Category: Talk

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TOG Watch Night: The Secret Life of Components (Tim Hunkin)

We’re starting something new at TOG: a bi-weekly Monday Watch Night, where we watch an episode of Tim Hunkin’s The Secret Life of Components together on the big screen, then have a relaxed Q&A and discussion afterwards.

If you’ve ever been halfway through a build and realised the “small” parts are the ones that make or break a project (literally), this series is for you. Tim has a knack for explaining why components and mechanisms are designed the way they are, what typically goes wrong in real life, and how to make better choices when you’re designing, prototyping, or repairing.

What is it?

The Secret Life of Components is a set of practical, entertaining guides for designers and makers. It covers everything from everyday essentials (switches, connectors, LEDs) to the stuff you only think about once it fails (bearings, springs, linkages, motors, relays, pneumatics, and more). It’s full of the kind of knowledge you usually pick up through years of tinkering, fixing, and building.

How the night works

Each session is simple:

  • Watch together (one episode per night)
  • Q&A and chat after: questions, examples, tangents, “how would we do this at TOG?”, and whatever the room gets curious about

And importantly:

  • If you miss a week, no stress. Watch the episode at home and just come along to the next one. It’s meant to be easy to drop in and out of.

Who is it for?

Open to anyone who’s curious:

  • beginners who want a friendly way into “why things work”
  • makers building projects at home
  • repair folks who want more background on failure modes and design choices
  • engineers/designers who enjoy seeing the practical side of components (and the odd bit of Tim’s humour along the way)

You don’t need any prior knowledge. If you can ask “why did that happen?” you’re already qualified.

First session

  • Monday 26 January
  • Free and open to all
  • TOG Hackerspace (Dublin 12, D12 CF6V)

We’ll kick off at the beginning with Episode 1: Chain, and take it from there.

The playlist

If you want to browse ahead (or catch up if you miss one), here’s the full playlist:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JAgXz6xO0s&list=PLtaR0lZhSyANYB0Xxb9OSp47pHuQmj3Ol

Come along

Bring yourself, your curiosity, and your best questions. If you’ve a project that’s currently failing in a way that feels relevant… you’ll be in good company.

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Tog Hackerspace at PyCon Ireland 2025

We’re delighted to share that Tog Hackerspace will have a community table at PyCon Ireland 2025, taking place in UCD O’Reilly Hall, Dublin, on November 15th–16th, 2025.

PyCon Ireland is sponsoring a number of Community Tables this year for local tech groups, and we’re chuffed to be one of them. You’ll find us alongside:

  1. Python Ireland
  2. Coding Grace / PyLadies Dublin / The Python Software Foundation
  3. Tog Hackerspace 🛠️
  4. The Celbridge team (Chris Gregan)

Drop by our table to:

  • Find out what actually happens in a hackerspace
  • Chat about electronics, hardware hacking, 3D printing, IoT, amateur radio, and Repair Cafés
  • Learn how to get involved with Tog, whether as a member or a casual visitor

Tog members on stage

As well as minding the table, some of our members will be speaking at the conference:

  • Jeffrey Roe – “Stopping Time with Python: Building an Interactive Art Installation”
  • Peter Nolan – “Flattening the Curve: How Ireland Modelled COVID”

Check out the full schedule and all the details on the PyCon Ireland 2025 website.

If you’re heading to PyCon, be sure to swing by the Tog table and say hello – we’d love to chat about your projects and how a hackerspace might fit into them. 🐍✨

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DIY Solar, Home Battery and Home Automation Meetup

We’re excited to host a special evening on Monday, the 18th of August 2025, from 7–9 pm in Tog Hackerspace. This informal meetup is all about sharing knowledge, projects, and experiences around DIY solar, home batteries, and home automation.

If you’ve been experimenting with adding solar panels to your home, wiring up batteries, or tinkering with smart switches and sensors, this is the night to come along and swap stories with like-minded makers.

On the night you can expect:

  • Show and Tell from people who have installed their own solar systems or set up home automation.
  • Hands-on kit: we’ll have solar panels, inverters, and some home automation gear like Shelly devices on display.
  • A DIY camper van demo showing off a converted setup with batteries, an inverter, and more.

This will be a casual, friendly evening—bring along your questions, projects, or just your curiosity. There’s plenty of parking, it’s free to attend, and no booking is required.

If the evening proves popular, we’d love to make it a regular thing.

📅 When: Monday, 18th August 2025, 7–9 pm📍 Location: Tog Hackerspace, Unit 1B Motor City, Kylemore Road, D12 CF6V, Dublin

Come along and join the conversation about powering your home (or van!) the DIY way.

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Dublin Linux Community Hackerspace Meetup + Tech Swap Shop

Details

This time around the theme will be lightning talks! Showcase a project you like or something you’ve worked on recently. There’s a projector screen in the space that you can hook your laptop up to. We will also have a swap shop for any random tech and gadgets that you think might be useful to someone else. Please note that you do not need to be a member of TOG to attend but if you are interested in joining we will be doing tours of the space if you’re interested in joining.

PLEASE RSVP AND CHANGE IT IF YOU’RE NOT COMING SO WE CAN GAUGE INTEREST GOING FORWARD

Continue reading “Dublin Linux Community Hackerspace Meetup + Tech Swap Shop”

We are hosting the Dublin Linux Community for their January meetup. You can find out all about their meetup below.

Details

This time around the theme will be lightning talks! Showcase a project you like or something you’ve worked on recently. There’s a projector screen in the space that you can hook your laptop up to. We will also have a swap shop for any random tech and gadgets that you think might be useful to someone else. Please note that you do not need to be a member of TOG to attend but if you are interested in joining we will be doing tours of the space if you’re interested in joining.

PLEASE RSVP AND CHANGE IT IF YOU’RE NOT COMING SO WE CAN GAUGE INTEREST GOING FORWARD

Continue reading “Dublin Linux Community Hackerspace Meetup + Tech Swap Shop”
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Beginners Practical Electronics

Fancy making a start with electronics in 2025 or improving your skills?

Join us for a brand new beginners practical electronics lecture series from January 13th 2025. Every fortnight, we will watch 1 lecture in the space on Mondays at 7 pm. Each lecture lasts about 50 minutes. We can discuss any of the content afterwards. These lectures are free to attend.

This course is ideal for anyone looking to get started in electronics or to improve their skills. We have lots of free parking right outside our door and lots of tea and coffee available.

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Tog’s Festive Round-Up: Laser-Cut Decorations and A Year in Review

As 2024 draws to a close, we at Tog Hackerspace have been busy spreading Christmas cheer in true maker style! This year, we turned our laser cutter into Santa’s workshop, crafting beautiful Christmas decorations for our friends and supporters. These ornaments are our way of saying thank you for being part of our community and celebrating another fantastic year of creativity and collaboration.

In the spirit of making, we’d like to extend a little festive humour. Some of these decorations may have arrived with, shall we say, “bonus assembly required.” If you’ve received one of these, consider it an exclusive DIY project or a seasonal jigsaw puzzle to enjoy during the festive period!

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