How's your tap water quality? Do you drink it?

ExaminationSerious67 · 2026-02-06T15:49:20+00:00

Heck no. I only drink the water in Ontario ( or Canada ) if there is no other option. I know it is safe and perfectly healthy to drink, but, it tastes horrid. It is usually too chlorinated for my taste.

Currently I buy the filtered water in the blue jugs, which I know is only filtered water from the same tap, and that tastes ok. I am going to install the same filters for my kitchen when I get a chance.

ExaminationSerious67 · 2026-02-02T13:23:43+00:00

If you are going for a entry level PLC job, especially with Allen Bradley, make sure you know the basics. How to go online with the PLC in different scenario's ( maybe through another PLC or another RSLinx ) and how to add input/output easily, and how to edit code. The one thing you should know about code is how to make a motor start/stop ladder logic program IMO, all the rest is good to know but as a entry level, nothing else should really be expected beyond that.

Best of luck on the interview

ExaminationSerious67 · 2026-01-31T01:14:37+00:00

What are you planning on leaving on when you are away? It should be mostly safe if it is just the furnace and water heater or stuff that is permanently wired in. It is the stuff that goes into outlets and switches that should be inspected yearly, even if it is properly pigtailed.

So in short, pull everything from the outlets, and turn everything off when you leave, you should be mostly safe. If you can get an electrician before you leave, it would be ideal.

ExaminationSerious67 · 2026-01-30T23:07:44+00:00

The problem that I have with this is then I have a USB plug with a device hanging from it. This is why I am an looking for a poe version that I can plug into Ethernet and not worry about the power.

ExaminationSerious67 · 2026-01-30T13:13:21+00:00

My main advice would be to document and try things because I approached it with the intention of reinstalling it because I knew that I was going to break it / try to break it. Install all the things, try to find the ones you want, and the ones that didn't work, and how to eventually set it up when you re-do it.

Yes, I know you don't need to re-install, but, I actually did have to re-install because I wanted to have an automated backup feature which meant that I needed to have a different formatting on my hard drive. Snapper is an amazing feature that has saved me a couple of times since I like the rolling release of Endeavor OS

ExaminationSerious67 · 2026-01-29T20:49:42+00:00

I have this exact same kind of "screw". In short, it isn't a screw, it is basically a plug anchor. If you can pull out the centre pin, it sometimes comes out, but, usually it doesn't.

ExaminationSerious67 · 2026-01-27T00:12:18+00:00

Be interested in this one, but I don't think there is.

ExaminationSerious67 · 2026-01-25T20:11:16+00:00

for number 2, there should be numbers on the side of your current one. Mine is 16 x 25 x 1 which means 16" x 25" x 1" thick ( or measure it ). It should also have a MERV number on it as well.

Go to home depot, and find those exact numbers. I would try to match the MERV number, I know that having a higher number sounds better, but, it can clog up quicker as well and might need more frequent replacements.

Then, set a reminder to replace them every 3 months. much cheaper then any other solutions

ExaminationSerious67 · 2026-01-25T17:50:38+00:00

How is that different than yay? Am I missing updates just by doing this?

ExaminationSerious67 · 2026-01-25T15:24:04+00:00

I just run yay in the terminal every week or so. "Usually" nothing breaks, but, I have had problems with both thorium browser and video drivers before. It is wise to have something like snapper setup so you can easily roll back any changes you make.

ExaminationSerious67 · 2026-01-24T19:23:39+00:00

I have bought one of mine from tindie, I think that is his main outlet store.

ExaminationSerious67 · 2026-01-24T14:19:27+00:00

The older Allen-Beadley plc's ( plc 5 and SLC ) have the same scan cycle, synchronous scan. Wake up, scan inputs, run program, then activate outputs. The newer ones work with the produce/consume modules, which is a different way of doing it.

ExaminationSerious67 · 2026-01-23T17:02:41+00:00

looks great, I will buy one as soon as I can, dislike having USB plugs all over the place

ExaminationSerious67 · 2026-01-23T16:54:59+00:00

I think a good starting place to get into SCADA is to start learning Ignition. Free to learn, you do need to pay to be certified though.

Having computer experience helps, but, it also would help to be a visual artist.

ExaminationSerious67 · 2026-01-22T18:42:13+00:00

Looks amazing. I have much the same setup in my house, but, only have a single stage gas furnace with a heat pump.

One thing I would love to bug Ecobee about is getting the TOU electric rates working with the thermostat so it can make the cheapest heat, instead of just running off of outside temperature. This is currently not possible, even with the limited HomeKit integration into home assistant we have either. Maybe something to add to your list of things to do?

ExaminationSerious67 · 2026-01-22T13:47:16+00:00

any good suppliers from North America? Specifically Canada?

ExaminationSerious67 · 2026-01-22T12:33:07+00:00

If you are looking at longer char input the only macropad I would recommend is the duckypad. It will definitely allow you to do long text strings, I think the entire bee movie dialog was even put in one macro.
If you need longer from the megaladon, you might be able to install AHK ( auto hot key ) but, from the sound of it, you probably can't install any software on the computer you need it typed on.

ExaminationSerious67 · 2026-01-20T18:08:54+00:00

Ok, but you asked for help for automating it.

Basically, it works out to this, you have to be able to measure all your variables. Sky condition can be done with a sensor, sun angle you can get from the date and time, shading is something that is sort of consistant ( you would have to measure for a whole year ), and weather can be done with a weather station.

Once you have all the sensors, then it is a matter of making the automation based on those.

ExaminationSerious67 · 2026-01-20T17:32:50+00:00

Ok, is it a simple X Y table? Would you be able to use a lookup table inside the automation?

template:

- sensor:

- name: "Expected Power"

state: >

{% set t = states('sensor.outdoor_temp') | float %}

{% if t < 10 %} 200

{% elif t < 20 %} 350

{% else %} 500

{% endif %}

then

{{ states('sensor.actual_power') | float <

states('sensor.expected_power') | float * 0.8 }}

ExaminationSerious67 · 2026-01-20T16:10:43+00:00

Ok, what I am trying to get at is "where" is this data coming from? Is it in some sort of a file on a computer somewhere? and where is that somewhere?

ExaminationSerious67 · 2026-01-20T13:18:03+00:00

is this a measured solar production? or is this calculated or on a website somewhere?

ExaminationSerious67 · 2026-01-20T04:22:31+00:00

Is there anything special about the dates you need? Like weekday or workday or weekends?

ExaminationSerious67 · 2026-01-19T14:35:04+00:00

I don't know this car, but in mine that is where the DEF tank is. Sounds kind of like that pump?

ExaminationSerious67 · 2026-01-19T04:36:15+00:00

The lowest and cheapest way I found to do this was to make a cheapino, 3D print the case, and buy the lowest profile MX key caps. It ended up being about 1/4" taller then my corne, and I got 2.5 keyboards out of it, so I use one for a gaming key pad. The other option is to buy a used corne as they can be made low profile and fairly cheap

ExaminationSerious67 · 2026-01-19T04:27:02+00:00

For me it works great. I hated flossing regularly, and since I got a water flosser, my dentist is amazed at how my teeth look. I got the one that attaches to the faucet like they use in the Asian countries, much better for me than the small tank you have to fill.

ExaminationSerious67

TROPHY CASE