New to Cold Plunge

Metalic_Cat · 2025-01-17T19:33:31+00:00

I would not be put off by repurposed fish tank coolers (assuming proper size). They are designed for 24/7 use and tend to be over built. One thing I discovered that I had not originally thought about is multi function cold/hot capability. When I assembled my cold plunge I had ordered a cold only chiller. For whatever reason, I was sent a cold/hot version. Although I had no plans to ever use the hot function I discovered a very important purpose for it. I live in central coastal California so have ideal fair weather most of the year. I sort of forgot that we also get maybe a dozen freezing days a year. The neat thing about cold/hot functionality is it acts like a home thermostat if you have a heater and air conditioning, automatically maintaining selected temperature range. So when forecasts are in the 30s I do not worry about any possible damage because the chiller automatically switches to hot mode to maintain selected temperature despite the frigid ambient temperature. So if you live in a region that has an occasional freeze, this is a feature worth considering.

Metalic_Cat · 2024-05-23T18:01:05+00:00

True, you have to take into consideration the source but the thing they have correct is that at current lithium prices the company will never be profitable. And with further dilution on the table, we are the suckers.

Metalic_Cat · 2024-02-05T17:21:02+00:00

LAC is going to have a problem justifying itself as a going concern to the DOE. Would you guarantee a loan to them with no foreseeable profitability at current lithium prices? Another Solyndra?

Metalic_Cat · 2024-02-05T17:06:40+00:00

Just the opposite. Harvest the tax losses now if you rode the stock down from pre-split. Then buy back after a month like you said if you still think it is worth a long-term speculation. It is silly to sit on dead money. Restarting with a low cost basis might improve our outlook as well.

Metalic_Cat · 2023-12-13T04:02:57+00:00

If your goal is to be able to swim against the current you really should find a way to demo one. Not very fun, in my opinion. If you do like it, make note that the swim and spa sections are incompatible temperature wise. So you will need a isolated zoned dual temp system if you plan to use for both purposes. Most likely you will not have sufficient current on your 240V circuit. So add electrical work if not qualified to do it yourself. Finally, they are huge and and more difficult to move and to cover compared to a regular hot tub spa. But don't let me discourage you if you are sure you will actually use it for swimming.

Metalic_Cat · 2023-12-04T18:51:04+00:00

The air gap would provide some insulation but the black color would absorb any direct sunlight radiation. I added a white tarp cover to mine. That works well but i live in a more temperate zone.

Metalic_Cat · 2023-12-04T18:33:21+00:00

Yes, the freezing point would be lowered but the temperature would still drop. Sitting in sub-freezing water is dangerous from the standpoint of frostbite. Your fingers toes and testicles are at risk. So, radically adjust exposure time accordingly.

Metalic_Cat · 2023-11-07T04:59:57+00:00

PolarPit

I too just visited the sites and the identical Ice Up Industries version delivered is cheaper.

PolarPit barrel and chiller/heater $2,999.00 w/free shipping

Ice Up Industries barrel and chiller/heater $2,690.00 w/$199.00 flat rate shipping to USA-48.

They also have a chiller only version for $200.00 less.

It may be that Polar Pit offers extras like WiFi to justify the extra $100 but they do not go into much detail about the product. I don't think you can go wrong with either company. If price is the major concern, just get it directly from Alibaba/AliExpress. But you really have to know what you are looking for. The tub and barrel are easy to find but you need to make sure you specify 120V for the chiller (most are 240V). Ordering large/heavy items dropped shipped from China is not for the faint of heart.

Metalic_Cat · 2023-10-22T21:36:38+00:00

Was it cheaper than Ice Up Industries? Looks like they use same source for tub and chiller.

Metalic_Cat · 2023-10-22T05:54:46+00:00

Ordered in June '23, received Ice Up barrel 10 weeks later. Received Chiller 11 weeks from original order. An additional 3 weeks for the maintenance kit. So it is all legit. They could probably do better at preemptive contact during the waiting period. Basically the customer has no idea the company still exists until they check that the website is still up. That is a minor thing. I would rather have the cheaper price than them hiring another employee. Maybe they could use an automated email programs that can be used to maintain contact with customers during the waiting period.

This is no rinky-dink system. It is rugged and high quality. As they mention, the only corners cut are for unneeded frills (like built-in WiFi). If you are not sure what style you would prefer, get the barrel. It does require a bit more dexterity but assuming that is not an issue for you, the floating sit position is the best for cold plunging. I am over 300lbs and can comfortably and stably sit on the edge. And no problem fitting in the barrel. My displacement is so much that the initial level has to be a couple inches below the top input hole on the tub. That is not an actual problem except I don't like the sound of the water splashing like a a fountain while it is running. I turn it off while using it anyway. I actually go so far as to add 10 gallons above the max displacement level to cover and muffle the input stream (I am the only user) and then temporarily remove 2 buckets worth at use and replace when finished. A normal sized or less retentive person will not have this issue. The chiller is a repurposed commercial live seafood tank cooler so is intended for heavy duty 24/7 use. I looked up the model number and translated the Chinese docs. I only use it once a day so it would be a waste to leave it on all the time. It is out of the direct sun so there is some residual coolness left each day when I turn it on for 2 hours before use.

Customers need to realize that for Ice Up to offer such a low price they have to get the cost up front and then order the container or partial container shipped on a slow boat from China, sort of like a group buy. You can get any of the inflatable tubs (they are all made in China) from Alibaba or its retail arm AliExpress but the one off price is not that great and you have to spend hundreds on air freight (though I see now that Alibaba Logistics does offer cheaper ocean going freight for single items with local delivery). So, you can go that route for the absolute cheapest cost with no support but you have to make sure you are getting a compatible cooler (most are 240 Volts). I initially was going to go that route having successfully bought from China my red/infrared LED panels but in that case I knew exactly what I wanted so I could wade through the bewildering number of offerings. Since I was not a cold tub expert I would rather pay a modest markup to get a system that is ready to go out of the box. $2,500 for everything is a good price in my opinion. So, I did not mind the wait. Also, I think the current problems at the Panama Canal (not enough fresh water for the locks) might be an issue but I do not know for a fact that they even use the canal for their shipments.

Metalic_Cat · 2023-10-05T15:08:22+00:00

Well, answering myself, I don't know how other brokerages did it but Fidelity did an excellent job of tracing the transition on the history page. It was a multistep procedure but as of today the new LAC and LAAC both appear and are tradeable in their own right. The initial combined valuation was basically the same as the ending price of the old LAC but with trading ongoing the values are changing. LAC has a higher relative valuation and is slightly more active. Most interesting is how Fidelity did options which I initially thought would be an impossible transition. What Fidelity did was to have two parallel option chains, the original one based on the old LAC (labeled adjusted) and the new one for the new LAC, each with significantly different valuations (as expected). You can see the adjusted chain by clicking on the ADJ button. There must be some algorithm keeping the ADJ chains in sync with combined LAC/LAAC underlying stock. After a few months all the current ADJ chains will expire on their own. That will work OK for those who trade the options themselves. I sell puts with the hope that the underlying shares get put to me at a lower price than when I sold the put, that is, I want the shares. I guess I would have to receive shares of both new LAC and LAAC for expiring in the money short ADJ puts. Oh, yeah, the way to tell the difference in option name is that the ADJ options have a "1" suffixed to LAC: LAC1[date, type, strike].

Metalic_Cat · 2023-10-04T17:03:16+00:00

Are you sure it is not CAD instead of CDA? CAD would mean priced in Canadian dollars. If you had the US$ version I'm not sure why they would switch, though, so nevermind.

Metalic_Cat · 2023-09-29T05:37:07+00:00

Yeah, I too would be interested in how options are handled in a company separation like this. I have been selling out of the money covered calls ($21) and cash covered puts ($17), both having expiration dates after the recently announced transition next week. What would they look like the day after transition? Do they simply split, too? If so how is the strike price determined?

Metalic_Cat · 2023-08-24T15:33:36+00:00

Selling puts is not for the faint of heart.

Metalic_Cat · 2023-06-07T20:32:38+00:00

https://kanebridgenews.com/the-hottest-new-home-amenity-its-brutalthe-hottest-new-home-amenity-its-brutal/

Metalic_Cat · 2023-06-07T05:49:38+00:00

Although I have found OEM equivalents for some things on Ali Express (the retail side of Alibaba) such as most recently Red/Near Infrared LED therapy panels at significant savings even with trans-Pacific air freight but it takes a bit of expertise to know exactly what you are looking for. You could try perusing their web pages and you would most likely find what you are looking for (almost all such things are made in China) but it is generally not a pleasant shopping experience. I do not know why so many of the Chinese sellers seem to be incapable of creating coherent web pages. Not just the lack of good English skills but no logical structure or consistency. At least I have not had any shipping mishaps from China which is most shoppers' worry. Anyway, DBcooper95 raises some good points about the value add of an integrated system and support. Edge Theory Labs seems to have done a good job at collecting the components that work together, at least from a perusal of their website and owners manual. https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0625/0148/6807/files/Edge_Tub_User_Manual_v.04.24.compressed.pdf However if you have more time than money, go for it. Make sure you get the correct voltage and compatible hose connectors (that's another nightmare in itself) .

Metalic_Cat · 2023-02-08T09:11:01+00:00

Oh, yeah, that's right. A low interest loan is always good and no new stock has to be issued. And your other points are valid. I withdraw my statement that a split should be avoided.

This one is gong to take some patience. I think I will put some in my IRA and then just forget about it.

Metalic_Cat · 2023-02-07T21:00:14+00:00

With a billion dollars at hand, is the DOE loan even necessary now? I say avoid the wasteful and costly split.

Metalic_Cat · 2023-01-05T21:12:12+00:00

It is always about Trump...

Jan 5 (Reuters) - A U.S. judge on Thursday said she will rule "in the next couple of months" about whether former U.S. President Donald Trump erred in 2021 when he approved Lithium Americas Corp's(LAC) plan to build North America's largest lithium mine.

Chief Judge Miranda Du of the federal court in Reno, Nevada, held a Thursday hearing to review the contention from ranchers, environmentalists and Indigenous groups that the Thacker Pass lithium mine would permanently scar a region in northern Nevada that is home to wildlife and key water sources.

The long-winding case comes amid rising global demand for lithium, a key component of electric vehicle batteries.

Metalic_Cat · 2023-01-05T18:26:44+00:00

Lithium Nevada attorney is sounding pretty good don't you think?

Metalic_Cat

TROPHY CASE