hackaday Editor-in-Chief Elliot Williams and Kristina Panos review the week's hacks, starting with JC Parkin’s digital pen that uses sensor fusion of an IMU and webcam for precise tracking. They discuss Dan Maloney’s analysis of counterfeit LM2596 buck converters, which function but suffer from high ripple and heat, and Adam Blumenberg’s history of Radithor, a radioactive health fad. The hosts also cover the Chamberlain garage door monopoly, Home Assistant’s open-source RatGDO workaround, and Lewin Day’s article on detecting neutrinos using large water tanks and photomultiplier tubes.

## Chapters

- [0:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2023-11-17-ep-244-fake-chips-drinking-radium-and-spotting-slippery-neutrinos#t=3) Introduction: Solar Conjunction and Escape Room Tangents
- [4:30](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2023-11-17-ep-244-fake-chips-drinking-radium-and-spotting-slippery-neutrinos#t=270) JC Parkin's Digital Pen with IMU and Webcam Sensor Fusion
- [10:24](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2023-11-17-ep-244-fake-chips-drinking-radium-and-spotting-slippery-neutrinos#t=624) Great Stalactite Pipe Organ and Cave Trivia
- [13:02](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2023-11-17-ep-244-fake-chips-drinking-radium-and-spotting-slippery-neutrinos#t=782) Counterfeit LM2596 Buck Converters and Ripple Analysis
- [17:10](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2023-11-17-ep-244-fake-chips-drinking-radium-and-spotting-slippery-neutrinos#t=1030) Radithor: The History of Radioactive Water as Medicine
- [20:32](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2023-11-17-ep-244-fake-chips-drinking-radium-and-spotting-slippery-neutrinos#t=1232) Chamberlain Garage Door Monopoly and RatGDO Workaround
- [25:13](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2023-11-17-ep-244-fake-chips-drinking-radium-and-spotting-slippery-neutrinos#t=1513) Quick Hacks: Stamp Rollers, Reflow Plates, and 3D Printed Threads
- [33:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2023-11-17-ep-244-fake-chips-drinking-radium-and-spotting-slippery-neutrinos#t=1981) Detecting Neutrinos with Water Tanks and Photomultiplier Tubes
- [39:24](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2023-11-17-ep-244-fake-chips-drinking-radium-and-spotting-slippery-neutrinos#t=2364) JawnCon 0 and Ferris Wardrive at Hacker Conventions

## Topics

- [PCB design & layout](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pcb-design)
- [Embedded firmware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/embedded-firmware)
- [Sensors & measurement in products](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sensors)
- [Policy, trade & tariffs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/policy-trade-and-tariffs)
- [Chips, FPGAs & semiconductors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/chips-and-fpgas)
- [Maker community & events](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/maker-community)

## Most relevant to

makers and hobbyists

## Mentioned

- JC Parkin (other)
- LM2596 (chip)
- Radithor (product)
- Chamberlain (company)
- Home Assistant (other)
- RatGDO (product)
- ESP8266 (chip)
- Becky Stern (other)
- Michael Ben (other)
- Adam Herrick (other)
- Sebastian (other)
- Lewin Day (other)
- DUNE (product)
- Fermi Lab (company)
- Tom (other)
- JawnCon (other)
- Supercon (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Pneumatic Tubes, Straight To The Home](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2024-01-22-pneumatic-tubes-straight-to-the-home) (The Amp Hour)
- [The Automation Amish](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2017-07-10-the-automation-amish) (The Amp Hour)
- [Photon Rich, Cash Poor](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2016-10-14-photon-rich-cash-poor) (The Amp Hour)
- [73: That's a Waste of Bits](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-10-22-73-thats-a-waste-of-bits) (Embedded.fm)
- [Chaffered Chocolate Coemption](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2012-04-09-chaffered-chocolate-coemption) (The Amp Hour)

## Citing this page

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