Weatherproof "button"
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From: D Yuniskis on 6 May 2010 18:09 Hi Joerg, Joerg wrote: >>>> The "user interface" for my home automation controls is a >>>> touchpanel (actually, there are several of them) -- located >>>> *in* the house. I have a WiFi PDA that I can use to access >>>> it from "wherever" -- but, that means carrying the PDA with >>>> me to any of those "wherevers". >>>> >>>> For common things like "I just planted this shrub/tree", it's >>>> easy to just pick a predefined schedule and install it for >>>> that "irrigation circuit" (i.e., the hose running *to* that >>>> new planting). >>> >>> We just hang a hose to the next drip system loop, with an excess of >>> flag drippers at the new plant and later when the roots have caught >>> reduce that number. >> >> I plumb however many flags are required for the plant's >> "mature size". Put lengths of 1/4" poly on the ends of the >> emitters to get the water to the (freshly-planted-size) >> root ball (these can gradually be "rotated" outward as the >> roots get established -- until they can eventually be removed >> entirely). >> >> But, fresh plantings need water *every* day (most of the zones >> here run once or twice a week -- except for the hanging >> plants that get a shot twice each *day*!). Rather than >> changing the schedule for everything in that zone, it's >> easier to just drag a hose over for "supplemental irrigation" >> for these first two weeks. Putting an electric valve in series >> with it saves me the trouble of turning it on every day for >> those first few weeks (then every *other* day, etc.) > > With all the planting you guys are doing it might make sense to run a > separate "new plantings only" zone and then tap from there :-) But, then I'd have to replumb the things onto their "correct" zones, later. E.g., the citrus trees have very different watering needs than the roses (the former needs *long*, deep waterings once or twice a week; the latter needs brief waterings daily -- twice daily when we have hot/dry winds!). Likewise, the cacti don't like much water at all! Much of the complexity of the water distribution, here, is because we decided *not* to group plants of similar water needs in close proximity, etc. (there's a mile of 1/2" poly buried on this little lot!) >>>> For other things like "I need to use water to wash my utensils", >>>> I just want to be able to push a button *there* (where the water >>>> is located) and get the water that I want. >>> >>> When I wash my utensils I try to remember to turn the hose bib back >>> off when done :-) >> >> Yes, but you don't have to "do something special" to get water >> *to* that bib to begin with! :> > > Can you just leave the master valve energized the whole time while > working in the yard? Yeah, but then I have to remember to turn it on to begin with and off when done (that's the point of having these little "buttons" -- "give me some water and please turn things off when I forget to, later" :> ) If I had been more ambitious, I would have run two lines around the yard -- one "switched" (valved?) and the other "unswitched". The effort to trench for one line is pretty much the same as for *two* lines! But, the pisser would have been all the plumbing to get that second line under the four walls it must pass by :-/ Easier to let "technology" solve the problem! ;-)
From: D Yuniskis on 6 May 2010 18:19 Hi Joel, Joel Koltner wrote: > "D Yuniskis" <not.going.to.be(a)seen.com> wrote in message > news:hrvaud$i34$1(a)speranza.aioe.org... >> <grin> I refuse to *own* one -- and the land line is never >> answered. I don't like folks bothering me at *their* convenience! > > Do you at least have an answering machine? Yes. But, attending to it is also a low priority task. Folks know that there are better ways to get in touch with us. A "call me" message will almost *surely* go unanswered. > The logical extent of no one ever answering their phones is that we'd > just all leave voicemails for one another, at which point I expect you > might be better off with e-mail... or even Twitter... :-) I use email almost exclusively for my correspondence. It's something both parties (sender and recipient) can deal with "at their convenience" -- instead of the "sender" dictating when the conversation must take place, etc. Otherwise, I'm speaking with someone "face-to-face" -- again, at our mutual convenience (or *in*-convenience?). I find it immensely useful for business contacts as it gives both parties a chance to think about what they want to say. *And* provides a written record that they can each consult (ages ago, I used to spend time after each phone call transcribing notes regarding the discussion, commitments made during it, expectations, schedules, etc. Now, all of that comes for "free" -- and, less "misunderstandings" as there is a paper trail that can't easily be ignored). I work odd hours so this also has the advantage that you *can* get a message to me *and* get a reply in less time than if we played telephone tag ("He's in a meeting, can I have him call you back?" "No, I'm heading out for some commitments of my own... When is a best time for me to 'try again'?") And, of course, you can supplement the "conversation" with documents, illustrations, etc. which voice communications don't readily support (because you usually don't *prepare* for a voice conversation the same way you do with written corresppondence)
From: D Yuniskis on 6 May 2010 18:28 Hi Joerg, Joerg wrote: > D Yuniskis wrote: >>> So am I. Youngsters carry their portable electronic gizmos with them >>> all the time. I'll never understand that. >> >> Can you spell "lonely"? ;) >> >> I also can't imagine any sort of portable device standing >> up to the sort of abuse it would experience if I carried it >> on my person all the time. E.g., felling trees, digging holes, >> doing carpentry, etc. My eyeglasses have *glass* lenses >> because plastic ones scratch in no time at all (my glass >> lenses actually have deep scratches in them, presently) > > Where can one get non-prescription "magnifier" type glass-lens > eyeglasses? The Dollar-store or Costco kind. I just need 1.5x to 3.5x, > depending on whether reading or soldering 0402 stuff. So far mine are Hmmm... I think you are probably SOL, there. Few places will even sell glass *prescription* lenses (Costco does -- but you have to accept their "photogray"/whatever). I need glasses for distance so don't usually have them on when "working" (though I will wear glass "safety glasses" when working on suitably hazardous things in the yard, shop, etc.). For those things that I need a "magnifying glass" to read, I either use disposable 1.5X readers (I have a carton of them for just this purpose -- flimsy) or my B&L stereoscope (30-70X?) when inspecting boards, etc. > all plastic and yeah, they do scratch quickly. Scratches are ok for my > lab bench SMT glasses but not for the weaker ones I use during CAD work. > >>> Where's my cell phone right now? Oh, alright, in the nightstand. >> >> <grin> I refuse to *own* one -- and the land line is never >> answered. I don't like folks bothering me at *their* convenience! >> And, I prefer communications where both parties *think* about >> what they are saying (instead of just "immediately responding"... >> like in a voice conversation). > > Wow, you are more hardcore than I am. I do answer every landline call <shrug> I just decided I didn't want to spend my life on the phone with folks who *do* want to spend theirs as such! :> I remind folks that *they* get paid while their on the phone; *I* don't get paid until I get something *done*! :> Now, if you want to pay me T&M and let me bill *all* of the time I spend on your project (travel, phone, etc.) then that's another story (*you'll* quickly decide you don't want to tie me up with "idle chit chat" when it's *your* dime! :> ) > when I am here, no screening. Except during meals, bible study or prayer > but then we call right back. Cell phone, that's only on during travel, > walks or hiking. I held out until about four years ago, finally needed > one for business. I used to have two land lines (never carried a cell phone). Just decided it wasn't something I wanted in my life -- especially the Pavlov-esque relationship most folks have with phones! Life's just too short to spend it doing things that you don't delight in!
From: D Yuniskis on 6 May 2010 18:33 Hi Joerg, Joerg wrote: > D Yuniskis wrote: > >> My folks put shutoffs for the outside water *in* the house >> when the house was built. Never really understood why >> (water is plentiful, there). > > A neighbor found out the hard way why that would have made sense: > Vandals connected a hose, shoved it through a roof vent, turned it on > and hightailed it. Major damage, water was running out of the front door. Yikes! Not the sort of thing that would happen in my folks' neighborhood -- everyone watches out for each other and their properties (e.g., walk into my folks' house and there is a key rack by the door -- with keys to all of the neighbors' homes!). In school, it ws not uncommon to have water running down the stairs (indoor) -- we would have "water fights" with garden hoses *indoors*. Administration obviously wasn't real happy with this :> A neighbor (here) once had folks throw fluorescent lamps (tubes) into his pool and then tried to pelt them with *rocks*. (!) Makes you wonder what he did to prompt this sort of activity! :<
From: langwadt on 6 May 2010 19:10
On 6 Maj, 23:33, Joerg <inva...(a)invalid.invalid> wrote: > D Yuniskis wrote: > > Hi Joerg, > > > Joerg wrote: > >> D Yuniskis wrote: > > >>> I use a WiFi PDA to do that -- no need to rely on the phone > >>> company for it's delivery! :> But, I don't want to have > >>> to carry it with me all the time -- *especially* when out > >>> in the yard. > > >> Then you are probably too old. > > > Without a doubt! :> > > >> So am I. Youngsters carry their portable electronic gizmos with them > >> all the time. I'll never understand that. > > > Can you spell "lonely"? ;) > > > I also can't imagine any sort of portable device standing > > up to the sort of abuse it would experience if I carried it > > on my person all the time. E.g., felling trees, digging holes, > > doing carpentry, etc. My eyeglasses have *glass* lenses > > because plastic ones scratch in no time at all (my glass > > lenses actually have deep scratches in them, presently) > > Where can one get non-prescription "magnifier" type glass-lens > eyeglasses? The Dollar-store or Costco kind. I just need 1.5x to 3.5x, > depending on whether reading or soldering 0402 stuff. So far mine are > all plastic and yeah, they do scratch quickly. Scratches are ok for my > lab bench SMT glasses but not for the weaker ones I use during CAD work. > snip do they even make glasses with actual glass anymore? never had a pair that wasn't plastic I wear presciption glasses ll the time so they are ofcourse expensive plastics with scratch resistant coarting and they they don't just lay around, they sit on my nose but they last for years without scratches. -Lasse |