I turned on my drill press and the machine hummed but did not move. Obviously something was wrong, but what? A quick Google search of the symptoms pointed me towards a faulty motor starting capacitor. With a few tools and multimeter in hand, I was able to quickly diagnose the problem and confirm the capacitor was indeed the defective part. Within a few days, my Amazon order arrived and I repaired my drill press. I am lucky to have a working knowledge of electronics. Who would have known that a fifth grade hobby would reward me again?
My father dabbled with electronics throughout my childhood and my curiosity eventually caused me to get involved too. I remember reading my father’s text books and magazines. I would bum components off of him to create little circuits. I had one of those electronic kits, where you could make over a hundred projects. After building almost all of them, I wanted to move on to bigger and better projects. Unfortunately, materials were getting harder to come by; either they were too expensive or just not available. After a while, I stopped participating in the hobby, but the knowledge remained with me.
Whether diagnosing and replacing a faulty motor starting capacitor, wiring an outlet, or activating a tiny bat tracking transmitter by soldering wires, I’m thankful that my father served as a mentor in this respect. Not only did I have fun with that childhood hobby, but the knowledge that I acquired has saved me money, got me out of jams, and even helped provide employment.
Moral or the story: Always be open to new experiences, no matter how far off they may be; you never know when that knowledge will come in handy.
I like this.
Your father was an encyclopedia of knowledge.