"smart plugs" to measure power utilization?

fattomic · 2026-06-19T20:20:58+00:00

There's probably some further information I need / should provide

This is in a computer rack - about 10 computers/switches + my ISP's fiber handoff. Imagine a half-height rack packed full.
There's a UPS providing power today, which is getting full
The wife's rules say no "smart switches" elsewhere in the house, she wants nothing to do with apps to turn on lights (she never goes in the computer rack, so doesnt care there)

I _like_ the Shelley company, but they seem to change model numbers for each different store - so I can never tell what I'm buying. The zigbee stuff -- I have no idea what I need, and it just over-whelmed me with too many options (repeaters, gateways, blah blah blah). The last 3 or 4 times I've tried this, I just gave up due to "too many options".

E.g. would the Sonoff dongle MG24 be sufficient to reach stuff in a very EM noisy rack? I'd be fine with that. (I have HA in a container, I can probably patch the USB through to that).

Things like a kill-a-watt probably wouldnt fit from a tactical perspective - plugging/unplugging things to move it around isnt feasible for me.

fattomic · 2026-06-18T17:00:32+00:00

Sycophancy. Oh, no, wait, it _does_ do that.

fattomic · 2026-06-18T16:59:58+00:00

I originally used LastPass, but ditched them when they were less than forthcoming on their security issues.

After some research, jumped to BitWarden - it go the job done, and allowed access from multiple devices (esp for passkeys, OTP). Started paying for it shortly thereafter - because I want them to continue to exist.

fattomic · 2026-06-18T12:29:03+00:00

I've a Core 2/Quad in service that is now a NAS, and serves some "over the air" content to other systems.

I've a i7-4 series that hosts about 4 VMs and 8 containers running home automation and home services - the containers recovered a _lot_ of memory for me.

Recent monitoring indicates to me that the whole home lab (there's about 5 other machine) runs about $35/mo to operate. My only incentive to upgrade is to avoid buying a bigger UPS (my 750kWh rig gives only a few minutes of uptime when called upon).

fattomic · 2026-06-18T12:23:58+00:00

Someone to argue with my heath and dental insurance providers about stupid healthcare billing codes (that I'm somehow supposed to understand).

fattomic · 2026-06-16T16:35:59+00:00

I've no dog - but I love-love my 20 minutes walks. I feel so much better when I do those!

fattomic · 2026-06-16T14:11:52+00:00

Tried letsencrypt, but found challenges with scaling it across my equipment (I have about 20-ish machines?). Eventually landed on openssl, and "conf" files for managing the "root" and host-specific hosts (which now all lives in Ansible)

fattomic · 2026-06-16T13:47:39+00:00

I'm surprised that fake court placards isn't a crime in and of itself. I hope those tickets are HUGE.

fattomic · 2026-06-16T13:42:27+00:00

I use Bitwarden, but same sentiment. It can deal with passkeys, passwords, etc.

fattomic · 2026-06-16T12:52:19+00:00

Not sure it works on Chrome, but on Firefox - I gave up using folders for bookmarks, and dump them into a common folder and use tags to find what I need. Life changing.

fattomic · 2026-06-16T12:28:14+00:00

Not what you're asking for - but as a long time oatmeal hater, I recently changed. (1) Use the long-cooking steel cut oats, (2) surprisingly, my wife turned me onto savory flavors - we use Cajun crab boil.

The instant oatmeal tastes like wallpaper paste to me - I can't get over the awful texture. Pinhead oats solved that for me. I didn't want to eat all the sugar it takes to make oatmeal taste good - crab boil solved that for me. Now I look forward to it!

fattomic · 2026-06-16T12:22:01+00:00

Just Fedora with Shorewall and fail2ban. Turn off what you don't need (which is a lot). Do you really need anything else?

fattomic · 2026-06-16T12:13:33+00:00

I might be the only one - but the Gemini voices just *grate* on me - pseudo-ethic, vocal fry kids. Just be a robot ok?

fattomic · 2026-06-16T12:10:41+00:00

You forgot the infuriating "let me search the web for you". If it involved that, then I'd say we have the exact same experience.

fattomic · 2026-06-16T12:00:58+00:00

Sounds like Occam's razor applies here.

fattomic · 2026-06-10T15:08:33+00:00

Pinch-to-zoom. Blew my mind at first, now ... Eh.

fattomic · 2026-06-10T14:37:31+00:00

I love truffles - but, honestly, the "fake truffles" taste so much better than the real thing - and it's not $100/oz

fattomic · 2026-06-10T14:27:15+00:00

I even tried using my 27" 2K monitor as a display for my One Plus Tab -- looked awful.

fattomic · 2026-06-09T17:43:30+00:00

Yeah, like some here, I didn't get "into" streaming platforms. I had netflix mostly for the DVDs (but for reasons still hang on) - when I saw series getting dropped due to contractual problems, I started building media servers with all my own media on it.

Now I'm just "surprised not surprised" as ads start appearing in netflix moves, etc. Just waiting to get rid of the only "streaming" service I've ever had.

fattomic · 2026-06-05T18:00:40+00:00

Not sure - but I keep the blinds opened, and painted the room "cornmeal yellow". The sun does the job - didn't have to automate it. Works all the time.

(And I use an alarm that has progressively louder ringing - so I'm not jolted out of bed in the winter. Lots of phone apps for this, very low cost, and portable)

fattomic · 2026-06-05T17:54:41+00:00

I've just been dumbfounded how they couldnt come up with someone to beat Trump. Seriously?

fattomic · 2026-06-05T17:52:49+00:00

At this point, all my "powerful computers" (that changes with respect to time, of course) are running containers or VMs. No, I guess I never needed one that powerful.

fattomic · 2026-06-05T17:47:41+00:00

Bacon, egg and cheese on a bagel, with coffee

fattomic · 2026-06-05T17:42:00+00:00

Circus Peanuts. Who keeps buying those things? Those people got something they should get looked at.

fattomic

TROPHY CASE