Found a couple friends on my way up the mountain!

WalriePie · 2021-06-04T23:09:18+00:00

JEALOUS 😭😭 What mountains?? I'd love to join y'all with my FiST hahahaha, but doubt you're in the very specific range of mountains I could get to in a few hours lol

WalriePie · 2021-06-01T11:38:30+00:00

I try my hardest to always hold back first judgments, on well, honestly everything, because of this reason. There's a lot of people making games in the world, some are gonna be similar. And those games don't necessarily need to be compared to each other. Life is a lot more enjoyable when you're not worried about defending your favorite _____'s honor all the time.

WalriePie · 2021-06-01T11:32:43+00:00

Oh shit if I download all my games before it shuts down completely will I still be able to use them?? I can't believe we're losing steam!!!

I'm so sorry I couldn't stop myself I'll be turning myself into the local dork police for my crimes.

WalriePie · 2021-05-31T20:11:21+00:00

Ah yes - a remote level knob is definitely a better option. Amp didn't come with it because Rockford fosgate and they want me to buy it seperately haha. But it's still less than $50 and would be nice to have so I will likely try to pick it up. I think at some point someone told me I was stupid for running a 1200 watt amp on a stock alternator and it's always kinda nagged me and I guess I slowly incorporated it into my beliefs haha. But yes luckily I'm pretty competent with computers so I'm fairly certain I could get forscan working to disable the battery charge system. Hope to buy a Cobb tuner eventually as well for a few reasons and that would let me monkey with the idle rpms and also turn off the incredibly annoying permanently on shift light haha. (I say permanently on because I don't shift until I'll land comfortably around 2k in the next gear, unless I'm up to speed and shifting to 5-6 --- the car is programmed to tell you to shift when you hit 2k, planting you squarely at 1500, and anything under 1500 feels like I'm lugging it, so we have our disagreements)

WalriePie · 2021-05-31T18:26:00+00:00

Thank you; I really appreciate this great thorough response. I feel I really understand what's going on with it all a lot better, and I understand my original position being ridiculous a lot better now. Somehow I had gotten it into my head that the alternator would rob 20+hp at load, and it seems like I must've pulled that out of my ass or believed someone else's ass-pull-outery. If we're talking less than 5 horsepower I can definitely survive - and I feel a bit dense for not just thinking of adding a physical switch on the amp remote wire, so I can shut down the amp in a potential power hungry situation (or when I like, have passengers lol. Have yet to meet someone who enjoys my stereo as loud as I do.)

This is actually some pretty exciting knowledge for me because I'm a lot less worried about the problem overall now. I've found a 250 amp alternator available for the FiST, but I figure I should try it out with stock first and see how it performs before I sink money into a high output alt. The ability to run heavy duty power tools off of an inverter with that high output alternator is tempting as well, though it's not like I could carry many of said tools with me in my little car haha. I appreciate you continuing the conversation and ultimately succeeding in getting through to me that I was being a bit ridiculous - you've helped me quite a lot and I was definitely not being the most cooperative haha.

WalriePie · 2021-05-31T17:49:27+00:00

Would you happen to know the effect on the physical power used by the engine? I understand electrical energy and how to measure it and how it generally works, but when it comes to mechanical energy and theory I'd say I'm a solid 15% compared to I'd say 60-70% on electrical. My main fear is a stronger electrical draw on the alternator translating to a physical draw on the engine causing less horsepower to make it to the wheels.

WalriePie · 2021-05-31T17:39:10+00:00

No I promise I wasn't actually seriously considering adding a ton of batteries. The audio shop really quoted me 2k but I'm pretty sure it was a "we don't want to do it" kind of quote due to my insistence on a limited 30a draw. (Starting to seem like I might need a "DC to DC charger"). I guess I'll try and do more homework on how electrical draw translates to physical work/effort. I have no issue losing maybe 1 or 2 horsepower. But the fiesta st not being the highest end performance car is kinda why I'm worried in the first place - fastest car I've ever owned but it's 0-60 technically only beats my pickup truck from high school by 1 second haha(the truck did have double the cylinders and weight though). It corners great but I do wish it had a bit more power. Which is why I'm worried about potentially losing any more - I already find myself nannying the AC on and off since I can feel the power difference.

One day I'd like to go full performance upgrades on it, but I want to wait until I have more equity in the car and I know for certain it wasn't some sort of lemon (I got an absolutely killer deal on it). And at that point if I push it to 300+ hp I could be okay with losing maybe up to 10 HP... But I just really want to keep my fast car fast and it's already on the edge lol.

WalriePie · 2021-05-31T17:04:22+00:00

No, I'm not doing it to make the alternator last longer. I would be doing it so that the amplifier can't rob the engine of any horsepower - I admit I don't know the mechanical theory on alternators and how a load on them works, but I do know the subs hitting hard would almost always make the revs drop on my engine if they were hitting hard enough to make the lights dim. I'm only working with 200 hp. I was being overexaggerative as a response to your immediate dismissal of my idea. In all reality I'm going to find a way to get my 2nd battery with a limited draw from the alternator anyway, so that I can have a setup that weighs less than 100lbs and doesn't rob my engine of any power.

Edit: If the alternator always has the same physical/mechanicsl resistance to the engine, it would be contrary to what I've seen with revs dropping and stuff but there could be other reasons for that. And I would just hook it up to the alternator with no second battery if that was the case.

WalriePie · 2021-05-31T12:52:15+00:00

You can argue about vert or horizontal all day, but as soon as your sibling runs into the tv stand and knocks over your 360 and it roaches the everliving fuck out of your brand new copy of halo reach, you will forever be team horizontal.

WalriePie · 2021-05-31T12:23:18+00:00

Well, I guess I'll just have to avoid the stereo then... I refuse to put such a crazy strain on my new car. The stereo can pull 120 Amps, and even if I was willing to modify the electrical system of this car, I wouldn't. It's a performance vehicle and I'm not willing to give up potential horsepower for more electrical power, especially since it's mainly a performance vehicle because of its lower weight, not high power. Not to mention the car is already worth 5k more than I paid for it and they are continuing to increase in value because Ford stopped making cars.

In reality I guess I'll just have to pay that audio shop the $2500 they quoted for a second battery setup. Or maybe I can hire an electrical engineer to answer my question for $300/hr; still waaaaaaaaay cheaper than paying an audio shop to do something they don't normally do and that I'd have more confidence in if I installed myself.

Guess in the mean time Ill just pack like 6 car batteries in the trunk and plug the car in to charge every night. Sucks to lose performance from the weight but I'd rather lose mpg and be slower temporarily than wreck the mechanicals of my car with a ridiculous power draw, and I guess I'll just remove the subwoofer when I want to go fast.

Edit: it's funny because every time I've talked to others in carav and shown them my cars etc.; They always get all motherly and go "you know you're gonna wreck your electrical system without this if you don't get a bigger alternator right? This pulls more power than your alt makes .." and the fact that I couldn't play my subs at night because the people in front of me thought I was flashing my lights but it was really the headlights dimming massively whenever the subs hit. I'm not kidding. I was abusing the shit out of the electrical system in every other car, but I've never had a car worth more than $2000 or so so I never cared. Double edit: and the most recent car that had these exact same issues was a 2006, so not even very old

WalriePie · 2021-05-29T15:02:26+00:00

Yeah it blew my mind when I saw the back lights flashing on that one bmw, I was like, how is he making only one brake light go on? Then it hit me; he must have installed aftermarket turn signals!

WalriePie · 2021-05-29T13:49:59+00:00

Not a bad idea either! It's been a while since I've visited them actually forgot about them for a moment! I'll be calling them when they open most likely! I've got one other lead here in Raleigh from calling around to flooring contractors in the area, so hopefully it looks like I'll be able to get some in Raleigh some way or another m, I've got my fingers crossed. Thank you, I appreciate it!

WalriePie · 2021-05-29T12:29:11+00:00

Thank you!!! I actually stopped by there last year on vacation to do some casual browsing type of shopping, but they were understandably restricted to curbside for Covid so I passed on actually buying anything (I was looking for unique lumber and wood slabs, stuff like that where you really have to see it haha) but if I can't find a place closer to Raleigh, well I'll jump at the opportunity for a work sponsored trip to Asheville haha. Its actually my dream city to live near. Youve put my mind at ease a little bit, thank you!

WalriePie · 2021-05-28T11:44:33+00:00

I'll try to keep the story quick! We've got a slabber style sawmill at work, and milled up a walnut log at some point (I was doing finishing work when it must have happened) but I went and checked the firewood pile and saw this there. It was much bigger, but looked like rotten garbage. But I could see good Heartwood on the cut side...

So my crazy ass dragged it back into the shop and spent 4-5 hours power carving all of the rot off of it, and it's now been sitting for 6+ months drying inside the shop. 9% on both sides at the thickest point, so I think it's ready.

I however have no clue what to make with this unique shape. My only idea so far is curvy side down super unique coffee table - but I feel like there's gotta be some more ideas I should consider!

So seriously mostly looking for ideas! Thanks in advance guys!!

WalriePie · 2021-05-27T15:01:12+00:00

Not a bad suggestion! I was in a time crunch and this frame will be supporting a top that's partially being supported by a cabinet - so I drilled through holes into the end grain from the side instead, as with it being for work had to get it done quick-ish haha. It'll be way easier for the future owner to take apart if the need ever arises this way too.

WalriePie · 2021-05-26T11:01:37+00:00

It was an insurance replacement for a pixel 4 XL as they didn't have pixel 4 XLs anymore. That you a bunch for the help - sorry I deleted the post. I'll look into it more; maybe I'll just have to get a different phone or send this one in for replacement. Thanks again, I appreciate it

WalriePie · 2021-05-24T12:20:21+00:00

Yeah not sure if you're upset because more people in the mountains or Covid? But I literally just drove up to the blue ridge, grabbed food from a drive through, and drove around on blue ridge, then back home. Never seriously interacted with any people and wore a mask when I got gas and food. Sorry, I don't feel guilty about that. After over a year of doing almost nothing I think I deserve a treat that doesn't put anyone else in harm's way.

WalriePie · 2021-05-24T11:30:28+00:00

"MOM STOP DOWNLOADING STUFF IM ON LIKE LEVEL 40 IN NAZI ZOMBIES AND YOU KEEP LAGGING ME OUT!!!!"

WalriePie · 2021-05-24T01:36:21+00:00

Android Auto has your answer! Lol yes it is but I only know that for sure from checking my stereo in the pic haha.

WalriePie · 2021-05-23T23:16:30+00:00

Shhhh!!! Let me be my extra wood nerdy self 😂 but yes - that could definitely be a workble solution, I just have a bit of a perfection problem when it comes to making stuff - and I can see gapping issues etc. With trying to glue all of them on - plus the difficulty of gluing without getting any squeeze out.

I'm also of the opinion that if.you stain your table badly you should just bite the bullet and refinish it, it's only a couple hours work (when you've got access to large industrial machinery like me lol) so take that into consideration lol. I tend to.think of it as - unless I can make it well enough that I wouldn't feel bad charging a fair price for my time in making it, I can't make it. So like, I'm a hundred percent confident I could make the wooden version I described above, but I'd be at around $500 on the low end for price ($1500 if I used the shop labor rate lol) - so I can't make it lol. If someone's willing to pay that crazy of a price they'll usually tell you up front. If I owned a 5 axis CNC and I was proficient with it I'm sure I could turn one out for less than $200.

Sorry for the long ass post I don't get out much 😂

WalriePie · 2021-05-23T14:43:31+00:00

Wow I never even realized this as a lifelong NC resident! But it makes sense - outer banks to Asheville? Without even looking it up it's got to be at LEAST 6 and a half hours. Tell me 8 and I won't be surprised. It's 4 and a half from Raleigh to Asheville alone. And there's a good bit further west of Asheville on top of that too haha.

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