Polarity
My friend Joe and I were working on cobbling together an iPod dock from plans he found on the Internet. As part of this, we had to hook a power supply up to the dock connector. Alas, the one he was going to use didn't have the polarity marked, and he didn't have a voltmeter. A dilemma.

However, he did have a drinking glass, water, and salt. So I filled the glass with salt water and stuck the power supply wires in there. The wire that gave off more bubbles would be the electrode producing hydrogen, and therefore the negative wire.

I was pretty pleased with myself, until we tried it and observed the electrodes giving off roughly equal amounts of bubbles. After an embarrassingly long time, we read the back of the power supply again and saw the text "5V AC."

We went to Radio Shack and got another power supply. And a voltmeter.
(tellum0 is spelled with an 'o', Fri 16 Nov 2007, 22:09, 4 replies)

Pffft.
Top marks for the inspired geekery, though!
( The Resident Loon Not a demographic. Do not measure., Fri 16 Nov 2007, 22:12, closed)

You get a click for the geekiness.
I've got plans for an iPod dock on my website. Never actually made it though- due to fucking up the soldering of the iPod connector.
( idonthaveafunnynickname Drink-Aware? Sure. I'm aware I want another drink., Fri 16 Nov 2007, 23:23, closed)

Yup
click for pure Dilberty-nerditude. Excellent.
(Seance Trumpet has got no beef with a man enjoying a croissant, Sat 17 Nov 2007, 1:20, closed)

Excellent =)
have made similar mistakes =) Love it.

*click*
( Humpty Dumpty was Pushed Is unaware of having any limits., Sat 17 Nov 2007, 11:40, closed)