How-To Guides about Hacks Mods & Circuitry

The Nintendo Switch is a fantastic portable gaming console, but sometimes you want a bigger screen without being tethered to your TV. What if I told you that your iPad could serve as that perfect middle-ground display? With a simple USB-C setup and the right capture adapter, you can transform your tablet into a portable gaming monitor that's larger than the Switch's built-in screen but more flexible than your living room setup.

Three problems kill most old-PC reuse attempts: leftover data on a machine that wasn't properly sanitized, a project that outstrips what the hardware can actually run, and a failure mode nobody mentioned until the build collapsed three weeks in. This guide addresses all three in that order. By the end, you'll know how to wipe the machine responsibly, match it to a realistic project based on specs and duty cycle, and avoid the gotchas that end these builds early.

The world of retro computing has always fascinated tech enthusiasts, but what happens when you take that nostalgia and squeeze it into something impossibly small? DIY makers across communities like Reddit's r/RetroBattlestations and Hackaday have been pushing the boundaries of miniaturization, with projects transforming everything from mint tins to alarm clock chassis into fully functional classic Mac emulators. This isn't just another novelty build – it's a masterclass in creative engineering...

The humble Raspberry Pi has evolved far beyond its educational roots to become one of the most versatile pieces of hardware in the maker community. What started as a simple computer designed to teach programming has transformed into a powerhouse platform capable of tackling everything from home entertainment to network infrastructure. Whether you're a complete beginner looking to dip your toes into DIY tech projects or a seasoned tinkerer searching for your next weekend challenge, these...

Let's face it – Ryobi makes solid tools, but sometimes you need that one specific accessory that doesn't exist in their catalog. That's where the magic of 3D printing comes in. The DIY community has created some incredibly clever solutions that'll make you wonder why these weren't included from the factory.

When Google shuttered Stadia in early 2023, thousands of controllers faced an uncertain future. While Google provided an official path to wireless freedom, the real innovation has come from the DIY community. The conversion tool that transforms these controllers remains available through the end of 2025, according to Google's official documentation, but developers have reverse-engineered the entire process, creating alternative firmware flashing methods that work independently of Google's...

You've got boxes of old family photos gathering dust in the attic, and every time you dig them out, you worry about fading, water damage, or just losing them forever. The good news? Digitizing those precious memories is more accessible than ever, and you don't need to be a tech wizard or break the bank to do it right.

Breathing new life into aging smart displays isn't just a fun weekend project—it's a statement about device ownership and the untapped potential hiding in our tech drawers. The Amazon Echo Show, once a promising smart home hub, has become a poster child for the limitations of locked-down ecosystems. But what if you could transform that underutilized display into a fully functional Android tablet?

This video will show you what you'll need to know to hack a digital electric meter. You'll need 2 magnets, one much bigger than the other, an AC adaptor that you'll cut into pieces, or some speaker wire, distilled water, electrical tape, a knife, some plastic wrap, and a plastic cup. Remember, this is illegal, and shown only for educational purposes.

Damn right, you don't just eat 'em.

Tinkernut presents the Bluetooth headset hack! This video shows one of the vulnerabilities of some bluetooth headsets. To prevent this vulnerability, it's best to invest a little more money into a more secure headset and making sure your headset is turned off when not in use. You can find all of the links and scripts used in this video, as well as find answers to questions you may have at the link below:

The pressure underwater is undeniably strong. If you were to fill a balloon with water and take it underwater, it would not burst but would stay the same size because liquids are not compressed. The pressure is the same, inside and outside of the balloon. If you were to fill that same balloon with air instead, the lower it dives into water, the more it shrinks, until it eventually can't take the pressure anymore and bursts.

This video tutorial demonstrates a simple hack for improving the WiFi reception of a USB adapter. To replicate this hack yourself, you'll need the following materials: (1) a WiFi USB adapter, (2) a USB extension cable, (3) a metal strainer, and (4) a pair of scissors. For detailed, step-by-step instructions on improving your WiFi adapter's signal levels, watch this how-to video.

Have any Star Wars fanatics in your family? Well, here's a great Christmas gift idea for those Star Wars fans who think they have everything... a freaking LEVITATING DEATH STAR!

Learn how to make a battery using potatoes! Fun for the whole family!

Make batteries out of nothing but pennies, washers and a little vinegar soaked cardboard.

Being one of the most popular DIY/maker projects around, Musical Floppy Drives are nothing new. However, myFloppyDriveOrchestra includes a few unique features, which separate it from the crowd.

How to get a vending machine to pay you for its goodies, instead of you paying for them. First off, find a older vending machine, and insert your dollar bill as you normally would. Once you have entered it, you can select which ever item you want. Then quickly, before the item dispenses, hold up on the gate to prevent the item from falling. When it falls, it should rest on the back of the gate you're holding up—don't let go yet. After a long wait, the vending machine will think nothing...

Have any old school floppy drives lying around? Get hacking... and transform them into an electronic orchestra!

Nowadays, protecting your valuables can be challenging especially when you're on the go. That's why I decided to make a little secret compartment inside my car. Only you'll know it's there because nobody will be able to find it. Not only that, but you'll have easy access to it. It's fairly cheap and the total cost was under $5.00. Let me show you how to make it. You can watch the video or scroll down below for the written guide.

Today we show you how to make a very cool clothespin gun. Making this gun is So Easy a Guy Could Do It!

Two years ago, driven by a good friend of mine i decided to give it a try on timelapse photography. I had a DSLR camera but didn't had an intervalometer, so i assembled a small electronic circuit on top of an Arduino Uno, made some basic code and did my first timelapse movie. The result was awful, but for some reason I was hooked.

Check out this instructional video and learn how to hack a simple flashlight and transform it into a night vision flashlight! The items you'll need for the project cost less than ten dollars and you get a perfect night vision view. Watch this how-to video and learn how to build a night vision flashlight on the cheap.

Hand made air conditioner made of a foam lunch box, 5 volt DC fan, 4 AAA rechargeable batteries, and some ice. This homemade AC can run on batteries and you can plug directly into any USB port.

This is for anybody using a computer that would like to change the sound of there voice to talk to people if you have any problems feel free to comment on the youtube video ! thanks!

Clothespins are pretty innocent-looking, but with a mod here and a hack there, that innocence quickly turns into danger. Well, sort of. In this project, we'll be turning an ordinary spring-action clothespin into powerful matchstick and toothpick shooter that can shoot apples and lob fiery darts over 20 feet.

This is for those people that want to create a fire in a camping situation, survival situation, flare type alert to other that you are lost, or simply for entertainment.

No matter your reason, if you want to hide what's on your computer screen from prying eyes, there are plenty of ways to do it. You can get a privacy filter, install a panic button for your browser, or just develop super fast reflexes. But all it takes is the right angle or a too-slow reaction to blow your cover.

Headphone cords are one of those things we all deal with because it beats the alternative (no music). But they can be so obnoxious—they're always getting caught on things, and they seem to be perpetually tangled. If you have ear buds, you can make a simple a cord container to keep them organized, but over-ear headphones are a little more tricky.

So, I wondered whether there was a possibility to integrate Facebook even further into my life! (I still wonder why I wanted that actually...) Here's the way to do it!

You may already know that you can build a functional circuit on a sheet of paper with the graphite from a pencil, but you'd probably never think of using it to fix an electronic device. This same principle can be used to bring back a bricked phone, but can also repair a damaged or corroded trace in a printed circuit board.

For this project, you will need a magnet, two AA batteries, two keys, a metal plate, and a copper wire coil.

When you forget you charger,you can use this dynamo charger to charge the phone with your hand. I convert the dynamo LED flashlight into charger just adding bridge rectifier, capacitor and USB female plug.

Led infinity mirror that I make with some materials like mirror from old hard drive,leds,plastic mirror sheet and battery holder.

It's hot this summer, but it's not that easy to cool down when you're on the go. You can't take an air conditioner with you, and a handheld fan will just tire you out, so you'll need to find more creative ways to cool down when you're on the go. One of these ways is a DIY solar-powered fan baseball cap.

In this video clip series our expert, Kyle Saylors, will walk you through all the aspects, parts and options for LED lights and how to use them. He will offer tips on how to work around damaged lights and how to fix them as well as how to set up preset patterns for a light show and all the benefits and downsides to LED lighting.