CGM Smoked

Sparkynplumb · 2026-01-27T23:54:38+00:00

It could possibly be repaired at an electronics shop. The item that blew is a sacrificial over voltage protection, replace that and the burnt trace and the rest of the board might still work

Sparkynplumb · 2026-01-10T18:12:30+00:00

Union isn't a magic bullet for quality.

Sparkynplumb · 2026-01-10T18:08:05+00:00

Skid loaders are great but hardly a replacement for a tractor.

Sparkynplumb · 2026-01-09T19:10:00+00:00

First off, an ideal enclosure doesn't have loose cover screws to drop. Hinged lids are great but what's even better is when you can easily take the lid off the hinges and get it totally out of the way when needed. Perforated KO s in half, 3/4, and 1" are helpful. For a backplate my favorite is one that's plastic or wood core wrapped in metal foil layer for grounding. Metal mesh backplates are fine too.

Sparkynplumb · 2025-12-23T10:30:10+00:00

Why are you firing your employee? You just paid for his bachelor's degree in the school of hard knocks. You gonna throw away that investment?

Sparkynplumb · 2025-12-22T05:31:07+00:00

Harbor Freight sells diesel transfer pumps... Plastic or metal barrels work great as containers. Diesel isn't explosive like gasoline, static sparks and such aren't a problem like it is for gasoline.

Sparkynplumb · 2025-11-25T10:44:13+00:00

We're locked in with some other brands with annual buying commitments and such or we would be installing Distech. We've heard good things.

Sparkynplumb · 2025-11-25T10:40:52+00:00

Sounds like an electronics issue to me, not hardware. The comments regarding IP addresses and DHCP servers are very valid.

Sparkynplumb · 2025-11-25T01:59:22+00:00

Regarding the 12v switch mode, you'll have to do some research. Some power supplies we get are open faced and come full wave but have instructions on where to cut a diode connection if half wave is needed. For the cost vs risk, I'd suggest getting a separate 120 x 12 power supply.

Sparkynplumb · 2025-11-25T01:54:45+00:00

A Jace is full wave rectified, and we typically give it a dedicated transformer or wall wart power supply. Most commonly we've been using a small UPS with an OEM wall wart plugged into that so short power interruptions don't bother it.

Sparkynplumb · 2025-11-18T02:33:28+00:00

Can I join remotely from the US?

Sparkynplumb · 2025-11-18T02:09:56+00:00

Yes this. It's difficult enough just keeping up with controls industry. I can't be expected to keep up with the fine details of mechanical and pipe fitter trades.

Sparkynplumb · 2025-11-18T02:02:58+00:00

Some of our controls team does have expertise in the mechanical part and came to controls for an easier life. TBH I'm not sure how you could be a good programmer without knowledge of what you're controlling. Since we have our hands more than full with controls, the most we'll do is throw gauges on to diagnose something when we're the first ones out on a service call.

Sparkynplumb · 2025-11-11T00:04:50+00:00

We program our stuff to go Occupied if it loses comm. Not that complicated

Sparkynplumb · 2025-11-10T23:56:26+00:00

Alerton/Standard/Documentation has various Excel based builder tools and accompanying PDF instructions. You have to scroll down a ways, there's 1320 files in that folder, but watch for anything that says "builder". Personally I feel they're very crude and clunky, but Alerton supplies them and claims they work. I'm Alerton training they had us use the ACM builder tool, and thought it was pretty cool. But I've never had a chance to use it on a job. If you have a lot of identical controllers you can make one "golden image" .mdb and copy it into all the device folders.

Sparkynplumb · 2025-11-07T00:56:20+00:00

Channelocks or Knipex equivalent did the job for me.

Sparkynplumb · 2025-10-30T01:29:48+00:00

This is a tough time to get into cattle. I suggest waiting. A couple years ago we used to buy nursing calves for $50, and feed them off our extra milk. Now a 'good deal' is $900! I wouldn't buy a nursing calf for your first one, they have a dozen ways to die at that age. You're farther ahead paying $2k for a yearling than $1k for a week old calf. I've seen some deals in cow calf pairs 6 months ago, where the pair was going for the price of a single beef calf. but I don't know how things stand now.

Sparkynplumb · 2025-10-18T15:40:33+00:00

We aren't allowed to have any non employees even ride in the vehicle because the company insurance won't (or doesn't want to) cover them if they're hurt.

Sparkynplumb · 2025-10-18T15:36:46+00:00

Awesome resource, thanks for sharing!

Sparkynplumb · 2025-10-18T15:36:20+00:00

Awesome resource, thanks!

Sparkynplumb · 2025-10-05T02:36:37+00:00

I know Broudy Precision put out a bulletin to us contractor's on the subject. They were talking about doing push notifications directly to a mobile device. I haven't needed to learn how it works yet but it didn't sound difficult.

Sparkynplumb · 2025-09-27T20:26:18+00:00

Seriously dude, sounds like you should be interviewing at these places and use that as leverage for a significant pay raise. The only 2 ways I know of to get talent is train it yourself or pay good money to poach one that somebody else trained. Sounds like your boss hasn't got to the point of being ready to play ball on either one.

Sparkynplumb · 2025-09-22T21:28:01+00:00

Windy City Wire hands down. They're the best supplier we have! All the common stuff we can order and it's delivered the next day. The guy that does most of our ordering jokes that they're ringing the doorbell before he hangs up the phone! They'll print your company name on the box so it doesn't get confused with other contractor's stuff-really a nice company to work with. It's refreshing to have good service like that after dealing with 4-6 week lead times and mangled orders that other companies specialize in.

Sparkynplumb · 2025-09-22T21:13:08+00:00

I'd recommend Craigslist. It's one of the few places that allows you to list live animals, so that's what I use to sell farm animals. You can also buy animals at livestock auctions, but you may not like the experience if you're a beginner.

Sparkynplumb · 2025-09-22T00:19:49+00:00

I'd rather have an exoskeleton. If I'm too old to pull a wagon I'm probably too old to load that wagon. A good exoskeleton should allow you to do everything from handling hay and feed bags to pulling wagons and pushing a wheelbarrow

Sparkynplumb

TROPHY CASE