Bike Mod General

So I don't intend to do a lot of mods that I expect most people do, like trying out different pedals and gears. For some stupid reason I really want to add general technology to my bike. Like lights, and amplified sound, and full-motion-video spoke POV, and maybe even somehow a heads up display, and I mean really bright lights.

POWER
Most of this stuff is going to need a substantial amount of power, so that's what I started with. I have 10 2500mAh AA cell NiMH batteries in a custom pack slid inside of my seat tube supplying a liberal 12v. Intending to graduate to LiIon, I figured NiMH would be a safer start to get the kinks out.

The first pack I built employed springs, which are a no-no: they caused the voltage to flicker with road vibrations. I'm told I could simply install a capacitor to even it out, but the easy way was to remove the springs and screw down tight on the battery tube. The PVC tube allows a bit of flexibility in lieu of the springs.

The pack was made from a 20" long section of rigid non-metallic 1/2" electrical conduit. I threaded one end with 1/2" MNPT and used a brass cap. The other end, temporarily, has a clip retained and screw terminal to attach the positive lead. It slides inside the seat tube nicely!

I drilled a hole in the seat post to accommodate a 12v power lead.

From Blog

Eventually I'll have quick connect/release connectors on the batter pack and accessories so they can be easily removed when not in use.

From Blog

To test out the pack I threw together a few LED modules from some dollar-store quality flashlights.  I incorporated the switch on the handlebar post.  Ideally, I'll have light-weight LED modules illuminating the front and rear, all powered by the bicycle's central power supply.  This can stay on the bicycle semi-permanently and charged with a cable -- rather then pulling our batteries individually and charging them.  This will also allow me to easily take advantage of light-weight lithium ion batteries and the cheap new ultra smegging bright LEDs without wasting money on specialized equipment.

This thrown-together light setup is bright enough to illuminate my bathroom (just happen to store my bike in there...)

Whoa, there's a web log in here?

Whodathunk. It seems that in October of last year I started spending a lot of time helping to create Hackerspace Charlotte. As a result, I lost focus on a lot of the cool things that I wanted to make. Which is why I went looking for a hackerspace.

Enough already and record some stuff...

Sweet CLT

Cool evening tonight complete with sun-showers.  Even saw a rainbow over the BOA building.

Another Arduino Plant Watering System

Since my previous plant watering system was much too complex (using wifi, ftp, a hacked cell phone, and power line communication) I decided on a bit more low-level technique:  home built sensors and the Arduino platform.

In comparison this method is:

• Reliable.  If there is a power outage watering will begin again upon power return.
• Equipment is safer.  The water level must test positive before the pump is cycled on, preserving pump life.
• Intelligent.  Software modifiable instruction.
• Independent.  Isolated system is not affected by remote issues.
• Much cooler.

Everything is boxed in an exterior double gang receptacle container, which I deemed appropriate considering the 110v AC involved.  The expandable sensor assortment currently contains two (2) RCA jacks to connect to a low-water-level sensor as well as a moisture sensor (placed in the pot most likely to dry out).

Since there is no water supply on my balcony, a pump is cycled on at proscribed times to supply drip irrigation lines.

If the pump runs dry it will seize, so prior to usage a low-water-level sensor is polled.  If the test fails, it will not run.  The test will be reconsidered at the next scheduled watering time.

In my current configuration, it's difficult to over-water due to the building configuration and elevation.  The Arduino is set to water everyday for five (5) minutes.  In addition to that, two (2) more times a day it will test for dryness at the most susceptible pot.  If it's below the set threshold it will water more.

There is also an alarm pin that will provide an indication of low water level, should I not be paying attention.

I'll post more specifics later on.

EggFarmerFunny

I just got a laugh from the full page ad in the Wall Street Journal taken out by America's Egg Farmers - a message to the American people.  According to them, they cannot produce a product safe enough for "over-easy".

That's top quality for you.   Since more than 99% of our eggs are produced by large-scale jokers, that means the extintion of certain kinds of food we eat...

How safe is our food supply?

For people who live their lives blissfully unaware of where that burger came from - they probably have no idea.  Those few who strive to consume small batch local products are free to worry about their family and friends -- content in their relative safety.

The massively scaled U.S. food production and distribution system -- which generally favours 'food stability' over 'food taste' and actually anticipates fecal matter in its final product  -- could use some improvement.  It's surprising how little consumers care about it until people start dieing.

But its only 5,000 people who will die this year in the U.S. -- at least according to the CDC.  I guess that's more people than will be killed by terrorists from Afghanistan...  I'm sure that next week the same people will pick up the pack of 97¢ eggs.

It's cheaper to eat clean good food that you cook yourself than it is to eat fast cheap food -- even with unfair subsidies propping up the system.  Save a life -- teach someone to cook.

Dude, you still got a light out

$880 million dollars, and they can't fix the light that's been out for months?



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