Does anyone else like to tinker with things? Some different projects and pictures.

[MuttMutt]

I love to build and tinker when I can. Buying a house for 18K is for sure a tinkerer's paradise...

Anyway to keep the house warm (cause the place had ZERO insulation when we bought it) I built a small solar collector (about 2' X 4') and it would raise the temp of the air by about 40 degrees in full direct sunlight but the airflow was heavily restricted. When I upgraded I built a 4' X 8' version increased the input and output holes by about an inch and made larger channels for the air to flow through. The results are Amazing as the fan only uses about 100 watts of power or about 20 cents per day to run. Did I mention it can increase the air temp by about 80 degrees? Not bad for about 100 bucks worth of material.

It's been in use for two years now and while it got a few scuffs in the plexiglass it has held together pretty well for an experiment. The input and output are made using a toilet flange and a pair of them are also mounted to an insulated board that is put into the window and one is on the inside as well so the fan can blow the air in. You can see a small wire with a silver section in the upper right which is one of the temperature sensors that reads the output/in box temperature with another that is not visible in the input line that reads the temp from the air flowing from inside the house. Everything is piped into HomeAssistant and the fan goes on and off based on the temperature settings in Node RED using a Sonoff Basic. The override is a simple switch in HomeAssistant that I can use to keep the fan running even if it's a bit warmer in the house but will be cooler in the coming days.

On a sunny but cool day (around 40 F) it will raise 60 degree air near the floor to around 130 degrees and raise the temp of the entire house by about 10 degrees and that was with zero insulation in the roof/upstairs.

So anyone else like to do less computer related things DIY? I enjoy sharing and helping others with things like this so if I have done something that is interesting and you want more detailed plans or help let me know. I am probably going to write up something a little more in depth and post it on my site for anyone interested as long as the admins have no issue with the links. I would also enjoy seeing other's projects if they have them.

 

[KGIII]

I have a pretty big house that uses both active and passive solar. It's an envelope house.

Fortunately, I had it built in 2008. I don't have to repair much of anything and generally hire someone to do it on my behalf when I do. I have better things to do with my time these days.

 

[MuttMutt]

I have a pretty big house that uses both active and passive solar. It's an envelope house.

Fortunately, I had it built in 2008. I don't have to repair much of anything and generally hire someone to do it on my behalf when I do. I have better things to do with my time these days.

I have 18 bifacial solar panels that need some inverters and racking before they make it to the roof. But the goal is to have almost no power bill when it's all said and done. But I am in antique 1911 model that we know was modified once for sure. Raised a corner of the house up about 2.25 inches as the foundation in the newer section is not all that good. Still had knob and tube wiring active when we moved in.

I wish I could have hired out replacing the roof but a lot of it for me is enjoyable, plus I can take things to a level most contractors don't want to deal with so they charge an arm and a leg. Not to mention the things that sometimes happen, for instance my neighbor had his roof replaced and the contractor moved his wood stove chimney so that it was pressing right against a piece of wood in the attic. Thankfully he checked it otherwise his house could have burnt down, had to threaten the contractor with contacting the insurance company and stopping his check for the deductible to get someone back out to fix it too.

 

[KGIII]

But the goal is to have almost no power bill when it's all said and done.

For the past four years, I've generated more power than I use. I still have a mains connection but that is so unreliable that it just makes sense to not rely on it. So, I have multiple backup options that will work without the mains power.

Not to mention the things that sometimes happen,

I asked around (and belong to a fraternity) to find the most reputable people. This has been pretty much drama-free. I'm grateful for that.

I did help (get in the way) build my house. I even milled some of the lumber myself. I bought a mill and an old Jeep that had a PTO. I do have a large garage and wood shop, complete with all the tools one might ever need. Those are the types of 'projects' I do, though I've stopped doing most of my own vehicle maintenance. I simply don't have time and own too many vehicles to do it myself.

 

[MuttMutt]

I fully understand. I do everything I can myself partly because I enjoy learning how things work and partly to save the cash.

I have a few things I would like to prototype for diving but I can admit I am not good with CAD type stuff. I made a square box with a couple holes so I could suction cup a 360 camera onto a window but need to build a couple pieces so I can insert some silicone valves and don't have a clue at this point.

For vehicles I have stopped buying lead acid batteries. I actually built a 1200 amp LFP that I use for my girlfriends car. Went through 4 lead acid batteries on warranty where I used to be able to make a battery last for around 10 years. The LFP uses a couple fuses and a contactor along with a DC to DC converter and a large diode so I don't cook the alternator. Used it as a "jumper pack" for a few months to begin with and pulled the lead acid battery a few months ago. Only issue was a slight ripple of the lights dimming on the dash which was easily fixed with a small capacitor bank under the hood where the battery used to sit.

Lithium Iron Phosphate battery in a vehicle?? - MuttMutt's Place

Yes it’s possible and it can be done with minimal modifications to the vehicle. If you are sick of using lead acid take a journey with me and make the leap to LFP!! So if you made it here the web has probably been kind to me. I am honestly going to say I am … Read more "Lithium Iron Phosphate...

www.muttmutt.us

I want to build a small chainsaw mill for some logs I have sitting around and can easily get a ton of red cedar trees around where I live basically for free but a bunch of other stuff comes first.

 

[KGIII]

I want to build a small chainsaw mill for some logs I have sitting around and can easily get a ton of red cedar trees around where I live basically for free but a bunch of other stuff comes first.

You can often find one PTO driven for fairly cheap. If nothing else, you can make your money back milling wood for other people, especially if you have a planer.

Well, you could around here. I live way out on a mountain side in very rural Maine.

Like, picture the most remote place you've ever been... I'm further out than that. My property is a large tract that belonged to the paper company but hadn't been cut since they changed some regulations in the 80s - specifically banning clear cutting.

If you don't mind working on it, you can buy property for about what you paid for your property. I'm nowhere near the coast and way outside of the area where land is prized for its proximity to towns.

You would need to be self-sufficient in many ways. I live in an unincorporated township - which means no municipal services of any kind. We have a (singular) state road and they at least maintain that. Everything else is privately owned. I maintain and plow my own road (and multiple driveways because I love plowing).

Amusingly, I'm 30 minutes away from two ski resorts and less than 60 minutes away from another one.

 

[Trenix25]

You might consider building a small MHD (MagnetoHydroDynamic) generator. Encyclopedia Britannica should be able to tell you all about it.

Signed,

Matthew Campbell

 

[finallyIgotLinuxed]

I LIKE IT!!
I have a 3 windows facing due south. I see myself pulling out the sashes and installing these. What do you think of adding some more ribs in the channels?

 

[f33dm3bits]

You guys have money to buy a house?