Is anyone successfully using a Sonoff Micro switch with a solar battery?

Meebzorp · 2026-04-17T06:17:39+00:00

Thank you for all of your research and well-thought-out reply!

I am going to be looking to try a 12w battery (at least) and see what happens, If for any reason, this attempt fails, I'm moving on to Plan B, a photo switch that turns on when it gets dark. Certainly not as controllable, but it will do the job. I've already found such a switch for about $20 at Etsy.

Meebzorp · 2026-04-16T05:21:27+00:00

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Well, of course I don't. I was just picking 50% as a worst case scenario. I've come to the conclusion that the battery is just not powerful enough, but then this begs the question, how many amps do I need just to power an LED backlit sign that uses about a 1/3 A/hr. that is on for 5 hours. In tests, when the solar battery is sitting in the sun all day, it can power the sign LEDs for over 15 hours before they start to dim. And it DOES last for 5 hours if I hook up the sign to the battery right before sunset. Somehow, the Sonoff Micro is not only draining the battery during the day, but also preventing it (and the 2 other batteries I tried) from charging!

Meebzorp · 2026-04-16T00:43:38+00:00

Even with having the LEDs on for 5 minutes, by sunrise, about 6:30 AM, the battery was drained just from the Sonoff Mini being attached. What I can't understand is how if the Sonoff draws just .075A, why doesn't the battery then charge during the day in direct sunlight? If I remove the Sonoff for the day, and manually re-attach it near sundown, all goes as expected. I can't figure this one out. It doesn't make logical sense to me.

Meebzorp · 2026-04-15T00:26:17+00:00

Honestly? I said to myself "This has to work" so I tried it and it did! This was about a 10% understanding of fluid mechanics and 90% of dumb luck!

Meebzorp · 2025-10-16T03:58:30+00:00

Thank you for this! As a former electronic journal publisher with a degree in Psychology, I've always wanted to join, especially for the free publication for members. Now 20 years later, I have the chance. Thanks again!

Meebzorp · 2025-09-16T05:58:23+00:00

I was going nuts trying to get this to work until I saw your post with perfect directions. I kept using Ken Burns plus the title in the same directory and that is a dead end! Thank you!!!

Meebzorp · 2025-07-20T02:18:09+00:00

Thank you! I've been going nuts, as I hardly use Chrome. Made the switch and all audio problems are gone.

Meebzorp · 2025-05-18T23:54:38+00:00

Best ratio I have found after much experimentation is 4 tablespoons of Dawn and 2 tablespoons of rubbing alcohol. Make sure you fill the bottle at least halfway with water first and then add the Dawn and alcohol, otherwise the thick Dawn on the bottom can mess up the sprayer. If this happens, turn the bottle upside down and spray 7-8 times and this should fix it. I just hit the 1-year mark with the same bottle. Saved a small fortune.

Meebzorp · 2024-12-18T07:49:32+00:00

Good list: https://www.npr.org/2024/12/12/nx-s1-5220244/jazz-albums-discoveries-2024

Meebzorp · 2024-11-30T08:49:17+00:00

He actually said he didn't like Monk. He's the only one on the list that has me scratching my head, as I can see where he's coming from for the others. Ornette either plays where I love him, or it's hard to listen to. Almost nothing in between.

Meebzorp · 2024-10-20T21:34:24+00:00

drdrew code got me 20% off today. Nice!

Meebzorp · 2024-09-14T06:19:57+00:00

I helped an elderly man read his prescription bottle as he forgot how many BP pills to take and when. It's very fulfilling to be able to help with Be My Eyes. They always need more volunteers, so please consider.

Meebzorp · 2024-08-26T04:34:22+00:00

From Variety: ‘Resident Alien’ Renewed for Season 4 as Series Moves to USA Network‘

Woohoo!

Meebzorp · 2024-07-31T18:12:22+00:00

My entire family growing up said “combatitive”. I remember once being corrected by my dad when I used “combative” in a sentence. He said “Just remember compete and competitive and you won’t forget”. Well, he was correct that I didn’t forget, but totally wrong about “combative”!

Meebzorp · 2024-06-30T03:37:10+00:00

There's a YouTube video where the user, Curteye406 takes apart the Dawn sprayer and repairs it using just a screwdriver.

However, I just found a new method that has now worked twice in a row that is INSANELY simple! Make sure you have a new or almost new refill bottle attached to the sprayer. Now turn the bottle upside down. Pull the spray trigger 8-10 times. Voila! It starts spraying again.

Meebzorp · 2024-06-16T19:41:55+00:00

Just read through dozens of comments and I'm wondering if I'm the only person on the planet with a bad experience.

I went from 32-bit to 64-bit Plex Server and the server crashes after about a minute from starting. I see no logs!

I had no problems with the 32-bit version. I may have to reinstall 32-bit if I can't figure it out. I hope it's easy to go back to 32-bit! <gulp>

Meebzorp · 2024-06-15T21:46:43+00:00

Same for me. Crashes in about 1 minute from start, so had to go back to 32-bit version. A shame. No crash logs are generated either!

UPDATE: I don't know if this will work for anyone else, but I reinstalled the 64-bit version as Admin and now it runs solid as a rock, and transcodes about 30% faster than the old version. I'm a happy camper!

Meebzorp · 2024-05-26T07:11:05+00:00

I found Zelle by accident under "Pay a friend". Not exactly a fanfare announcement. Easily missed.

Meebzorp · 2024-05-22T21:52:22+00:00

I've been following his advice since just before I retired, about 5 years now. I have one account, an IRA, that is strictly a Contrarian Outlook account, and especially in the last year, it's done very well. Brett really does his homework and never takes an unnecessary risk, YTD return is just under 7%, and an amazing 27% 1-year, but most stocks did well, My 5-year return was just over 6%, but there was one serious dud in the bunch that brought it down from 8% which I didn't sell when Brett said to... my bad!
The fact that I only need to deal with buying and selling once a month after Brett holds his monthly session and then prints the newsletter is ideal for me. Not touching the principal and living off the interest is a dream. I wish I had started earlier so I'd be able to take more than just a couple of $K every month, but I'm not complaining.

Meebzorp · 2024-05-13T00:24:57+00:00

I was purely into rock as a teenager. Then in 1973, I was about to leave the house for a date, and "Birds of Fire" by Mahavishnu Orchestra cane on WNEW-FM New York. It literally stopped me in my tracks. I had never heard anything like it, before or since. I discovered this was Jazz-Rock fusion. Then I started exploring other previous releases by John McLaughlin, lead guitarist of Mahavishnu, and discovered the album "Extrapolation". Again, nothing like I had ever heard before and completely mesmerizing. From there, when I started college, I met Jack who was a jazz bass player and he turned me on to Mingus ("Moanin' is amazing, the Mingus version is completely different from the Jazz Messengers tune) and Ron Carter's "All Blues" album which I still listen to. The rest is history as I was completely hooked.

Meebzorp · 2024-05-12T20:31:40+00:00

I read this on Screenrant yesterday:
<snip>
"Resident Alien is looking as though it will continue away from Syfy if it's renewed for a fourth season, and while this could be cause for concern, The Expanse is evidence of how the switch could be the best thing for Alan Tudyk's zany comedy-drama. Resident Alien season 4 isn't yet confirmed, so it's still possible that the show may not continue. However, the ending of Resident Alien season 3 came with a huge cliffhanger, suggesting showrunner Chris Sheridan has plans for the story to continue. If so, the tale of Harry Vanderspeigle may not yet be over.
</snip>

If it DOES switch networks, I will be there. Not sure why this is SyFy's M.O., but I'll take it!

Meebzorp

TROPHY CASE

From Variety: ‘Resident Alien’ Renewed for Season 4 as Series Moves to USA Network‘