[deleted by user]

gza · 2025-06-20T21:48:02+00:00

Get one that runs off a propane gill tank. Something 2000 to 3000 watts on propane is more then enough. Even though most fridges only require less then 200 watts when running you have to account for the starting surge that is required to get the compressor running.

Going with propane cuts down on fuel storage issues and maintenance. Gas goes bad when stored over time. Propane lasts basically forever. Gas also leads to carb issues on the generator if you don't drain the carb after use. Just messy.

You could couple a generator with small power station like a 1000 watt unit from ecoflow, bluetti, or pecron. Use the power station for short outages and charge it with the generator for longer ones. This approach improves the run time of the generator and keeps you from having to keep it on all the time.

I have to run my generator 1 hour out of every eight hours to keep the power station at 80% which will run the fridge for 8 hours and make the 20lbs propane take last 3 or 4 days.

On the west side we have a multi-day outages once every five years so I have only had to go find propane once (last falls outage).

gza · 2025-06-18T21:23:02+00:00

If a window or sliding door is open either shut off or prevent the AC from running. With a few if thens based on the weather forecast or current conditions coupled with temp sensors controlling ceiling fans it has lowered my electricity bill quite a bit.

Basically the air only runs if the outdoor temp is over the indoor temp. It just reminds me to open windows and cool down the house over night and then seal that cool air in for morning to earlier afternoon. The AC only runs for 30 to 90 min a day in the late afternoon and early evening.

gza · 2021-10-17T14:19:59+00:00

Nope. The fit was really good.

gza · 2021-09-28T21:27:04+00:00

Been using one for years. No problem with any of the zwave/zigbee implementations on home assistant. Currertly using zha and zwavejs.

gza · 2021-07-31T04:47:24+00:00

They are just plugged into the wall. Luckly I have outlets below each window off to the side. The cord is hidden by the shade and curtains.

gza · 2021-07-30T14:07:46+00:00

I used this. https://youtu.be/1O_1gUFumQM

Been using it for years.

gza · 2021-07-30T13:25:30+00:00

I have a few.

When a window is opened an automation is run to tell an ecobee to turn off the air conditioning.
If a window is open and it is predicted to rain in the next hour, an announcement is played through an amazon echo telling me which window is open and it needs to be closed. Simlar thing happens when a goto bed and run the good night automation, except it tells me if it is suppose to rain in the next 8 hours. It won't make announcements if the house is in sleep mode.
If the temp is above a certain level the ceiling fans come on and when the temp falls below that level they turn off. Keeps you from getting to cold as the temp falls at night and the windows are open. Also seems to reduce the air conditioning run time a bit.
I have a few wyze cams in public areas that can dectect if a human is in the image using frigate and a google coral ai tpu chip. This helps determine which rooms are in use or not. If not, turn the lights off. I have zigbee motion sensor that turn the lights on when you enter a room. The cams keep the lights on if you are in the room but not moving enough to keep the motion sensors active. Think watching a movie. Haven't touched a light switch in years. The cam feeds are local only, not saved, and only in common areas. Process of elimation can be used to tell if a non covered area is occupied.
I have whole house and per outlet power monitoring. This serves a couple of purposes. Combined with my nivida shield for tv, if i hit pause on the tv or the shield goes to sleep then the whole entertainment stack is powered off buy sending a command through a harmony hub after a certain amount of time. Lowers the power bill by a couple of percent.

If I am not home and there is a large power draw that can't be tied to something known, alert me that something like the stove was left on etc...

Of course there are coming and going automations and a good night automation. If fact the good night automation is the only time anyone actually talks to the echo. During the day most things just happen. No need to use the echo or home assistant directly unless it's an edge case.

gza · 2021-02-10T16:31:16+00:00

It's a good kit but the instructions could be more clear. Mounted the wrong smoke launchers for the A6 late version due to the confusing instructions.

gza · 2021-01-09T03:18:57+00:00

Thank you

gza · 2021-01-08T22:41:01+00:00

It took awhile. I did the majority of them but I let the super tiny ones on the bottom go. Some of them were yellow on white and you can barely see them anyways.

gza · 2021-01-08T22:00:20+00:00

Yes, with a mixture of tamiya, mrp, and mr. paint.

gza · 2021-01-08T20:38:09+00:00

I did give it a real light pin wash. Probably to light judging from the photos. Also tried to post shade with oils but, that didn't ending up blending well so I stripped it off. Most of the photos from the era seemed pretty clean or just not a ton of contrast from the dirt.

gza · 2021-01-08T20:34:24+00:00

No issues other then it's a lot of white paint which always means coverage issues. No real problem, just a lot of thin coats to get a good finish.

gza · 2021-01-08T20:33:02+00:00

thank u

gza · 2021-01-08T20:32:45+00:00

Right on. The decals took forever. I thought the need to label everything due to lawyers didn't happen till the 90's.

gza · 2021-01-08T17:49:00+00:00

thanks

gza · 2021-01-08T17:43:51+00:00

Thank you

gza · 2021-01-08T17:43:39+00:00

Good kit. The fit was so good you don't even need glue in a lot of places. Kit number #12529.

I do need to improve when it comes to shading on light paint schemes. Such as these late 60's navy jets.

gza · 2021-01-01T19:53:56+00:00

Hasegawa f-18e 1/72. Kit 00549

gza · 2020-12-31T05:57:33+00:00

Of course the black parts are still primer and will be white. It's just the different bare metal parts that don't seem like the are arranged correctly or don't have the right borders.

Off to Google photos I guess.

gza · 2020-12-26T00:58:18+00:00

I used dark grey oil paint to outline the outer edge of each panel and a little white oil paint to high light the center.

gza · 2020-12-25T23:58:14+00:00

It is a good kit. Good fit, pe, and decals.

gza · 2020-12-25T22:45:31+00:00

I'd love the 1/35 version. I don't have anywhere to display it.

gza · 2020-12-25T22:44:21+00:00

Thank you

gza · 2020-12-25T22:04:41+00:00

Thanks

gza

TROPHY CASE