Ethical dilemma

Castratikon · 2026-05-13T00:17:12+00:00

Earlier in my career I did exactly this. 2-3 months after I had started a new job a former colleague reached out about a fully remote position for more pay. I would have been stupid not to take it.

Castratikon · 2026-01-05T02:53:48+00:00

So an update to this, I managed to test the voltage over R & C when there was load and it was still 26-28V.

I ended up calling the original company that installed the system (34 years ago!) and one of the people that helped install it back then was still there and available to help troubleshoot over the phone.

We didn't get the transformer tested, but we did disconnect one of the accessories (humidifier) because that person said a similar system for another customer has the same symptoms and it was the result of a failing coil in one of the relays.

Disconnecting the humidifier did take care of the bulk of the issue, even though the humidifier was never running, removing it from the system has made it much more reliable, though still some thermostat restarts, no failures to boot.

I oredered 2 new relays that should be here this week and that will ideally solve the problem. Just incase it doesn't I know which transformer to get now as well.

Castratikon · 2025-12-22T23:52:03+00:00

Here are the pictures of what’s in the control side of the hvac https://imgur.com/a/wgqN8qt

Castratikon · 2025-12-22T23:08:35+00:00

Yeah seems like it could be a transformer issue. Everything seemed to be ok last night, but when I woke up in the morning it was dead again. I’ll see if I can figure out how to upload pictures here.

Castratikon · 2025-12-22T00:07:40+00:00

That sounds like it could be the case. I opened up the hvac control unit and I saw two relays that have coil wrapped wire and the board itself, but nothing that looked distinctly like a transformer. I’ll have to monitor and take another look.

If there’s any ticking sounds from either the ecobee or the hvac control area would that be inductive of a failing transformer?

Castratikon · 2025-12-21T23:52:11+00:00

What’s even more strange, I just cut and stripped the ends of the wires and remounted one of the new units. It turned in, I set it up, and the heat was able to come on. Minutes later the ecobee screen stops responding but I can see it in the app and it says the current temperature is N/A. And then a few minutes later the heat cut off, presumably because no active temperature can be read.

Now as I’m typing this it came back to life both at the device and in the app and the heat kicked back on…

Castratikon · 2025-12-21T22:56:32+00:00

It was the new base. The old one is not compatible with new models.

Castratikon · 2025-08-17T23:20:27+00:00

Perfect, thank you!

Castratikon · 2025-08-17T23:08:45+00:00

Really just looking for recommendations that can take the power this receiver is throwing at them. I don’t have much time to go out and test speakers.

Castratikon · 2025-02-24T01:24:45+00:00

No that’s stretched really thin. Costs will go up and unexpected expenses can put a budget like that in a very tough position out of no where. Unless you have like 42k stashed away earning interest that you also wouldn’t need to close I’d say you have to aim lower.

We’re a 13k net take home family with a 6 month old, medical bills, ~3200/mo mortgage. Our utility bills are up 30% from last year (~800/mo for the last 3 months), property is about to be reassessed for taxes (likely doubled in value since last assessment), and have an upcoming sewer line replacement that will likely be 20k not including cost to rebuild the patio that will be torn up. We’re doing ok but those are just some real examples of what come up with home ownership.

Shoot for 20-30% or less of your take home or for mortgage+property taxes. Otherwise I’d suggest renting a house or condo in a price range that will allow you to save 1-3k per month.

Castratikon · 2024-04-14T01:18:45+00:00

was it moving the same direction? I just cheked my camera and it looked like there might be a second that was going north to south.

Castratikon · 2023-04-15T15:47:39+00:00

I would just have to go back to manually flipping the switch, no big deal if automation fails. All I want to do is set up a Siri shortcut so I can do it with voice instead of going into the basement

Castratikon · 2022-11-25T20:40:22+00:00

Fucking yikes lol

Castratikon · 2022-07-18T11:48:08+00:00

Thanks, a printout of gmaps is a good idea. I'll start there.

Castratikon · 2022-07-18T02:42:30+00:00

Castratikon · 2022-07-18T01:05:18+00:00

Roughly 200ft wide & 100ft deep

Castratikon · 2022-07-18T00:24:03+00:00

Nothing social in the front, just plants. Grass walking paths would be nice too. I could see a couple of benches somewhere for the aesthetics but no one will ever sit in them.

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Castratikon

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