The Smell of Molten Projects in the Morning

Ed Nisley's Blog: Shop notes, electronics, firmware, machinery, 3D printing, laser cuttery, and curiosities. Contents: 100% human thinking, 0% AI slop.

The New Hotness

  • Auto-V.I.N Gauge Scam

    Anybody capable of fogging a mirror knows how this scam works:

    TCU 100 - Giveaway teaser
    TCU 100 – Giveaway teaser

    The copious fine print says you can only see the actual fine print by traveling to Arizona:

    TCU 100 - Giveaway fine print
    TCU 100 – Giveaway fine print

    I’m nowhere near hungry enough to like the odds, even for a $100 Walmart gift card.

    An Auto-V.I.N Gauge (their choice of punctuation) must improve the response rate:

    TCU 100 - Auto-VIN Gauge - activated
    TCU 100 – Auto-VIN Gauge – activated

    Is it any surprise the numbers match?

    TCU 100 - scratch-off number
    TCU 100 – scratch-off number

    No. No, it’s not.

    The “Gauge” actually contains parts, although fewer than IMO they want you to believe:

    TCU 100 - Auto-VIN Gauge - components
    TCU 100 – Auto-VIN Gauge – components

    It’ll serve to produce measurable current & voltage for an upcoming Squidwrench Electronics Workshop and, because it need not survive the experience, we will take considerable liberties with it.