Changes have been made to the User Agreement, which is incorporated by reference into the Terms and Rules of AAC.

 

The most significant change has been restrictions on transformerless supplies have been removed.
In the interest of safety, I prefer not to discuss direct connection to AC mains with the following exceptions:

• AC line frequency detection
• Zero crossing detection
• Direct line driven LED circuits with due caution
• Light dimmer circuits

Edit: added Light dimmer circuits

 

Interesting that mains connected (non-isolated) supplies are not now prohibited.

Perhaps this prohibition needs editing:

"Amateur/homemade rail guns and other high-energy projectile devices" to Amateur/homemade Rail guns and other high-energy projectile devices.

 

Interesting that mains connected (non-isolated) supplies are not now prohibited.

Perhaps this prohibition needs editing:

"Amateur/homemade rail guns and other high-energy projectile devices" to Amateur/homemade Rail guns and other high-energy projectile devices.

Why shouldn't people be able to discuss the rail gun that the Navy is testing, or the 16" rifles on the U.S.S. Missouri, or their favorite deer rifle?

 

Note that just because most of the formerly prohibited topics are now available for discussion, that does NOT mean that there are no limits. The mod staff has always had the right to moderate threads in which safety/legality or other concerns convince us that doing so is the prudent course of action. That will be the guiding principle in these discussions, as well. We will take a very light touch in threads where it appears that it is ONLY a discussion, particularly if the bent is from an educational standpoint. But in threads where it appears people are actually DOING something, we will be much more on the lookout for indications that it is not being done safely, especially if that the person is not receptive to learning why what they are doing is unsafe and learning how to do it safely.

 

Why shouldn't people be able to discuss the rail gun that the Navy is testing, or the 16" rifles on the U.S.S. Missouri, or their favorite deer rifle?

Simple. The Navy's rail gun is classified.

As for one's favorite deer rifle, what electronic aspect about of it should we discuss? Scopes are already OK and have been. Maybe using an arduino for automatic targeting and triggering would suit you? How do you plan to distinguish between amateur and professional? Homemade versus shop made?

Get serious. Besides, it was a suggestion to the site owners

 

We, the moderating staff, beat the drums long and hard to get these tweaks to the TOS. Even among mods we don't always agree,but hold our discussions off forum until we work it out. The results aren't always perfect, but being consistent is.

 

I haven't read the new TOS yet ... but I have a quick question: is the discussion of LEDs to mains allowed now?

 

Apparently: