efaardvark

Got a nice new keyboard to replace my 3rd Logitech K800. I don't know if it's me or Logitech but the first one I broke 2 keys within the first year and on the other two the (proprietary, built-in) battery failed. Time for something else. This one is a bit expensive - though still cheaper than a k800, never mind 3 - and has replaceable keys and batteries. It does wireless via either BT or 2.4Ghz dongle for when I want to be lazy and compute from the couch but also works via USBC for when I need to cut down on latency for those twitch games. (And believe me, I need all the help I can get! ) I was kind of torn on which switches to get but I settled on the Red because they're less "heavy" and don't click. I don't really hate clicky. I actually do like the feel but I also prefer less noise in my life. It was a close decision. I can always swap them for Blues or Greens later if I feel the need for clickyness. The keyboard came with Apple keycaps installed on the "alt" keys and the box included standard "alt" keycaps to swap them, which I immediately did. Also included is a Windows keycap to replace the "option" key. That one I left in the box. Sadly no penguins. Gonna have to fix that oversight. Mine is a Linux system, dammit!

Trying to decide between "portrait" or "landscape" mode. Landscape should be better at noon and be more stable against the high winds we often get around here (and for which Edison likes to invoke unannounced PSPSs). Portrait might tip over easier but would take up less space and catch more of the afternoon & evening sun. Might go for portrait, but cut the angle so it doesn't stick up so much. Hazy day and a bit of shading due to the horrible (temporary) placement, but not bad. Working anyway.

A slightly different minecraft trailer. Somehow I never saw this one.

Apart from the backup power it's a bit of an experiment as well. I'm using it to test out some of the technology that's been developed since I put up the old PV system 25 years ago. I can't build or install a new system all by myself anymore but I've found over the years that things go much smoother when you can tell the contractors exactly what you want and how to do it.

A few weeks ago I finished putting a new roof on the house. Unfortunately to do that I had to remove the solar panels that were up there. They were part of an old system that we put together way back in 2001 so time for an upgrade anyway, right? Well, after paying nearly $30k for the new roof I'm a bit low on cash so that project is going to have to wait. In the meantime I ordered a couple single panels for minimal emergency power if SoCal Edison pulls a PSPS and shuts down my power. Took delivery today. They're a bit larger than I expected but not too heavy or awkward to wrangle. The specs say they're rated at 320W each so between the 2 of them they'll generate nearly 4kWh on an average sunny day here in SoCal. Probably more like 3kWh if I'm being realistic but that's still easily enough to make the morning coffee, keep the cellphone and laptop charged, and keep the food in the refrigerator from going bad. Maybe even enough for a bit of air conditioning on particularly sunny days. I already have a charge controller, an inverter, and a 1200Wh battery that should work with the panels to provide the AC output and power overnight. I'll be wiring all the pieces together and setting the panels up on the driveway in the sun this weekend to give them a test run.

Welcome!

This is cursed...

For the record, my OP (quoted by AshleyZirka) had none of the words "ferrari", "rental", or "dubai" in it.

Mostly smokey, with chance of fire in some places due to the "Sandy" fire.

The first time I saw Mimi's hair ornament I said, "brass knuckles? This oughta be interesting." Turns out....

drat.. sounds like I'll be taking it off my list. Thanks for the info.