AUDub 11,974 Posted September 2, 2017 Share Posted September 2, 2017 War Eagle! 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AUDub 11,974 Posted September 2, 2017 Share Posted September 2, 2017 Best Hank Hill voice: "That boy ain't right" 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AUDub 11,974 Posted September 4, 2017 Share Posted September 4, 2017 My nerd project for the day. A Z-wave controlled thermostat. Previous owner didn't follow code installing the prior one, so it took me a good 2 hours to find the C wire to keep from destroying my new thermostat. Spent the day wiring new 5 conductor thermostat cable and metering it out. The end result: The batteries are metered at 97, but that's deceptive. Since I wired up the C wire, it's powered off the 24V circuit on the transformer. It dropped from 100 because I disconnected it from the wall and programmed its wireless capability on the Z-wave unit in the basement by taking it down there on battery power. I'm kind of anal about these things, so I may replace the batteries just so it gives me a nice even 100. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McLoofus 35,182 Posted September 4, 2017 Share Posted September 4, 2017 17 hours ago, Bigbens42 said: My nerd project for the day. A Z-wave controlled thermostat. Previous owner didn't follow code installing the prior one, so it took me a good 2 hours to find the C wire to keep from destroying my new thermostat. Spent the day wiring new 5 conductor thermostat cable and metering it out. The end result: The batteries are metered at 97, but that's deceptive. Since I wired up the C wire, it's powered off the 24V circuit on the transformer. It dropped from 100 because I disconnected it from the wall and programmed its wireless capability on the Z-wave unit in the basement by taking it down there on battery power. I'm kind of anal about these things, so I may replace the batteries just so it gives me a nice even 100. Bro I totally understood all of that. Jk, impressive work. 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AUDub 11,974 Posted September 5, 2017 Share Posted September 5, 2017 6 hours ago, McLoofus said: Bro I totally understood all of that. Jk, impressive work. Home automation is my hobby as of late. There are several protocols on the market, but I chose the Z-wave wireless protocol to control my lights, thermostats, and door locks. Lowe's Iris branded home automation equipment is Z-wave and will work with any other Z-wave control units, even if it doesn't say so on the packaging. It's an industry standard. Buy a head unit, in my case a Mi Casa Verde Vera, then all you need to do is buy and install components like switches, dimmers, thermostats, deadbolts etc. They form a mesh network and communicate with each other, passing commands to where they need to be. You can then control them, either through an app, or with some tweaking like I've done, Google Home. Need to be comfortable working with electricity to do it, but it's not a tough DIY project. As for the AC, on most air handlers there is a transformer stepping down the line voltage from your breakers, generally 220V like most large appliances, to 24 Volts 40 Amps. This stepped down voltage is what operates the contactor (Basically a big relay, an electrically operated switch. I've replaced several in the past.) if you have electric heat to turn on the coils, the gas valve if you have gas, and the compressor relay on your AC outdoor unit if you have a heat pump or just to run the AC. 24 volts always goes to your thermostat so it can send cooling and heating calls to those relays or valves, but what it lacks is a ground, or common in electrical parlance, hence the name C-wire. If you ever get a smart thermostat like a Nest, you'll need to run a C-wire, otherwise you'll be replacing batteries constantly. There you go. Clear as mud. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaltyTiger 8,596 Posted September 5, 2017 Share Posted September 5, 2017 1 hour ago, Bigbens42 said: Home automation is my hobby as of late. There are several protocols on the market, but I chose the Z-wave wireless protocol to control my lights, thermostats, and door locks. Lowe's Iris branded home automation equipment is Z-wave and will work with any other Z-wave control units, even if it doesn't say so on the packaging. It's an industry standard. Buy a head unit, in my case a Mi Casa Verde Vera, then all you need to do is buy and install components like switches, dimmers, thermostats, deadbolts etc. They form a mesh network and communicate with each other, passing commands to where they need to be. You can then control them, either through an app, or with some tweaking like I've done, Google Home. Need to be comfortable working with electricity to do it, but it's not a tough DIY project. As for the AC, on most air handlers there is a transformer stepping down the line voltage from your breakers, generally 220V like most large appliances, to 24 Volts 40 Amps. This stepped down voltage is what operates the contactor (Basically a big relay, an electrically operated switch. I've replaced several in the past.) if you have electric heat to turn on the coils, the gas valve if you have gas, and the compressor relay on your AC outdoor unit if you have a heat pump or just to run the AC. 24 volts always goes to your thermostat so it can send cooling and heating calls to those relays or valves, but what it lacks is a ground, or common in electrical parlance, hence the name C-wire. If you ever get a smart thermostat like a Nest, you'll need to run a C-wire, otherwise you'll be replacing batteries constantly. There you go. Clear as mud. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AUDub 11,974 Posted September 5, 2017 Share Posted September 5, 2017 (edited) 3 minutes ago, SaltyTiger said: If working with HVAC and electrical wiring isn't manly, I don't know what is. Edited September 5, 2017 by Bigbens42 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaltyTiger 8,596 Posted September 5, 2017 Share Posted September 5, 2017 (edited) 9 minutes ago, Bigbens42 said: If working with HVAC and electrical wiring isn't manly, I don't know what is. "My nerd project for the day." your words BB. Edited September 5, 2017 by SaltyTiger 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AUDub 11,974 Posted September 5, 2017 Share Posted September 5, 2017 59 minutes ago, SaltyTiger said: "My nerd project for the day." your words BB. Manly nerds Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AUld fAUx@ 2,584 Posted September 5, 2017 Share Posted September 5, 2017 13 hours ago, Bigbens42 said: Home automation is my hobby as of late. There are several protocols on the market, but I chose the Z-wave wireless protocol to control my lights, thermostats, and door locks. Lowe's Iris branded home automation equipment is Z-wave and will work with any other Z-wave control units, even if it doesn't say so on the packaging. It's an industry standard. Buy a head unit, in my case a Mi Casa Verde Vera, then all you need to do is buy and install components like switches, dimmers, thermostats, deadbolts etc. They form a mesh network and communicate with each other, passing commands to where they need to be. You can then control them, either through an app, or with some tweaking like I've done, Google Home. Need to be comfortable working with electricity to do it, but it's not a tough DIY project. As for the AC, on most air handlers there is a transformer stepping down the line voltage from your breakers, generally 220V like most large appliances, to 24 Volts 40 Amps. This stepped down voltage is what operates the contactor (Basically a big relay, an electrically operated switch. I've replaced several in the past.) if you have electric heat to turn on the coils, the gas valve if you have gas, and the compressor relay on your AC outdoor unit if you have a heat pump or just to run the AC. 24 volts always goes to your thermostat so it can send cooling and heating calls to those relays or valves, but what it lacks is a ground, or common in electrical parlance, hence the name C-wire. If you ever get a smart thermostat like a Nest, you'll need to run a C-wire, otherwise you'll be replacing batteries constantly. There you go. Clear as mud. Aaaah. "Now I understand," he said simply. [As an old ChemE, I can sort'a get by equating voltage with pressure and amperage as flow but, deep down inside, I find electricity akin to black magic.] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auburn 6 101 Posted September 7, 2017 Share Posted September 7, 2017 (edited) My view last Friday. Last week I hiked 27 miles along the Inca Trail to reach Machu Picchu. Hadn't showered in 4 days when this pic was taken, but still had to wear the AU gear. Surprisingly, I got a "War Eagle!" from 5 different people while in Peru. Pretty cool experience. After this pic we hiked the tallest steepest mountain in the background which is Huayna Picchu and is consistently ranked as one of the more dangerous hikes in the world. Edited September 7, 2017 by Auburn 6 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
augolf1716 21,979 Posted September 7, 2017 Share Posted September 7, 2017 6 hours ago, Auburn 6 said: My view last Friday. Last week I hiked 27 miles along the Inca Trail to reach Machu Picchu. Hadn't showered in 4 days when this pic was taken, but still had to wear the AU gear. Surprisingly, I got a "War Eagle!" from 5 different people while in Peru. Pretty cool experience. After this pic we hiked the tallest steepest mountain in the background which is Huayna Picchu and is consistently ranked as one of the more dangerous hikes in the world. I could do that in my sleep 6.................................j/k very impressive and a great picture. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShocksMyBrain 9,776 Posted September 10, 2017 Author Share Posted September 10, 2017 Long exposure from the GoPro Hero5. Filtered to death by IG. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barnacle 9,128 Posted September 12, 2017 Share Posted September 12, 2017 This was my weekend. Mrs. Barnacle on the left, Barnacle on the right. Went to Williamsburg for the weekend with some friends for Busch Gardens and checked out William and Mary while we were there. Aside from the game, catching a cold, and having our flight home cancelled, it was actually a great weekend spent with good friends. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McLoofus 35,182 Posted September 12, 2017 Share Posted September 12, 2017 16 minutes ago, Barnacle said: This was my weekend. Mrs. Barnacle on the left, Barnacle on the right. Went to Williamsburg for the weekend with some friends for Busch Gardens and checked out William and Mary while we were there. Aside from the game, catching a cold, and having our flight home cancelled, it was actually a great weekend spent with good friends. Awesome. Gotta love a girl with a sense of humor. Nice work! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AUDub 11,974 Posted September 12, 2017 Share Posted September 12, 2017 Battleship in the dark with the power out. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auburn 6 101 Posted September 12, 2017 Share Posted September 12, 2017 On September 7, 2017 at 5:52 PM, augolf1716 said: I could do that in my sleep 6.................................j/k very impressive and a great picture. I have no doubts your youth would get you through it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShocksMyBrain 9,776 Posted September 14, 2017 Author Share Posted September 14, 2017 Found a Gecko. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AUDub 11,974 Posted September 14, 2017 Share Posted September 14, 2017 36 minutes ago, ShocksMyBrain said: Found a Gecko. Turn him loose in my house. Brown Recluse infestation over with the quickness. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShocksMyBrain 9,776 Posted September 14, 2017 Author Share Posted September 14, 2017 2 hours ago, Bigbens42 said: Turn him loose in my house. Brown Recluse infestation over with the quickness. Eww. Sure they're not wolf spiders? They're the "good" spider. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AUDub 11,974 Posted September 14, 2017 Share Posted September 14, 2017 6 hours ago, ShocksMyBrain said: Eww. Sure they're not wolf spiders? They're the "good" spider. Yes, they are recluse. Common here. My neighbors get them too. Actually, since I moved to get quarterly spraying, they're a lot less common. In fact, the only live one I've seen in months is one I have trapped in a jar. Little buggers can survive forever with no food and water. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
augolf1716 21,979 Posted September 15, 2017 Share Posted September 15, 2017 21 hours ago, Bigbens42 said: Turn him loose in my house. Brown Recluse infestation over with the quickness. crap sorry to hear Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AUDub 11,974 Posted September 15, 2017 Share Posted September 15, 2017 12 hours ago, Bigbens42 said: Yes, they are recluse. Common here. My neighbors get them too. Actually, since I moved to get quarterly spraying, they're a lot less common. In fact, the only live one I've seen in months is one I have trapped in a jar. Little buggers can survive forever with no food and water. Here's the little monster. Wonder how long before he starves. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AUDub 11,974 Posted September 15, 2017 Share Posted September 15, 2017 (edited) 19 minutes ago, augolf1716 said: crap sorry to hear Meh, you deal with it. They spike in the spring and summer and disappear in the autumn. We sped it up this year with quarterly spraying. Hope that keeps their numbers down next year. You do what you can. I've caulked off every possible point of ingress into the house and put out sticky traps. Catch quite a few. With the spraying, I'm thinking we should see even fewer in the future. You never completely get rid of them here in central Alabama. Edited September 15, 2017 by Bigbens42 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiger Refuge 6,802 Posted September 15, 2017 Share Posted September 15, 2017 14 minutes ago, Bigbens42 said: Here's the little monster. Wonder how long before he starves. Oh helllllllll no. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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