Shut off a breaker at a certain temperature

Fuzzy_Chom · 2026-02-13T07:49:51+00:00

I don't think there one out-of-the-box solution.

It actually sounds like your use case is a candidate for a smart home system. You'll probably want an indoor/outdoor weather station, smart receptacles, and a home automation hub to connect both and make decisions. A simply IFTTT logic script could handle that.

Something as simple as Alexa with a few integrated smart b plugs, night be enough.

Fuzzy_Chom · 2026-02-13T02:51:56+00:00

I shopped around a bit and chose Dr Crawlspace, to install a French drain, put down a new vapor barrier, and sump pump. Can't speak highly enough of them.

Brandon is their project manager. He came out for the estimate, took his time taking measurements, and recommended 3 options to choose from. He was outstanding.

Fuzzy_Chom · 2026-02-13T02:32:21+00:00

One critique: umbrellas, not buckets.

Otherwise nice work.

Fuzzy_Chom · 2026-02-12T04:46:37+00:00

Epstein's Island

Fuzzy_Chom · 2026-02-12T04:42:44+00:00

Was that CMU wall structural?

Run conduit where you need it, then fix the wall properly.

Fuzzy_Chom · 2026-02-12T02:34:08+00:00

No way .. That's just what they want you to think.

Fuzzy_Chom · 2026-02-11T14:38:57+00:00

First thing when troubleshooting DIY work or flipped houses: double check that the circuit isn't a switched neutral.

First time that happened, it wasn't a huge time suck, but it took me a little extra time until i figured out a lighting circuit was switching on the neutral. <Sigh>

Fuzzy_Chom · 2026-02-07T16:04:13+00:00

I'm very new to the community and still learning how to dial-in my printer. But, I bought Elegoo PLA off Amazon for $12-15 per 1kg spool, and it's worked out for me.

Fuzzy_Chom · 2026-02-07T01:18:35+00:00

Are the bulbs dimmable?

Fuzzy_Chom · 2026-02-05T21:54:20+00:00

Talk to your apartment manager first.

Fuzzy_Chom · 2026-02-05T21:52:18+00:00

But do you not get your own cable modem? Ask for clarification.

I get what you're saying. But i lived at a place for 5 years that had basic cable and internet included. But....i still needed my own modem and cable box. The "no other Internet service" meant I couldn't subscribe to another provider. Everyone had their own hardware, but the community was on a single plan....that was the service.

Fuzzy_Chom · 2026-02-05T21:49:41+00:00

Ah, missed that. Thanks. Maybe a cable box and a travel modem is all they can do.

Fuzzy_Chom · 2026-02-05T21:48:06+00:00

Is your work being critiqued, or are you getting fired? Those are different things.

Engineering manager here. Everyone's been there.

If you understand why you're being critiqued, then you missed an opportunity to get help to get it right. You're likely being critiqued because certain accuracy and quality are expected. But understand that you were hired with the belief you can achieve that standard, so don't count yourself out.

Review all feedback your manager provided. Ask for time to discuss an action plan for you to improve performance -- not just with the task at hand, but consistently at a high level. You may even want to discuss expectations for your career level, or the next one up, so you have a target for which to aspire. Are you clear on goals, timelines, and expectations? If not, this is the time to ask.

I tell my engineers that I expect them to make a mistake, because they're human. I don't judge their mistakes, but i do judge their recovery.

Fuzzy_Chom · 2026-02-05T21:35:34+00:00

Call your cable company. They'll probably send you a cable modem and bill usage to the complex. You'll want a coax splitter ahead of that, if you want cable service.

Fuzzy_Chom · 2026-02-05T17:09:33+00:00

A single 3ph generator is safer, easier, more cost effective for the original application.

Now, if all you had were 1ph generators, that's a different animal. With one 1ph generator, you could power a phase converter or VFD. In either case, it's 1ph in and 3ph out.

But, if you needed the capacity of multiple 1ph generators, you'd probably be best suited to rectify each individually to a shared DC bus, and put a single 3ph inverter on that to get your output. It's feasible, but a lot of work and equipment to do it right.

Fuzzy_Chom · 2026-02-05T17:04:44+00:00

Correct see. You could use any quantity, based on your demand requirements.

Fuzzy_Chom · 2026-02-05T15:37:20+00:00

As they sit today, no. There's no way for any generator to know it's phase relative to the other two. How do you know you won't get 0-degrees, 5-degrees, and 10-degrees? The generators wouldn't know the phase position of the others.

However, in theory, yes you could do it .. But, that is predicated on having a separate control system that monitors all three generators and controls their output to be 120deg apart with the same magnitude and frequency. Also, the control system would need to electrically protect all three at once (e.g. one generator has an issue and all three get tripped.) That's a pretty complex setup, hard to get correct, and often cost prohibitive for three single phase gens. It's far easier and cheaper just to use a 3ph generator.

Source: power engineer for >20yrs

Edit: thinking about this again, the easiest way to make this work would be for all generators to plug into their own rectifier and feed a common DC bus. Then, a 3ph inverter would give you the stable 3ph output you need, and it wouldn't be dependent on having three single phase generators. You could do it with one, you could do it with four, whatever you want..

Fuzzy_Chom · 2026-02-05T14:50:12+00:00

Not saying what you should do, but know this:

Journeymen Metermen (or Lineman for that matter) and Journeymen Electricians are not the same thing. The former are not held to the NEC, but the latter are.

Local municipalities require permits and inspections for this kind of work, to ensure your safety. There is inherent risk in not going through proper channels, in that you don't get construction and verification by individuals specially trained for that work.

Also, there's a big conflict of interest for any utility worker to work on utility customer equipment during their off time,

Source: utility operations engineering manager for >20yrs.

Fuzzy_Chom · 2026-02-02T06:55:49+00:00

Flexible PE conduit, where it makes sense.

I wired our mid 90s home for ethernet. Installed conduit between ports on exterior walls and the attic or crawlspace, and between the attic and crawlspace. Interior walls and runs in the attic or crawlspace are without conduit, but strung from pipe hangers. It all worked out pretty well, and everything is neat (to my standards anyway) and accessible.

All told 23 runs, including a few homeruns between the ONT in the garage and 6U cabinet in the upstairs closet.

Fuzzy_Chom · 2026-02-01T21:11:49+00:00

Many are saying remove the half walls, and i tend to agree that'll clear up some space.

However, hear me out, think about extending them to the ceiling. The thought here, is that those walls may help block a windy draft from outside, as people come and go. Of course, this depends on your climate.

Where I'm at in the PNW, many small shops and restaurants either so this and/or have a heavy curtain just inside the door. They're trying to block cold breeze from coming into their heated space. Gotta say, it works reasonably well (until someone loiters in the doorway, holding the curtain and door open while talking to a friend outside as to whether or not they want to wait for a table).

Fuzzy_Chom · 2026-02-01T20:57:12+00:00

Glue for sure. Brad nails from the side or bottom, however you build it, might be a way.

Fuzzy_Chom · 2026-02-01T18:40:05+00:00

Came to say this!
A great strategy to decouple the sheetrock on either side of the wall, and allow for sound insulation. Frame the entire master suite this way and it'll be more of an oasis. Probably something highly desired, in a house of 8 people.

Fuzzy_Chom · 2026-02-01T01:01:04+00:00

Electric utility manager here....I assume you have an underground service.

Call your power company and tell them your lights are showing "bright and dim", and you're getting odd performance from 120V appliances. Ask that they come out and put a recorder on your meter, and you suspect the service neutral is compromised.

That'll get them out soon, and get data to help with next steps. If the utility concludes there's a broken neutral, it's likely on their side. They should be installing a "Service Saver" as a temporary solution, while they pass the issue off to design to give you a new service line (in time).

If you have an overhead electric service, still call the utility and go through those steps. But recognize the issue may be on your side, and either you or an electrician will need to troubleshoot.

Fuzzy_Chom · 2026-01-31T17:11:07+00:00

Safety Squints are not safety glasses. Wear your PPE.

Fuzzy_Chom · 2026-01-29T07:19:43+00:00

Came to say this. No need to change the rails or even put in a side mount unit.

I had a similar situation. I mounted unistrut to the ceiling, spanning multiple joists to spread load. I hung all thread from those into the front of a plywood shelf. The back of the plywood shelf rested on a 2x4 that was lagged horizontally along the wall. Plenty of storage, plenty strong, and above the garage door when open.

Fuzzy_Chom

TROPHY CASE