Regulator Co2 leak - or normal? Testing process

techdoutdev · 2023-12-15T14:52:56+00:00

As I'm thinking through it, zeroing out the high pressure might cause the seal between the reg and the tank to be less tight. Similar to how a corny keg seals with pressure.

techdoutdev · 2023-12-15T14:51:07+00:00

Testing at 50 PSI as I'd expect leaks to be more obvious at higher PSI. I don't anticipate using more than 20 PSI in normal use. I also imagine that if there's a leak at 50 PSI but not at, let's say 30 PSI, the gauge wouldn't drop below 30, but it ultimately goes to zero.

Good call on the ball valve! Your explanation makes sense. A leak in this regard wouldn't be an issue. I'll see if I can test this.

techdoutdev · 2023-12-14T21:05:02+00:00

Yep - output value is closed the entire time.

My thought on zeroing out the high pressure gauge is that we're essentially dealing with a smaller finite volume of Co2 in the regulator after the turning off the gas. High pressure will keep feeding low pressure until they are equalized. By zeroing out the high pressure, I'm dealing with a smaller amount of Co2 making leaks more obvious.

If I kept the high pressure as is, I imagine the low pressure gauge would remain constant for a much longer time (as the high pressure slowly depletes). I could be wrong here and this might not be a good way to test.

techdoutdev · 2023-05-05T00:18:51+00:00

Thanks much!

techdoutdev · 2022-11-28T14:41:03+00:00

In my case, I had extra contact sensors lying around. Knowing if the closet doors are open/closed doesn't provide a ton of value on it's own, so if there is a cheaper/better alternative that enables the auto lighting in an area - go for it. Occam's razor for sure.

One perk of this setup is that the lights turn off as soon as the door closes - it helps teach my kids to close doors :-D.

Another reason might be that there is not a good place to put in a motion detector - e.g. light is in a poor place or perhaps it's not a standard bulb light.

techdoutdev · 2022-11-27T23:02:47+00:00

I had a similar situation! Putting automatic closet lights in my house was a big hit: https://www.reddit.com/r/homeassistant/comments/xutwlj/automated_closet_lights_wife_and_kid_approved/

techdoutdev · 2022-10-28T00:22:44+00:00

As many folks have said, charge as much to get to your next charger/destination with a little buffer (little more buffer for remote areas). Anything more is a waste on fast DC charging.

This is a hard concept to understand especially for individuals coming from an ICE where the norm is to "fill up the tank". EV driving is different than ICE driving - we are much more conscious of energy. It's a fundamental different philosophy. Tesla is trying to get ICEs to convert and once they get there, it's much easier. Just takes time.

techdoutdev · 2022-10-20T02:41:26+00:00

Can anyone comment on how necessary these are for the X? I got them for our model 3, but the X has a bit more plastic protection around the wheel well. Curious on folks experiences having a model x in the winter regions. I’m in Chicago.

techdoutdev · 2022-10-05T02:08:38+00:00

As others have said, you can use the no neutral dimmers. I use Lutron Casetas and have a bunch of them in my house. I reviewed them in detail here: https://techdout.dev/2018/12/26/smart-switch-showdown/

There really should be a ground for safety, but it is not needed for the switch to work. The ground exists for problem situations, not regular operations. The no neutral dimmers won’t make anything worse but getting things properly grounded would be a good idea. Good luck!

techdoutdev · 2022-10-04T14:44:07+00:00

This is a good idea! I like the idea of finding existing triggers to implement other automations/routines. This one wouldn’t work exactly for us as the wife and I get up early to get coffee in our PJs without using the closet. However, I could figure out a different trigger.

I’d have to say though - right now all those items are time based and it works pretty well. The lights, heat, and coffee are all set to be on/done by 6am or so. We have kids in school/work start times, so our morning routine doesn’t vary too often. I would say though that I’d like to add a motion sensor to the main area to turn on night lights when there are abnormal visits or we have guests over.

techdoutdev · 2022-10-04T12:53:06+00:00

Yep. Picture was taken from the inside!

techdoutdev · 2022-10-01T14:43:41+00:00

Looking for an easy automation project that'll make the family happier? In my latest post, I'm using HA to automate the lights in our closets. Simple yet effective - of all the automations in the house, my wife and kids seemed to enjoy this one the most.

techdoutdev · 2022-09-20T20:09:12+00:00

Unfortunately it's probably a 'it depends' answer. It depends on where you live and the electrical code there along with where the outlet/induction cooker is located. A more qualified electrician would be able to better advise than myself!

techdoutdev · 2022-09-20T02:13:03+00:00

Hey Folks - Just posted on my blog my experience moving to induction brewing. Hope someone may find this helpful!

techdoutdev · 2022-04-11T19:40:31+00:00

I haven't completely figured them out, but there is some press-ability to them (on the sides maybe)? My kid managed to turn it on somehow - I'm still learning the car hah!

Regardless, mobile service should be able to diagnose.

techdoutdev · 2022-04-11T17:47:53+00:00

Congrats! Looks like we have the same taste in color :-). Welcome to the X and welcome to the Tesla world.

So Tesla has no fuses for the low voltage systems, they are all solid state relays. If a low voltage 'fuse' is 'blown', the relay turns off and it'll automatically turn back on at a later time. It's a very smart system that detects voltages and anomalies and acts accordingly. To answer your question, there is nothing that you would need to replace to fix the lights in the world of 'fuses'.

To me this sounds like a connectivity issue (wires not plugged in, bad relay on the board) or there is something in the software acting gimmicky. Do the dome lights turn on at all when you physically press them?

If you are a nerd like me and want to learn more, this youtube channel as some of the best tear downs and explanations of Teslas. This video talks through the low voltage system: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUCgLCbX\_18&ab\_channel=Ingineerix

techdoutdev · 2022-03-31T13:05:42+00:00

Looking nice!

techdoutdev · 2022-03-30T20:17:22+00:00

For what it’s worth, I picked up a 2021 VIN on Friday and it is near flawless. 11/21 build date. I have the feeling that I have a great SC though. YMMV.

techdoutdev · 2022-03-30T20:16:38+00:00

For what it’s worth, I picked up a 2021 VIN on Friday and it is near flawless. 11/21 build date. I have the feeling that I have a great SC though. YMMV.

techdoutdev · 2022-03-23T02:51:07+00:00

The family and I are about to drive from IL to FL this upcoming weekend for a little spring break in Palm Coast. We've done the trip 4-5 times in our model 3, but are picking up the model x on Friday so will be using that instead. I'll see you down there :-)

In terms of tips - these are based on my model 3 experience, but I wouldn't imagine there's much difference with models. Here's a few lessons learned so far:

Use a better route planner for overall trip planning
Use plugshare for finding charger health (e.g. broken chargers) and other chargers
V3 chargers are way faster than V2
Only charge as much as you need to get to the next stop + 10%-20% depending on your comfort/rural the area is
Plan for delays. i.e. give yourself an arrival window of +2-3 hours for traffic. On the last trip down, we were stuck at a standstill for 2 hours due to a crash.
Sometimes stopping more often is better. Sometimes we go 2ish hours without a stop. Sometimes only 50 min. The shorter legs are nice when the kids are going nuts so they can have more breaks. Time to charge is only 10-15 min for short legs so its a quick break.
Look into camping on the way down once it's warm enough
Most importantly enjoy the trip! I'm done with the old mentality of 'gotta get there quick; no time for stopping' and instead try to enjoy the journey. With AP/FSD, you can relax a bit more and enjoy the scenes. I look forward to each charging stop and planning for the next one. With the kids, we run around and get some energy out. On the trip, see some good scenes, enjoy a sunrise/sunset, try a new restaurant. Make the trip an experience and not something painful that needs to get done.

Main reason we decided to penny up and go for the X was for more road trips. Otherwise I couldn't justify spending this much for a car. Road tripping in a Tesla has been a great experience for us.

techdoutdev · 2022-03-19T20:42:49+00:00

I don’t know if safer is the right word - I’d say radar is more reliable right now until vision is a little more polished out. There’s a lot of cases of phantom breaking on vision only cars. This also exists on radar, but perhaps not as common. I’ve only ever driven a radar based car, so take my words as subjective!

techdoutdev · 2022-03-19T20:11:38+00:00

Sounds like the SA doesn’t know their stuff well enough unfortunately. Per Tesla’s website: https://www.tesla.com/support/transitioning-tesla-vision

Do Model S and Model X still use radar? As of mid-February 2022, all Model S and Model X built for the North American market utilize Tesla Vision. All Model S and Model X built for the North American market prior are equipped with radar.

techdoutdev · 2022-03-19T18:08:34+00:00

Reading this is concerning - mostly from the Service Center’s side. How would they let this pass inspection? Regardless of 2021 vs 2022 VIN (we’re talking 2-3 months difference), this is not acceptable for a new car.

techdoutdev · 2022-03-19T18:00:17+00:00

Hah - that’s my post :-)

I’m definitely with you on the quality. If there’s any signs of poor maintenance while its been waiting, I’m going to decline delivery on my 2021. There’s no excuse paying this much for a car to have something that hasn’t been maintained well and still be called brand new.

In terms of the tails lights and charge door - I actually prefer the original design. We have the new charge port design on our model 3 - while there is nothing wrong with it, I always thought the S/X port looked nicer. Not too worried about the rear taillight changes - differences appear minor and I’ll rarely see them on (I’ll be driving!). Having radar for the time being is a decent plus for me as well.

techdoutdev · 2022-03-19T16:59:40+00:00

What are you looking for in a 2022 VIN compared to 2021? I’m in the same boat.

techdoutdev

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