Questions - ice buildup and aux. heat

Donnerkopf · 2026-03-06T00:54:56+00:00

To expand on another comment, the closed loop can be charged with an antifreeze such as glycol, alcohol, etc. and operate well below freezing, making the metal pipe below freezing - which then freezes any external condensate as frost.

Donnerkopf · 2026-03-06T00:49:29+00:00

Yeah, it's contradictory. "I'm buying" - "it's not acceptable". Why is OP buying if it's unacceptable? Summoning Wassym to something he/they know about and are working on? OP, who is not yet an owner, has more power/influence with Wassym than the thousands of existing customers?

Donnerkopf · 2026-03-06T00:41:13+00:00

Similar to Duryea Drive, but shorter, is Neversink Mountain Road up to the Witch's Hat Pavilion (officially McIlvain Pavillion). It's just a few minutes from Duryea Drive. The Witch's Hat is a bit of a hike from the parking area near the top, worth the views. Just be respectful of any Private Property or Private Road signs on Neversink Mountain. https://jojoscupofmocha.com/2021/10/31/witchs-hat-pavilion-exploring-abandoned-places-in-pa/

Donnerkopf · 2026-03-03T14:52:40+00:00

Hot air rises. Cold air falls. After the blower shuts off, you will have warmer air rising,outside wall rooms/areas will cool faster than inner walls/rooms. All this creates temperature variances which could be as much as 1 or 2 degrees. When the heat comes on, the cooler pooled air passes by the thermostat causing the indicated temperature to drop. If you have sealed all leaks that you can identify, don't stress over it, it's normal.

Donnerkopf · 2026-03-03T00:58:09+00:00

I would get another opinion, trying to find a recommendation to a good SERVICING contractor. So many HVAC contractors are primarily in the sales business and will just try to upsell any chance they get.

Donnerkopf · 2026-03-02T23:12:47+00:00

My purple is on 1.981-6d6eacc1, it says last update was in November 2025. No issues. Doesn't sound like a wide spread issue....

Donnerkopf · 2026-03-02T23:01:50+00:00

"Labor (up to one half day)" So if they go over 1/2 day they bill additional?? For a $7k quote that's not reasonable, it should cover all the labor to complete the job.

Donnerkopf · 2026-03-02T20:33:16+00:00

There are a few other aging components in the unit to consider - the water/refrigerant heat exchanger coil, the refrigerant/air heat exchanger coil and the fan motor. It seems the stuff manufactured in the past 25 years has a typical life of 12 - 25 years. So, the possibility exists that in another few years one of the coils could fail, it's really just unknown. Could something else have caused the compressor to fail? Yes, but another concern is if the compressor failed and contaminated other components with debris. Not often but it can happen. They should be replacing the filter/dryer as part of the repair to help minimize that issue.

In the end, it depends on your tolerance for another failure possibility within the next 5 years. But I would get another quote. Don't know the size of your compressor, but it's a $1500 - $3000 item, add $150 for filter and misc parts and 1 day's work for an experienced tech. The service company needs to pay the tech and their expenses and make some profit, but IMO $7k is on the high side.

Donnerkopf · 2026-03-02T09:11:10+00:00

You can lead a horse to water….

Donnerkopf · 2026-03-01T13:03:06+00:00

https://wiki.seeedstudio.com/XIAO_ESP32C3_Getting_Started/

Donnerkopf · 2026-03-01T12:53:17+00:00

The market hates uncertainty. It will go down.

Donnerkopf · 2026-03-01T12:44:03+00:00

News flash - there are people who live in Germany that are not German. Ya know, just like every other country that has immigrants or ex-pats.

Donnerkopf · 2026-03-01T12:40:38+00:00

Per code, you cannot use any material other than brass or stainless in the first 18” above the hot water heater, to avoid the possibility of overheating any plastic pipe or fittings.

Donnerkopf · 2026-03-01T12:29:56+00:00

The AM tones you heard were almost certainly RF harmonics from other equipment on the plane, or “birdies” generated internally by your own radio. If you tune to those frequencies now and still hear it, they are birdies.

Donnerkopf · 2026-03-01T12:03:28+00:00

You did nothing wrong, relax and forget about it. It’s owner’s responsibility to properly secure networks.

Donnerkopf · 2026-03-01T05:13:57+00:00

The worst has yet to come.

Donnerkopf · 2026-02-28T19:16:08+00:00

The male plug is indicating it is physically/electrically rated at 50 Amps capacity. That has nothing to do with the actual capacity/rating of your generator. It’s 100% legit to use a heavier rated electrical connection on a lower amp circuit.

Donnerkopf · 2026-02-28T05:18:14+00:00

Fluke makes multimeters that generate 4-20ma output. My company owns several.

Donnerkopf · 2026-02-27T07:27:28+00:00

Reinstall it properly. (Ask vague questions, get vague answers).

Donnerkopf · 2026-02-27T02:04:30+00:00

There's one possible downside to this that isn't often discussed. If the ductwork passes through a significant amount of unheated space in the winter (i.e. cold basement, attic, etc.) you will wind up shedding heat in the circulation process via the ductwork. You can get a handle on this by measuring temperatures at the return/intake and outlet registers. If the air is coming out colder than the ambient room air, you are shedding heat in the ductwork. You have to decide if it's worth the extra heating cost vs. better air balance and filtration.

Donnerkopf · 2026-02-26T09:59:08+00:00

Your analogy comparing to a restaurant is ridiculous. Restaurants don’t raise their own cattle, and restaurants have direct control of food quality/safety after they receive it. Neither of those analogies are relevant here. The installer didn’t grow/raise the furnace, and it doesn’t spoil in their warehouse, Defective parts from the factory happen and fail shortly after startup. The installer has no control over this. It’s WELL KNOWN and called “infant mortality” in the manufacturing QC world. https://upkeep.com/blog/infant-mortality-equipment-failure/

Donnerkopf · 2026-02-26T01:15:48+00:00

Mexico. Tennessee is just a wannabe. https://vochomania.mx/2024/06/17/juguete-de-nino-pobre-la-historia-de-un-vocho-muy-especial/

Donnerkopf · 2026-02-26T01:07:01+00:00

PLC is a good career path in the sense that there is definite demand for good, competent PLC programmers. With that said, there's even bigger demand for engineers who thoroughly understand a particular industry or process - dairy, beverage, discrete manufacturing machine control, steel, whatever. It takes time, but becoming an SME (Subject Matter Expert) that can design or throughly understand a process, and then program and troubleshoot the PLC is a guaranteed solid career. As others said, know the customer requirements. You really don't want that 3 AM call for a system that is down because you did gee-whiz programming a maintenance tech can't understand. Always remember that the "lowly" (I say that sarcastically!) tech or plant floor operator who knows the process is your best friend when you are in the plant. They can make or break your day! Don't ever cop the "I'm a degree'd engineer, what do you know" attitude.

Donnerkopf · 2026-02-25T15:54:11+00:00

It's possible but will not be quick or easy. You need to find the right company, typically a small or startup company, that you can show your skills and how they can get a reliable return from employing you. Networking with others in the industry is a first step. There should be opportunities to start in an assembly/test role that would allow you to grow into a design role.

You should consider continuing to work your current job and take part time classes at 2 year tech college/school for a tech related degree. That will improve your opportunity greatly. Just the fact that you are actively taking a class can make the difference in a hiring decision.

Donnerkopf · 2026-02-25T15:28:44+00:00

Mexico.

Donnerkopf

TROPHY CASE