Know when its time to say, "I need help..."

DIYers (Do-It-Yourself guys and gals) are a very proud breed, which is a disadvantage since they do not know when they need help and when to call for help.

I have been doing a lot of DIY stuffs and I love it. It saves me money and provides me with a feeling of accomplishment when I am successful.

I was able to construct a serial level converter that I used to resuscitate a dying hard drive,

schematic diagram I used to make the serial converter

construct a simple audio isolation device, and install a second hand car stereo and amplifier. Its not that hard, its just a matter of knowing where to plug what to make everything work.

But there are times that no matter how hard I tried, I can't make some things work they way they should. I spent hours trying to convert a CD ROM into a car CD player and construct a home made amplifier. I ended up burning a PHP150 brand new audio chip. I've abandoned this project a long time ago. Its a good thing that my bro had sold me the car stereo and amplifier.

I bought this baby in AC for PHP150, then burned it the next day :-(

I've also been tackling a humming sound that's coming from the car speakers for weeks now and I can't still beat it.

Now, do I need help in beating this humming thing? I definitely do, but too proud to admit it. I've tried everything but the damn humming is still there.

This is a good example on when help is needed, and as much as I would hate to do it, I'll will consult a car audio professional in solving my humming problem.

So, fellow DIYers, here are some piece of advise:

1. Know when to say "I need help." If its taking too long to have the results you want and if the frustration is mounting, then its time.

2. Be very careful. One common danger on doing DIY stuffs is getting electrocuted. I got a taste of it yesterday, while desoldering an audio transformer. Its not a nice experience.