On why we should use what we make

Many times it happens to me that when using a tool I wonder if the creator/designer used it himself. Because I know from my own projects that it’s possible to have a vision of how to build, design and make something and then use it once or twice.

Sometimes after the first use and sometimes only after you start using it often, you notice problems that you didn’t think of and often prevent you from using it effectively. For example – last week we added to Nettigo’s offering a USB/Serial converter, based on the popular FT232 bu this time with USB C connector. Let’s take a look at the picture of how it comes made by majfriend:

Maybe you can’t see it so clearly, but the problem is that you can’t see :) completely the description of the leads. Apart from the fact that this description is in a very small font, there is also a goldpin and a jumper to select the voltage that is applied to Vcc obscure it completely.

A minor modification is all it takes – soldering out the voltage selector jumper and removing the plastic strip, leaving the pins alone, and soldering the angle goldpin to the other side of the PCB, so that the plastic strip does not obscure the lettering on the silkscreen. The result?

The font size hasn’t changed, it’s still very small and hard to read, but now there’s a chance to read it.

And as we’re talking about desoldering – of course, a solder wick such THT connector can manage to desolder, but I’ll be honest, since I have invested in a THT desoldering machine, every time I use it I’m glad I made up my mind. I recommend equipping the workshop with such a device, for me the work has become much more convenient.

And final conlusion: I am not complaining here specifically about this product. I have experienced this myself many times. When I started using something I made myself I was surprised by ways my design is not user friendly. Use what you design yourself, you may discover shortcomings in places that you totally didn’t expect. Just eat Your own dog food…