Author: Radar

8 October 2018, A day from Mark’s past

Today’s Notes
General: Slept pretty good, woke up a couple times. Had French toast with berries for breakfast. Just saw that a hurricane is predicted to hit Georgia on Wed/Thursday. Our current plans are to arrive Friday so we should miss most of the storms. Had a great lunch with a friend of the family, she provided all the fixings. Went back to our Cousin’s house to take a nap before meeting up cousins from the other side of our family. We found a dead battery and had to borrow a car to make it to Chilis. Had a great time and it was good to see them again. Made it back to Elgin and our home away from home safely in their car. We have to slow down our calorie consumption, we’ve gained about 5 Lbs. since we left Atlanta. We’re talking seriously about taking a walk at Lord’s Park tomorrow. We have to repair our car tomorrow before we can regain any kind of schedule. The good thing is the battery is an easy component to replace and I have all my tools with me. My wife and I played a game of Scrabble and I won!

Tomorrow: Repair the car, take a walk and try and tie up the loose ends for Saturday event.

Injuries:Arguments:Exercise:Accomplishments:Noteworthy:Travel:FeelingsPurchases:

From the book “Triggers” by Marshall Goldsmith
Did I DMBT set clear goals for the day? No
Did I DMBT make progress to those goals? No
Did I DMBT make my wife feel loved? Yes
Did I DMBT help my wife today? Yes
Did I DMBT fix something today? No
Did I DMBT improve something today? No
Did I DMBT be happy? Yes
Did I DMBT be fully engaged? Yes

7 October 2018, A day from Mark’s past

Today’s Notes

General: Slept in until 9AM and I did a successful run test on our battery backup. We had French toast and coffee for breakfast. We’re trying to meet up with our brother in law tonight for dinner. We’re pushing our return trip out to Thursday, but the hotel is booked so we’re looking for another hotel. Found a hotel but they want $180.00 for one night. Sheesh! Googled hotels and picked the same hotel and used Priceline. We got the same room for $90! Tried to visit our family friend in South Elgin but she wasn’t there. We drove around St. Edwards High school (School reunion yesterday) and it looks much different. The church we were married in also looked different, they removed the steps that we walked down at our wedding 40 years ago. We’re just hanging out until 4 when we meet up with our brother in law for dinner. It was good to share stories and get reacquainted with our brother in law and his wife. Food was really good as well, and we’re stuffed! Back at my Cousin’s for the evening and we’re already sleepy.

Tomorrow: Meet up with a good friend of the family and dinner with another cousin.
Injuries: Arguments: Exercise: Accomplishments: Noteworthy: Purchases: Travel:

From the book “Triggers” by Marshall Goldsmith
Did I DMBT set clear goals for the day? No
Did I DMBT make progress to those goals? No
Did I DMBT make my wife feel loved? Yes
Did I DMBT help my wife today? Yes
Did I DMBT fix something today? No
Did I DMBT improve something today? No
Did I DMBT be happy? Yes
Did I DMBT be fully engaged? Yes

6 October 2018, A day from Mark’s past

Today’s Notes
General: Slept pretty good even though my lip was still swollen since yesterday. Took two more Benadryl this morning and I’ll take two more this evening. I am not going to take either of my new medications for my shoulder until I’ve figured out what is making my lips swell up. Had a huge breakfast with two of my cousins and a bit of meatloaf for lunch. We’ve showered and changed clothes for the reunion this evening. Weather has been overcast with an occasional drizzle to even things out. Reunion was fun, the wife met a lot of people she had in her graduating class. We didn’t end up eating dinner, just had the snacks provided at the reunion. (And some drinks)

Tomorrow: We’re having dinner with my brother in law and maybe visit some friends.
Purchases: Bought some shoes for tonight’s gig at Target.

Injuries: Arguments: Exercise: Accomplishments: Travel: Noteworthy:

From the book “Triggers” by Marshall Goldsmith
Did I DMBT set clear goals for the day? No
Did I DMBT make progress to those goals? No
Did I DMBT make my wife feel loved? Yes
Did I DMBT help my wife today? Yes
Did I DMBT fix something today? No
Did I DMBT improve something today? Yes
Did I DMBT be happy? Yes
Did I DMBT be fully engaged? Yes
*Do My Best To

5 October 2018, A day from Mark’s past

Today’s Notes

General: Had a really good nights rest for a change! I did wake up with a huge swollen lip for the 2nd day in a row. Google Foo suggest an allergic reaction and I just started two pills. The question is do I take either of them tonight? (I know that I’ve gotten the hives from taking Aleve before.) Had coffee and a bit of coffee cake for breakfast. Met up with my sister in Dekalb for lunch, had a couple tacos and beans. It was good to see her and share a little about ourselves. Headed back to Elgin and there was a bit more traffic than I had expected. We had a huge meatloaf dinner with fresh vegetables from my Cousin’s garden. Watching the storms migrate across South Elgin, very strong lightning tonight! No backup power on the Internet modem so we switched to my Cellular Internet.

Travel: Traveled to Dekalb Il for lunch.
Tomorrow: High School reunion in the evening.
No Injuries: Arguments: Exercise: Purchases: Noteworthy: Accomplishments:

From the book “Triggers” by Marshall Goldsmith
Did I DMBT set clear goals for the day? No
Did I DMBT make progress to those goals? No
Did I DMBT make my wife feel loved? Yes
Did I DMBT help my wife today? Yes
Did I DMBT fix something today? No
Did I DMBT improve something today? Yes
Did I DMBT be happy? Yes
Did I DMBT be fully engaged? Yes

4 October 2018, A day from Mark’s past

Today’s Notes

General: Didn’t sleep very well in the hotel room. Woke up with a swollen upper lip, no bites that I could find. Travel was difficult with the rain in lower Indiana, but we made it.

Travel: Traveled to Elgin Il.
Tomorrow: Visit with my sister.
No Injuries: Arguments: Exercise: Purchases: Noteworthy: Accomplishments:

From the book “Triggers” by Marshall Goldsmith
Did I DMBT set clear goals for the day? No
Did I DMBT make progress to those goals? No
Did I DMBT make my wife feel loved? Yes
Did I DMBT help my wife today? Yes
Did I DMBT fix something today? No
Did I DMBT improve something today? Yes
Did I DMBT be happy? Yes
Did I DMBT be fully engaged? Yes

3 October 2018, A day from Mark’s past

Today’s Notes
General:Pack the car and drive 300 Miles to Louisville KY leaving around lunch. We slept in until 09:00 and started packing, we’re almost done. I’ve loaded the UPS into the car already, just have to move a couple odds/ends into the car. Then a quick shower and we’ll be off. I’ve tested the alarm system and security cameras then shut down all of the computers. Beautiful sky here in Ky tonight, no clouds and a pretty sunset i will post later.
Travel:Drove to just below Loisville Ky and spending the night at Country Inn.
Noteworthy: Had an awsome meal at roadhouse.
Tomorrow:Drive 350 Miles
Injuries: Arguments: Exercise:Purchases:Accomplishments:Feelings

From the book “Triggers” by Marshall Goldsmith
Did I DMBT set clear goals for the day? No
Did I DMBT make progress to those goals? No
Did I DMBT make my wife feel loved? Yes
Did I DMBT help my wife today? Yes
Did I DMBT fix something today? Yes
Did I DMBT improve something today? Yes
Did I DMBT be happy? Yes
Did I DMBT be fully engaged? Yes

2 October 2018, A day from Mark’s past

Today’s Notes
General: I left our traveling UPS in at Mom’s so I had to conjure up another one for this trip. Had trouble sleeping again so I worked on the UPS. I made five eggs for breakfast and had a bit of coffee before taking a four hour nap. Have our 3 month checkup appointment at 14:00, just keeping busy. Doc prescribed a anti-inflammatory and a muscle relaxer for my shoulder. They didn’t help much last night and my sleep was still broken into short pieces.
Accomplishments: Modified a UPS to run for 8 hours to support two CPAP machines for at least one night (Maybe two) for our trip to Chicago. (It’s really not an option for us to sleep without them.) I did some testing with a 60W incandescent bulb, worked pretty good. (Although it’s a haul of stuff, maybe 80-100 lbs?)

Feelings: I am a bit anxious my mind is wandering.
Purchases:My finger O2 sensor died, I tried new batteries with no luck. I may look into the price of an O2 recorder which better fits my needs. I bought the sundries we needed at the dollar store and picked up my EGO Inverter.
Tomorrow: Still need shoes and sundries for our trip. Oh, not to mention packing all this in our car.
Injuries: My shoulder is still hurting and excruciating when I reach behind and up. I have a bleeding crack on my right heel and my left ear lobe is not healing where they burned it. (Basil Cell Carcinoma.)
Arguments:Exercise:Travel:Noteworthy:

From the book “Triggers” by Marshall Goldsmith
Did I DMBT set clear goals for the day? No
Did I DMBT make progress to those goals? No
Did I DMBT make my wife feel loved? Yes
Did I DMBT help my wife today? Yes
Did I DMBT fix something today? Yes
Did I DMBT improve something today? Yes
Did I DMBT be happy? Yes
Did I DMBT be fully engaged? Yes
[*Did My Best To]

1 October 2018, A day from Mark’s past

Today’s Notes
General: Finally got to sleep around 02:00 this morning. Made coffee for Kathy and I and watched Today on NBC with her.  (She loves that show.)  Went back down and slept for a little while before getting out of the house and getting ready for our trip.   When I got back from getting a haircut I had a bagel and cream cheese then took another nap.   When I got up I reassembled the last two of my 18AH AGM portable battery cases.  (I had cannibalized them earlier this year to make long run UPS units for my mother’s security system.

Accomplishments: Reconnected my mother’s tablet to her wireless Internet and assembled rechargeable batteries for a UPS we are bringing on our trip in case the power fails.
Purchases:SLA Batteries and a lantern.
Tomorrow: Pack our bags and prepare the house for vacancy, which I didn’t get done today.
Future: Drive to Chicago for a High School reunion.
Injuries: Shoulder pain unbearable at times even when taking Advil.
Feelings: I was very frustrated trying to teach my mother how to originate an E-Mail using a contact from her Tablet today.

Exercise:Noteworthy:Travel:Arguments:

From the book “Triggers” by Marshall Goldsmith
Did I DMBT set clear goals for the day? No
Did I DMBT make progress to those goals? No
Did I DMBT make my wife feel loved? Yes
Did I DMBT help my wife today? Yes
Did I DMBT fix something today? Yes
Did I DMBT improve something today? Yes
Did I DMBT be happy? Yes
Did I DMBT be fully engaged? Always

30 Sept 2018, A day from Mark’s past

General: It was a long day, I got up at 07:00 after having a really difficult time sleeping for any length of time. Cereal for breakfast, Bagel for lunch and reheated beef stew for dinner.

Accomplishments: I did make quite a bit of progress on this website today.
Noteworthy: Watched a pretty funny movie called “Destination Wedding”. It had a pretty lengthy dry hump scene, but no nudity that I remember.
Purchases: Bought a new Cuisinart coffee pot
Destination Wedding on VUDU.
Travel: Drove to the dollar store and got some cereal and Coke.
Tomorrow: Get some cash for our trip to Chicago, get a pair of dress shoes and a haircut.
Feelings: Injuries: Arguments: Exercise:

From the book “Triggers” by Marshall Goldsmith
Did I DMBT set clear goals for the day? No
Did I DMBT make progress to those goals? No
Did I DMBT make my wife feel loved? Yes
Did I DMBT help my wife today? Yes
Did I DMBT fix something today? Yes
Did I DMBT improve something today? Yes
Did I DMBT be happy? Yes
Did I DMBT be fully engaged? Yes
[*Did My Best To]

USB Power supplies and devices

Ever since I built my first “Pi-Hole” with a Raspberry Pi I have had problems with finding good USB cables that will provide enough power. I have also increased my inventory to almost a hundred devices that are powered from a USB connector. The quality of the cable and the length of the cable are huge factors in having reliable device. None of the devices I am using are USB-C Power Delivery compatible which means they are 5V and some of them require 3 amps of current. After trying a number of things my solution is to provide a power supply at the device that can convert 12-24V into 5V with a USB connection. (POE is an option, but at present most of my devices are NOT POE. They are wireless only and just need power source.

There are several pieces to this puzzle that took a lot of time to resolve, like years!

By far the first item I had to find was a low voltage connector.

One day last year I saw this LED connector show up on Amazon. (I’ve bought several hundred of them since.) I have NOT found a competing product! (Yet)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B081JG4KR5
Pluggable LED Wire Connectors, TYUMEN 24pcs 2 Pin Amazon.com

They are NOT perfect!

  1. I had to figure out how to load the wire into them without damaging the connector.
  2. It’s actually tricky to get the wire onto all four of the IDC terminals inside it.
  3. They have a very limited wire size, 22-20 works best.
  4. They do hold together and I’ve not had an issue with the connection between them.
  5. I LOVE how small they are and how they have a good “Snap” connection.

The next item was twin lead wire that the connectors could use.

This picture is severely enlarged.

I happened on wire that was used for garage door openers. The wire is normally run to the two sensors at the bottom of the garage door opening.

It’s available in over one-hundred-foot lengths, 20AWG and inexpensive!

Most power supplies also use very similar wire that is clearly marked. (Usually black wire) They are NOT consistent on which wire is positive/negative. For my purposes I chose the dark bar wire as positive since 80% of the power supplies are similarly marked.

The third component was the USB power supply with connector.

I’ve seen these inexpensive China power supplies for years, but getting the DC to them was the more difficult problem. Now that I have a connector and wire, they are looking much more inviting.

They have varying voltage requirements and most of them provide 3 amps with a very efficient switching power supply which is sufficient for all of the devices I currently have. (They typically do not get warm.) This particular one can take 55Volts which is insane for a 15W load. (A modern golf cart is 56 volts.) The voltage drop at 2A on 100 foot of 20AWG wire is roughly 4 Volts which would still provide 16W (3A@5V) of power. Raising the voltage to 14V drops the current to 1.5A and 18V drops it even further to a little over 1A. Increasing the wire AWG proved to be a worthless venture. (Power supplies are significantly cheaper to change out.)

This wireless router can be mounted just about anywhere, and the power requirements are so low that it could be run on one of the 24AWG pairs.