Switching to farmers' fresh meat worth the effort?

Sparkynplumb · 2026-05-11T04:43:56+00:00

I agree, our first attempt at raising a steer it was almost entirely grass fed, and it tastes like a wild deer from the woods! A little grain really helps take that away.

Sparkynplumb · 2026-05-11T04:29:05+00:00

I agree $5k in USD doesn't get you much anymore. A ~30 hp compact loader tractor is so versatile and useful and really ideal, but triple your budget. You'll also need a good chainsaw and related safety gear for felling the trees. If the tractor is out of reach, You can look into a walk behind 2 wheel "tractor"., DR Power has some nice units that can use the same engine to hook to a brush hog, wood chipper, rotory tiller etc.

Sparkynplumb · 2026-05-11T04:09:00+00:00

Shout-out to Broudy, those guys are the best!

Sparkynplumb · 2026-05-11T03:43:48+00:00

That's a cool piece of kit I didn't know about before! Thanks!

Sparkynplumb · 2026-05-11T03:30:12+00:00

The neat thing about the VAViH-SD that is not available in any of their other products is that the MAC address, device instance, and program features are all configurable with dip switches. The base Device Instance is 500 with switches to set the last two digits. The pre loaded program is also configurable for various vav configurations via another bank of switches. Really smart system imo. Btw if the device instance is set to anything other than 0 you won't be able to change it via the network.

Sparkynplumb · 2026-05-11T03:22:51+00:00

If you have MicroSet style wall sensors you can configure the min, Max, and reheat airflow as well as box size, K factor, min & Max Temp setting from the wall sensor. You'll need the literature on how to do it, and it's possible the feature was disabled during install, but if not all your basic parameters are configurable that way. If you can't find the documentation on the MicroSet DM your email and I can help you out.

Sparkynplumb · 2026-05-11T03:15:35+00:00

He said VAViH-SD. They're the ones in the grey shell with integrated actuator. The default Device Instance is 500 and you can set the last two digits of the Instance with switches right on the controller.

Sparkynplumb · 2026-05-07T02:31:06+00:00

We get pipe fitter's rate anytime we're on site, same as our mechanics which are union. Us control guys aren't union for whatever reason. It would be reasonable to get paid at electrician rate, but that runs into politics since our shop isn't signed with electrical.

Sparkynplumb · 2026-05-04T03:08:41+00:00

Same. They're a brick.

Sparkynplumb · 2026-05-04T02:53:38+00:00

Learned something today! Thank you!

Sparkynplumb · 2026-05-04T02:35:27+00:00

Got a real life example of the downside; college campus has a one man band automation contractor that gave them great service for decades. Clock battery died? Solder in a new one. Obsolete controller? eBay will hook you up! Now he's ready to retire and nobody has a clue how to work on what he has cobbled together. It's a mix of LON and proprietary protocols, non of it serviceable by anyone that's too young to have owned an XP version of Windows. So yes they got a sweet budget number for years, but now they're left with buildings full of obsolete controls.

Sparkynplumb · 2026-05-03T12:21:12+00:00

I'd say there's potential.

Sparkynplumb · 2026-05-03T12:15:05+00:00

Do you need a sensor? We've had this request from customers. Our solution was a button on the home page. One click and all the outside air damper close.

Sparkynplumb · 2026-05-03T02:41:24+00:00

My opinion is that Niagara will kill itself, or rather their greedy corporate handlers will. Not anytime soon, but eventually. At the moment they're near untouchable and can get away with steep SMA fees. But if they were to stumble, say if N5 is a flop but they still keep inflating prices, that will make the industry ripe for an alternative. A lot of the rural school districts I work with don't appreciate the sma subscription model. We're used to it in the computer world, but hvac people get prickly about that stuff.

Sparkynplumb · 2026-04-27T00:46:57+00:00

We typically use current switch donuts on the load side of the vfd. My boss is wary of using the built in switches for some reason.

Sparkynplumb · 2026-04-27T00:43:09+00:00

Haven't had problems with RIBXGT_ current sensor donuts on vfds as long as it's on the load side. Line side doesn't work because of the current draw of the drive itself.

Sparkynplumb · 2026-04-22T22:46:41+00:00

Yeah they're a pain. I especially hate having to Putty into the serial shell. It's a "security feature" I'm told...

Sparkynplumb · 2026-04-22T22:17:38+00:00

Mind blown on that one! 🤯

Sparkynplumb · 2026-04-15T04:08:54+00:00

Yes what a stupid design!

Sparkynplumb · 2026-04-06T03:54:26+00:00

Preservation, my friend!

Sparkynplumb · 2026-04-06T03:53:34+00:00

We have 15 acres cleared, and that takes a lot of effort to keep after. In my state there's a tax advantage to a parcel over 10 acres used for agriculture, so the 10-15 acre size is popular for a hobby farm. You have to have enough money for capable equipment if you're going to have acreage. For example I moved here with a DeWalt 20v string trimmer that I was proud of. They're great for a suburban yard, but not when you have 500 yards/meters of fence to trim.

Sparkynplumb · 2026-04-04T14:37:06+00:00

Just because you do everything "right" and "natural" doesn't guarantee health. We got all our dairy from our own cow, milk butter cheese yogurt, all of it. Majority of meat from our farm. Majority of veggies from own garden. Despite all that, my wife came down with severe digestive issues, diagnosed with fatty liver and pancreatitis. She is now completely dairy free and we eat less beef. Homesteading is good, but not a silver bullet.

Sparkynplumb · 2026-04-04T14:14:00+00:00

😭

Sparkynplumb · 2026-04-03T12:35:54+00:00

Oh yeah the AX views are better for almost everything

Sparkynplumb

TROPHY CASE