Kmart lied to me, so I hacked their lamp [video]

Post by mystified5016 » Tue, Apr 15, 2025, 1:29 PM UTC

stavros wrote: post #13

consp wrote: post #2

https://www.thestockpot.net/videos/whykmart for those who do not want to watch a video like me. Isn't the use of USB-C promotion without at minimum basic USB compatability disallowed? I have a few devices which have a USB-A to barrel plug, but they do not advertise anything and afaik that is perfectly fine. And they also only work with a normal USB charger, not the fancy ones.

> The ESP32 has its own charging circuit. What? _reads on_ Turns out, he uses a specific ESP32 breakout board (AFAIK a Lolin one) that includes a charging circuit for a 1S battery. It's a really nice board, but to say that ESP32 includes a charging circuit is wrong, for anyone else curious.

Post by mystified5016 » Tue, Apr 15, 2025, 1:32 PM UTC

zerof1l wrote: post #16

I also have such a lamp. Supposedly it's USB-C connection, but it only works when connecting with USB-A to USB-C cable. My guess is it's due to the requirement to comply with EU law about USB-C. But proper USB-C requires active circuitry but manufacturers don't add it to save a few cents.

Post by alnwlsn » Tue, Apr 15, 2025, 1:37 PM UTC

minus7 wrote: post #26

danbruc wrote: post #25

I am really missing an explaination of how the cable and PCB were non-standard and if that would have been fixable. This feels more like building a new lamp for an existing housing than hacking the existing one.

There's a pinned comment on the video about the cable: For everyone that's interested, the included USB cable is wired like this: GND -------> GND D+ -------> VCC D- -------> VCC VCC -------> VCC So it is a non-standard cable! I measured by checking continuity between the USB A plug, and the USB C connector with a USB A adapter on it. None of my probes are small enough for a USB C connector's pins directly. There was…

Post by throwway120385 » Tue, Apr 15, 2025, 1:58 PM UTC

cassepipe wrote: post #36

consp wrote: post #2

https://www.thestockpot.net/videos/whykmart for those who do not want to watch a video like me. Isn't the use of USB-C promotion without at minimum basic USB compatability disallowed? I have a few devices which have a USB-A to barrel plug, but they do not advertise anything and afaik that is perfectly fine. And they also only work with a normal USB charger, not the fancy ones.

Anyone how does the conic pyramid drill he is using in this image is called and what's its use ? (drilling probably but why the shape ?): https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67b67e84acd181...

Post by AStonesThrow » Tue, Apr 15, 2025, 2:01 PM UTC

hk1337 wrote: post #12

I’m rather surprised anyone would want a battery operated lamp at their bedside anyways, unless it was a backup battery for when the power goes out. There’s no battery indicator to know when it is low so you would just have to guess or pay attention when it looks like it needs to be charged. Most people would probably just plug it in and leave it plugged in all the time.