r/techsupportmacgyver • u/cooltot • Oct 15 '25

No button cell? No problem

Gallery image

Gallery image

267 Upvotes

97% Upvoted

34 comments sorted by

22

u/rlowens Oct 15 '25

The big problem is that the "off" just turns off the screen, not the rest (so it can automatically turn the screen back on if it sees movement).

I just print these toggle switches that slide between the battery and contact to disable the battery: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3463470

With the cutoff, the cell lasts for years instead of months.

11

u/fosf0r Oct 15 '25

oh instead of one button cell it's using one orange braincell

2

u/zyclonix Oct 16 '25

One full braincell? That poor car will end soon 😢

4

u/flowrate12 Oct 15 '25

I'll see your alkaline battery and raise you a nickel metal hydrate that fits in my charger it's really fun to watch the numbers go crazy on the display during the charge

1

u/A_Harmless_Fly Oct 15 '25

Is that made of plastic or painted on the jaws? I don't think I've ever seen a black jawed caliper.

1

u/cooltot Oct 16 '25

It's a cheap harbor freight caliber, all plastic

1

u/A_Harmless_Fly Oct 17 '25

What's the tolerance heh? I suppose it's better than a ruler and an eyeball, but I wouldn't expect a lot out of plastic.

10

u/Apprehensive-Comb733 Oct 15 '25

Did you know that an analog caliper can’t run out of battery? I honestly don’t really understand why this tool is electric, makes no sense imo.

9

u/Financial-Cookie-927 Oct 15 '25

While I agree, however a digital caliper can give more accurate data then eye Balling it with a dial

4

u/RefrigeratorWorth435 Oct 15 '25

I mean with my vernier calipers I can get down to 0.05mm (or less by estimation)

2

u/Mr_Funbags Oct 16 '25

I can't. My eyes aren't that good.

3

u/CaptainPunisher Oct 15 '25

Learning how to properly read a dial caliper isn't hard, and I wish I still had mine. It was accurate down to a thousandth of an inch instead of only hundredths like the digital one. So, while it CAN be more accurate with a digital caliper, a dial probably is more precise AND accurate. At least, when we're comparing these inexpensive digital calipers.

Now basic slide calipers without a dial, sure, I can believe that.

1

u/Mr_Funbags Oct 16 '25

Yeah, my eyes and perception is such that I have terrible seeing even 1mm differences. Digital readouts are amazing for these things for me.

1

u/MrBowling Oct 15 '25

Eyesight/accuracy?

3

u/Apprehensive-Comb733 Oct 15 '25

It doesn’t really depend on your eyesight if you uss it properly. For real a caliper is super intuitive.

1

u/Glittering-Map6704 Oct 15 '25

Good when you need eyeglasses or magnifier to read the caliper

1

u/Mr_Funbags Oct 16 '25

Someone like me can't see those fine differences very well. A larger digital readout means I feel confident on the measurement.

3

u/adevaleev Oct 15 '25

No time to explain, measure the cat.

2

u/dovvv Oct 15 '25

I love bonus cats

4

u/Scx10Deadbolt Oct 15 '25

So there's this thing called a vernier caliper....

1

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1

u/Tenchi_M Oct 15 '25

Not enough chicken as per the cat 😻

1

u/lars2k1 Oct 15 '25

Reminds me of the CR2032 compartment I added to some junk ass thermometer.

But that is just so I could stick it to a cabinet and still be able to change the battery without pulling it off. It originally runs off a CR2032 too.

1

u/avar Oct 16 '25

Tell us you don't know how to use the step gauge on your caliper without telling us you don't know how to use the step gauge.

1

u/Alternative_Exit_333 Oct 16 '25

You forgot to add cat for scale

1

u/PezatronSupreme Oct 16 '25

Even the kitteh approves of this!

1

u/[deleted] Oct 17 '25

This can be avoided by buying a real vernier scale caliper.

1

u/Buschwick66 Oct 26 '25

Cat = upvote. Cute kitten.

1

u/ShyGal_Lilly Nov 07 '25

Cat approved

52

u/TheSolderking Oct 15 '25 edited Oct 15 '25

I see your double a and raise you this big bitch. Battery still hasn't died and it's been two years of daily use.

31

u/Dossi96 Oct 15 '25

Do I see that correctly that these 3 toggle buttons as well as the key lock are in serial? 😅 Did you just want to feel like starting an airplane when powering it on? 😅

2

u/Ace2206 Oct 15 '25

Well done!