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Project Journals => User Journals => Steve => Topic started by: MadScientist267 on December 01, 2013, 02:08:19 pm

Title: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on December 01, 2013, 02:08:19 pm
This is a reference thread I've created for items that will become part of a bigger story at some point.

The contents will change, but when I remove something, ...

EDIT - *I'll put a link to the full story up in its place. All part of an effort to clean up some of my "mess" around here :D

THE TRUTH - Don't count on it, see below :)

Steve
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: Watt on December 03, 2013, 12:57:44 am
Crazy, or Mad.  You pick.
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: hiker1 on January 28, 2014, 08:25:59 pm
try a single burner propane stove for heat--keep a window cracked open...works great for heat..did that for years on my old 53 panel truck..boxspring bed in back.
drove all the way down from alaska to south dakota in the middle of winter...that little burner kept it nice and warm inside..never did wake up with a headake..
not sure how safe that is nowdays...might want to install a co2 monitor if you do.............................
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on April 25, 2014, 01:17:16 am
[attach=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: rossw on April 25, 2014, 03:46:01 am
Steves ION drive at full power?!
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: bj on April 25, 2014, 05:37:33 am
  A picture a few posts back looked like a board/components were floating weightless.
  So maybe an ION drive isn't so far fetched.    :)
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on April 27, 2014, 05:36:17 am
You caught me...

Nobody was supposed to find out about the engines, but I guess the glow gave it away... Guess there's no need to explain what all the extra solar will be for now  ;D

It's just a modified torch... The end of the heating season is here and somewhere along the lines a few tanks ago, the jets on not one but both torches began clogging up, in addition to the "stars" getting all screwy. I'm suspecting a bad batch of propane in some form or another...

They were getting difficult to light and weren't putting out much anymore, so I got a little aggressive with one of them... Cleaned out the jet and removed the star, then "tweaked the carb", a hint of which is visible down below the flame. It now lights easily and puts off some decent heat, but the combination of the flame front being well down in the yoke and the method I used to choke it causes a lot higher temps toward the valve.

Before anybody freaks out, no, I don't run it unattended, nor for lengthy periods. Instead, I dug out the catalytic and set this off to the side to give a quick boost when conditions warrant it. Not really any kind of final design, but did think the pic looked cool, so I posted it ;)

Steve
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on July 10, 2014, 01:06:12 am
For those wondering, "I left the ion drive because it's funny" is the final stance ;D

Steve

And no links, sorry haha they're everywhere. You'll find me ;)

(Everyone else, it was cleared to make more)
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on July 10, 2014, 03:03:17 am
Let's go old school for a moment, shall we?

[attachimg=1]

Cyan, white here, core temp
Blue, cyan here, fridge temp,
Red, compressor temp

Cyan (white, remember?) Compressor on
Red, compressor cooling, and now core stir
Purple, if on ever, blower enabled

You can probably guess the rest... ;)

The astute can see the problem... ;D

Steve
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on August 21, 2014, 05:10:11 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: Wolvenar on August 21, 2014, 09:40:42 pm
Battery bank possibilities?
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on August 24, 2014, 02:05:16 am
Maybe, dunno. Pros and cons... Inside is still winning, but I'm looking around for economical means to hold them up underneath. Fun fun
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on August 24, 2014, 12:25:58 pm
Heh...

[attach=1]

[attach=2]

From my core stash. These are from the set that backed up my servers, the ones that boiled dry. Time in storage has given them the chance to grow it would appear :P

Steve
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on August 31, 2014, 03:45:37 pm
[attachimg=1]


[attachimg=2]


[attachimg=3]

Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on September 06, 2014, 07:31:26 pm
Oops

[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on September 10, 2014, 10:36:00 pm
[attachimg=1]


[attachimg=2]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on September 11, 2014, 02:19:43 am
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on September 13, 2014, 09:06:31 pm
Sad...

[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on September 17, 2014, 11:34:37 pm
[attachimg=1]


[attachimg=2]


Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on September 19, 2014, 10:49:04 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on September 20, 2014, 12:28:52 am
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on September 20, 2014, 03:27:43 pm
[attachimg=1]


[attachimg=2]


[attachimg=3]

Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on September 21, 2014, 12:30:34 am
[attachimg=1]


[attachimg=2]

Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on September 25, 2014, 04:49:15 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on September 27, 2014, 02:39:10 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on September 27, 2014, 03:00:00 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on September 27, 2014, 10:03:09 pm
Ok gonna dump this... Unless there's anything anybody has questions about...
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: Wolvenar on September 27, 2014, 11:43:57 pm
Not going to insulate between the aluminium bar and the wood?

Would also be a good idea to have a vapour barrier ( like black plastic) between the wood and the foam or any structure ( especially any open uninsulated metal)  or you will have condensation and mold troubles again when it gets cooler
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on September 27, 2014, 11:52:13 pm
Right there, no. Elsewhere, yes. That's a modified version of the plan for the "regular walls". Foam rides the rails, then the paneling.
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on October 02, 2014, 12:34:51 am
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on October 02, 2014, 12:50:19 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on October 07, 2014, 08:06:21 pm
[attachimg=1]

BrrrrrrRRRR!

:P
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on October 15, 2014, 08:42:44 pm
[attachimg=1]



[attachimg=2]

Imagine that :P
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on October 16, 2014, 11:49:46 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on October 19, 2014, 10:20:50 am
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on October 19, 2014, 10:56:34 am
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on October 20, 2014, 11:35:09 am
How an idiot applies caulk...

[attachimg=1]


How an *enlightened* idiot applies caulk...

[attachimg=2]

Thank you Ross and Kurt... had it not been for your tips, the entire truck probably would have looked something like the first pic. :-\

Steve
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on October 21, 2014, 07:37:51 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on October 21, 2014, 07:42:32 pm
The light really exaggerates the depth, but this is the damaged panel I referred to. I know it should really be replaced (and should have been caught/avoided in the acquisition process but...) - ultimately, no way it's happening, so trying to protect it as much as possible.

[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on October 21, 2014, 07:55:01 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on October 22, 2014, 02:28:32 pm
Panel rail cross section and dimensions

[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on October 23, 2014, 10:35:38 am
Little side project for a friend...

[attachimg=1]


[attachimg=2]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on October 29, 2014, 12:23:12 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on October 30, 2014, 03:49:16 pm
You know me and heaters...

[attachimg=1]

... pretty much par for the course.

(No, this isn't the one I'll ultimately be using) :P

Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on November 02, 2014, 04:45:43 pm
Floor. Insulated. Check.  ;D

[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on November 03, 2014, 07:29:28 pm
[attachimg=1]

[attachimg=2]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: Wolvenar on November 04, 2014, 07:03:24 am
An idea for the facing side of the foam.

You could go to a mobile home dealer or lumber yard type place, to see about different interior wallboards.
First off it looks better, secondly it gives you room for a bit more solid mounting ideas as that would give a sturdier face that would not wear as quickly.
As is, the noise that will be in that box when moving down the road ( assuming you ever have passengers in the back while you are moving ) would be near deafening with squeaks etc. Also, this foam will be leaving shavings every time you move that thing.

You could glue the wallboard to the foam. oversize holes slightly and leave expansion and movement areas on each meeting to truck box place so the foam wont make a mess. It would be far more quiet and lessen vac time at destination.

I realize the budget concerns but its an idea for you to mull over.
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on November 04, 2014, 03:32:47 pm
A quick peek at the present response from the batteries under load (there's no charge input here), and a peek at what the WBJR screen looks like...

[attachimg=1]

[attachimg=2]

[attachimg=3]

[attachimg=4]

(EDIT - no idea why the last pic got flipped... if someone with the power beats me to it, can you right it for me?  :o

Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on November 04, 2014, 03:39:35 pm
Wolv - I'm going to face everything with thin panel, 3/16, 3/8, and probably 1/2, ceiling, walls, floor, respectively
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on November 04, 2014, 07:57:37 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on November 06, 2014, 04:24:43 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on November 06, 2014, 05:50:37 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on November 06, 2014, 06:19:23 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on November 07, 2014, 10:58:02 am
[attachimg=1]

No lampblack on the fins, but it appears that it may be beneficial to not use it, as I noticed that the catalyst burns cleaner when it runs hotter...

Heatsinks aren't gooped to each other here... but the whole thing works very well, but does still lose a lot of heat out of the exhaust side. I'll keep playing with it...

Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on November 09, 2014, 10:36:29 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on November 11, 2014, 11:18:53 am
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on November 11, 2014, 10:24:55 pm
Transparent aluminum arrived today... so I redesigned the battery box...

[attachimg=1]

Nice, eh?  ;D 8)

Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: tomw on November 12, 2014, 09:28:33 am
Transparent aluminum arrived today... so I redesigned the battery box...

(Attachment Link)

Nice, eh?  ;D 8)

You should have got the gen 2 "stealth" AL.

I built the gun cabinet in the far corner with it.

It is a bit fiddly to find the handle but being invisible it is pretty secure.

 :D
[attachimg=1]

Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on November 12, 2014, 02:23:17 pm
That's awesome! I didn't know they had a newer version... looks good!

There's an issue with mine, not sure if it's defective or what... it seems to be holding the batteries in place fine, but I can't set anything on top... whatever I put on it tends to end up laying on the batteries... hope I don't drop a wrench on it or something before I get it sorted out!  :o

Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: rossw on November 12, 2014, 07:34:41 pm

There's an issue with mine, not sure if it's defective or what... it seems to be holding the batteries in place fine, but I can't set anything on top...

I hear there were a few bad batches. Not enough filler or something. Take it back and exchange it.
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on November 14, 2014, 10:53:22 pm
LOL Ross

Speaking of transparent, next problem:

[attachimg=1]


[attachimg=2]

Clogged? It's the pilot jet for the catalytic heater.... Everything eventually clogs... first the 2 torches last year, now this...

I have good flow thru the pilot line itself, and I can draw a respectable flame from the pilot side of this without it being in the carb...

That little window is transparent something or another, but what, and what can I clean it with?

The pilot is crucial to the safe operation of the heater.. I need to resolve this asap, please help!  :-[

Steve
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on November 14, 2014, 11:07:51 pm
Blowing it out helped a little, but the pilot still isn't what I'd call "good"... enough to run the night, I hope. It's of course failsafe, but it was quite a surprise when I opened up to come out from the house.

What the hell causes this? I even got a fuel filter to put inline because of the BS with the torches last year, but apparently whatever is doing this is getting thru it.

The damage to the face was already there when I took it apart, I know I didn't do that, as after I broke it free, I unscrewed it the rest of the way by hand. It apparently isn't the issue because it has been running ~ ok and was perfectly fine a couple years ago when I last used it (way too powerful for the van).

Steve
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on November 14, 2014, 11:15:24 pm
The still doesn't capture it... it's feeble and flickers quite a bit.. it used to have a torch-like appearance and rather stable once upon a time...

[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: DBCollen on November 15, 2014, 02:15:12 pm
it is a glass orifice jet. spray some carb cleaner through it in the opposite direction of normal flow
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on November 15, 2014, 08:59:27 pm
Cool, much appreciated... when it fouls again I'll give it a shot.

I noticed the inside of the tube for the jet was more or less coated with soot... why would that be, there's no combustion in there...? Or is it something else?

Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: DBCollen on November 15, 2014, 10:15:56 pm
just dirty propane, you will usually see a soot like substance inside most well used propane fittings. it is worse in a jet because of the flow to surface area ratio.
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on November 17, 2014, 12:02:08 pm
I think I've mentioned it somewhere before, but I should write a book, mmmm?

[attachimg=1]

(All stupidity aside, those batteries in the foreground are so beyond dead it's not even funny... looks like concrete inside and the voltage across the terminals is something like a whopping 0.3V or so, give or take)  ::)

 
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on November 17, 2014, 02:47:46 pm
Mainly because I couldn't seem to find it anywhere else.. LOL

[attachimg=1]

[attachimg=2]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on November 19, 2014, 12:31:06 am
[attachimg=1]


[attachimg=2]

Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on November 19, 2014, 01:16:14 am
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on November 26, 2014, 11:57:32 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on November 30, 2014, 10:31:03 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on December 06, 2014, 11:31:37 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on December 07, 2014, 12:40:14 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on December 11, 2014, 12:03:49 am
I call it "microWatt"  ;D

[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on December 12, 2014, 10:37:16 am
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on December 16, 2014, 03:32:42 am
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on December 19, 2014, 08:39:00 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on December 29, 2014, 04:19:39 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on December 29, 2014, 06:45:27 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on December 29, 2014, 06:47:37 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on December 30, 2014, 04:15:52 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on December 31, 2014, 12:04:07 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on January 02, 2015, 01:58:26 pm
[attachimg=1]

[attachimg=2]

[attachimg=3]

Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on January 07, 2015, 01:39:19 am
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on January 11, 2015, 12:02:30 am
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on January 11, 2015, 03:07:10 am
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on January 17, 2015, 08:46:02 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on January 22, 2015, 08:41:32 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on January 23, 2015, 12:52:06 am
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on January 24, 2015, 07:54:18 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on January 26, 2015, 04:52:28 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on January 29, 2015, 01:08:43 am
[attachimg=1]

[attachimg=2]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on January 29, 2015, 01:20:53 am
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on February 01, 2015, 01:47:32 am
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on February 01, 2015, 05:35:04 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on February 02, 2015, 05:50:17 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on February 04, 2015, 10:50:23 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on February 04, 2015, 11:00:20 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on February 05, 2015, 12:10:28 am
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on February 06, 2015, 04:11:25 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on February 06, 2015, 05:37:49 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on February 06, 2015, 08:21:22 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on February 14, 2015, 03:29:46 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: tomw on February 14, 2015, 03:50:32 pm
I've seen a doghouse bass but that is the first  $hithouse bass I have seen. :o
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on February 14, 2015, 10:20:52 pm
Hehe Let's just say my strange sense of humor... wasn't an accident. My dad was at least as strange as I am, and apparently, my humor may even be diluted.

The only thing dated with any certainty is the Sears catalog, circa 1977. The only other thing I can certify about it is that it sounds as good as it looks. ;)

Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on February 19, 2015, 09:21:18 am
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on February 21, 2015, 09:11:45 am
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on February 21, 2015, 10:36:32 pm
Result of

./newmodbus 192.168.254.144 4372\<8

1 second sleep, while [ 0 ] loop:

Code: [Select]

ID CLASSIC
ClassicTime 23:29:22  21/02/2015
4372 58183 (0xE347)
ID CLASSIC
ClassicTime 23:29:23  21/02/2015
4372 40263 (0x9D47)
ID CLASSIC
ClassicTime 23:29:24  21/02/2015
4372 8007 (0x1F47)
ID CLASSIC
ClassicTime 23:29:25  21/02/2015
4372 46919 (0xB747)
ID CLASSIC
ClassicTime 23:29:26  21/02/2015
4372 8007 (0x1F47)
ID CLASSIC
ClassicTime 23:29:27  21/02/2015
4372 63047 (0xF647)
ID CLASSIC
ClassicTime 23:29:28  21/02/2015
4372 19271 (0x4B47)
ID CLASSIC
ClassicTime 23:29:29  21/02/2015
4372 40263 (0x9D47)



Result of

./newmodbus 192.168.254.144 4372\>8

1 second sleep, while [ 0 ] loop:
Code: [Select]

ID CLASSIC
ClassicTime 23:30:21  21/02/2015
4372 220
ID CLASSIC
ClassicTime 23:30:22  21/02/2015
4372 10
ID CLASSIC
ClassicTime 23:30:23  21/02/2015
4372 10
ID CLASSIC
ClassicTime 23:30:24  21/02/2015
4372 13
ID CLASSIC
ClassicTime 23:30:25  21/02/2015
4372 10
ID CLASSIC
ClassicTime 23:30:26  21/02/2015
4372 24
ID CLASSIC
ClassicTime 23:30:27  21/02/2015
4372 102
ID CLASSIC
ClassicTime 23:30:28  21/02/2015
4372 162
ID CLASSIC
ClassicTime 23:30:29  21/02/2015
4372 31
ID CLASSIC
ClassicTime 23:30:30  21/02/2015
4372 227
ID CLASSIC
ClassicTime 23:30:31  21/02/2015
4372 157

Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: rossw on February 22, 2015, 01:42:23 am
Unless you've hacked my source, newmodbus doesn't have a shift-left operator  (<), only shift-right (>), divide (/), multiply (*), modulo (%), assign (=) and convert-to-fahrenheit (f)
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: tomw on February 22, 2015, 12:12:12 pm
Unless you've hacked my source, newmodbus doesn't have a shift-left operator  (<), only shift-right (>), divide (/), multiply (*), modulo (%), assign (=) and convert-to-fahrenheit (f)

So, what is the "current" version of it?

I am still using what must be an ancient version {1.0.20}.

Just getting back at some of this stuff after dismantling most of my system this Fall / Winter.

Tom
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: rossw on February 22, 2015, 02:03:24 pm
So, what is the "current" version of it?

I am still using what must be an ancient version {1.0.20}.

G'day Tom. There obviously hasn't been enough wrong with it to require changes! (Same version still)
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on February 22, 2015, 08:40:00 pm
Hehe Nope, no source hacking. It makes much more sense now...

If anyone is wondering, boB from Midnite explained how the register is encoded...

4372 is the WBJR temp register, and the "47" in the (0xXX47) hex output is the encoded temperature in deg C.

After masking off the high 8 bits and obtaining the 47, convert it to decimal.

0x47 = 71

Subtract 50 from this result to obtain deg C, 21 in this case.
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on February 25, 2015, 08:40:05 am
Took some time and drew up some basics... work in progress...

[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on February 25, 2015, 09:19:25 am
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on February 25, 2015, 09:59:42 am
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on February 25, 2015, 03:48:34 pm
[attachimg=1]

[attachimg=2]

[attachimg=3]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on February 25, 2015, 07:35:38 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on February 26, 2015, 07:10:14 am
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: tomw on February 26, 2015, 07:22:35 am
a dusting...
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on February 26, 2015, 08:48:48 am
Arrriiight ;)

Winter wonderland it seems just about everywhere right about now...

Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: Wolvenar on February 27, 2015, 02:22:40 am
/me snickers as he realises that both of those guys have more snow than we do here.
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on February 28, 2015, 10:35:05 am
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: Wolvenar on February 28, 2015, 01:11:45 pm
(http://gallery.anotherpower.com/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=29238&g2_serialNumber=2)

3 inches at most on the ground
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on February 28, 2015, 02:16:12 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on February 28, 2015, 03:12:49 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: Wolvenar on February 28, 2015, 11:42:36 pm
Yeah, I had to say something.

I has just started and..
(http://gallery.anotherpower.com/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=29242&g2_serialNumber=4)
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on March 03, 2015, 07:13:17 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on March 11, 2015, 11:07:05 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on March 12, 2015, 12:12:37 am
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on March 20, 2015, 07:57:05 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on March 26, 2015, 12:06:11 am
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on March 28, 2015, 06:41:53 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: tomw on March 29, 2015, 03:10:03 am
(Attachment Link)

Huggies?

Really?

Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on March 30, 2015, 05:49:27 pm
(Attachment Link)

Huggies?

Really?

Haha yeah, several boxes are huggies actually, many still at the storage unit LOL Shows how long I've had some of that crap
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: bj on March 31, 2015, 06:12:50 am
   Eagle eye Tom----he doesn't miss much ;)
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: tomw on March 31, 2015, 09:08:17 am
(Attachment Link)

Huggies?

Really?

Haha yeah, several boxes are huggies actually, many still at the storage unit LOL Shows how long I've had some of that crap

I heard they make a good makeshift battle wound dressing just like tampons and wondered if you are a prepper?

Don't ask how I know this stuff.

Tom
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on March 31, 2015, 01:24:48 pm
LOL
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on March 31, 2015, 01:25:29 pm
Quick, dirty, conceptual :P

[attachimg=1]

EDIT - Idiot detection tripped. Disregard... repeat, disregard ;D
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on April 02, 2015, 07:02:47 am
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on April 03, 2015, 09:32:11 pm
Still haven't fixed the "power" graph issue for charging via the other supply, but at least the thing is holding the magic smoke and fire in now, and current limiting works correctly... baby steps, right?

[attachimg=1]

Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: bj on April 04, 2015, 08:12:31 am
  To me, baby steps beat giant leaps every time Steve.
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on April 04, 2015, 06:21:49 pm
Fixed the math, now need to integrate the hall current sensor so I can keep track of the load during grid charging... right now it hides behind the green...

[attachimg=1]

I've also started mimicking solar to get back into the groove of managing power... The grid spoils one readily ;D

Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on April 07, 2015, 04:23:10 pm
Plan A  :-\

[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: Norm on April 07, 2015, 04:53:13 pm
For a second my heart skipped a couple a beats but then what I was looking at wasn't an 8hp Briggs horizontal shaft engine near the left end of the pile.
But just a squirrel cage blower.
  Just the thought of someone throwing a Briggs in the trash to me is unthinkable.
LOL.
  .......You are selling that stuff to a salvage yard I mean the metal ?
wondering how much weight ?
  Just sold an old bathroom basin and other weighty junk last week ....didn't
look like much but got $14 for the lot .
 
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on April 08, 2015, 11:35:21 am
Norm - Naaa, the junk guys stalk the hood for metals, I figure that's fair game. The stuff barely hit the pavement and they were scooping it up, like within a half hour. Way I figure it, they make a little cash and I don't have to cart it off. The rest the city picks up and hauls off.
 
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on April 08, 2015, 11:39:25 am
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on April 13, 2015, 12:46:59 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on April 14, 2015, 03:39:16 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on April 15, 2015, 03:44:05 pm
It's on now...

[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on April 16, 2015, 06:55:46 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on April 16, 2015, 08:06:39 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on April 17, 2015, 07:22:44 am
An "all else equal" plot showing the charging algo in action

[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: tomw on April 17, 2015, 07:33:06 am
(Attachment Link)

I had a house with a cathedral ceiling long ago and we used a similar down blower arrangement.

The Ex sewed a long tube that hung from a fan at the peak that was switched from the first floor. Actually one on each gable end. Lots less hardware compared to a metal duct / etc. As long as it blows into the tube it stays inflated and directs the air down.

It worked pretty nice jamming the heat back to the floor
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on April 17, 2015, 11:50:31 am
Tom -

Definitely. It makes all the difference in the world... Catches any weeping coming in around the door and forces it to mix in before it has a chance to form a layer that is damn near impossible to get rid of once formed. The final implement will be slightly different, and facing the other way, but there's no way I'd consider buttoning this thing up without including it in some form or another. ;)
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on April 17, 2015, 11:53:34 am
[attachimg=1]

Sanity check on aisle 5...

I don't think 100K is gonna cut it in terms of getting a strong enough drive out, but regardless, if the 3 resistors on the left are all the same value, the PNP should get driven into cutoff when there's juice at the LED side of the opto, yes?
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on April 17, 2015, 02:09:10 pm
Ok so no go on that... needed 2 more components. But it's sorted.

[attachimg=1]

(Pronounced "when pretty goes horribly, horribly wrong")

... something something Ratio Whack... something something Dark Side...
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on April 18, 2015, 10:18:17 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on April 20, 2015, 09:17:34 pm
"I hear ya"

[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on April 25, 2015, 10:39:05 am
Everything going according to plan... frozen solid baseline, check :P

[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on April 28, 2015, 03:19:34 pm
"How To Carve A Circuit Board: The Circular [Saw] Files"

[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: DaveW on April 28, 2015, 04:25:53 pm
     Steve - What, you couldn't just buy the right value resistor the first time?
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on April 28, 2015, 08:02:22 pm
LOL Dave ;D

[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on April 30, 2015, 03:28:14 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on May 02, 2015, 03:15:49 am
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on May 02, 2015, 12:38:14 pm
[attachimg=1]


[attachimg=2]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on May 02, 2015, 11:12:52 pm
A quick and dirty black body radiation demonstration... there was a haze as well as several less than ideal aspects to it, but it illustrates the concept... nutshell version from top to bottom; the "probe", stabilized and agreeing ambient temps, how it was carried out, the difference registered, as much of the haze using moonlight as a cell camera can capture, and once again in agreement for ambient.

[attachimg=1]

[attachimg=2]

[attachimg=3]

[attachimg=4]

[attachimg=5]

[attachimg=6]

[attachimg=7]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on May 03, 2015, 12:30:15 am
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on May 03, 2015, 12:17:05 pm
Storage unit relics...

[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on May 03, 2015, 04:48:54 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on May 07, 2015, 03:34:55 pm
[attachimg=1]
Legend:
FMax = Max fridge chamber target
FMin = Min fridge chamber target
Fridge_Water = Water/Alcohol bottle probe inside fridge
Fridge_Air = Free air probe inside fridge
Core_Water = Alcohol bottle probe in core

[attachimg=2]
Scr.ToD = Time of day score (just implemented in this shot)
Scr.F_Water = Fridge water bottle score
Scr.F_Air = Fridge free air score
Scr.Batt = Battery SoC score
Scr.Amb = Ambient inside temp score
Overall = Averaged scores used to trigger compressor start/stop

Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on May 08, 2015, 09:47:05 pm
It only gets worse before it gets better :)

[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: DaveW on May 09, 2015, 07:23:18 am
  Let me guess.  You've been using vodka as a stock for cold storage and the fridge has been tapping the source...
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on May 10, 2015, 11:27:25 am
LOL Naaa Dave... because that means the rest of it would have been sipping (gulping?) it too ;D

[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: Rover on May 11, 2015, 04:39:48 pm
Please tell me you have some of that stuff labeled :)
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: tomw on May 11, 2015, 06:10:44 pm
Please tell me you have some of that stuff labeled :)

Why would he want to do that?

Much more interesting to guess what does what.  :o
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on May 11, 2015, 10:16:55 pm
Label? Hmmmm... what a novel idea... Naaa... ;D

Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on May 12, 2015, 03:44:41 pm
Fridge interface board...

[attachimg=1]

Obligatory back side shot...
[attachimg=2]

That's about as labeled as things get... but for your curiosity, that's [C]ompressor, blower [D]isable, and blower [T]urbo ;)
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on May 13, 2015, 02:07:49 am
[attachimg=1]

Getting there... see my little conflict? Haha
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on May 16, 2015, 10:04:55 pm
Pretty much everything but the air exchange included here... but at present, it's a doozy... ~100W of nearly 24/7 hell-on-lead that needs to be addressed... I'm still taking that directly from the grid... All of the other loads are going thru the batteries. Even tho this only represents ~ half the physical storage capabilities of the battery box, moving that load over (even once reduced and otherwise mitigated) doesn't exactly leave me dazzled... Glad I like challenges. ::)

[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on May 17, 2015, 11:56:19 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on May 18, 2015, 08:50:04 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on May 19, 2015, 01:25:21 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on May 22, 2015, 10:07:11 am
Inductance a bit much in your cabling?

Switching chaos got your ammeter down?

[attachimg=1]

[attachimg=2]

Throw 81600uF worth of 0.02 ESR 6800uF 25V caps at it.

What chaos? :)
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on May 25, 2015, 10:48:33 am
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on May 25, 2015, 05:12:45 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on May 31, 2015, 04:37:47 pm
New independent front wheel control...

[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: oztules on May 31, 2015, 09:11:38 pm
... so  does that mean every 90 degree right hand turn is actually a 270 degree left hand turn???

...............oztules
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on May 31, 2015, 11:38:33 pm
... so  does that mean every 90 degree right hand turn is actually a 270 degree left hand turn???

...............oztules

I guess so... It also appears that there may be some vertical control of some kind as well, evidenced by the downhill direction of that corner... There may be design issues however, as it also would seem that it's a little hard on the suspension when one side attempts to go uphill and the other attempts to go downhill... :-\
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on June 01, 2015, 11:45:28 pm
Not the worst encountered... before and after... sorta :)

[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on June 03, 2015, 06:35:17 pm
[attachimg=1]

You can't fix stupid.

This is how the board came, straight out of the lighter plug casing when I pulled it apart. I can hear it now on the assembly line... "See what I do is..." (only in something that sounds like hieroglyphics)  ::)

And "we wonder" why things like cell phone batteries detonate in the car... To someone familiar with the topology, one would recognize this effectively as changing the circuit into into a PWM device, simply negating the concept of what a buck converter does, with little other consequence... but that's not the point...

Obviously the implications are much further reaching... :-\
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: oztules on June 04, 2015, 01:48:24 am
Thats harsh Steve... it's just trying to remain a virgin, and has the legs firmly crossed.... :)
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on June 04, 2015, 03:00:57 am
LOL Is that what it's for?

She sure was easy to seduce... just grabbed her and flipped her around!  ;D

Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on June 12, 2015, 06:57:17 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on June 13, 2015, 08:05:39 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on June 14, 2015, 05:11:43 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on June 18, 2015, 02:30:55 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on June 19, 2015, 01:16:22 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on June 19, 2015, 03:52:57 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on June 19, 2015, 10:11:41 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on June 21, 2015, 01:30:16 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on June 22, 2015, 06:19:24 pm
[attachimg=1]

Muhahaha... LOL
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on June 24, 2015, 03:13:26 pm
[attachimg=1]

A little more informative/less cryptic...
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on June 24, 2015, 03:52:31 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on June 28, 2015, 01:56:42 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on June 28, 2015, 02:02:50 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on July 07, 2015, 07:50:32 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on July 08, 2015, 08:37:01 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on July 17, 2015, 06:22:32 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on July 19, 2015, 05:34:46 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on July 19, 2015, 09:18:14 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on July 19, 2015, 10:38:43 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on July 20, 2015, 01:59:44 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on July 21, 2015, 08:28:33 pm
[attachimg=1]

[attachimg=2]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on July 23, 2015, 08:33:02 pm
[attachimg=1]

Peltier control, revision..... something LOL
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on August 19, 2015, 03:59:04 pm
[attachimg=1]

[attachimg=2]

Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: oztules on August 20, 2015, 02:10:27 am
Not sure what I'm looking at... but it is too neat.

If you loose those zipy ties, and spread the wires evenly throughout the interior until it resembles a proper rats nest...........I could relate to it much better :)

..............oztules
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: bj on August 20, 2015, 09:11:41 am
  I'm with Oz---looks so nice though.
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on August 20, 2015, 11:16:15 pm
LOL

It's the low power distribution/control box for the truck... quite a bit happening in there...

Boost converter creates a 17V rail for buck converters elsewhere downstream... mostly fans, but the Peltier "night control" is also run from 17V as well.

There's a 4 channel receiver with latching outputs that control 4 of the fan subsystem, as well as the buck converter for two of them.

Laptop DC feed comes from this box as well, and passes thru what I call the "UPS" diode... just an isolator for the OEM and homebrew modded boost brick... Essentially it can get power from either system, as well as its own battery of course (still good for about an hour as of the moment). The homebrew brick is tweaked just slightly below the OEM brick so that when AC is available, the SMPS charger for the main batteries doesn't need to carry it.

WiFi sub feed also comes from here, into a separate control box in the shelf above (not visible in the above pics).

There are 2 fuses, each 10A. "Laptop" and "everything else". Upstream is fused at 20A.

On the front panel, the master switch/pilot, laptop brick control w/pilot, and what amounts to the winter/summer fan "thermostat". The fans operate continuously variable based on room temp, and back off as the temp goes down to expand the room's comfort zone by keeping the apparent temperature the same.

Oz/Bj, maybe this looks better... same basic functionality, but might make more sense to some ;)

I'll put them up as if to go backward in time for those who have trouble following... :P

[attachimg=1]


[attachimg=2]


[attachimg=3]

There ya go haha ;)

Steve
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: DaveW on August 22, 2015, 06:53:29 am
Much better Steve.  This I can relate to.
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on August 23, 2015, 04:59:00 pm
I aim to please ;)

Dunno how that's gonna translate when I put the pics of the combiner up... I didn't take any when it was in it's conceptual form... Maybe I can draw up a schematic that's recognizable ;D
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on August 24, 2015, 08:40:12 pm
[attachimg=1]

This should be pretty obvious what this is I suppose... ;D
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on August 25, 2015, 12:51:53 am
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on August 27, 2015, 06:52:54 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on August 29, 2015, 02:07:31 am
Ok so it doesn't look like any of that LOL:

[attachimg=1]

The quest continues...
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on August 31, 2015, 04:36:16 pm
It has grown out of control... AAAAAAACCCKKK!!

[attachimg=1]

[attachimg=2]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: bj on September 01, 2015, 05:48:57 am
   Be calm Steve-----never let it see your fear. ;)
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on September 03, 2015, 08:19:13 pm
LOL Bj

Then there's this:

[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on September 04, 2015, 10:29:57 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on September 04, 2015, 10:40:45 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on September 05, 2015, 02:00:02 am
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on September 07, 2015, 02:57:37 pm
[attachimg=2]

[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on September 11, 2015, 01:49:33 pm
[attachimg=1]

Final revision of Peltier control, headed for the proto board
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on September 11, 2015, 07:30:32 pm
[attachimg=1]

[attachimg=2]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on September 12, 2015, 06:40:40 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on September 13, 2015, 11:55:23 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on September 15, 2015, 09:08:20 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on September 16, 2015, 10:48:18 am
Traveling down the bypass, about 60MPH, looking over a few things on the phone... and I look up and see this...  :o

[attachimg=1]

Of all the places to be going this trip, I expect my doctor will be best equipped to deal with the boxer change that now needs to take place...
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: bj on September 17, 2015, 08:08:29 am
   Assuming you are still in North America, something is very wrong.  Also assuming
that you survived.  As long as these assumptions are correct, then you must have
made a very quick, tire abusing move.
   Glad you are still around/able to post about it.
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on September 18, 2015, 12:57:35 pm
LOL It would make a good PSA about texting and driving wouldn't it... but alas, there was no actual danger of any kind... unless perhaps the rig were to come off the tow truck hauling it somehow, that is ;D

Had the situation been anything resembling what it first appears at a glance, yes, it would have been a total disaster... I certainly jumped when I looked up and saw it :o

All that said, I don't do the text and drive thing... I'm a passenger in the above pic.

Steve 
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on September 18, 2015, 01:06:51 pm
[attachimg=1]

Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on September 18, 2015, 10:09:51 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: bj on September 19, 2015, 06:11:20 am
  Now that I know the answer,  yes I can see the tow truck lights through the windshield, back window of
the truck.
   Bad boy to mess with BJ like that.   ;) :)
   Aside from that,  nice panel mounts.
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on September 19, 2015, 08:21:06 am
Hehehe that's where all the fun is (or at least that's what they told me)... :P

And yep, Gorilla Tape is some awesome stuff ;D

Steve
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on September 21, 2015, 08:27:06 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on September 25, 2015, 02:43:57 am
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on September 26, 2015, 03:58:15 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on September 30, 2015, 12:32:01 pm
Generator tester..

[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on September 30, 2015, 09:54:35 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on October 04, 2015, 02:51:03 pm
[attachimg=1]

[attachimg=2]

Local swimming hole is now open...

Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: bj on October 05, 2015, 07:10:45 pm
   Holy crap--some serious rain was had.  Hard to say for sure from photos, but some of those houses
might have indoor pools.
   Mother nature giving an illustration of who's boss.
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on October 05, 2015, 08:50:13 pm
BJ -

Yeah it's been over a week now with only teases of sunlight, and lots and lots and lots of rain..

The empty lot and the space behind it is affectionately/sarcastically referred to around here as the swimming pool... nobody will build on it. To make matters worse however, the city ok'd the apartments behind (not really all that visible in the pics), causing the only drainage path that existed for it to be cut off. So now the water flows in, but is very reluctant to leave. :-\

Next couple days supposed to *finally* transition back into seeing sunlight... for many, it's going to be something between very welcomed and getting reaccustomed to it's presence LOL

My stance, with all that said, is 3 days without sun after PV goes up is a lie... Turns out if you do it right, you can summon a lunar eclipse, a front, a strong hurricane, and even get the jet stream to break off another strong low that'll chase the hurricane out. In weather-forecaster speak, they apparently call it "the rain event of 1 in 1000 years". Just gotta know how to do it... Or stumble on all of it by accident like I did :P
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: Norm on October 07, 2015, 07:35:13 am
a few years back when we were traveling ....my wife in the passenger seat dozing would wake up
just at the wrong time to see the back end of a semi ......about 3ft. in front of us ....
what had happened was the semi had passed us at about 70 when we were going 60 and whipped over in front of us like they do and was rapidly pulling away from us ...but having just woke up all she could see was
TRUCK !
She would be Wide Awake!     : )   
Norm.   
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on October 08, 2015, 12:11:46 pm
Pretty freaky Norm :o

Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on October 08, 2015, 12:15:30 pm
Here's some pics of the new ambient outside probe, in progress. The inside pipe sticking up needs to be cut off... but I think this position will be better than the other one (running all around, up under the back ziptied to the bumper/frame.)

Hopefully it'll pick up a little less running/standing/parked engine heat... we will see.

[attachimg=1]

[attachimg=2]

[attachimg=3]

Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: bj on October 09, 2015, 06:51:58 am
  Looks like as close to perfect as you can get. 
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on October 16, 2015, 04:33:19 pm
[attachimg=1]

PC LOAD LETTER ... WTF does THAT mean?! :o LOL
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on October 20, 2015, 07:58:27 pm
[attachimg=1]

Let the games begin
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on October 21, 2015, 01:43:55 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on October 22, 2015, 10:46:26 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on October 25, 2015, 09:12:25 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on October 25, 2015, 09:48:09 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on October 25, 2015, 09:59:54 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on October 28, 2015, 12:25:25 pm
[attachimg=1]

[attachimg=2]

[attachimg=3]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: bj on October 29, 2015, 01:57:42 pm
  Melting wax with LED's ?
  Couple of pics earlier, the green and blue lights are kind of neat.
  How did you make out on the generator?
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on October 29, 2015, 07:12:31 pm
  Melting wax with LED's ?
  Couple of pics earlier, the green and blue lights are kind of neat.
  How did you make out on the generator?

Hehe Naaa, that's ~100W of halogen... I ran across the original dump load and ghurd controller for the solar theater project way back when... that's the load. I was tinkering with the idea of storing heat in wax via surplus PV as a means to help mitigate drafts... It's maybe got merit, if I can find a decent combination of jars and get some more foglight bulbs. Wax has useful properties for this kind of thing because of the way it freezes and it's thermal conduction upon doing so. We'll eventually see LOL but there's much more pressing things on the table at the moment...

The colored lights are one of the few ways I can chip my two cents in on Halloween LOL

The generator is doing fairly well, I will be updating the thread soon hopefully... Just got back from Lowe's matter of fact, gathering up a couple odds and ends for mounting it.

Steve
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on October 29, 2015, 09:49:24 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on October 29, 2015, 11:12:27 pm
[attachimg=1]

[attachimg=2]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on November 01, 2015, 01:59:02 am
[attachimg=1]

Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on November 03, 2015, 06:43:36 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on November 06, 2015, 12:55:13 am
Constellation Uhaulia...

[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on November 14, 2015, 02:28:07 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on November 15, 2015, 08:03:47 pm
[attachimg=1]

[attachimg=2]

Standard disclaimer applies... "Do not try this at home...", "Not responsible for...", yada blah... Just, don't do it, MmmKay?  ;D
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on November 16, 2015, 12:33:22 am
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on November 19, 2015, 10:36:11 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on November 20, 2015, 01:03:55 am
[attachimg=1]

Now serving scary, #142857...

That's hack #2 on that box... starting to get a little crowded, ya think? :o

Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: bj on November 20, 2015, 06:38:09 am
   Definitely a busy little box. :)
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: Wolvenar on November 20, 2015, 10:11:18 am
It certainly would not pass a code check but hey who cares, it's all yours, who needs to butt in.  ;)
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on November 21, 2015, 08:59:16 pm
Yeah code left the building when the relay went in... but then I needed to change how the relay functioned, and well, there you have it. Sadly, there's a couple of rather spacious dual gang boxes in play now due to similar mods the other way... maybe someday they'll get swapped around and redone but for the moment, this is gonna have to just work. :-\

Steve
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on November 28, 2015, 10:00:48 pm
An appropriate source for another upcoming sub-project - the manual radio address/data inputs and "punch" switches will come from this board... No idea exactly what it went to (in terms of make/model), but you can bet it didn't run Doze! ;D

[attachimg=1]

[attachimg=2]

[attachimg=3]

Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on November 29, 2015, 09:02:36 pm
Pseudo-revised AC mains sketch... shouldn't be considered "complete", but illustrates the key points to the present situation at hand...

[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: rossw on November 30, 2015, 05:27:26 am
It's a tough call... which has priority? Shore power, or genset??

If you know you're likely to lose shore power (storm etc), you might start the genset to be safe. In this case, you want the genset to have priority and run until you say otherwise.

If you're running on genset and waiting on power to return, you might want the shore-power return to shut down the genset - but you might want to wait a bit to be sure it's hanging around too....

Either/neither/both are right.
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on November 30, 2015, 08:00:38 pm
Yeah it'll come down to what's practical I think as far as that goes.
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on November 30, 2015, 08:02:50 pm
Meet Agents M and F...

[attachimg=1]

Is it just me, or do they kinda appear to just be staring through you too...? This is the same look I get when I try to blame something on them...
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: bj on December 01, 2015, 06:58:59 am
    I get the same look/reaction from the barn cats. :)
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on December 01, 2015, 09:41:16 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: Wolvenar on December 02, 2015, 04:29:03 am
That is cool as hell steve, Like RossW said in the IRC, display envy here.
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: kurt on December 04, 2015, 08:59:00 pm
looks good glad you are making good use of that old thing.
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on December 04, 2015, 10:21:40 pm
It does the job pretty well. The webapp is still in the process of maturing, but pretty much all of the core functionality is there, just needs some optimizing and dressing up. I'll do a video of some of it once things make a little more sense in it.

Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on December 09, 2015, 07:11:25 pm
[attachimg=1]

Camera is essentially defunct... bet nobody can guess what I was trying to capture with this shot... :/
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: rossw on December 09, 2015, 10:50:27 pm
Camera is essentially defunct... bet nobody can guess what I was trying to capture with this shot... :/

Shiny clean windscreen? (perhaps in prep for Rain-X treatment?)
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on December 09, 2015, 11:25:06 pm
LOL Good guess, considering you had a leader of context to go on :P

I was actually trying to capture the way the water was drying... it's completely washed out by the haze from the grit in the camera :/
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on December 11, 2015, 06:09:15 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on December 11, 2015, 07:50:20 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on December 12, 2015, 08:03:47 pm
[attachimg=1]

[attachimg=2]

My guess is if the cops didn't like my little tiny multi color Christmas light string in the back window of my Escort in '92, they *really* would get their donuts all in an ooze over these ;D

Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: bj on December 13, 2015, 07:12:43 am
   They just have no festive spirit.
   Besides, if you did something wrong, they would have no trouble finding you, so
where is the foul?  ;)
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on December 13, 2015, 12:27:28 pm
Yeah I was kinda saddened by the whole thing... They were hardly visible even, but visible enough I guess. Not even chase variety, just a small regular run of the mill filament type mini bulb set. He pulls me over and tells me that I have to disconnect them. Only red, orange, and white bulbs allowed on the back of a vehicle while it is in motion. Parked somewhere, do pretty much what you want. I responded within 24 hours with full white chase lights strung all around the car as far as I could make them reach. :)

These are "programmable" via Bluetooth, although the app that comes with them is kinda cheesy, still a bit more fun than regular old lights ;)

Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on December 14, 2015, 03:59:15 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on December 14, 2015, 06:59:52 pm
[attachimg=1]

[attachimg=2]

Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on December 14, 2015, 08:12:25 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on December 14, 2015, 08:17:23 pm
Brings a whole new meaning to "Suspend the computer"...

[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on December 23, 2015, 10:55:05 pm
[attachimg=1]

It's like they knooooowwww....

(Back story: Punched AP into Google after clearing the chaff out of my phone, everything went... This is what it came back with LOL I guess "get out of my head" is kinda pointless right about now, since they must already know what I'm thinking, eh?)

Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on January 05, 2016, 11:38:47 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on January 07, 2016, 08:49:41 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on January 21, 2016, 09:10:15 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on February 01, 2016, 06:19:03 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: bj on February 02, 2016, 04:49:30 am
   Looks pretty good sittin' there Steve.  Running OK?
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on February 02, 2016, 07:25:19 am
Yeah for the most part. A couple snags here and there but nothing really too major.
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on February 08, 2016, 09:10:28 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on February 27, 2016, 02:46:34 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on March 05, 2016, 10:05:30 pm
[attachimg=1]

New heater design runs on anti-propane... >X-D
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: Wolvenar on March 07, 2016, 11:43:42 pm
How well does the cooking in the crock pot on heater work?
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on March 08, 2016, 12:16:52 am
It does decent... but out of paranoia of breaking the stoneware, I got a round aluminum cake pan to help spread the heat and keep the exhaust from reaching it. It's a little bit different than cooking in it with the OEM heater, but probably not as much so if you use it as most would - for "liquid".

I'm still experimenting with it but haven't run it in a while as I'm tinkering with everything food related to try and keep variety going... easier said than done for sure LOL

Steve
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: Wolvenar on March 08, 2016, 05:46:39 am
Well as I said, we picked this up with you in mind.
Just let me know if you want it.
40 watts, hard to argue with that
 (http://gallery.anotherpower.com/main.php/d/31412-2/93703.jpg)
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on March 08, 2016, 07:28:46 am
Fair chance I'll take you up on it...

What I'd like to find is more of this... and not the PC wimpified crap version of today either... No no no! Like 60/40, some things just don't have an equivalent... To work, the stuff has to get tree huggers all in a tizzy about layers of atmosphere over top of great sheets of ice...

[attachimg=1]

(If you're wondering why you'd ever need to clean a "tuner and control", you hit the wrong link...) :P ;D

Steve
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on March 08, 2016, 02:36:50 pm
Tried to capture physics as well...
[attachimg=1]


How it actually manifests:
[attachimg=2]
560 are directly across inputs at the ADC
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on March 14, 2016, 09:12:20 pm
[attachimg=1]

Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on March 18, 2016, 06:42:31 am
Overkill? Me? Pffft...

[attachimg=1]

;D
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on April 15, 2016, 02:52:12 pm
[attachimg=1]

[attachimg=2]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: bj on April 15, 2016, 04:58:09 pm
  The unavoidable laundry day.  ;)
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on April 15, 2016, 06:02:02 pm
Oh yeah, you know it... and I found out how to throw a near endless stream of cash at one of those things while I was at it... little "freebie" detergent coupled with some subtle but significant technology changes in the chemistry department... the camera really doesn't do a great job of capturing it, but those pics were an effort at a few thousand words, to show that no amount of water was going to get rid of the soap. I bailed after a total of 3 complete cycles, the last 2 being nothing more than rinse efforts. Pictures of the ensuing rashes *may* follow :-\
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on May 12, 2016, 06:50:26 pm
[attachimg=1]

Sign on an HVAC guard fence on the side of the building next to the laundromat says "Security Notice: This property is protected by electronic surveillance"... I'm guessing it doesn't work very well...
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: bj on May 13, 2016, 06:31:04 am
  There was a time, around here, where the sign was the only thing installed.  Cheaper.
  Seems like now it's spend the money on the equipment, and forget the sign.
  Not sure either has any effect.    (little mini-rant)
  All is well with you?
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on May 16, 2016, 12:58:22 am
LOL

Yeah just been dealing with a handful of things... I'm pretty sure I've got a weak 6V block (#4 in the plots), but it's one of those things where B+ (vendor, not trying to give them any business after what I've experienced dealing with them) would call it "good" because it wouldn't outright fail a stress test but is in deficit and it's a constant fight to keep 3/4 in balance. 1/2 are behaving correctly.

The other notable issue is the generator is burning copious amounts of oil, and while I know it's probably both rings and the valve guide seal (apparently there's only 1, on the intake), the onset was quick enough that I think the seal is the primary culprit. Won't know until I get in there to look at it, but at least it looks like I may not have to remove it from the truck to inspect/repair it. If it's deeper than that, I'll just have to deal with the smoke and plug fouling as necessary until I can do something to replace the unit. It otherwise runs fine (but I can tell the plug is partially fouled already because it's stumbling above about 700W load or so... just need access to a bench vise to clean it (I'm not gonna drop a new plug in it every 10 hours, the oil is expensive enough!)

Anyway, yeah other than that, things are what I'd call reasonable. Still unplugged, and something like only 42 hours on the genny since mid January, so I done *something* right at least LOL

Steve
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on May 16, 2016, 02:25:18 pm
The generator thread splits off here:   http://www.anotherpower.com/board/index.php/topic,1160.msg12056.html#msg12056
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on May 18, 2016, 08:54:46 pm
Cooked toroid choke/transformer in a 750W BTX supply boasting 62A @ 12V...

[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on May 20, 2016, 02:45:35 pm
[attachimg=1]
Before...


[attachimg=2]
And after...

Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: oztules on May 20, 2016, 04:34:39 pm
Nice work there Steve.... but did you find out why it happened?


........oztules
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on May 20, 2016, 04:46:52 pm
Thanks :)

Yeah the original failed because it is one of those universal mount ATX/BTX screw pattern deals, and it had gotten installed in the ATX orientation inside a BTX case... it seems no matter how fast a fan spins, it can't pull air thru solid sheet metal LOL

I'm in the process of converting it over to a charger... got the crowbar tricked out and the toroid is ready to be put back in... add CCCV and rock and roll. This is one of those supplies that's perfect for conversion... makes the 12V rail and then derives the others on a separate board. Nice and easy to separate out (and I have plans for the daughter board as well, so a right decent return overall on putting a little time into it.)  ;)

Steve
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on May 27, 2016, 02:15:54 pm
Couple then and now plots of battery balancing progress...

[attachimg=1]

[attachimg=2]

Making headway... much less unnerving now :)
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: lighthunter on May 28, 2016, 06:04:36 pm
Hi Steve!  I liked your freezer fridge mod you did a while back. Thats a pretty cool idea. Are you happy with the results now? I imagine it eliminates a fair bit of battery bank and doesnt deteriorate (like batteries do). Might it make sense to do it in a non portable setting as well like a walk-in cooler? (with xtra peak solar of course).

Cheers,
LH
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on May 29, 2016, 12:45:06 am
LH -

Indeed. It's one of my better creations of all time really... a lot of thought, time, and effort went into making it what it is, and it works absolutely beautifully...

Link to the (way overdue but finally posted) update on it...

http://www.anotherpower.com/board/index.php/topic,928.msg11589.html#msg11589

I'm in the process now of adding the final magic trick to the software that controls it... will post that update as well when I get it finished.

Nutshell, I'm adding Pload and Peltier demand to it to fine tune it's awareness of what's available to the batteries... So say if I need to run the laptop but the sky is sketchy, it'll favor the battery over the ice core and shut down the compressor until conditions are once again favorable.

The Peltier part has to be done separate because the classic can't "see" it's participation in the mix (high power mode is sourced at the PV combiner and has it's own controller). With summer heat, the fridge tends to dig into the battery further than it should at the end of the day because it's unaware of this additional load...

To answer the question about larger scale walk-in type stuff... I would imagine it's entirely plausible to pull it off... But, that comes with a "warning" of sorts LOL...

Thermodynamics is an insanely complex thing, and I have only begun to understand a tiny fraction of it's wonder, behavior, and propensity for practical jokes (which are apparently hilarious to *at least one* entity somewhere)... Smaller spaces are easier to gain control of, react quicker to input, and likewise, provide feedback as to how one screwed up on the last judgement call :o

With enough patience, the right phase change material, layout, software, insulation, and finger sized holes in one's scalp, I'd say it's certainly doable. That list by the way being nowhere near exhaustive... The bigger the stakes, the less sanity one will walk away with. That much I can say with absolute certainty :P

Till next time...
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: lighthunter on June 01, 2016, 07:22:24 pm
Thankyou for your reply & recommendation! very interesting!  I would think most folk with RE have peak excess at times and the obvious one is to heat water but storing ice is also just as valuable yet I hardly ever notice anyone considering it as you have. Mostly surplus solar happens when nobody is around to use it. For that reason is why I have built my setup to run all the cooling appliances first, then heat water and make distilled water (Oz says is waste :) hes lots more creative with RO. In the winter i get the extra heat from the distillers tho. Anyway, I just love your idea and it makes so muh sense when batterys are a large part of an RE system, when you can store without a battery i say its a winner!! In all my travels running into R&D / proto people you have got to be the most detailed individual Ive run across, you certainly have thought out every variable in the equation. In your application i suppose efficiency has bigger rewards with limited panel size. Good work and thanks for sharing it! some day (hopefully this summer) when I get the wind gen up I will have need of more load and that might be the ticket. Might even be a place for two stage compressor with a more dense capacity working fluid. Havent thought about it much but a cyrogenic type comes to mind. Something that doesnt disappear at STP and exhibits phase change at a cooler temp than 32 so as to maintain a controlled temp at 0F rather than 40. Maybe there isnt one in that category, just thinking of possibilities!

Have a great Eve!
LH
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on June 08, 2016, 10:28:39 pm
[attachimg=1]

G-Forces... ugh
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: bj on June 09, 2016, 08:42:30 am
Take it that you had issues with movement versus object mass.
Don't know what size your chassis is, (2, 3, 5 ton)  but I know the only
time my two ton rides smoothly is when it has 4400 litres of water on it.  ;D
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: rossw on June 09, 2016, 05:06:39 pm
I know the only time my two ton rides smoothly is when it has 4400 litres of water on it.  ;D

Wow, overloaded much? (That's almost 4.5 tonnes on board!)
I know my tandem trailer bounces like mad until it gets around half a tonne in it... then it's sweet.
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: dang on June 10, 2016, 06:49:58 am
4400 Pounds = 1,995.84 Liters  :o   4400 liters = 9,700 Pounds  ::)
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: bj on June 10, 2016, 08:03:35 am
  It's licensed for 3920 KG  (based on tire size) so overloaded a bit.  More and the
overload springs are too flat, less and the water sloshes too much.  The "sweet" spot.
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on June 10, 2016, 06:22:57 pm
[attachimg=1]

---------------

Bj/Ross - on the classic - yes, I didn't realize it at the time but the plastic in that "hanger" isn't just superficial. Not the greatest design, but I'm not holding that against the folks at midnite... I'm probably one of the rarer cases of use in a hostile mobile environment. That said:

Guys at midnite: "We're out there... Something to keep in mind for the future!"

I would have reinforced it from the git-go but didn't realize it at the time of installation. Gonna be fun getting it down if/when the time comes.
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: solarnewbee on June 15, 2016, 06:28:31 pm
Hey there Mad!

I've racked my brain in what little free time I have and came to the conclusion that my brain doesn't wrap around these things as well as yours does. So,,,,I relented and purchased a Relat BMS system on Alibaba. Just under $975 it covers each lfp cell and monitors impedance of the cells and reports can be tailored for web software use.

website if you're interested what it does:  http://relat.en.alibaba.com/?spm=a2700.7803228.0.0.0Qedow

I am going to charge forth (even if I blow a brain fuse) with raspberry/arduino monitoring temps etc on my PJ and take action.

I am always captivated by your projects and techniques so thanks for sharing.

SN

Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on June 15, 2016, 10:53:16 pm
SN - I'm glad to see it's useful to someone... What I've got here is something somewhere between insatiable curiosity and necessity... attempting to coexist LOL - I've made my self-imposed quota if even one crazy nut like me finds the key to a magic trick buried in the mess of postings I've got going here :o ;)

For the battery management - indeed. Lithium isn't like lead acid at all once you get past the ideas that 1, they both have terminal voltages, 2, they are DC, and 3, they store energy. I think they both will pass current as well... ;D

[Flooded] Lead acid is incredibly forgiving compared to lithium. I haven't seen a case yet (except maybe where only a small single cell is involved, eg yard lights etc) where a good battery management system isn't absolutely crucial to the continued health of a bank, pack, group, flock, school, pride, clusterpfft of lithium cells... regardless of what you want to call them LOL... and in a few cases, outright safety :o

One day I hope to take the plunge myself into a "real" lithium bank... until then, I'm watching just like you (except lucky you gets to be another [apparently to be satisfied] guinea pig for LFP). So far I've heard good things, just gotta do 'em right :)

Rock on dude, I have a lot of fun doing this stuff even if it does have some really whack moments... I rest easier knowing what I design can't be any more insane than I am for building it LOL

Steve
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on June 20, 2016, 05:06:11 pm
[attachimg=1]

Anybody hear a sox fan?

;D
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: bj on June 21, 2016, 06:29:09 am
  Over the years I've used those fans for a lot of different things.
  That's a new one for me though.
  Impressive.
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on June 21, 2016, 11:16:59 am
Hehe Yeah they're pretty handy for sure. Not so sure tho that the entire project would have been possible without the advent of the brushless DC motor. Or at least not anywhere near as practical anyway :o

They're indeed holding the socks open but the one on the right isn't dark due to moisture. Zoom in on that and you'll make the same discovery I did a couple days ago... At some point the phone's camera got in to an argument with the sun and lost apparently. :-\

Only thing I can place any bets on as to when it happened is "probably mid day"... shrug
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on June 21, 2016, 01:01:57 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on July 09, 2016, 11:43:07 am
[attachimg=1]

[attachimg=2]

Not exactly ideal, but the 4" pipe is all I had to work with... there is indeed a boost at both venturis tho :)
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on July 09, 2016, 07:52:26 pm
[attachimg=1]

[attachimg=2]

No more bustedazz reverse lights for me. I'm over it. Last backing operation, they *both* were out, and no other source of light around. Brake light dragging is only good for so many... inches. :o

Clipped the insane cheap sockets, grabbed some LED 1156's and a roll of 60/40 and told them once and for all I'm done playin' LOL

It was still on the brighter side of dusk when that "on" pose took place. Should work juuuust fine. :)
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on July 10, 2016, 02:05:13 am
[attachimg=1]

[attachimg=2]

Another form of Bernoulli fan, this one with a twist...

Arrays like this can multiply, and with some tinkering with angles, gaps, offsets and the like, even focus and direct a *very* disproportionate volume of air compared to the sum of the fans alone.

Should start a thread dedicated to these concepts. They're a lot of fun to play with if you've got a bunch of various case fans stashed in a box somewhere, particularly if some rotate opposite to others...
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: Wolvenar on July 10, 2016, 02:12:56 am
Both great ideas.
Funny thing is I don't remember that panel in the back being able to open.
Is that new as well?
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on July 10, 2016, 02:15:59 am
Nope. Just didn't have it open most likely. It opens about 30 degrees above horizontal if needed.
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: bj on July 10, 2016, 05:48:39 am
  Couple of years ago, the bathroom fan in our trailer started to squeel and rattle.  Loud enough to
probably annoy camping neighbors.
  When we got home, I replaced it with 4  160mm 1200 rpm case fans. 
  Moves much more air,  (very good thing) and nobody can hear it. (also good thing)
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on July 13, 2016, 04:46:38 am
Yep. They're surprisingly effective if they're set up right. Good chunk of mine are half that, with some 100 and 120 in the mix. I just did another modification, pretty much the only thing left as pictured above is the three 80mm, the venturis have been split up and reworked as my 120V squirrel cage replacement, and while not quite as potent, draw a tiny fraction, and so far the best alternate I've been able to put my hands on readily. They're actually laid out as 3, with the fan shown down below the 3 in the "triplet" pic being used in the first one. I will definitely have to start a new thread with the pics of the new layout, as well as the "big" fan's new implementation. Collectively they're a *massive* improvement on anything attempted so far, and for slightly less power than before, I can track the outside temps within ~1C during a normal night cooling cycle. I'm not sure why I didn't figure this out sooner, but hey LOL

Steve
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: bj on July 14, 2016, 06:34:50 am
  Ducting can make a huge difference in performance.  Learned that try to do impossible computer
cooling.
  My setup focused on fit more than efficiency, but one thing I noticed was that on the
first try I mounted very close to the bug screen and got a strange blade pass noise.  Moving
them to get a 1/4 inch gap made them almost silent.
  All great fun, and it works.
  Guess that makes me a happy camper. ;D
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on July 16, 2016, 10:45:34 am
[attachimg=1]

[attachimg=2]

[attachimg=3]

One of the things i miss about west point...
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: bj on July 17, 2016, 05:12:16 am
   Nice shots.  I can see why you miss it.  Wildlife here has  given me countless hours of viewing
pleasure.   Maybe part of the reason it takes me a long time to get things done?  ::)
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on July 17, 2016, 05:24:05 am
Yeah it's a peaceful place if one can block out the paper mill.

Where the deer are is basically the end of the road I once lived on, with part of one of the rivers back behind it. It's what amounts to a perfect deer path and they come thru there regularly, to the point I normally don't think anything of it.

What made this one special is that the usual traffic involves just mom and brats... I lived there for 4 years and saw many a deer run thru that cut... I believe this is the first time I've ever seen a mature buck. They also seem to never be overly skittish of people; I only caught a single "50 ft stare" despite conservative efforts to get him to pose for the camera, then back to grazing it was. Still pretty cool.
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on July 17, 2016, 06:59:08 am
[attachimg=1]

Ok maybe there is something to this f*ee e*erg* thing after all... I swear I didn't hit start!  :-\

[EDIT] - "In a previous life..."
[attachimg=2]
[/EDIT]

[EDIT II] - The answer is always 42... Empirically proven right there... 3 candles. Also undeniable is the idea that my daughter and ex conspired to go after the best home brew bing filling on the planet... Pretty sure they nailed it ;)
[/EDIT II]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on July 19, 2016, 07:23:51 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: bj on July 19, 2016, 08:25:17 pm
  That's a lot of water.  We have our fair share here,  but further south (Calgary) yikes.
  I take it from previous post Happy Birthday is in order?
  Cake looked wonderful/yummy
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on July 22, 2016, 11:25:16 pm
Hehe indeed. It was. I was bummed to find out what happened but for once my instinct gave me useful insight and the microwave was my answer to the whole "just in case" thing.

Lots of water? Yes, pretty unusual to see all of the conditions come together around here like that without a much larger cause that brought it in from the Atlantic. Sustained torrential rain, lightning that was relentless... and I found out during a brief moment at the front edge of the storm exactly what marbles would sound like hitting uhaul roof mounted PV in case I ever got curious.

Sudden onset isn't a shocker here, with a good amount of rain. But sustained to the point lake ptown (affectionate name for the water bowl in the pic) fills up like that, and tons of close lightning (for some reason here specifically), those alone put it on the rarity list. Hail just moved it further from the center of the bell curve yet.

I was told today that the radar had two bright blobs that pulled the whole perfect storm thing right on top of ptown (no I didn't look myself for some reason, was too into the lightning map haha) - the result - we got a stellar hammering.

Just as unusual was lake ptown draining as quickly as it formed. It's been known to hold water for a couple days after a hurricane. A half hour after the rain stopped, there was little more than sand at the corners of the curbs as evidence anything ever even really happened. Pretty strange. Strange indeed. :o

Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on July 23, 2016, 12:48:36 pm
[attachimg=1]

Sunbathing a drifting fluke LOL

Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on July 31, 2016, 06:29:18 am
Remember this?

[attachimg=1]



And this...?

[attachimg=2]



Well, it sat on the shelf for a while, after DaveW made a brief but important note about it in IRC... It needed protection. From itself.

Hum is annoying at 60Hz, but at inaudible frequencies, it's downright destructive. The turns expanding and contracting both from thermal cycling and due to the attraction to the core (and each other) will cause insulation breakdown resulting in shorts (lack of air flow was clearly not the only cause for the original failure).

I wasn't about to rewind it again, but I also didn't have the materials and tools to properly "set" a coil either. Dave recommended varnish (if memory serves), submerged, and a vacuum pulled to make sure that it gets between all the nooks and crannies to lock it in place. Good advice, and from a worthy source. So what to do after the fact?

Well, I won't be putting any warranty sticker on it, but in lieu of a can of varnish, vacuum pump, curing oven, and much at all in the experience department, I figured I'd take a stab at least at something logical as the next best thing.

A heat gun, a lot of patience and time, a small fan, too many coats to count, and a little theory, and this is what I came up with...

[attachimg=3]



This was before the final run with the heat... a dozen or so "soaking" applications to get it in the voids, similar again but in the form of thinner misting coats here and there, a lot of twirling and spinning the thing in all directions to minimize waste while the majority of the solvent evaporated, more heat with less fan toward the beginning, and nearly all fan only between coats just before the above pic was taken.

Then one final long, slow heating, continuously twirling and spinning, the solvents bubbled up and made it look really horrific at the peak... but eventually this begins to wane and then it became a super thick goo on the fringe of "smoking temps" (really light, only visible briefly when the hot air gun was removed to check for this specifically).

I held the higher heat for another 5 minutes or so, continuing to twirl and spin, while the surface returned to a smooth shine and the last of the bubbles were coming up here and there. At that point I began backing off the heat, still moving it around constantly, and finally took the heat completely away and let it dry in free air (guess what? Still rotating and flipping! Lol) until it was not much more than "lukewarm".

15 minutes hanging in front of the fan...

[attachimg=4]

This is the end result. The finish is nice and hard and doesn't really mark with a weak-fair fingernail press.

It should continue to harden, and I'm sure that if it overheats like the original, it'll lose its effectiveness. At that point it's probably done for anyway.

Nothing really to lose, and just in case just winding a toroid alone isn't overflowing with enough insanity, this certainly gives me a new appreciation to the efforts I've seen here and elsewhere winding the powerjack transformers and such.

As for this particular case's mentor... Dave, rewinding generators and motors still isn't in my cards, but bet that the next time I see a nicely wound rotor or stator that I'll think of it as the same way I'd describe this if I only could use one word:

Art. :o

Till next time...



Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: bj on August 01, 2016, 09:12:17 am
   Turned out nice , and it has to help.
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on August 06, 2016, 11:41:16 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on August 11, 2016, 06:10:25 pm
[attachimg=1]

The new filter for the battery monitor ADC inputs.

Bye bye SMPS hash! ;P

Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on August 11, 2016, 09:52:11 pm
The genset oil cocktail...

[attachimg=1]

...it's working lol
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: bj on August 12, 2016, 05:53:55 am
  Interesting mix--but if it's working,  good.
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on August 12, 2016, 07:35:22 am
Bj -

Yeah I figured you'd spot this... it was kinda a sneak peek... I'll be updating the main thread soon with final results... but you get the props for calling this one... Most if not the entire issue is the PCV sticking. Don't worry, hadn't forgotten you ;)

Oh almost forgot this part tho haha - There's at least 2 geese stuck in there now too! Wonder how they fit thru the little tiny holes... :o

Steve
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on August 12, 2016, 03:10:40 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on August 12, 2016, 06:22:52 pm
[attachimg=1]

[attachimg=2]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on August 17, 2016, 07:12:03 pm
[attachimg=1]

Awwww... In'nat cute... Where ya put the... oh right there!

;D
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on August 17, 2016, 10:30:54 pm
[attachimg=1]

Movin on up....
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on August 18, 2016, 02:27:48 am
Mockup positioning...

[attachimg=1]

[attachimg=2]

Camera has a hard time with the drain slope, but it's definitely there.
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: bj on August 18, 2016, 06:46:16 am
  Steve is going to be cooler. (more cool?) ;)
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on August 18, 2016, 06:56:23 am
Indeed lol if I can come up with a suitable restraint system. It's not exactly simple accounting for the drain AND keeping it modular so that it can be removed with relative ease. Not 2 hours before the purchase of this thing, I had finally unlocked the secret to getting all the venturi juju working with excellent efficiency... unfortunately, hot air is still hot, and there are limits with what can be done with fans alone... And so it were lol

Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on August 20, 2016, 08:52:00 am
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on August 20, 2016, 09:03:28 am
[attachimg=1]

And Resistance Is Futile...

[attachimg=2]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on August 23, 2016, 06:24:02 pm
[attachimg=1]

[attachimg=2]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on August 24, 2016, 11:13:03 pm
Would have just copypasta but ummm... well, anybody that's messed with the dev kit for these probably has run across the reason I couldn't... that said...

[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on September 01, 2016, 07:06:53 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: DaveW on September 01, 2016, 07:37:38 pm
   It is a busy busy man that needs 4 irons fired up at the same time.
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on September 01, 2016, 07:39:14 pm
Especially just to let them sit there!  :o

Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on September 02, 2016, 12:32:14 am
Is it me or does this scream "Sure Noble"? :o :P

[attachimg=1]

What could possibly go wrong? ;D
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on September 09, 2016, 02:40:23 pm
[attachimg=1]

[attachimg=2]

Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on September 09, 2016, 03:43:52 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on September 09, 2016, 05:26:15 pm
[attachimg=1]

[attachimg=2]

[attachimg=3]

Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: Pete on September 11, 2016, 04:36:37 pm
Ok I bite, what is the thing you are fixing Steve? It looks like it is designed to deliver some serious current by the tracks on the board. Also looks like it has cooked a couple of 5 or 10 watt resistors.
I like stories, can we have one on what it is and what the problem with it was?
Cheerio
Pete
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on September 13, 2016, 01:46:19 am
Pete -

This one is a Xantrex ProWatt SW 1000... A 12V HF sine wave inverter. Ultimately the issue was the GFI, "eternal self popper". Unit *seems* to work other than that, much longer story as to why it got shredded into camera candy. For right now all that's known is it doesn't get otherwise unhappy on the bench. Real load testing to occur at some point (things are busy and while it's still "unencrypted" LOL I want to get some sketches schematically for my own reference... might be something halfway sizeable coming down the pipe here soon)... :P

Steve
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on September 13, 2016, 01:48:15 am
[attachimg=1]

Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on September 19, 2016, 07:10:00 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on September 19, 2016, 08:26:45 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: Pete on September 19, 2016, 09:04:18 pm
Hi Steve, that last picture you put up looks like some part issued a bit of smoke.
Do you fix these things for a living or are you just incredibly good at turning electronics into smoke?
I like stories, how about writing a bit of a story about the gadgets you are fixing. Love hearing how faults are found etc.
Cheers
Pete
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on September 19, 2016, 10:34:28 pm
Haha Hi Pete

I should start out with the idea that this thread is actually intentionally left devoid of text... It was established some time back as a workaround for difficulty with mobile devices to use the gallery. Most of the contextual bits relating to it happen in IRC, hence the seemingly random and scattered nature of the posts. Usually this is used as a quick and easy place for me to put one off pics and concepts... while there's usually a "bigger picture" story behind them, most are works in progress and not much else to go with them.

It's a tradeoff I've had to make to get somewhere with everything... I don't mind answering specific questions about a given pic or set of related pics, just know that out of the gate, most of them in this thread won't have a ready made story to go with them.

That said, I get a lot of my parts as salvage... the whole "one man's trash is another man's treasure" type things. The last pic is absolutely no exception. It's an abandoned Xantrex Freedom 20 inverter that most certainly did let all the magic smoke out at the relay board. The two units below it are it's new guts, with 2 birds in the crosshairs... one of which is itself a salvage from a PC power supply, to get the PFC section out of it. The other might as well be considered a salvage as well LOL... It has had the silicon replaced something like 3 times now over various causes, but the base unit itself was bought new and is one of those "Cheapie via China" supplies rated at 40A/12V (and in its defense, was holding 50 when it originally went bang the first time lol).

It's a ballsy little supply that was tweaked into becoming a full blown (no pun lol) CCCV battery charger (with float, and originally was going to have EQ as well, just never made it to the protoboard because of real estate issues).

It has 2 problems however... It's a raging bull in a fine china shop, and used the traditional doubler/NTC on the front end, with not only inadequate filtering but anemic components in what *did* exist. The result was, really crap PF, and radiated so much hash that it causes total mayhem with things like Dallas 1 wire bus (temp probes), analog feedback loops (fan/blower speeds), battery monitors, etc yada blah... the 1 wire effects were so strong that during tests for the new PFC arrangement, it crashed the driver for the 1 wire bus and forced me to have to reboot the Pi (losing a respectable 257 day and counting uptime). I wasn't happy.

So the idea here is to put the new layout in the donor box where the EMI can be effectively contained, and give it PFC so the generator doesn't have to work as hard to charge the batteries when I need to run it.

By extension, the answer to the "which is it" question... "Both" LOL... My trade is electronics and computers, the latter I've bailed on over "creative differences" with the rest of the world... I swerved some time back away from hunting viruses and spyware (before the collective "malware" was coined) and taken a liking to open source, Raspberry Pi, and recently, Arduino.

Magic smoke, well, I'm no stranger to the various perfumes that our world now runs on... the overall goal is of course to cause as few leaks as possible personally, witness as many as possible that have the "other" box checked in the fault section, and learn from both cases LOL.

That said, no, I can't take credit for the one in the above pic, nor did I witness it, but it had to have been notable to someone - the board that sat over that is... how you say... "crunchy"? LOL

I'll also add, since we're at it... One variety of red LED was particularly foul in the big picture... and certain MOSFETs emit an absolutely *beautiful* (albeit brief) hue of cobalt blue when provoked. Neither forgettable... haha

I'll leave it to you to figure out how to make those memories... (hint: they both make a fair 'snap' when they happen) ;D

Steve
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on September 20, 2016, 06:06:41 am
[attachimg=1]

Starting to wonder if it ain't worth the 80 bucks to destroy any hope of a warranty claim out of the box... Somewhere I got the number "50" in my head regarding this unit... 62? That's just shy of *twice* what I've been throttling dearest "Chinese Power Supply Torture" at and coincidentally? Right about twice the cost... I'm also intimately familiar with its internal layout... Traced, retraced, and traced again literally nearly every copper line on that thing's main board to work out the bare minimum requirements to bring only the PFC section up.  The only reason I have the half defunct unit I have is because it ran the computer it was installed in effectively fanless, putting up with the abuse for the better part of a year (don't ask me how I know this, and I won't tell no lies LOL)

Bottom line is, it's got a convoluted bootstrap system but already knowing what's involved, I'd be an hour away from hacking it into a full feature battery charger throttled at around 50A, almost before I could clear the packing tape from my fingertips...

But... but... there's no SPORT in that :o

Decisions... decisions...
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on September 21, 2016, 02:37:37 am
Maybe as a spare lol

This was a lot of work, and it's not quite finished, but it's operational because the batteries *really* needed some help.

Not much to "see" but it's running full tilt here and handling it pretty well, and most importantly... No alarms! LOL

[attachimg=1]

Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on September 21, 2016, 11:16:56 am
[attachimg=1]

[attachimg=2]

Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on September 21, 2016, 11:48:58 am
[attachimg=1]

Might have to get creative to pretty things up this time lol
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: bj on September 22, 2016, 08:35:41 am
Pretty is nice, but sometimes over-rated.  :)
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on September 23, 2016, 12:35:19 pm
LOL There's a double-entendre there isn't there :P

Up next... supplemental cooling...

[attachimg=1]

[attachimg=2]

[attachimg=3]

[attachimg=4]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on September 23, 2016, 02:38:01 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on September 26, 2016, 10:19:32 pm
[attachimg=1]

Like this? Hard to get across what I'm envisioning lol Hopefully this does it :o

Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: bj on September 27, 2016, 06:36:18 am
   Messing with a CRT?
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on September 27, 2016, 07:35:12 am
Lol naa just trying to unravel an age old mystery involving the shapes of beams and how things like the high angles resulting from the low profile tubes were gotten around. Amazing the difference that 1 little detail can make hahaha
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on September 30, 2016, 01:53:24 pm
[attachimg=1]

Getting there...I seem to have finally found the ultimate cause of the ringing/chaos as well... time will tell

[attachimg=2]

And an edge-on showing the heatsink mod
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on October 06, 2016, 04:42:10 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on October 08, 2016, 09:21:20 am
[attachimg=1]

Tinkering around, trying out my cookie cutter approach to a "from scratch" project that just so happens to desperately need it. Meet the new charger's future grey matter.

Ok so voltage and current are mock up (but are "real" in the sense that the ADC is the seed... offset and slope calibration features used make them look "normal").

Temp is real, discharge port air temp as it leaves the laptop.

All the boxes are ticked for this one. It's a slice 'n dice special (as if I'd have it any other way, pffft) ;D

Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on October 18, 2016, 06:07:21 pm
Progress... More tinkering... mixed with a little insanity LOL

[attachimg=1]

Top to bottom on the display...

Analog 1 voltage (translated from count), 490Hz PWM -> 100K/0.01uF

Analog 2 voltage (despite the "A" LOL), 31.25kHz PWM -> 100K/0.01uF

Laptop exhaust at distance, in deg C

% calculated PWM duty

Output "count" (0-255)

Calculated voltage that should be seen by the inputs

Don't let #1 fool you, that's a shaky and flailing little joker, I snapped the pic at just the right moment, wink wink

#2 is rock solid and follows the calculated around like a puppy, consistently lagging by 0.03V (it was almost certainly updating when the pic was snapped lol)

Guess which one is gonna do Vfb and which one is gonna do Fan? :)

Lots of tail chasing during today's adventures but I'm happy to report, despite all the voodoo, no magic smoke was released and it's functioning as expected for its current state.

Good stopping point... I'm learning... ;D

Steve
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on October 19, 2016, 01:06:35 am
Some things just ooze with cool factor...

[attachimg=1]

Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on October 19, 2016, 05:16:36 am
[attachimg=1]

... and gonna be a lot of fun. Got lots of pics and even a quick video clip..

When/as I get the chance to sift thru them and get something to start off with, I'll hit this little blast from the past with its own thread and gift a little nostalgia for those who remember and a glimpse into what they missed for those too young to have been a part of the era, when the quest for getting the biggest screen up in front of the eyes was still well in its infancy, but could become reality for those with equally magical wallets ;D

Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on October 21, 2016, 12:43:17 am
Finally! A well lit bench!

The camera doesn't do it any justice LOL...

The lone 8W "flood" with the new 3ea 4x1W modules backing it makes just about anything visible now... the scattered light from the surface even makes the room glow rather bright...

[attachimg=1]

I still need to finish the wiring up, and add the controls... These are the modules from the fish tank fixture some time back, so there is also a set of 6 total (2 per board) 1W blue dies as well, although I am likely going to set those up as "only night light". The white will be dimmable, so I may go that route with the blue as well, we'll see.

Gonna be nice to be able to read chip numbers and such without as much hassle for a change haha
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: bj on October 21, 2016, 06:04:03 am
  Nothing like good light for a work area.  As the years go by, more and more so.  2X cheater lenses help too.   ;)
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on October 22, 2016, 06:32:56 am
Indeed BJ. It's nice so far.

And looks like "Buddy Heater Rev 4" is taking shape... Now with Peltier! Lol

[attachimg=1]

Looking into exhaust gas heat recovery and considering vented this year. So far the little bit of "on hand preliminary testing" has shown promise with just the pilot alone
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on October 22, 2016, 11:21:59 pm
Krokpot Konvurt'blz...

[attachimg=1]

Works decent, quiet, gentle, and reversible ;D

Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on October 23, 2016, 11:30:33 pm
[attachimg=1]

Couple of the guys in IRC felt the bench looked too clear and idle in the previous pic after having been cleared to install the lights easier, and then cleaned to make... ok I don't know why I do the latter LOL

Anyway I promised I'd post something while I was mid stream if I thought about it, and I did, so I did. And there's that lol

EDIT - Wolv said he wants my purple bins... so here's the other 11 ;D

[attachimg=2]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on October 24, 2016, 04:25:18 am
Thought I said I wasn't winding any more toroids...

[attachimg=1]

Must have forgotten to add "from now on"...?

EDIT - Detailing the solder joints and showing scale... process to "strip"/tin varies greatly with wire size, in hand count, etc...

[attachimg=2]


Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: bj on October 24, 2016, 08:38:12 am
  Torroids--but you are getting so good at it.  Why stop now?  ;D
  Wolv is right.  Those bins are cool.  I have about a hundred of the ones you see
in all the hardware stores.  Not cool, but cheap, from of course, the local hardware store.
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on October 24, 2016, 11:53:59 am
Yeah the authentic "Really Useful Box" lineup is one of those truly genius things... The various sizes have "perfect compatibility" with other specific sizes, and the way they lock, open, sit on their own lid, and can still be stacked without losing any space... should be one of those "world wonder" things lol

Along those lines, I knew it wouldn't take long, never does... RossW, here's your money shots hahaha

[attachimg=1]

[attachimg=2]

Can't capture it all even, probably need at least 4 more pics hahaha and even then. Can't go any further in these conditions... Regularly forced to clean up and "reset" as I call it to go on to the next stage of whatever... Really slows things down and sometimes as many as half a dozen times a day I have to stop and grab a shovel... now if I could juuust find it in the rubble....... :o

As for the toroids.. LOL Its bitter sweet. Must not be art tho, if someone besides me appreciates the eye candy factor and I'm still around to hear about it Hahaha

I needed another one for the current project... I won't need to confess however, to anyone that should happen to open the lid at some point down the line. Neither are probably "best spec fit", but mine at least looks better at being incorrect Hahaha
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on October 24, 2016, 02:15:04 pm
[attachimg=1]

Quick peek at what provoked the mess this round... The nearly rebuilt blanket (and now Crock-o-Wax) controller.

Looks a lot better except for the little bridge situation there haha... they're going to get replaced eventually so didn't do much for them other than "make em work with the new feedback/filter network.

Main objective complete at least, pot now fails safe instead of wide open... lol first go was "just get something running that has better efficiency than the main inverter and doesn't use bang bang for control. That said, the pot stuck it out for that go but RatioWhack's pots are/were known for flaking out if overhandled so.... haha

Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on October 24, 2016, 08:15:59 pm
At the heart of it BTW, a stripped out to absolute bare essentials TL494 based cheap-as-they-get MSW inverter (everything but what's needed for the DC-DC push pull converter has been removed from the board). Only things then added are 2 ladder filters, one at the input and one at the output, with their common-mode bond, and a pot to set the output. It's clean as it sits (no EMI issues cropping up, despite a complete lack of shielding anywhere).

Plenty of cookie cutter applications for what's pictured below.

[attachimg=1]

That's all that's left. More tinkering with the pot and padder values to get it dialed in like I want it and really, this one is finished  (hey who said that lol)

Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on November 05, 2016, 03:42:37 pm
Finally got access to an SEM, and a suitable 3D printer...

[attachimg=1]

Located the one remaining brain cell I have left and printed up a spare...
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on November 05, 2016, 06:56:33 pm
[attachimg=1]

[attachimg=2]

[attachimg=3]

Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on November 06, 2016, 08:47:20 am
From memory, by reverse engineering and tracing, one seriously well built and readily hackable supply.

I won't be responsible for damage/misuse/injury/death/speeding tickets/invalid election results/hair loss... oh you know what I'm getting at.

Informational purposes only, use at your own risk, do not pass go, do not wash your dog with used motor oil, do bite your fingernails while following along, etc yada blah so on forth whatever and pffft. Do enjoy successful results.

Ahem, now then... ;D

[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on November 14, 2016, 11:42:48 am
[attachimg=1]

Who said TO220 tabs are only good for getting *rid* of heat? ;D
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: bj on November 15, 2016, 05:18:03 pm
  Just curiosity Steve, but what did you use for Epoxy?
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on November 15, 2016, 05:23:54 pm
JB Weld, but fear not, I was able to keep the leads out of it at least enough that it doesn't interfere (2 of the 3 are bound for grounded sinks). The other was most important, sits on a rectified mains negative side bonded sink... I gave that one extra attention to keep it out of trouble hehe (in the pic, the one on the far right)

All that said, using "authentic" tabs might have been more trouble than its worth for most... I needed something small, flat, and with a suitable hole already in it, then it hit me lol Dead MOSFETs! Haha

The casing pops off with relative ease and cleans up rather easily... the die on the tab that actually makes the transistor up, not so much lol Lots of fiddling only to end up with a somewhat rough and deformed surface on the mount side.

If I were to do it again, I might do it differently, but figured why not, it should work and they add a little spunk to an already spunky project lol
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on November 15, 2016, 08:19:35 pm
[attachimg=1]

Apparently time to upgrade my copy of the local version I have, wouldn't run online... Going to need this as part of the voltage steering on the new charger (and hopefully it's halfway accurate LOL hit and miss on these things)
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on November 16, 2016, 11:04:00 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: rossw on November 16, 2016, 11:10:33 pm
Well, I can see your problem there instantly :)
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on November 17, 2016, 01:23:01 am
Yeah, cool huh? Just been one of those days... I'd still be chasing my tail had it not been for some help <wink wink>

With that little issue sorted out, the tests have been interesting and an LM317 will indeed tolerate 60V "input", provide 30V out, at 60mA (so far) without any real issues,  *almost* as pictured above... LOL One minor tweak...

[attachimg=1]

...much better :o

Part B of the test is to see where exactly it can't hack it anymore and lets all the magic fire and smoke out. I accidentally got a preview during part A, thanks to a touchy pot on the source supply... Saw the meter brush 80V briefly before I yanked it down... the regulator survived... lol

I've got some video of part A (with the cricket intermissions clipped out of course), and plan for the same when I go poking sticks to make it leak.

Stay tuned...
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on November 17, 2016, 02:57:51 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on November 17, 2016, 03:58:46 pm
[attachimg=1]

Sometimes some really strange creatures grow when you put 2 different boards next to each other...
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on November 26, 2016, 04:19:44 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on November 26, 2016, 10:26:37 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on November 30, 2016, 02:34:13 pm
Theme must be schematics for now... Little bit of kit for Watt ;)

[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on December 08, 2016, 04:07:17 am
[attachimg=1]

If there's ever been a "too good to be true..." lol
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on December 09, 2016, 01:21:43 am
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on December 09, 2016, 10:11:14 am
Needed to prevent backfeed during USB sessions for programming/debugging, and jumped off the cliff so nobody else needs to wonder if it'll work should they need to do something like this...

That said, you're on your own if you let the magic smoke and fire out of anything in the process of attempting this.

The downstream device doesn't care if there is no 5V rail coming from the upstream device provided it has a power source of its own.

I left the DC ground pin connected and patched the shield to the donor connector. Works fine.

[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on December 09, 2016, 01:00:58 pm
Getting really close now... made the leap of faith to allow an old breadboard to host the critical interface between brains and the main power converter...  :-X

Just recently pruned it to make room for the remaining odds and ends and then it's on...

[attachimg=1]

The small board contains the stuff that is now pretty much set in concrete and is just in a holding pattern until I cast the whole perf board. Personally I think it's reached a point where finishing it off with perf is almost an insult to it but... we'll see lol
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on December 10, 2016, 11:14:28 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on December 11, 2016, 04:28:27 pm
[attachimg=1]

Progress...

That's it's old "brain" in the lower right corner of the frame
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on December 11, 2016, 06:34:08 pm
[attachimg=1]

There are issues but nothing major... not surprising there's some noise wandering around throughout, especially considering I disconnected part of the grunt's common mode filter to look at another issue... so I cleaned up the screen and annotated the debug outputs (blue). The data shown is after stable operation at 600W of input with the fan running on a strict 12.0V, "battery" temp is actually only reading ambient air temp near the fan intake.

So lots more to do still but it's nice to be getting back away from the low 60s SoC again :o

As it comes...
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: rossw on December 11, 2016, 10:12:46 pm
That's it's old "brain" in the lower right corner of the frame

I love those two chunky cables with nice shiny lugs, one black, one red, just lying there beside each other, begging for something to bump them into intimate contact....
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on December 11, 2016, 10:29:42 pm
Camera couldn't see them when they were laying next to my feet ;)

Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on December 22, 2016, 05:29:36 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on December 23, 2016, 04:56:05 am
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on December 23, 2016, 12:08:07 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on December 24, 2016, 05:10:19 am
Well, it fit... Barely...

[attachimg=1]

All of about a half dozen free rows or so, give or take a couple "halves" here and there...

Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on January 04, 2017, 09:28:48 pm
Little road trip, some big G map action, the hunt for a nearby Canadian based gas station with good frozen caffeinated frozen refreshments, and a foot excursion... found one of these...

[attachimg=1]

Unfortunately there isn't much to see at 10:30 at night, but the sign at least corrected my significant underestimation of "several hundred kW" lol

Edit - Tried to get a pic but there's near no ambient light and this is the best one I got even trying to steady it against one of the tie in poles... with any luck and convincing maybe I can swing by there in the morning and get a decent shot - they'll also be facing the road at that point ;)

[attachimg=2]

GPS Coordinates: 39.439940,-75.044296
https://goo.gl/maps/4sGKgXegE3H2
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on January 06, 2017, 03:10:15 am
Yep. Thank you Wolv, I had never gotten back to edit it again lol

Ok so with the new charger on the edge of being complete, the ammeter's linearity and offset from thermal effects need to be hammered down, as the first pass with the ammeter in particular had some significant linearity issues. I believe they've been resolved for the most part but it's much more difficult to verify of course than the voltage was, so I came up with this quick "hot wire shunt" that is set up to multiply a 50mV/250mA d'Arsonval type meter to be interpreted as 0-50A instead. Seems to check out in its roughest form on the bench, the tap points will of course be soldered and the assembly made to be a little more concise and robust so it doesn't introduce excessive drift of its own (it's by far not an ideal layout but will tell me approximately what I need to know to reel the charger's ammeter in to within reasonable tolerance for as far as I really care to try and chase the errors.)

This is after all something of a proof of several concepts type deal, I've got other things to compare it against. But more on that once it's finished... here's the experimental setup used to find the length of wire needed and starting points for the taps...

[attachimg=1]

Some of the finer details that need to be observed when making one of these... the main ones being that the taps must be both *entirely* on the shunt wire and *only* the shunt wire to eliminate the variances caused by the connections to the source/load (in this case the EU barrier), and likewise for similar reasons, the location that the mV readings are taken from at the d'Arsonval, *after* the connections that lead to the taps. Might not intuitively seem like it but the internal shunt for the intended 0-250mA scale has radical effects on the voltage readings taken from across it, even tho it's a significantly higher resistance than the wire.

Here is the setup reading 5.00A, being fed by a linear bench supply operating in CC mode...

[attachimg=2]

Variance is in the range of 20-40mA as it sits, checked at a dozen or so random setpoints within the 0-5A range. Each tick mark on the analog meter represents 1A.

I'll post the finished jig after I solder it up and get it in line for its intended use.
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on January 06, 2017, 05:40:53 pm
[attachimg=1]

[attachimg=2]

Thing ain't turn out half bad if I don't say so myself...

Still need to add the "cheaters" back for directly reading the mV drop (translates 1mV:1A) but other than that, should serve the purpose

It is set to read *slightly* low at room temp so that when the wire warms up a little from higher current, it doesn't shoot too far above
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on January 06, 2017, 09:25:51 pm
[attachimg=1]

After final assembly, with the cheater leads connected, and ready to go inline.
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on January 14, 2017, 12:46:44 am
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on January 18, 2017, 03:59:16 am
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on January 18, 2017, 07:04:45 am
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on January 25, 2017, 01:55:40 pm
[attachimg=1]

[attachimg=2]

If switching over to plastic for everything is good enough for industry, then it's good enough for DIY...

The idea is that stiction takes over... first was only going to use it for a spacer for the replacement blower for the truck cab heat/AC...

But after the crap version of the replacement push clips I was able to get my hands on failed, I noted that after sitting on the shaft for even just a few seconds, the spacer became nearly impossible to move... So I cut another one and used it instead of the clip... We'll see how it goes haha

No more "Oh $#!+ clips" for me! LOL ;D
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on February 16, 2017, 06:04:48 pm
Things are just done *differently* in the northeast...

[attachimg=1]
After some serious juggling and the guy in the van finally bailing, and a few other significant signs of humanity at its finest... Somehow, this [expletive deleted] wally world truck driver made the turn... Somehow... lol

[attachimg=2]
3 blocks down at the end of the same road, yet another photo opportunity... yes, that's a bridge, being constructed "within" the old one underneath it. The yellow tube on one side of one of the new concrete pillars is one of many massive jacks, that unfortunately I was only able to see and not get a picture of from the other side because... you're not supposed to use phones while you're driving there... pffft like it makes a difference...? Haha
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on March 08, 2017, 12:12:55 pm
Looks like things have gotten a little warm from time to time in the Crock-O-Wax department... :o

[attachimg=1]

Thermal control has been on the list for a while now... hopefully I'll find my round tiut so I can get that dealt with soon lol
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: bj on March 08, 2017, 08:49:06 pm
   No charring is always a good sign?  ;)
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on March 08, 2017, 09:00:29 pm
Hehe Yeah. Course that stuff takes a lot of coercion to get to that point... even a direct flame just causes it to retreat like that. I knew things got a little warm from time to time with that, but that had to have been relatively recent because as of a few weeks ago, I had checked it and there was no deformation. I've also been letting it run a bit more with the returning supply of light... Prolly shudn' doo that... lol

I made a mod to it today as well, plan on posting a thread on that sub-project here soon as I get more chance. Ran across the heat effects as part of spring cleaning and reorganizing.
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on March 17, 2017, 11:59:24 pm
I try not to do this... I know it's around here somewhere, but buried...

[attachimg=1]

Ugh. Sorry... LOL
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on March 22, 2017, 06:50:23 am
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on April 06, 2017, 04:00:20 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on April 08, 2017, 08:18:58 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on April 26, 2017, 05:09:53 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on May 03, 2017, 04:22:29 am
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: bj on May 03, 2017, 06:38:48 am
Green leaves--I'm envious
Few more days before they pop here.
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on May 03, 2017, 10:50:45 pm
LOL Yeah we've been in it for about a month I guess now. Just glad pollen season is basically done with.

Main thing with that pic was how bright our little neighbor there is... thought maybe my home planet had heard my cries and finally sent a rescue pod, but before I could get up on the roof with a flare gun, the interwebbythingy convinced me it was probably just Venus...  ::) ;D
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on May 08, 2017, 03:59:52 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on May 11, 2017, 02:29:04 pm
[attachimg=1]

Figured I haven't posted any good quality deadbug in a while... so here is... battery powered (for isolation) precision 2.5V reference using a TL431...

Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on May 11, 2017, 02:36:04 pm
[attachimg=1]

... and a little "inside the ring" thinking involving filtering switching noise from hall sensors before it ever gets into them (the jury is still out on the results... will get revisited at some later date)
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on May 11, 2017, 04:09:47 pm
It keeps growing, and growing, and growing...

[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: lighthunter on May 13, 2017, 10:14:58 am
Hi Steve! Nice unit you built there. Its a solar charger right? 50v to 14v buck regulator? Good job on the display.

Not to change subject but was thinking about your fridge/energy storage ideas. I heat the DHW with solar but we also use distilled water a lot. Has anyone built a water heater that reclaims heat from distillation? Would take a bit of a piping exchanger apparatus but its not a difficult concept and "kill 2 birds".

Whats the specs on your converter? Thanks for the nice posts.
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on May 14, 2017, 06:19:58 pm
Hi Steve! Nice unit you built there. Its a solar charger right? 50v to 14v buck regulator? Good job on the display.

...

Whats the specs on your converter? Thanks for the nice posts.

Actually this one is for genset/grid, main converter is push-pull, can do 40A (schottkies being the limitation) at 15V, continuous.

That said, until I have an authoritative reference (pronounced "good DC clamp meter") to verify calibration, I have software CC limiting set to "32A" and hard CC set to 35 for the time being.

The pic above is only the brain, display, and control/protection sections, the grunt unit is out of frame.

It's fully active power factor corrected, and runs at approximately 83% efficiency (I of course won't be able to confirm this until I can do the final ammeter calibration).

I just recently completely redesigned 2 of the control and feedback sections, and it's running as it should at this stage of development... As soon as I get a little bit more done on it, I'm going to start a dedicated thread on it and give it the whole run down.

As far as reclaiming heat from distillation, I'm sure it's not incredibly complex, as you say, I couldn't offer up much more than theory on how to best implement it for highest efficiency. I'm sure someone has tho.

Steve
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: lighthunter on May 20, 2017, 12:58:34 pm
Thanks for comments Steve, so your converter input comes from mains / genset driven transformer i presume? Or did you do the high freq stepdown with small hf transformer?

However you did it good job. Concepts seem simple on paper but always seems to be smoke where wasnt expected. I tried to connect a simple mosfet pair as a 400v. 10A switch the other day and it did not work. Stil dont know how i could screw that up. Maybe wrong choice of fet i dunno.,  5R140P. It seemed to work great up to 150v at a couple amps (relay contact driving 12v to gate). It would switch load on and off instantly. When supply voltage went up to 260v in full sun with 9 amps of current. It struggled to switch off and took a couple seconds to get to off. Needless to say mosfets dont do well in linear region even with heat sink. Gate to source pulldown resistor was 560ohm. I went with a 400dc rated relay with magnetic arc control instead.
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on May 20, 2017, 01:21:49 pm
Active PFC (at least as widely currently implemented) involves little more than what amounts to a specialized boost converter, which in this case is taking the rectified mains up to 380VDC, which then goes thru the push-pull step down via a HF transformer, and finally rectified back to LVDC by shottkies, yes.

I'm not sure what exactly to tell you on your switch issue, tho the knee-jerk reaction going on what's given is that it sounds like they were avalanching from inductance. You didn't specify whether you were using snubbing or not, but that would be my guess... it was either insufficient or not present at all. And you're right, they don't like that hehe

Steve
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: lighthunter on May 20, 2017, 04:19:41 pm
You are right! i didnt think there was enough inductance in the wiring to make a difference. From the 1 minute i spent trying to come up with inductance of 200 feet of parallel 12awg conductor i came up with 460uH. While that may not be exact, i put it in circuit simulator and came up with these two screenshots. With/without snubber.
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on May 20, 2017, 05:01:58 pm
Hehe, yep that'll do it lol
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: lighthunter on May 20, 2017, 09:52:34 pm
Ok now you have me curious about pfc. I've known about power factor for years but back when i learned what it was it referred to current out of phase with voltage causing something called apparant power and real power. A perfect power factor occurs with a resistive load where the voltage and current in load are in phase. A shift in the direction of capacitive or inductive involves apparant power such as connecting a capacitor directly across ac line. No real power is used, it is all apparant power therefore the power company will charge you for electricity used when you get no benefit. I can understand that. Now when it comes to an smps such as you have built...

Typically the 380v dc is arrived at by mains connected rectifier charging a bank of capacitors later used by a high frequency primary driver. So instead of mains current being sinusoidal over the full source voltage waveform, the mains current is more like a short duration pulse which the power company can charge you for the full duration and you are only using 50% of that.

So i get it that its a power factor problem but not inductive or capacitive ????   

Also how would you correct it ???

And why would you care??? Does it in reality waste power or does it just cause inaccurate billing? And dont the new smart meters compensate?

Just crazy thoughts, not necessary to ans all of it. Thanks in advance!

Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on May 21, 2017, 03:48:25 am
Haha All good questions... I'll do my best...

First, the older doubler method results in a no load voltage of about 320V across the caps, which dips quite a bit under heavy load, just as any unregulated supply does, only worse because of the "half wave nature" of a doubler fed by sine.

In active PFC, the 380V point however is a set point (regulated), and is typically chosen to be above the older doubler scheme, but presumably only by the necessary amount to accommodate the nature of boost converters, as this would make the PFC more or less a "drop in" replacement for the doublers in tried and true designs (which is exactly what happened in this case). If someone knows something to the contrary, by all means, as that's just speculation on my end.

The exact voltage isn't critical when it's used in this way, provided the MOSFETs used both for the boost converter and the main converter that follows are adequately rated/snubbed. It's usually in the 360-380 range (the charger actually reads something like 376V or so, sagging only slightly under load, down to around 372-374). Many times, the reservoir caps used (electrolytic) are rated for 400WV, so it will of course be below this.

The margin above 320 is to accommodate the 240V mains countries, without needing to manually select the voltage with a physical switch like on the old supplies. A boost circuit is not capable of producing a regulated output that is a lower voltage than it's input, because the DC path from input to output has no switching components in series in between (only an inductor separates them). To accomplish high PFC, it must always be regulating, so the target voltage is set higher than the peak AC voltage would normally reach (240 * 1.404 = 336.96V). Why is it called "320"? Nominal? Anyone? LOL Anyhow...

The boost converter is set up slightly differently for PFC than for typical DC usage, but for the most part, this is mostly at the cap used at the input. Instead of a relatively large electrolytic or tantalum, usually a much smaller value metal film cap of some variety is found in its place, immediately following the mains rectifier bridge. This is because it needs to be able to track the 100/120Hz rectified sine rather closely for the PFC to reach as close to unity PF as possible. Ideally, for phase distortion considerations (which counteract the active PFC with capacitance on an otherwise "resistive" load), it wouldn't be there at all, but the boost topology needs it to work correctly.

To accomplish the PFC, the boost converter more or less functions just like it's DC counterparts that you're (hopefully) already familiar with. It targets an output voltage, varying it's PWM as required to maintain regulation, as the input voltage rises and falls over the rectified sine, and load on the output changes. The overall pattern this results in is near maximum duty at the beginning and end of each sine pulse, with the lowest duty being seen at the crests of the waves. Load at the output causes the overall duty percentages to increase, with most of the difference being seen toward the crests.

The result is the entire wave produces output power, and not just the crests as in the doubler scheme. The loading effects this has, as I'll get to next... In a nutshell, the upstream source doesn't experience the disturbances that cause distortion of the sine.

Why is this important? Well, the problems that a simple doubler scheme cause are a little bit different in part from the voltage/current phase issues seen by things like directly mains powered transformers and motors... the main difference being that it introduces wild harmonics back into the source, that can't be controlled and compensated for by legacy L/C correction schemes. This is largely a "grid phenomenon" (meaning it is easier to "overlook" on smaller scales such as local generator feeds and the like). As SMPS gained popularity and presence on the grid, the distortions increased, and began posing problems to the infrastructure that again, passive PFC (within the grid) could not correct.

The other issue it causes, while different in originating nature, has the same end result - increased need for peak current handling. With SMPS (or countless, dozens at least) in every house on the planet pulling hard peaks at the crest of each wave, the impact on the grid is non-trivial. This is the more "visible" issue, in that the effects scale from single unit to the millions, with an even greater effect than the harmonics...

Let's take an SMPS that draws 1000W (for round number purposes) and ignore efficiency considerations for this example to keep the math cleaner, as it's a completely different concept.

It only *needs* 8.3A at 120V in doubler mode (or 4.15A at 240V in full bridge mode), but can, at the crest of the waves, draw current on the order of multiples of those during the peaks. Double, triple, quadruple even, and up. So let's play right down the middle and say the current spikes are hitting 3x average power used by the load... and rile the chip up... 1kW *average* power going in, 1kW coming out... but that's not what the upstream source needs to be capable of; it's seeing the need to provide a 3kW spike, even if only for a brief moment every cycle.

It is this spike of current multiplied by the instantaneous voltage within the "window" at the crest that becomes your "apparent power", and the upstream source, whether it be grid, generator,  or inverter, must be able to provide it while it's being drawn in order for the SMPS to feed it's load.

With PFC, the entire wave is supplying current to meet the actual power requirements of the load on the other side of the SMPS, the effective result is that the upstream source sees a mimicked resistive load, which has a perfect theoretical power factor (translates over to 100% "real power").

The harmonic distortion and behavior of the current spike are interdependent, in that the harmonic distortions induced in the upstream source are a result of the impedance of this source, and the distortions lead to further complexities that manifest as further disturbances in the current spikes, that result from the crests of the waves changing position, amplitude, and duration.

In the case of a smaller scale system, while the distortions still exist, the "round robin impact" is somewhat subdued, as the peak current demands can become the dominant problematic issue (by tripping fast acting overload protection schemes such as hiccup) before the distortions can cause problems, but not always. This is largely dependent on what types of other loads are also present within the system, and the impedance of the source. Generally speaking however, the main point is that "the grid will just keep on giving until something pops, and they'll just bill you for it, your generator and inverter will not".

(Ok, so generators and inverters can pop too, but that kind of popping is a massive PITA to "reset", and can come with a hefty "bill" of its own) :o

Hopefully, I've answered your questions with this, and didn't just add more confusion lol...

Steve
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: lighthunter on May 21, 2017, 10:11:49 pm
Very good explanation, quite a few things i had not thought about. The Scientist part of your handle is accurate i'd say  :).   So is this why the newest miller welder line, (continuum) is using over 1000v in the power supply? This fact has puzzled me for a year or so now because the previous models were rectifying 3phase 480 to something like 640DC and then using igbt's at high freq to cntrol power. The newest line steps 480 3phase up well above 1000v before they use a very late technology igbt i cant remember who makes it but i know its 1400-1600v rated. I long for the days when you could flip the switch on and start welding. You can go get coffee before these are ready to go.

Anyways, i thought the reason for the high v was for efficiency improvements and "because they can" After reading your explanation i'm betting its all about pfc and the utility and of course more money from the customer.    These things really blow up hard when they crossfire. Though weve had some hardware failures its not miller's weak point, the power units are fairly solid for as much as is happening in them. Software is another matter, always updating...related to microsoft i guess :)   

Thanks again for explanation, good stuff!
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on May 22, 2017, 09:22:43 pm
"Toys for Turk"... For once, an animal that keeps playing along, even knowing it's just me messing with him... (in fact goes into "dude what did you do with it" mode when you stop haha)

[attachimg=1]

[attachimg=2]

It still needs his approval... We shall see ;D

Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on May 28, 2017, 05:00:39 pm
[attachimg=1]

Grrrr lol
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on May 28, 2017, 06:00:48 pm
Fowl control Rev 3 lol...

[attachimg=2]

[attachimg=3]

Because I ain't trying to deal with what's involved to get all this out on a regular basis...

[attachimg=1]

First version was too restrictive even for the original AC blower... Second revision was too much for its BLDC fan counterparts... and when it came out, I just left it. Only really need something in there this time of year... So let's see how this goes lol

Next step involves a high voltage memo delivery system if this is still an issue... Trying to avoid breaking out the big hammers unless I absolutely need to  :o

Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on May 30, 2017, 08:07:00 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on May 31, 2017, 07:51:32 pm
[attachimg=1]

Another run at the venturi fan concept.... it's that time of year again  ::)

Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: bj on June 02, 2017, 09:07:34 am
  Have tried to build a few myself Steve--just because I wanted to.
  They all worked to some degree, but I was never completely satisfied.
  I think the sweet spot is tricky to find with low pressure.  High pressure almost
anything works.
  Good luck, and yes I will be watching with interest.
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on June 09, 2017, 01:20:19 pm
Yeah they're a tricky balance... easy enough to play with at least hehe
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on June 09, 2017, 01:20:43 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on June 28, 2017, 03:04:04 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on July 01, 2017, 04:39:49 pm
The term "bug juice" may be a misnomer...

[attachimg=1]

That's plain water haha
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on July 01, 2017, 05:56:54 pm
[attachimg=1]

If only... lol  8)

Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: solarnewbee on July 02, 2017, 10:06:28 am
Hey Mad!

In the Navy we used bug juice (kool-aid)to clean brass fire nozzles. Makes one wonder what that does to our insides!

SN
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on July 03, 2017, 07:00:26 pm
Lol yeah I think citric acid is high up on the list for most Koolaid hehe
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on July 03, 2017, 07:01:14 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on July 16, 2017, 12:11:22 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on July 16, 2017, 03:00:09 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on July 16, 2017, 05:50:05 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on July 17, 2017, 01:15:48 am
[attachimg=1]

Couple of bumps in the rearranging and pruning of the core for this thing, cleans up nice when you swing a hammer at it first ;D
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: bj on July 17, 2017, 07:22:05 am
  Hammer works Steve.  Had good luck threatening with my 50 ton press as well. ;D
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on July 17, 2017, 03:00:00 pm
LOL Yeah... turned out this one needed some additional.. ahem convincing... but it's now been beaten back into submission, and is test driving one of two methods I want to try for handling an offset that showed up in the ammeter. Looks more promising than ever tho with each swing... I must have gotten it backwards for one of them and it didn't fancy the claw...? Lol

Getting there tho yep
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on July 27, 2017, 12:54:14 am
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on July 27, 2017, 01:13:26 am
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on July 27, 2017, 09:51:39 am
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on August 10, 2017, 12:52:16 am
I'm so confused! Lol

Card hanging from the inside of the door in the hotel bathroom...
[attachimg=1]

Right on the other side of the wall...
[attachimg=2]
(I double checked, it's "real")

Ok so, what exactly are we doing here again?  ??? :o ::)



[attachment deleted by admin]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: bj on August 10, 2017, 06:12:46 am
   At least some of us know that we are confused Steve.  The rest seem to think just saying
a few nice words is enough.  (mini rant)
   As an aside, you were staying in a hotel?  Hope all is well.
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on October 06, 2017, 12:32:37 pm
Some serious forward progress over the last couple days on the charger... sneak peek lol

[attachimg=1]

It's officially out of control (in a good way lol)... more as it comes
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on October 18, 2017, 07:38:44 pm
A little something showing the ever increasing "midnite sun" value that high power LEDs have become (forgive the pun, for those of you that it jumps out at lol I couldn't resist)...  ;D

[attachimg=1]

Check out the little tiny red blip right at 2AM...

Then:

[attachimg=2]

Now I'm not gonna say there's "useful power" there... In fact, if anything, I'd call it a parasitic event, looking at the more sensitive battery monitoring voltage plots (causes MPPT relay to engage)...

[attachimg=3]

I'd have included the net current plot but there's nothing to see, it's a flat line.

And just to show that the temp isn't an "external event", here's the ambient lines. Note that the blip from engine heat comes *after* the bump in the classic temps...

[attachimg=4]

They keep this up, and I won't need the sun... just pull under a gas station canopy at night  8)

Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: lighthunter on October 19, 2017, 06:09:07 pm
You gotta be kidding, ive shined a 500w halogen at a panel before and output is very weak. Maybe you have some really good panels. Mine are always the .40c/w stuff without frames. Impressive, LED
 emitters are getting powerful no doubt about it but the frequency spectrum is pretty narrow maybe coincides with sensitivity of panel.

Thanks for the info
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on October 19, 2017, 07:05:02 pm
Yep. That's raw, from a trip to the pump under the canopy at 2AM... it sat there long enough to register on the graphs because I was topping up both the truck and genset, as well as my reserve tank, and got a bite to eat while I was inside.

It's certainly not "real power" in any sense of useful, but remember, PV is a current source not a voltage source, so it takes nearly nothing in terms of photons to make them saturate to Voc. The classic sees this rise, and mistakes it for dawn, and goes into bulk mode. The moment it attempts to draw power from them, the voltage falls back off, and it goes back into resting... where the cycle repeats.

The heat is most likely simply the processor in the classic coming out of sleep, and the board being surrounded by heatsink, some of it gets picked up on by the MOSFET probe.

There's probably a tiny amount of actual external energy involved in heating the MOSFETs up, as the reservoir caps discharge thru the converter, but it's hard to call it much more than minimal. The cycle takes a minute or so total to complete because of timers involved designed to prevent nuisance relay chatter.

I guess you could say it's more an amusing parlor trick than anything else, but it certainly illustrates that LED has gotten intense (and the ones at the station are certainly no exception lol) ;)
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on October 20, 2017, 04:53:39 pm
Won't be long...  :-\

[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on October 28, 2017, 01:22:51 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on November 28, 2017, 05:53:13 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on November 28, 2017, 08:37:20 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on November 29, 2017, 08:09:05 am
A riggin any self respecting backwoods rigger would be proud of...

[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on November 30, 2017, 12:27:59 am
Well it's low level but definitely present and yes, this is rat nest breadboard action, so I'm not expecting silence. The "forever in dev" charger, of course, is of which I speak... haha

Earlier I saw the noise floor competing heavily with the shift in each step on the high side sense line to ground, so it's pretty smooth and quiet considering.

This one was taken from the master Vfb output headed for the KA7500 [TL494].

[attachimg=1]

Time 5uS, 20mV/Div, Signal ground ref, AC mode.

Not taken at full throttle; CV mode running about 15A or so into 13.5V as I recall on this one (38% of theoretical, 47% of limited max output).

Tube memory was used, and scope isolated on dedicated battery.

Amplitude of spikes increases proportionally and in the same pattern as drive/output goes up... They remain the same otherwise. Exact source unclear at the moment, it's pretty prominent throughout as a common mode leak, probably in the grunt, but there's no noticeable shift in PWM duty component... As such, pretty "invasive" ::)

It'll be nice if that calms down a bit more after final assembly nears closer, as I think it's what's introducing a little bit of twitch in the amps, which of course causes the PID to react. Not obnoxious, but there at times. Hysteresis doesn't do too bad a job of handling it; window is about the same on the output voltage control; about 30mV keeps it in check for the moment.

It's possible the spikes are the hard CC foldback transistor catching (and suppressing) these needles at the master battery bus, as the one place they seem a bit more toned down is at the Vsense lead, but again, where's the PWM modulation? :o

They're not a real big deal as things sit but of course the OCD in me wants them gone. That said, overall I'm happy so far, it's been slow, but all the extra "hmm" is starting to show sneak peeks of the rewards. Hopefully soon I'll have it fully laid out on vero and can turn everything over to code. These are sweet little boards, and once you've beaten the language and compiler into submission, they start to pull rabbits out of hats  ;D

Stay tuned lol
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on November 30, 2017, 02:15:48 am
Not coming from the charger... in fact narrowed down to one of like 4 core system components that I wasn't about to shut down to see which one was making it. Everything else had been taken down. There are other ways lol...

Anyhow, this is directly across the battery bars where the 2 strings join and head for the rest of the bus...

No charger, "Dry":

[attachimg=1]


No charger, "Wet":

[attachimg=2]


Charger at Soft CC (Bulk mode, ~32A 13.5V), Dry:

[attachimg=3]


And Same, Wet:

[attachimg=4]


Yeah, there's a difference... not much tho... Whatever else might be there, this thing can't see it.

5uS/Div, 2mV/Div, AC coupled

Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on November 30, 2017, 05:21:28 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on December 01, 2017, 08:49:51 am
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on December 09, 2017, 06:36:54 pm
[attachimg=1]

Next up... LOL
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on December 09, 2017, 07:36:19 pm
Anybody else still use this old trick going from breadboard to perf etc?  ;D

[attachimg=1]

There's "physical schematics", and then there's physical schematics lol
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on December 10, 2017, 06:42:32 am
[attachimg=1]

And the ugly side LOL...

[attachimg=2]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on December 10, 2017, 08:05:52 am
It's alive!

[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on December 10, 2017, 08:20:48 am
Full tilt in hard CC...

[attachimg=1]

Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on December 12, 2017, 09:53:15 pm
Some more cleaning up...

[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on December 15, 2017, 07:36:34 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: bj on December 16, 2017, 06:39:25 am
  World's smallest hover board?   ;D
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on December 29, 2017, 05:11:58 am
Haha Not exactly BJ... At present, propane powered under bench toe defroster... soon to be electric. In time, probably somewhere in August lol
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on December 29, 2017, 05:14:14 am
[attachimg=1]

More progress... doesn't look like much here but lots of changes under the hood, and all known bugs at least accounted for. Good progress this go, with plans for getting the relays cleaned out hehe
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on December 29, 2017, 06:17:32 am
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: DBCollen on December 29, 2017, 09:58:27 am
Looks like you found Schrödinger's cats, both alive.  ;D
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on December 30, 2017, 08:27:18 pm
LOL
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on January 01, 2018, 09:41:06 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on January 02, 2018, 02:55:15 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on January 07, 2018, 01:15:09 pm
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Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on January 08, 2018, 10:59:04 am
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on January 08, 2018, 01:50:20 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on January 08, 2018, 06:40:53 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: bj on January 09, 2018, 06:44:12 am
    Don't you just love winter?  Take heart in the fact that the days are getting longer.
Which means more daylight time to fix what winter has broken.
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: solarnewbee on January 14, 2018, 12:19:10 pm
Hate winter myself. This year. Charleston SC got 8” right after I busted my butt in the freezing rain. This just doesn’t happen here. Mix natives with snow birds and no way I’m on the road. We’re just not equipped for snow. Limited equipment for the DOT. Snow is gone and I’m glad. 10 months at Great Lakes Naval base cured me of wanting snow and ice. Boulders of ice rolling in on the beach on Lake Michigan surreal.

Long days yessss! Although in the Philippines they average 12 hours year round. Gotta get up at 4am if lots to be done.

What arduino board you using?
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on January 15, 2018, 02:44:39 pm
Indeed on winter and drivers. The snow we get here is rare but thankfully only usually once a year. At least for the "one good one" anyway.

Arduino is Uno R3. That project is progressing slower than molasses but at least the code is zinging along internally now lol... Pretty wild little boards given what's in play hehe
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on January 19, 2018, 12:20:34 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: DBCollen on January 19, 2018, 08:01:38 pm
Schrödinger's cat.......
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on January 19, 2018, 08:17:01 pm
Hahaha Nice... Dunno how I didn't see that one coming... Good call ;D
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: Norm on January 20, 2018, 09:16:18 pm
winter and drivers back in like '52 or'53 one nice morning the residents are driving along ...and what's that white stuff ? 
Hmmm red light (puts on the brakes )when the car in front stops ...hey why am I not stopping? bam and the car behind him bam and so on about 5 or 6 collide ... that was Norfolk
Norm
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on January 20, 2018, 09:21:36 pm
I guess some things never change huh Norm hehe
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on January 21, 2018, 12:18:04 pm
[attachimg=1]

[attachimg=2]

[attachimg=3]

[attachimg=4]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on February 23, 2018, 09:45:07 pm
[attach=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on February 24, 2018, 12:24:38 pm
[attachimg=1]

[attachimg=2]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: DBCollen on February 24, 2018, 03:31:16 pm
battery cell?
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on February 24, 2018, 03:57:20 pm
Yeah... small motorcycle battery... it would seem like it may never have even been given a forming charge... but got filled and then immediately dumped...? It definitely isn't a "boil dry" scenario... lol shrug
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: bj on February 26, 2018, 06:43:38 am
Nice pic Steve.  Just curious, but how did you go about it?
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on March 05, 2018, 05:52:39 pm
All of these (last year and a half) have been taken with a Samsung S7 camera... for some of them I use the "pro" mode which allows locking things like focus and exposure etc.
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on March 05, 2018, 05:54:17 pm
[attachimg=1]
Main (primary) reflector


[attachimg=2]
Damper (secondary)

Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on March 05, 2018, 07:22:24 pm
[attachimg=1]

[attachimg=2]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on March 05, 2018, 11:41:36 pm
BJ - As for the battery, was replaced for that moment and found the engine had no compression.  :o
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on March 12, 2018, 02:17:33 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on March 23, 2018, 02:17:18 pm
[attachimg=1]

No, your other up!  :o
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on April 19, 2018, 04:26:00 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on April 19, 2018, 07:03:59 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on April 21, 2018, 08:24:00 pm
[attachimg=1]

Just messing around with some thermal mass... I can see where this might get out of control... lol
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on April 28, 2018, 11:12:12 am
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on May 07, 2018, 01:21:05 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on May 11, 2018, 02:10:37 pm
[attachimg=1]

Mod #3 to aircon syphon... It's collection time! Lol
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on May 12, 2018, 07:43:44 am
[attachimg=1]

Thermal mass is great... but this is gonna get seriously silly... lol
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: Pete on May 12, 2018, 04:58:22 pm
I hope that is not the inside of your truck, if it is it could look quite different after a bit of driving about.
Also if you drink all that soft drink you may find other issues. Such as finger nails in the ceiling.
Cheers
Pete
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: Wolvenar on May 13, 2018, 08:53:39 am
Man where do ya sleep in that things these days???
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on May 14, 2018, 12:35:14 am
Pete - Yep, inside the truck lol... but no, that's not the final form... I needed to get them into play and that was the best way I could immediately "charge" them. This is closer to what the end product will look like...

[attachimg=1]

Looks like it's gonna hold just shy of twice what I have currently... 48ea 500mL, or just over 6 gallons, so about 12. Need is somewhere around 20... at some point the weight and space starts to count against me... the jugs up in the attic in the "spread out" pic are a gallon a pop, 10 in play.

Still working out details but air flow end to end, eventually bidirectional if I can make it practical.

Exact soda was chosen solely for bottle attributes, but yes, haha caffeine was a deal breaker. These were the only ones that fit the bill, were available in numbers at the moment, and caffeine free. I'm slowly replacing it with collected condensate from the aircon as I drink it.

Wolv - In a nutshell... lol "right where the lid is" haha ;D

I'm looking at ways to support the equivalent of the curtain that I trap heat with in the winter for this... it's gonna be interesting if I can work it out, to say the least haha
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on May 16, 2018, 11:51:56 am
Progress... got the rest of the soda today... overshot by a few but that's ok... here's the mockup before cutting holes... intake on left, to lead up to a more direct path to aircon supply.

[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on May 18, 2018, 02:21:42 pm
[attachimg=1]

LOL Might be time to replace this...
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: Wolvenar on May 19, 2018, 12:56:26 am
Yup, I would have to agree.
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on May 26, 2018, 07:37:32 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on May 28, 2018, 05:45:13 pm
[attachimg=1]

[attachimg=2]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on May 31, 2018, 05:23:49 pm
Recipe for "evening eww"...

[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on June 01, 2018, 01:01:35 pm
[attachimg=1]

My "hygrometer" lol... currently reading "come out and sweat to death"  :o ;D
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on June 05, 2018, 07:53:48 pm
[attachimg=1]

One of my vigilant helpers...
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on June 08, 2018, 05:14:08 pm
[attachimg=1]

Guess that's my cue to be the vigilant one for the moment...? Lol
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: DBCollen on June 09, 2018, 09:41:50 am
Schrödinger's............
nevermind, that one is used up. :)
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on June 10, 2018, 12:26:15 am
Lol
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on June 15, 2018, 04:10:34 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on June 16, 2018, 10:20:47 am
[attachimg=1]

And to think... this isn't an "installer issue"... that's *OEM*

 :o
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: Pete on June 16, 2018, 07:13:41 pm
Here in Oz we would say that job was "Rough as Guts"
Have you sent a photo of that disgraceful work to the safety authorities?
Pete
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on June 23, 2018, 01:11:03 am
Yeah I was a bit on the "Dude WTF" side when I saw that...

Unfortunately I think it's probably a bit more common than less... With the advent of "backstab" connections on things like switches and outlets, the mentality must be that "we can do that anywhere"... that's my theory anyway.

Comes down to money (surprise surprise, right?)... You want cheap, or quality? Can't do both.  :-\

As for reporting it somewhere... Naaa... I don't have much faith in those mechanisms, so it's futile in my mind. I just fight the good fight by trying to keep the quality I personally produce up... Can't fix the world lol
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on June 24, 2018, 10:01:44 pm
[attachimg=1]

Newest toy... pretty stable inside... can't wait to fly it in the courtyard ;D

[attachimg=2]
(For scale, next to the other)
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on July 07, 2018, 04:46:41 pm
[attachimg=1]

Someone didn't think this thru very far, mmm? ;D
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: bj on July 09, 2018, 06:48:25 am
more ways than one ;D
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on July 09, 2018, 03:17:27 pm
That's what happens when this happens bj...

[attachimg=1]

My vigilant helper seems to be off duty more and more lately LOL
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on July 11, 2018, 11:06:44 am
[attachimg=1]

[attachimg=2]

[attachimg=3]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: Pete on July 11, 2018, 05:19:37 pm
Hi Steve, now either you left some talcum powder under the computer or it is looking like it wants to die.
Looks like heatsink compound, hope the computer is not running that hot.
Pete
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on July 13, 2018, 03:46:27 pm
Naaa Pete... laptop is fine, no talc or other powder either... was a convenient effort at "gentle heat" to revert damage caused by a paper plate with hot chicken on it :/

It may have helped a little but not really, I'm sorry to report. At least I'm not the one that got smacked for the original damage lol
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: bj on July 14, 2018, 06:26:38 am
  Had a similar issue, and yes, I did get smacked, anyway, used my headlight polish kit.
  Ultra fine polish compound on a foam pad turned slowly with a drill, and a bit of water
for lube/coolant.  Turned out almost perfect, and got a smack reversal. ;)
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on July 15, 2018, 11:45:56 am
Hahaha Nice... Might have to give that try... Thanks Bj ;)
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on September 02, 2018, 02:30:43 pm
[attachimg=1]

One may need to be specific when asking for bacon and eggs...  ;D
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: OTG on September 06, 2018, 01:03:13 am
Please excuse my initialism - but WTF is that!?  :P

And...

did... ::) you... ??? eat... :-X it? 8)

 :D
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on September 14, 2018, 04:20:28 am
Haha it's just the bacon pan from the oven with the fat in it and egg shells hehe
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on September 14, 2018, 04:22:12 am
[attachimg=1]

Speaking of bacon... She's on a mission... Mouse caught her eye... And I think the thing jumped lol
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on October 06, 2018, 10:42:38 am
[attachimg=1]

... just...    ...
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on October 07, 2018, 02:16:21 pm
[attach=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on October 08, 2018, 07:03:07 am
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: bj on October 09, 2018, 05:27:57 am
   I could find a use for some of that lovely wire.   ;)
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on October 10, 2018, 10:51:06 am
Haha BJ I hear ya... I may be hauling some of it soon
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on October 10, 2018, 10:51:34 am
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on October 12, 2018, 10:28:32 am
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on October 21, 2018, 09:14:18 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on October 24, 2018, 07:45:47 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on November 23, 2018, 11:22:47 am
This battery thing is getting out of hand lol

[attachimg=1]

[attachimg=2]

Note that there's one more that isn't quite in the pic... like, the one that's part of the device taking the pictures haha... and another one that isn't in the mix at the time they were taken...
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on December 04, 2018, 04:10:13 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on December 09, 2018, 05:34:41 am
Hmm wonder where the snow is...

[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on December 19, 2018, 11:42:13 am
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on December 22, 2018, 01:05:07 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on December 24, 2018, 01:25:23 am
[attachimg=1]
Battery Side


[attachimg=2]
Charge port side

(4 pin yel/blk charge port connector disconnected from board for clarity underneath)
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on January 02, 2019, 04:49:03 pm
[attachimg=1]

 [attachimg=2]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on January 05, 2019, 11:36:34 am
Alum crystal progress... These things aren't as easy to grow [clear] as they make it seem lol

[attachimg=1]

[attachimg=2]

Still pretty cool. About an inch or so across in these pics, maybe slightly less.
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on January 07, 2019, 01:47:15 am
[attachimg=1]

Still on that quest for the most bang for buck to extend range of the hoverboard... Specs sticker on the back of the battery. The astute eye will catch the "ohms law marketing plague" that seems prevalent in these newer battery arenas... But sigh... 40 bucks... To take one for the team so to speak... Find out what exactly can be expected of one of these things. The answer is "not much"... But I'll continue some tests and do a write up once I've got more information...
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on January 08, 2019, 05:07:37 pm
Wow just wow...

[attachimg=1]

[attachimg=2]

Keep the specs above in mind... Then tack on this...

http://www.anglia-live.com/productinfo.aspx?catref=1189005001

"Drugs R Bad. Mmmkay?"  ::)
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on January 10, 2019, 03:27:05 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on January 10, 2019, 04:41:37 pm
[attachimg=1]

*ABOUT* 9 cookies?

... ABOUT?! :o
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on January 10, 2019, 05:12:07 pm
[attachimg=1]

A little fun waiting for a prescription to be filled...

Ok so maybe a little *too* much fun... ;D
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on January 10, 2019, 07:11:48 pm
[attachimg=1]

[attachimg=2]

[attachimg=3]

Was that time again... It's getting big...

Just wish it were a single. It's difficult to see this issue when they're tiny. But still pretty cool.

I've also not been growing them suspended, so they do distort, which I'm fine with for the time being. Working more on stability for clarity so when I finally *do* get the perfect seed, it'll look good all grode up  ;D

For the record... This is what I'm after (and just to make extra clear... I do *not* lay claim to having this kind of skill lol):

[attachimg=4]

2 words. Patience, Practice. Methinks. Lol
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on January 12, 2019, 02:44:50 pm
[attachimg=1]

Turns out these things are quite the worthy adversary...
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on January 18, 2019, 08:57:52 am
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on January 19, 2019, 10:25:36 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: solarnewbee on January 22, 2019, 08:35:04 am
I was just farting around with a couple of reels of those leds last weekend here on vacation on the big island. No not that one the other one. Philippines!, my daughter immediately robbed them from me and installed them in her room. Looks like blue Christmas in there.

You still having fun in the solar panel farms?
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on January 22, 2019, 02:08:38 pm
Lol

Naaa that one's done. Should have went hot some time in late December.
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on February 05, 2019, 04:55:19 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on February 28, 2019, 07:49:49 am
[attachimg=1]

Dunno how to tell anybody this... But umm... 0 * ... Anything...
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: bj on March 01, 2019, 06:42:38 am
    I also notice that those quantities are per each 1/4 second spray.
    Nothing unrealistic there either.
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: WooferHound on March 01, 2019, 07:20:03 am
They forgot to mention that it's Boneless

I sure am glad that the Growth Hormones in my Reddi-Whip are not Artificial !

[attach=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: solarnewbee on March 01, 2019, 05:12:22 pm
Lol!

I am in the HVAC business and I tell people to buy cheap filters for better airflow with the 410A refrigerant and they can spray cooking or salad oil lightly on them and they work just fine. Hepa filters just bogg down really quick and the expensive filters that say 90 days are full of it. 30 days that’s the limit. Pay the lights or water bill, change that filter.

Encountered my first inverter fridge last week. No outward sign that it is one. I think it just ramps up and down but nothing in between. My fridge at home I can hear the compressor spinning up so it’s probably one too. I talked the appliance mgr into knocking the price down $400 and then took it up front and got my vet 10%. I’m not bashful about deals and discount by any stretch.

Be careful with those 1/4 sprays!
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on March 01, 2019, 08:35:59 pm
Hahaha indeed on all counts

Also got another picture of the crystal... Thing is considerable size now but also slowing down... I've finally got the evap rate just about right.. there's a couple of seeds in the bottom with this one that are near flawless (or at least from looking down into the water lol). I "gave up" on this one because of the early issues but it's still pretty cool to see... I'm using it largely as a solution control at this point to modulate the growth of the smaller ones.

[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on March 01, 2019, 11:12:45 pm
Ok this is WAY easier to do when you're reading about it lol

How tricky this is simply isn't in the manual anywhere... It's just "tie fishing string around the crystal"...  :o

[attachimg=1]

Uh huh... Only reason I took the pic is because nobody (including me haha) would ever believe it happened without it... You know, in case someone is fruity enough to be following me on this... (I'm following a bunch of other people who have done it, might wanna get behind them lol)

Current dimensions of the new seed are about 3/8” across...

Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on March 02, 2019, 02:57:55 pm
Ahem... Take 2

I botched the mix on that last one and lost the seed... It fell within an hour but also lost more than half it's size by morning.

So, I dug back into the bottle and got the only other seed I had that is big enough to tie, and set up a slightly over saturated mix to ensure this one takes.

If you look close at the last pic, you can see the tell tale "density draft" flowing down off the bottom of the seed. This is due to the seed dissolving, the heavier resulting solution seeking the bottom of the chamber.

The new one:

[attachimg=1]

More typical "flat" seed, but good clarity and form on it, and most importantly... No draft.

The cloudiness of the solution is because I didn't let it settle out before using it, and the anti caking agent used in the "raw" powdered alum is of course not water soluble. It'll settle out and cause some spontaneous seeding on the bottom but won't really affect the growth clarity much. The lattice rejects things that aren't it's own.

I have a "B batch" more or less ready to go for when I do the next solution change and it will have settled out by then. I filter the solution to remove as much foreign material as possible before use but of course a coffee filter is only so fine... 
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on March 03, 2019, 09:15:33 pm
Ross was curious how the crystal handled the line situation...

They're difficult to photograph but here's as good as I could dial in with the phone thru the glass and solution to show what it does in response to the presence of the nylon.

[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on March 04, 2019, 12:43:02 pm
Next little mini project... Lol Lamp tipped over when the window was open the other day and broke... I've commandeered the shade...

[attachimg=1]

I figure even if it ain't worth squat as a light source, I can phone home with it ;D
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on March 15, 2019, 04:07:27 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: solarnewbee on March 16, 2019, 11:26:16 pm
Senior and junior specialty dowel pins?
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on March 17, 2019, 12:07:40 pm
Lol naa those are tiny tubes used in pressure measurement systems
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on March 27, 2019, 04:42:22 pm
[attach=4]

[attach=2]

[attach=3]

[attach=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: bj on March 28, 2019, 06:05:38 am
   Vibrate mode on your phone? :)
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on March 28, 2019, 12:08:03 pm
Lol I was experimenting with an idea involving the accelerometers in the phone (would be a set of 4 actually lol)... More a "theory of concept" lol...
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on April 01, 2019, 10:46:32 pm
[attachimg=1]

[attachimg=2]

Some MAP crystals...

Gonna grow a massive single out of the salvage ASAP...
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on April 07, 2019, 07:53:55 am
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on April 27, 2019, 06:23:37 pm
[attachimg=1]

Apparently if you get a Coke zero or Dr Pepper, it comes in a bag instead of a cup... Hahahaha
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on May 03, 2019, 07:08:26 am
[attachimg=1]

[attachimg=2]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on May 03, 2019, 12:44:55 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: solarnewbee on May 06, 2019, 10:22:15 pm
You’d have to drink fast! Most 3rd world countries serve up drinks in plastic bags, México, Philippines for example.

You doing a belt inspection history log? Lol

I see your stalker is back 😝

Other than that, hows things?
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: bj on May 07, 2019, 06:17:57 am
   So, back to #643--you've been doing a little sandblasting? 
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on May 10, 2019, 02:16:50 am
You’d have to drink fast! Most 3rd world countries serve up drinks in plastic bags, México, Philippines for example.

You doing a belt inspection history log? Lol

I see your stalker is back 😝

Other than that, hows things?

Stalker...? I'm guessing refers to the Maine Coon... Yeah she comes and goes... But I'm told we can't take her with us because Susan is already allergic to cats and while we're taking Bacon with us, she's about all she can handle... :/

Belt inspection, naaa... Alternator had gone out on her car, this was my peek under the hood to see what would be involved... I chickened out and let someone else do it... Lol

Not bad far as rest of life... Got a "new to me" car and have been working second shift now for a couple weeks... Enjoying it so far...

Got a new hoverboard on the way too... The Jetson is croaking on me... New one is quite an upgrade to it ;D

BJ - Only briefly sandblasting until they realized I was meant for so much more lol
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on May 10, 2019, 08:27:30 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on May 18, 2019, 08:23:32 pm
Actually it's more like this...  ;D

[attachimg=1]

These things are both addicting and contagious lol
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on May 24, 2019, 07:39:39 am
Call it a little benchmark/stamp trip at the beach...

33% remain, starting at 98%... Average cruise 8.5-9mph, 5.4 mi, with some slight hill... Not bad at all

[attachimg=1]

[attachimg=2]

Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on May 24, 2019, 08:36:30 pm
[attachimg=1]

(Yes that's me lol)
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on May 26, 2019, 02:35:38 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on June 15, 2019, 10:47:54 pm
Hoverboard reserve tanks...

[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on June 18, 2019, 02:27:49 am
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on June 21, 2019, 04:42:35 pm
So cool... Never seen one this small... Body is 3/4.. 7/8” long maybe? Not even mature enough to have wings yet...

[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: bj on June 22, 2019, 06:11:20 am
   Cool  indeed.  Good pic
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on June 27, 2019, 11:57:46 am
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on June 27, 2019, 11:30:08 pm
[attachimg=1]

... First functioning version... Not suitable for transport (on my back anyway lol), but will do just fine for the tests...
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on July 13, 2019, 12:01:05 am
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on July 21, 2019, 07:13:05 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on July 29, 2019, 02:10:18 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on July 29, 2019, 02:31:10 pm
[attachimg=1]

[attachimg=2]

[attachimg=3]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on August 03, 2019, 12:26:34 am
[attachimg=1]

[attachimg=2]

[attachimg=3]

[attachimg=4]

[attachimg=5]

[attachimg=6]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on August 03, 2019, 01:54:28 am
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on August 04, 2019, 09:15:05 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on August 11, 2019, 06:03:19 am
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on August 22, 2019, 11:24:54 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on August 24, 2019, 06:10:08 pm
Next project... Before pic...

[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on August 24, 2019, 10:26:23 pm
[attachimg=1]

... And after paint and gunmetal finish pendant socket fit. Cord is ran here but not terminated at a plug yet because I got a little giddy for the pic lol

Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on August 24, 2019, 10:57:18 pm
[attachimg=1]

... And with power, dimmed to detail the "filament"
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on August 25, 2019, 06:10:25 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on August 25, 2019, 10:44:56 pm
[attachimg=1]

The "RE" logo wasn't the only amusing thing in the box... Apparently VCRs weren't the only thing kids fed hahaha
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on August 29, 2019, 01:03:59 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on September 06, 2019, 03:26:23 am
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on September 06, 2019, 03:35:36 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on September 07, 2019, 03:24:58 pm
[attachimg=1]

[attachimg=2]

[attachimg=3]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: bj on September 08, 2019, 06:07:22 am
   Last two posts:
Hidden behind the wood I see Honda---could that be your old genset?
Rings--could just be photo/light but doesn't quite look like steel.  Hard to do a magnet
test from here.
   Keep having fun Steve
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on September 08, 2019, 04:43:16 pm
Indeed it's the old generator BJ... And definitely not steel on the ring.

I'll be doing a post before long on where things sit... Lots has changed over the past few months.
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on September 21, 2019, 08:56:21 pm
[attachimg=1]

Test version of the new stereo layout for the new place...

It's close to tuned up... But I think I need to rethink the sub layout... Not exactly running efficiently I think. I'm sagging the supply there at rather modest volume levels (even barely but still noticeably dimming the room light), and the amp is running excessively warm considering.

It does sound decent tho... Only issue there is the room is hard to tune. It's a pure slave system, driven by a BT module (black box on the floor next to the big sub), completely controlled by the host transmitting to it.

I'll have to play around some more with this... But finally... TUNES! LOL
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on September 22, 2019, 01:25:09 am
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on October 08, 2019, 04:34:51 pm
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: solarnewbee on October 11, 2019, 03:05:09 pm
Hey there!

Yummy plumbing huh? I got talked into a bottle trap on my last trip home to PI. I was skeptical but replaced both bath sinks and the kitchen sink traps and I was sold. Very easy to line up the connections and if you needs to clean out the trap just unscrew the bottle like a jar, dump and re-install. Similar to the pic below but without the hose. There are some fancy ones available here but expensive.

Have a good one!
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on October 13, 2019, 03:19:36 pm
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Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on October 18, 2019, 05:58:06 pm
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Lol... That come with a book of matches or anything too? :o

Last place I'd have expected to see carbon zinc in today's world... Damn haha

Barely fall and the thing was already chirping (guessing it was installed around early summer lol)
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: bj on October 19, 2019, 05:57:12 am
   Big company, been around for a long time.  Kind of makes you wonder what other corners
they are starting to cut.
   But, have to pay those board salaries somehow.
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on October 19, 2019, 01:22:51 pm
Yeah kinda a scary thought ain't it.
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on October 20, 2019, 02:25:10 pm
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Ok look... I never said I was right in the head lol
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on November 16, 2019, 02:22:31 pm
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Miss priss princess...
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: solarnewbee on November 24, 2019, 12:22:47 am
I’ve got one of those too! Nibbles hard when she’s done with you. Just when you think a 9 volt is done, poof!, the garage burns down. Tape those terminals when throwing them away, wafer cells too. Guy burnt his house down recycling batteries and it was the 9 volts according to the inquest.

That’s was your 3 bits for the day.

How’s life treating ya these days?
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on December 01, 2019, 11:37:37 pm
Not bad. And I don't know why I'm not getting the notifications on this... Sorry

With the truck gone and a couple of moves, new(ish) relationship, and the fun that goes along with all of that and then some lol...

Been fairly busy but I think it's all finally starting to slow down a bit. Hope to kinda get back into the electronics end of things sooner than later, tho right now it's kinda a "answer in need of a question" lol

Last project was the charger and as implemented at least, really requires the large(r) batteries to complete the dev phase, which of course no longer exist... So there's nothing on the table right now, just the desire to mess with things lol
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on December 24, 2019, 02:05:17 pm
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Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: bj on January 16, 2020, 11:13:10 am
     Mastercard Maze?  Where mine should have been during the yearly Christmas spend season. ;)
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on January 25, 2020, 03:46:28 am
Hahahaha Yeah I know, right?  :o
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: Pete on January 26, 2020, 04:03:50 pm
Things are quiet in here these days, everyone must have got all their technology up to date and running well.
Steve you could probably make quite a business out of your idea. Putting peoples credit cards out of reach like that
would be a good thing to do for the world.
You seem to have much longer days there, I don't get that much time to dabble about, after doing all the normal
chores there is not so much time to come up with gadgets and curios.
Seems like you enjoy yourself, which is all that actually counts
Pete
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on January 27, 2020, 08:24:33 pm
Haha I bought that at Wally world
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on March 07, 2020, 07:42:46 am
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Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on March 07, 2020, 08:25:33 am
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Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on March 13, 2020, 10:56:47 pm
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Ok. Last time. You *don't need toilet paper!*

(Taken at a local Wally World just a short bit ago)
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: bj on March 14, 2020, 06:42:07 am
   Wow---scary times
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: solarnewbee on March 15, 2020, 08:36:41 pm
Filipinos and Myself are laughing because they and I have a spray hose by the toilet or a bucket of water and dipper and soap. cleanest rear ends around ha! Once you have spray rinsed and dried off with a washable cloth  you'll never go back. A little brisk in the winter tho.
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on March 21, 2020, 08:20:10 pm
Lol yeah that it would be...

People just don't think. Or... Something lol
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on April 16, 2020, 06:35:50 pm
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Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: solarnewbee on April 17, 2020, 07:16:48 am
You been in the hospital brother?
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on April 17, 2020, 09:43:58 pm
Yeah, for a couple broken ribs... That's apparently my anti-pneumonia insurance policy lol

Didn't go to the hospital tho... Just an urgent care type place. That was bad enough... Wasn't about to go straight into a bees nest (that's what held me off to begin with, but finally decided they weren't just bruised).
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: Pete on April 18, 2020, 05:32:04 pm
Ouch, broken ribs can be a bit painful.
Hope they fix fast Steve.
And keep out of hospitals, here in Tasmania we have two hospitals that had to shut down because the staff got Corona virus.  It spread through the hospital so they had to make the staff go into isolation for 14 days.
They have brought in Army medics now to open the emergency department after they thoroughly cleaned the hospital.
So the best place to be in these times is away from hospitals. Fortunately we only go out once a week to shop, the rest of the time we are high on a mountain by ourselves.
How about a story of how you broke your ribs.  Surely dabbling with electronic devices didn't do it?
Take care
Pete
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: solarnewbee on April 19, 2020, 08:22:07 am
Sorry to hear your hurt. Get well soon!
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on May 25, 2020, 01:56:18 pm
All good SNB... I've gotten back on the saddle... With lessons learned in mind lol
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on May 25, 2020, 01:56:44 pm
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Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on May 26, 2020, 12:39:05 am
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Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on June 02, 2020, 12:25:21 am
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Ok I bought this because I knew if I didn't, I'd never see another one, and nobody would believe me lol... So here's a pic of it anyway lol

Answers to likely FAQs:

1. Yes it's real. A little shy of 2" long in there.

2. No, I will not be eating it

3. There will likely be "significance" to this very shortly lol...
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: bj on June 02, 2020, 06:20:06 am
   Got to admit, I probably would have bought it as well.
Kind of cool, in a quirky way,  and definitely a conversation starter.
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on June 02, 2020, 11:21:27 am
Yeah there was a good size box, designed to hold maybe 50 of them... There was a small handful left, and the box wasn't there the last time I went there a few days ago... And I'm thinking not very many people are thinking "you know what sounds good in a sucker?" Lol... And did the exact same thing I did hahaha
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on June 12, 2020, 02:02:06 pm
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Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on June 13, 2020, 02:41:30 pm
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This can't... Be comfy... Lol
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on June 18, 2020, 12:06:49 am
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Thought it was toadstool... Not slugstool... Haha
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on June 21, 2020, 11:24:48 am
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... Sigh.
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on June 21, 2020, 12:58:04 pm
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Well, at least the ladder doesn't need to get involved this time lol
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on July 01, 2020, 03:12:07 pm
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Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: MadScientist267 on July 11, 2020, 02:17:03 pm
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Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: Pete on July 11, 2020, 09:21:14 pm
Yes it does seem that the US has lost the chance to give the virus the flick.
I think if will not be until a vaccine comes along that we will be free of this little number.
International travel seems a very long way off.
Fortunately I live on an island where we have been covid free now for over 50 days. Hopefully we will keep our borders closed and stay that way.
Take care
Pete
Title: Re: My Scratch Pad
Post by: Wolvenar on July 15, 2020, 03:18:23 am
Trouble with that chart is how it's been interpreted by the media.

Trying to say that this was all the fault of the reopening, then noting the recent drop off not shown in that chart the media and certain people ignore.

So.. ~ 4 days to ~14 days incubation. + a week to two of mild to moderate symptoms before someone would decide going to get tested.

Hmm, what started happening about 50 days ago that could have possibly caused a spike starting about 20-25 days later?
(HINT)
They ARE stupid!