Electronics Motor repair success

I fixed my broken motor that is meant to power the auger via the tiny gearbox that will deliver the fish food in my demand fish feeder.

Normally I prefer less complicated sentences.

But Im all excited.

It turns out, the problem was there were simply too many parts.

Or more accurately one too many parts, and one that was simply in the way.

The silver bit was the one too many. I think that broke off the bit where the wires connect, and fell into the motor, generally clagging things up.





The little nylon washer creates part of the front bearing, but it made getting the brushes back on impossible, because it had to be put on after the brushes. Thats an impossible path through the plastic front. I dont have the kinds of quantum tools that walking through walls requires. And if I did, I wouldnt waste my time with motor repairs. Id do much more interesting stuff, like poking my head through the fridge to see if the light really does go off when the door is closed.

So be leaving out those two small parts, I managed to make my motor work.

Only two parts.

And they were tiny.

Those that know me will realise thats a pretty low number of excess bits after a repair. I think I did quite well.

So well in fact, that it looks like this when its running.

That should do nicely.

What this all means, is that there is really no reason why I cant put this thing together today, and actually finish something.

Maybe.








120 Things in 20 years - If I keep repairing them, one day an electronic motor repair might leave me with enough parts to eventually build another motor. I should fix cars.

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Dear World

Hi there blogger community. Its been a while. A looong while.

In a nutshell, nothing has been going on. Work that eats at my soul. Pictures of everyone else getting together. Well that blows.

Lets see, gas going up to $4? Well eff so much for getting a car.

Although in greater news, DMV WEDNESDAY!!!

Maybe I should start blogging again. =]

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Stirling engine Success!

I just made an engine!

I even think I got it on video.

It ran for about a minute at around 78 rpm before making a popping sound and seizing up.

Which would have been perfect if it was connected to an old record player...

playing a very short song...

that I only wanted to hear once.

The camera battery went flat during filming, but but the video should be on there. Ill find out tomorrow. If not, Ill just fix it.

Yay me!

More later...



120 Things in 20 years is very pleased with itself       :{)

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Progagation

Last week I wrote about Mike McGroarty.  

If you were inspired by Mikes videos you will surely find Growem Plant Progagation Database  useful.  

This is a database containing instructions on propagation technique for of over a thousand plants 

Many trees do not reproduce the same fruit as the parent plant.  You can take a gamble and plant a lot of seeds, and then hope for something good, or you can clone the parent with a graft.  This database will indicate whether the plant should be propagated by seed, graft, division or other methods.

This image is from Australian Native Plant Society

http://anpsa.org.au/APOL7/sep97-2.html

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two months

...thats how long I have to find a job or move out. Why? Its either that or live with my mom in Oak Park, Sacramento, CA.

-_-

There are some goods coming out of that. For number one, Id put up a huge fight if I couldnt bring my dogs (what do you mean were moving to a neighborhood where its best part is a s bad as my current neighborhoods worse part and I cant bring my dogs???!?!?!)

Well I will be closer to CRC when I transfer...I guess.

Personally Id rather live in a trailer. They arent as bad as people say.

Its getting pretty lame...trying so hard only to be constantly put down by family and a dying economy. Im tired of trying so hard but ending up only in failure, coming home and crying every night cause things get worse, and everything is out of my control. Shit better be worth it in the future.

Its times like this that Im glad I have the friends and wonderful boyfriend that I do. I couldnt do it without you guys...you know who you are

=]

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numb

Im not one to normally express the dark side of me in a blog (well not my secrets anyway) but today Im in complete agitation so...why not?

Last night, I felt something that I havent in a long time.  It was a complete numb feeling brought on by racing emotions and pills.  It was one of those nights that was ending terribly and that one knows wont get better so I popped a melatonin and some Naproxen (specifically Aleve) and went to bed.  This melatonin I bought at Whole Foods (called Bio Align Melatonin Sleep Science) knocks me on my ass and is awesome when I have insomnia.  It makes me feel funny right before I crash though...almost like a drunk.  On top of that, I cant speak without slurring.  But hey it works!  Right before I went to bed, I thought about how much I hated life.  It was even more bitter than it was back in high school...which was worse than when I was younger.

Lets back up a bit though.  Its not like I just felt that way.  Yesterday was a pretty nice day.

I got off work and waited for the boyfriend to come get me.  I got in the car, sore as hell, and we drove off.  He was talking about this computer he wanted and how his dad was willing to go halfsies with me and make it a Christmas present.  Well we got into a little debate about some parts and he decided that I was stupid and he was going to stay rather quiet the rest of the way home.

We were going to dinner at nanas house (nana is his grandmother...grandma is mine) and he wanted to show me a list of parts that came with this deal which was conveniently located at home.  He went in to get it but came out rather upset.  Just saying, when someone goes in a house and comes out rather upset for no apparent reason, things will run through peoples heads.  It wasnt any reason important (to me at least) just that when he tried to rig his controller so he didnt have to hold down a button to cheat, it didnt want to work.

Sometimes it does work but when it doesnt, I hear about it.  In fact, I have been hearing about it for a while now.  So why was last night so important?

Ladies and gents, during my cycle, I flip out into a very very unstable angry stage.  Some women get purely emotional and cry.  I cry but only because I really want to beat everyone with a bat over and over again if they highly upset me.  Im on a pill that has caused me to emotionally cycle very rapidly.  Usually I come home at night in a depressed phase.  I always make sure boyfriend is watching...because I want him to see that Im doing this for him.  Killing myself for him.

Of course this isnt my total logical thinking.  It only happens at that time.

Back to last night.  We were on our way to nanas when he continued to scream at me and be angry.  Not a good day but he had the nerve to hand me this stupid computer list anyway.  My back hurts and he had been screaming about stupid shit like this for the past couple of weeks.  I flipped the fuck out.  So I tore the list in half and screamed back.  "Its just a stupid fucking game.  It doesnt care about you and it never will.  It only affects you because you let it."  This must have been the wrong thing to yell because he stopped and told me to get out of the car.  Apparently taking off my seat belt and trying to get out of the car was also the wrong thing because he then told me "no youre not going anywhere."

Needless to say, he didnt talk to me for the rest of the night.  Seeing as we dont have a couch and have a studio set up, I decided to knock myself out.

This morning I woke up and he was moving stuff to our new "place" (we will be staying with nana for a bit.)  Stiiilll not talking to me.  Fine whatever.  Do it yourself.  He came home and wanted me to stay home from work.  He wanted hugs and was now talking to me.  He wanted to say sorry.

He is the biggest hypocrite I have met in my entire life.  He can tell me everything Im doing wrong but God forbid if I tell him that he is overreacting.  I accidentally scratch him and my sorry isnt enough but he can call me a retarded/stupid cunt, whore, slut, bitch, or something around those lines and his apologies are supposed to be accepted.  Oh and get this.  He told me that when you say sorry youre supposed to mean it and not do it again.

fwahahaha

In short, I have been looking for places to move.  Im kind of tired of him.  It is like taking care of a 5 year old except he isnt 5...he is 21.  When I try to bring it up to him, he pouts and says "FINE."  Dont get me wrong, there are many good qualities as well but Im seriously starting to wonder if theyre even worth it anymore.

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Aquaponics Direct composter success

I just got back from my trip to the East coast of Australia, and was happy to find the system ticking along nicely.

Some of the dried duckweed in my direct composter looks like it might be trying to live again, but I cant tell if its greening due to life or mould.

There must have been some heavy rain while I was away, as it was soaked through.

I think Id better put a lid on it.

When I lifted it up I saw a stack of worms going to ground into the growbed, and some more hanging from the little composter.

The worms seem to like it.

It was also very easy to grab a handful of worms for the fish, so the fish seems to like it as well.

It should also be adding some nutrient back into the system, and also saving some because of the duckweed I removed, so the plant will like it as well.


All in all, I count this a complete success, and it seems like quite a good solution to my problem of only having one fish.



120 Things in 20 years thinks flying around in helicopters is a pretty good way to spend some time.

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Fire Tin can stove success

I decided to make another tin can stove with the new design, but this time I thought Id make it work.

A major design flaw of the first attempt was not actually the bit where the tin ripped in two, but was actually the bit where I was thinking upside down.

The previous version had grooves that would only reach the bottom.

That was never going to work.









This time I made the grooves in such a way as they would still be grooves when they reached the top.

Much more likely.

So, the top (open ended) half of the can is bent like this, and made to sit into the bottom (still with the base on) of the can.

All up this process takes only 5 minutes or less.

The zig-zag bit is placed zig-zag down into the half on the left.

It doesnt even need to be a snug fit.

Just drop it in place.





The result is, that when you light the alcohol and wait a few seconds for the device to heat up, it vaporizes the spirit within the zigs and the zags of the two walls created by the can halves, and is emitted as gaseous fuel through the top of the (now inverted) zig-zag bits.

Like this.

Perfect!

And quick.

A quicker, more durable ethanol stove.

A total success.




Much better than the last attempt.

Thanks to whoever first thought of this method of making a little spirit stove, that enable the happy camper to knock out a stove within a few minutes of dumping a cans contents into a pot.

Now all I need is canned food that actually tastes good.

And perhaps the ability to make a tin can.

I have no idea how to make a tin can.

But Im not going to make a can as a "Thing" because nothing good ever came out of a can.





120 Things in 20 years - No can was hurt in the making of this post.



And sweetened condensed milk comes in a can, and that stuff is delicious.

But I still dont want to learn how to make a can.

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Equipped for Success!

Here are a few special tools, pieces of equipment and ideas that may contribute to your aquaponic gardening success.



Total Dissolved Solids meter
Bluelab Commercial Truncheon® Meter
This is a Total Dissolved Solids meter.
Total Dissolved Solids concentration has a direct effect on plant growth rates.

When asked "How do you measure total dissolved solids?"   Dr. George B. Brooks, Jr. said 
Couple of ways. I use one of these for example:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traditional_handheld_refractometer
Or you can measure it by how well the water conducts electricity since it is mostly the sodium, calcium and magnesium salts that cause the problems:
http://faq.gardenweb.com/faq/lists/hydro/2004072354016749.html
Some suggest that measuring EC is more accurate and give you a better measure of how salts are affecting your plants.

Before shopping for a TDS or Salinity Meter read these
http://www.thermo.com/eThermo/CMA/PDFs/Articles/articlesFile_11377.pdf
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-04/rhf/feature/index.php

Dissolved Oxygen Meter 
These are one of the most valuable instruments you can own if you are stocking in high density. I believe there are two types of DO Meters.   Ive been told profession aquaculturist  generally do not use the type with a membrane.  But DO Meters can be very expensive and any good meter is probably better than none at all.
I will have to do more research and add to this post as I learn more.

Ceramic Metal Halide 
Ceramic Metal Halide bulbs are efficient and the full spectrum of light is as close to the Suns spectrum as you can get.  
Supplemental lighting will permit you to grow 365 days a year. 
Remember to wear shades and sun block!  CMH really are FULL spectrum.
I ordered mine from  
http://advancedtechlighting.com/cmhmain.htm

This is a High Pressure Sodium (HPS) replacement bulb.  The important thing to know about the ballast is that it should be a Copper Core HPS ballast.  I also bought my ballast kit for about $69.00 from the same company Advanced Tech Lighting.



Rocket Mass Stove
Efficiency is the key to heating a green house.  Check out thess videos about Rocket Mass Stoves

http://tinygreenlove.blogspot.com/2012/02/amazing-rocket-mass-heater.html

Add a self feed bin for pellets!

Greenhouse Glazing

Greenhouse plastics can diffuse light and transmit as much as 90%  of the Suns light
Agricultural Solutions - Polyethylene Greenhouse Films
Interstate Plastics - Polycarbonate twinwall

Speaking of greenhouses, here are a few ideas

Something as simple as this canopy frame could be used for a basic frame with a greenhouse film.

 Or you can go a little bit better with a FarmTek greenhouse

 My ideal green house would be partially bermed in with a massive wall on the North side and glazing  on the South side.   Energy conservation is key to making a greenhouse work.  Here are some examples.

http://www.roperld.com/science/solargreenhouses.htm

 http://www.addisonindependent.com/?q=node/12649

 

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how to brush comb your hair

because apparently people dont know how.

So basically I have been watching this girl from 15 feet away brush her hair furiously!

Honestly brushing it fast and rough makes split ends and tangles come even faster...and more furious.

so for you people with straight hair or curly hair that youd rather not properly take care of...here is how to brush your hair

step 1
pick up your brush

step 2
grab some hair

step 3
brush it from the bottom and work your way up

step 4
slowly detangle knots from the bottom

TIP
never brush wet hair as it will snag and could break.


see was that hard?

now for curlies

step 1
wet hair thoroughly (shower works best)

step 2
grab some hair

step 3
use a wide tooth comb to comb from the bottom up.

step 4
detangle from the bottom

tip
always comb wet hair. NEVER brush dry curly hair.

Tada

btw most hair doesnt need to be shampooed. Curlies only need to conditioned. Oily scalps can skip the conditioner and use only shampoo. Trust me on this

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