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E-Waste Reverse Engineering Clinic
Location: Charlotte, North Carolina
Mission: Teaching electronics through hands-on hardware exploration
We are rebuilding a public hackerspace culture in Charlotte by teaching digital communication and electronics using discarded circuit boards and open hardware tools. Our workshops focus on practical reverse engineering skills that anyone can learn, using tools like the GreatFET One to probe chips and understand how modern electronics actually work.
This is not about professional engineering credentials or expensive equipment. This is about curiosity, community learning, and rescuing knowledge from the landfill. We believe hardware literacy should be accessible to everyone, and that every city deserves a space where people can learn by taking things apart.
What We Do
Workshop Activities
- Identify chips on discarded circuit boards
- Use I²C and SPI probes to read chip addresses
- Document findings in a shared database
- Learn to read datasheets and pinouts
- Practice basic soldering and desoldering
- Understand USB enumeration and device protocols
Tools We Use
- GreatFET One (open hardware USB tool)
- Basic multimeters and logic analyzers
- Magnification and lighting equipment
- Python scripts for data collection
- Datasheets and chip documentation
- Your own curiosity and patience
How It Works
Step 1: Source E-Waste
We collect discarded electronics from donation centers, repair shops, and community members. Old modems, routers, printers, and computer peripherals are perfect candidates.
Step 2: Visual Inspection
Participants learn to identify chip types by their physical characteristics: package style, pin count, manufacturer markings, and context clues from surrounding components.
Step 3: Protocol Probing
Using the GreatFET One, we probe I²C and SPI buses to discover chip addresses and communication patterns. This teaches fundamental concepts about how devices talk to each other.
Step 4: Documentation
All findings go into our shared database. Board type, chip identification, interface protocols, and working condition are logged for future reference and educational use.
Step 5: Share Knowledge
Workshop materials, scripts, and documentation are published openly so other communities can replicate the clinic in their own cities.
Building a Hardware Community
Our long-term goal is to establish a permanent hackerspace in Charlotte where people can access tools, learn skills, and work on projects together. We want to create a culture where hardware knowledge is shared freely and where making things is valued over buying things.
Core Values:
- Open learning with no prerequisites or gatekeeping
- Practical skills over theoretical credentials
- Community ownership of knowledge and tools
- Environmental consciousness through repair and reuse
- Documentation that others can actually use
We are creating educational materials that any city can adapt. The scripts, workshop formats, and documentation templates in this repository are designed to be copied, modified, and improved by other communities.
Project Timeline
Phase 1 (Current): Initial workshops and tool development
- Testing workshop formats with small groups
- Building Python scripts for data collection
- Creating documentation templates and guides
- Establishing relationships with e-waste sources
Phase 2 (Next 6 months): Regular public workshops
- Monthly hands-on sessions open to all skill levels
- Growing the chip identification database
- Developing repair-focused curriculum tracks
- Building partnerships with local schools and libraries
Phase 3 (Long-term): Permanent hackerspace
- Secure dedicated space for tools and storage
- Establish regular open hours and project nights
- Create advanced curriculum for specific skills
- Support other cities starting similar clinics
How to Participate
Join a Workshop:
Workshop signup information will be posted here as sessions are scheduled. Follow the GitHub repository for announcements or email splicer@hiddenlayermedia.com to be added to the notification list.
Contribute to the Repository:
- Add your own chip identification logs
- Improve documentation and scripts
- Share workshop format ideas
- Report issues or suggest features
Start Your Own Clinic:
Everything in this repository is freely licensed for reuse. Fork it, adapt it to your city, and let us know how it goes. We want to see this model spread.
Donate Equipment:
We accept donations of working or broken electronics, test equipment, and tools. Contact us for drop-off details.
View on GitHub Workshop Signup (Coming Soon) Setup Guide Contribute[IMAGE: JTAG Anatomy]
/resources/images/06.jpg
(Field reference for identifying chip types and reading pinouts)
Resources
Documentation
Scripts and Tools
- i2c_probe.py (I²C address scanner)
- usb_enum.py (USB device enumerator)
- log_to_csv.py (Data formatter)
- chip_lookup.py (Datasheet finder)
Code: MIT License (see LICENSE)
Documentation: CC-BY-SA 4.0 (see LICENSE.docs)
All materials are free to use, modify, and redistribute.
Created by: v. Splicer, Hidden Layer Media, and the Charlotte Hardware Collective (in progress)
Contact: voidrane@proton.me
Website: voidrane.nekoweb.org
Last Updated: October 20, 2025
Best Viewed: With an open mind and a soldering iron nearby
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