Posted By RichC on February 18, 2017
To be fair, I’m not sure if “Chipper” is clearing his machine with it running (only his Orthopedic Surgeon would know for sure) … the photo makes me cringe nevertheless.
Posted By RichC on February 17, 2017
While talking with my IT friend Jeff about controlling relays with my Pine64 and Raspberry Pi computers, he thought developing with the Arduino or Particle Photon might be a better idea.
I did a little bit more reading as to what an Internet Of Things device might be good for, and decided my relay switching ideas might apply. Besides the Photons are $19 and already designed to connect with wifi or 3G connected (maybe later) so could be helpful. Anyway, something else to distract me from actually getting some of the many, MANY projects I have on my "To-Do List."
More to come later …
EDIT: It arrived and the package is shockingly small!
… 
and …
I’ve starting to "tinker" (name of the Particle smart.io smartphone app) with it connected to my relay for 110v light outlet switching (currently a desk light on my workbench). Also flashed the chip with a publish program which simulates "false" temperatures and "loops" a bit of data to a channel and "for now" graphs it every 30 seconds. Next step with ThingSpeak would be to add triggers although I’d rather do something like this on the Raspberry Pi or PineA64?
Posted By RichC on February 16, 2017
Unless you’ve had your head in the sand pile, you know that there is a shake-up happening in Washington DC since the election of President Donald Trump and his taking office less than 1 month ago. Much of the economic optimism seen by new records on Wall Street, job incentives and both interest rates and inflation ticking up are due to a more friendly business climate coming from our Federal government. I see it as government partnering with business rather than against it … even if it is only optics, it should stimulate growth.
Much of the optimism comes from fewer regulations and lower taxes … and the big one that impacts every taxpayer is lower individual federal income tax rates. How much you ask … well because the president has disclosed his thoughts, let’s start there, but be warned, congress has their own ideas and they are very likely to get bogged down in the details. I would be great if we could at least the proposed 3 rates instead of the existing 7, but it is likely to take until the fall of 2017 … or maybe even 2018 before a bill gets to President Trump (we can only dream that this kind is simplicity is carried forward thru the entire tax code).
There are real winners and those unchanged … but if there is simplicity, we all win. Currently, unless there are changes to the deductions and credits, those earning smack dap in the middle … currently taxed at 25% … there will unlikely be much to notice. Many on the “struggling at the low end of the income scale” will likely see a few dollars knocked off their tax bill and those over $413,000 will see considerable tax savings … of course they still pay the most in taxes too. All in all, simple would be better. Get this to a postcard return and then congress would have something to brag about … but I’m not holding my breath.
Posted By RichC on February 15, 2017
Video training on setting up a speed limiting drogue for emergency steering on a sailboat.
33 minute training video demonstrates two popular approaches that give racers and cruisers more than one option when steering a disabled vessel with a damaged or lost rudder. Each drogue is deployed according to the manufactures recommendations with lots of new techniques
Posted By RichC on February 14, 2017
A couple gifts I gave this past Christmas were magnetic Nato Smart Mounts for holding smartphones or even tablets in a car. After buying a first one for our Honda Odyssey minivan as a promo and liking it, I added several more to the next order as gifts.
The final one I kept for my daily driver and I’m finally getting around to the idea of giving up the windshield suction cup mount for my iPhone and added one for myself in the BMW X5 35d. I held off only because there wasn’t a good place to mount it on the left side, a place I’ve always had my phone, and decided I could adapt to it being on the right next to the nav screen. So far it looks like it may be the perfect location (not blocking anything) and the new Lightning cable "wedges" perfectly without stick’em between dash panels for charging when needed (longer drives). Unlike the Mercedes 300D Turbodiesel, I don’t have a bluetooth media adapter installed yet, so if I still need content from the iPhone thru the car radio, a 3.5mm audio plug cable must be used — no biggie as I pay for SiriusXM in the BMW anyway.
Posted By RichC on February 13, 2017
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Posted By RichC on February 12, 2017
Posting a few leftover photos from my last trip to the boat. One is a waterproof fitting to bring the solar cable thru Encore‘s deck (eventually a new project) … and a couple more of an early morning sunrise at the dock at Harbortown Marina in Fort Pierce. Really the trip was a quick getaway to escape the cold and do a few maintenance items. Cleaning, above and below the waterline, and to work on an overheating Volvo diesel problem. Nothing major, but I did end up putting a new impeller and thin oil-paper gasket on the raw water pump. I also wire cleaned the water intake thru-hull and that along with purging a little air from the new Vetus strainer may have cured the engine overheating issue (crossing my fingers).
While I was there, I also helped friends Mark and Dar a little bit with loading a truck for their move up to Georgia. I’m going to really miss having them in Florida … but plan on making as many excuses as I can to see them in their new home in Savannah. They even tease me that I have my own room (although probably decorated with Pittsburgh Steelers ‘garbage!’ Ugh!) It is great to have friends like them.
Posted By RichC on February 11, 2017
The BMW X5 35d has been having issues starting when cold which seems likely due to a new Exide FP-AGML5/49 Edge Group L-5/49 Flat Plate AGM battery. I’ve gone great lengths to rule out almost everything other than the battery, 
and decided it must be a weak cell or defect in the new battery itself. I installed a shunt to see if there was a mysterious drain zapping power when the SUV was sitting, used a load tester to determine if the battery had enough CCAs, yet there wasn’t anything definitive. I used a volt meter to check the resting battery voltage and charging alternator voltage and still was unsure. Eventually I made the call, and with the help of a tech on the phone, decided it must be the battery.
So after calling the company, CarID.com where I purchased this "higher end" AGM (absorbent glass mat) automotive battery, they authorized a replacement under Exide’s 48 month warranty if I would ship it back. Ugh! Perhaps I could purchased a new battery and then use the shipping carton to return? Whew, good thing I asked since a replacement is out of stock with no ETA. So now I wait and keep my jumper pack fully charged and handy.
Speaking of waiting, CarID.com has some great on hold "talker." His chatter gave me all kinds of useless facts like "the average lead pencil has enough lead to write 50,000 words or a single line 34 miles long." Share that at your next social gathering … or better yet …"Racecar spelled backwards is still racecar." 
Part Number — FP-AGM L5/49
DescriptionExide Edge Flat-Plate AGM Battery 
Details
Exide Edge Flat-Plate AGM batteries are designed to maximize energy capacity for today’s on-the-go drivers. The Edge’s lasting energy protects against battery failure, helping vehicle batteries stay strong and perform like new longer. Exide Edge flat plate design contains six sets of plates, with glass mat separators, arranged in a straight line inside the battery, like sliced bread. SureLife Graphite Technology retains initial capacity longer for lasting energy capacity
Warranty48 Month Free Replacement Period
CCA 850
CA 1020
RC (25A)160
Ah Capacity (20hr)90
Volts 12
Group Size L5/49/H8
Terminal TypeA
Handle Yes
Length 13 – 7/8 in.
Width 6 – 7/8 in.
Height 7 – 1/2 in.
Weight 59.8 lbs.
Posted By RichC on February 10, 2017
Great how-to YouTube video from ChrisFix on testing your car battery with a simple voltage meter.
Posted By RichC on February 10, 2017
This was going to be a normal Tech Friday post, but instead it will marry the automotive technology leader Tesla with a bit 
of news on their higher-volume / lower priced Model 3 sedan due out this summer. The company stated that all was on schedule for meeting their targeted July production date and they announced the California production facility will be shutting down for a week in order to prepare for the new Model 3.
Currently there are 370,000 customers with deposits on the new model and I’m sure all are anxious to see if Tesla can meet CEO Elon Musk’s aggressive target date.
Tesla said the "brief, planned" pause would allow the company to add capacity to the existing paint shop to prepare it for the Model 3, and other general maintenance.
"This will allow Tesla to begin Model 3 production later this year as planned and enable us to start the ramp towards 500,000 vehicles annually in 2018," said a Tesla spokesman.
He added that the pause was not expected to have a material impact on first-quarter production or delivery figures, as the company had added production days to compensate.
Separately, sources told Reuters that the luxury electric carmaker planned to begin test-building the Model 3 on Feb. 20.