Loading ...Jun
12
2010
This weekend my friend Jeff and I worked on finishing the drywall in the basement. Natalie painted the stairway. Here are some pictures:
Jan
9
2010
I wrote a program to read events from the security system and put them into an RSS Event Log 
. I have some logic in it so that not everything gets recorded. I wouldn’t want a would-be robber knowing when the system is armed or disarmed, of course!
An event is anything that is monitored by the security system, including door openings, windows being opened / closed, etc.
Sep
26
2009
I installed some carpet in the theater room. I don’t think it’s permanent, but it will have to do for now. I also found the tiles that I’m going to install in the wall arch. Here are some pictures:
Sep
15
2009
I just talked to my local utility, Sawnee EMC, and they’ve removed the administrative fees and meter rental fees associated with a net metered solar installation. A couple of years ago, when I was in the early planning stages of using solar, there was a $50/month admin. fee and a $12/month rental fee. These fees alone would have cost more per month than the savings from a 2kW solar array. Now that they’ve removed these fees, switching to solar is making even more financial sense. Also, instead of having to rely on my own battery array during darkness, I can use utility power via a net-metering capable meter. Great news!
Aug
31
2009
I put up the final wall of the theater room. I’ve also finished the design and layout of the proscenium (stage).
Aug
15
2009
I framed an arched opening in the theater room. Ultimately, it’s going to be tiled, but for now it’s just framed in. It was pretty simple to do. I just used a string to draw a semi-circle on the drywall and cut it out. Then I built a simple wooden arch and placed it behind the drywall. I added a couple of two by fours for the lower shelf and to add depth. I’m going to add lighting and possibly build a water feature into it.
Jul
19
2009
I spent a good part of the day installing can lighting in the theater room. The room is slowly progressing from an unfinished basement into an actual room.
Aug
24
2008
A few years ago I built my own generator. I cobbled it together with some parts I had laying around the house. I found a free lawnmower on craigslist and I used the engine from it as a power source for the generator. I coupled the engine to an automobile alternator and a power inverter. The result is a cheap AC power generator. It only produces a few hundred watts of power, but it’s enough to power lights or emergency equipment in the event of power failure. I did this project for fun, not as a replacement for a real backup power generator. Here are some pictures:
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