# Ep 323: Impossible CRT Surgery, Fuel Cells, Stream Gages, and a Love Letter to Microcontrollers

- Show: [Hackaday Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast)
- Published: 2025-05-30
- Length: 58m
- Episode: 323
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2025-05-30-ep-323-impossible-crt-surgery-fuel-cells-stream-gages-and-a-love-letter-to-micro
- Listen: https://hackaday.com/2025/05/30/hackaday-podcast-episode-323-impossible-crt-surgery-fuel-cells-stream-gages-and-a-love-letter-to-microcontrollers/

## Summary

Hosts Elliot Williams and Dan Maloney review a wide array of hardware hacks, including V Hunter Adams' lecture on embedded systems at Cornell, Color Vac's internal CRT surgery, and Arrow's backyard observatory. They also discuss Stamp modular breakout boards for SMD prototyping, Grumman's electromagnetic forming process, and Al Williams' history of fuel cells. The episode covers practical projects like a Commodore 64 HDMI upgrade, a Flipper Zero POV display, and real-time stream gauges.

## Chapters

- [0:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2025-05-30-ep-323-impossible-crt-surgery-fuel-cells-stream-gages-and-a-love-letter-to-micro#t=1) Introduction: Washington Right to Repair and NASA ISS Website Shutdown
- [4:31](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2025-05-30-ep-323-impossible-crt-surgery-fuel-cells-stream-gages-and-a-love-letter-to-micro#t=271) Pet Hacks Contest and What's That Sound Game
- [5:52](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2025-05-30-ep-323-impossible-crt-surgery-fuel-cells-stream-gages-and-a-love-letter-to-micro#t=352) V Hunter Adams: Love Letter to Embedded Systems at Cornell
- [15:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2025-05-30-ep-323-impossible-crt-surgery-fuel-cells-stream-gages-and-a-love-letter-to-micro#t=900) Color Vac: Internal CRT Surgery and Repair
- [20:12](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2025-05-30-ep-323-impossible-crt-surgery-fuel-cells-stream-gages-and-a-love-letter-to-micro#t=1212) The Luminophone and Arrow's Backyard Observatory
- [27:54](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2025-05-30-ep-323-impossible-crt-surgery-fuel-cells-stream-gages-and-a-love-letter-to-micro#t=1674) Stamp Modular Breakout Boards for SMD Prototyping
- [35:17](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2025-05-30-ep-323-impossible-crt-surgery-fuel-cells-stream-gages-and-a-love-letter-to-micro#t=2117) Grumman Electromagnetic Forming and PC Heated Seat
- [42:57](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2025-05-30-ep-323-impossible-crt-surgery-fuel-cells-stream-gages-and-a-love-letter-to-micro#t=2577) Flipper Zero POV, Commodore 64 HDMI, and Stream Gauges
- [53:17](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2025-05-30-ep-323-impossible-crt-surgery-fuel-cells-stream-gages-and-a-love-letter-to-micro#t=3197) Al Williams: A Brief History of Fuel Cells

## Topics

- [Embedded firmware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/embedded-firmware)
- [Mechanical engineering](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/mechanical-engineering)
- [PCB design & layout](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pcb-design)
- [Energy & climate tech](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/energy-and-climate-tech)
- [Sensors & measurement in products](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sensors)
- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)

## Most relevant to

makers and hobbyists

## Mentioned

- Cornell (company)
- V Hunter Adams (other)
- Bruce Land (other)
- Color Vac (company)
- CRT (product)
- Arrow (other)
- Kalesh Sites Haran (other)
- Stamp (product)
- Grumman Corporation (company)
- F-14 (product)
- Flipper Zero (product)
- Commodore 64 (product)
- US Geological Survey (company)
- Al Williams (other)
- Fuel Cells (product)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [It Works With Option Number 5](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2025-06-19-it-works-with-option-number-5) (The Amp Hour)
- [#440.2 - Interviews with Greg Davill and Michael Ossmann](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-05-01-440-2-interviews-with-greg-davill-and-michael-ossmann) (The Amp Hour)
- [498: To Consume Stickers](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2025-04-04-498-to-consume-stickers) (Embedded.fm)
- [004 - 0x0FF the Rails](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/unnamed-reverse-engineering-podcast/2017-10-13-004-0x0ff-the-rails) (Unnamed Reverse Engineering Podcast)
- [449: Soldering the Ukulele](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2023-05-11-449-soldering-the-ukulele) (Embedded.fm)

## Citing this page

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