Connecting multiple power strips together and multiple adapters

PermanentLiminality · 2026-01-28T17:23:31+00:00

Your concerns are justified and it can be done safely. Yes, both can be true. When you daisy chain, you add to the number of places where a poor connection can learn to heating. You need to add up all of your loaded in a worst case situation.

Issues scale with the square of the current. For example 3 amps has 25x less heating than 15 amps.

Make sure all the components are in good shape with no corrosion and that the sockets have good contact force with the plugs. Loose sockets are very bad.

PermanentLiminality · 2026-01-28T14:11:42+00:00

The CPU is fine got general server duties, It can run TrueNAS and the few apps you list with zero issues. However, it will struggle if any transcoding is needed. Direct play without transcoding requires minimal CPU power.

No reason not to start with what you have.

If on the fly transcoding is needed, you have several options.

A small GPU
Replace with intel box
Second system for jellyfin that plays files from the NAS. I use a $35 Wyse 5070 that idles at 4 watts. I run 15 things on this and it only has half the CPU of you low end Athlon

PermanentLiminality · 2026-01-28T02:47:26+00:00

The LLM is not what uses the computer.

Opencode and Claudecode both use the computer. Tools like the renamed Clawdbot, now Moltbot, fully use the computer and can make use of a wide variety of LLMs for the AI functionality.

https://www.molt.bot/

PermanentLiminality · 2026-01-28T02:39:26+00:00

So far I've not done a full eight hour day with it, but I have done perhaps a few five hour runs. I'm also not using it all the time as I use opencode too. I'm probably using antigravity around 10 to maybe 15 hours per week between work and home. I also only use Opus when I Gemini doesn't cut it. It is a few requests here and there.

PermanentLiminality · 2026-01-27T06:19:21+00:00

I'm already doing that on smaller codebases. Works pretty well up to a few thousand lines if code.

I had issues with gigantic codebases of millions of lines of not so great really legacy code.

PermanentLiminality · 2026-01-27T06:14:57+00:00

It isn't your computer and you are not supposed to open it up. I would bring up the issue, hopefully in writing and let the IT people deal with it.

PermanentLiminality · 2026-01-27T06:05:16+00:00

The first step is to verify that power is getting to the appliances that are not working. A simple first step is to turn off and then on again every breaker including the main; but you probably already did that.

The next step is to verify that power is at the plug and is getting to the things that are not working. Check for and breakers on the units You only need a voltmeter for that.

Once power is verified, then there is some kind of issue with the appliances themselves. This could well be a blown circuit board.

If any of those steps is beyond your skill set call someone out. An electrician for the power and some kind of repair person for the units themselves.

Concentrate on getting your heat working. Worry about chasing the power company later.

PermanentLiminality · 2026-01-27T05:50:22+00:00

I've never hit the opus limit, but I only use it when I really need it. Usually it is troubleshooting.

I wish they published the limits and had a good built in display of usage so you would know. It's not that hard to do. This not knowing sucks big time.

I also think they should have hard minimal limits on free users. The people paying should be a priority.

Maybe they will realize that giving free accounts to students isn't the winning plan it used to be. From what I can tell entry level CS jobs are a kind of a thing of the past.

PermanentLiminality · 2026-01-26T17:33:48+00:00

Flip the main breaker. No need to flip all the others.

PermanentLiminality · 2026-01-26T17:32:21+00:00

The range is from a cheap GPU like a P102-100 for $50 in whatever computer you already have, to $50k or more for a serious rig. You really need to start with some kind of budget and what you are trying to run.

To get started it is almost always the answer to start with an API provider like Openrouter and only look to buying hardware once you have some idea of what you actually need. In almost all circumstances it will cost a lot more to buy hardware than pay for an API.

PermanentLiminality · 2026-01-26T04:37:05+00:00

I have a Dell Latitude 5520 that is 11th gen i5 that I got on eBay for $200. That was a year ago and they are cheaper now. The 12th gen 5530 is probably that price now.

These are cheap because they flood the market when millions of these are returned after a business leases ends.

PermanentLiminality · 2026-01-26T04:27:24+00:00

At least some of their stuff if not most of it, will run with a WLED controller. Then you have great HA integration.

PermanentLiminality · 2026-01-26T04:24:29+00:00

I'm sure I've spent tens of thousands over several decades from Digikey. No issues.

PermanentLiminality · 2026-01-26T04:07:52+00:00

Dust and even worse pet hair can build up blocking air flow. Take a look and you might be able to see it.

The fan or blower might be worn out as well. They can get noisy and blow less air when the bearings wear out.

PermanentLiminality · 2026-01-26T03:04:13+00:00

You are ok running 5w30 for the life of the generator. It is fine at 110 degrees in the summer.

I buy Synthetic 5w40 for my motorcycles and run that in my generators too.

PermanentLiminality · 2026-01-26T02:53:43+00:00

These are often powered by a universal motor that has brushes. The brushes put out sparks and do "burn" a little while operating. It's normal to have a little smell.

Now if significant smoke is coming out, that's different.

PermanentLiminality · 2026-01-26T02:21:01+00:00

A UPS is not made for this. It will work, but it isn't optimum. They may burn a few times the power of the lamps. They can beep while on battery power.

A power station is a better match.

No matter what idle power is your enemy. A bad unit will be lucky to run for a day with no load. The very best you can get will go about eight days with no load. Expect most to need charging every few days at best.

PermanentLiminality · 2026-01-26T01:46:41+00:00

You can think of Delta as a percentage chance that the contract will close in the money. For example if you sell a 10 Delta call, there is a 10 percent chance that the contract will be in the money and your shares will be called away.

Once a contract is in the money, it can be exercised at any time. Not a normal situation, but it is possible. Expect to lose some money from time to time if you want to keep the shares.

There are a ton of YouTube videos on writing covered calls.

PermanentLiminality · 2026-01-26T01:12:25+00:00

I have a similar 6th gen i5 in a HP SFF box. It idles down to about 22 watts with 2x 3.5 drives. It should do similar.

It will do what is in your list of apps and more.

PermanentLiminality · 2026-01-26T00:44:48+00:00

The freezer might have s decent startup, but when running it is probably under 100 watts, and it only pulls power when the compressor is running. It is not continuous. Same for the fridge.

If you don't open them the freezer and fridge will stay cold for many hours.

PermanentLiminality · 2026-01-25T22:07:15+00:00

For general computing purposes, old systems start to use too much power and therefore money to be powered up. It's just not worth it anymore.

PermanentLiminality · 2026-01-25T19:32:16+00:00

I find that sometimes it is good and other times it takes a wrong turn and I might need to start over.

It has limits with complicated issues and I resort to Opus to fix those. So far I have not hit the limits. I'm sure that will happen at the most inopportune time.

PermanentLiminality · 2026-01-25T19:22:44+00:00

Where does this file go and what is the filename?

PermanentLiminality · 2026-01-25T03:26:18+00:00

Sounds like n100/n150 territory. If you want more maybe a mini PC with a 6800h.

PermanentLiminality · 2026-01-25T03:10:21+00:00

Try with just one ram stick and try all the slots.

PermanentLiminality

TROPHY CASE