Solar Power- Charge Controller Upgrade and Solar Panel Relocation

 The USB port of my second charge controller didn't seem to work right. I hadn't noticed when I first got it, but now that I tested it something didn't seem right. It signaled that it could provide 7 Watts, but it couldn't even provide 1 Watt. 

I bought another new charge controller, and this time, the USB actually works. Both the USB and 12-Volt parts can be turned off automatically or with a button. I haven't measured the exact numbers. This charge controller also displays the load and generation current.

For the last few years, I've had my solar panel in my window or on the porch roof.  When I moved it to the porch roof, I added a thin cable to pass through the edge of the window while still being able to keep the window closed and locked. The porch roof is not the most stable location because I couldn't permanently attach the panel. It also gets some shade from a large tree, and it's hard to get to the panel to clean it. I recently had to redo the pass-through cable and the connection from the wires to the panel after discovering that the battery wasn't charging properly. Because I was already checking the wiring, I decided to move the panel down to ground level.

The location on the ground isn't perfect. The neighbor's house blocks the sun for part of the day. But there's less shade from the large tree. I added a longer cord that goes up to the roof and then connects to the window pass-through cable.  I was able to get a maximum of 36 watts which is decent for a 50-watt panel at a sub-optimal angle with a non-MPPT charge controller.

    Now that I have a working USB port, I hooked up my automatic plant watering system to it. 

Ring Light with 3-Way Switch

 I found a ring-shaped light in the trash, and decided to add it to my solar power system. It was intended go around a camera for photo and video lighting. I decided to hang it from my ceiling because it turned out to be the perfect size to go around the existing overhead light fixture. I chose to hang it from the existing light fixture to avoid making any holes in the ceiling. I wasn't worried about the weight because the electrical box originally held a ceiling fan. I needed something thin enough to slip behind the light fixture without damaging it, so I used some twine. 

After I hung the ring light from the existing mains-powered light fixture, I connected a power cord that crossed the ceiling and then attached to a 3-way switch pair. The ring light is connected to my 12-volt solar power system. With the 3-way switch, I can turn the ring light on from the doorway or from my bed. 

This adds to my collection of devices powered by my 12-volt solar power system. I have 4 LED lights, the ring light, sound system, roller blinds, phone charging station, dinner bell, and a plug for other devices like a pencil sharpener. Unfortunately, the marine starter battery that I've been using to store power is now 6 years old. It is still taking a charge, but might not have as many amps available. I've been doing charge/discharge cycles from mains power to see if that will help.

Micro Firepit

 I like roasting marshmallows. I have used a gas stove or grill, but then I switched to a propane torch. I miss the flavor of roasting marshmallows over a big wood fire like we did in scouts. 

I decided to make a tiny wood stove or firepit. I had a section of four inch square tube steel with quarter inch walls that I got as a scrap to practice welding. I added smaller square tube inside to hold a shelf. The stove needed airflow to keep the fire going. First I tried setting the stove on a mesh stand. Then I replaced that with a platform connected by a single leg. That made it look like it was floating. My favorite thing to cook on it is breakfast sausage. I cook it over the fire, and then then get impatient when it doesn't get hot fast enough, and end up microwaving it to be safe.

From the Archives - Laundry Basket Costume

 One year, Griffin decided to be a basket of laundry for Halloween. He cut out the bottom of an old laundry basket, and then added fabric pieces and a box of soap to it. We sewed a sock and more laundry to his shirt. Pieces of rope held it up like suspenders. Easy and creative!

Lego Box

As I was packing to go back to college, I came across a bunch of my old Legos. I decided to use them to build a box to store cleaning supplies in. 

When I was younger, I used to struggle with Lego towers that would crumble, even resorting to glue. But now I know I just needed to stagger the joints!

For this box, it was easier to make a row of 2 by 4 or 2 by 8 blocks and  3s and 6s mess things up. I added some special blocks to one side. There's even a couple of pieces that are mini boxes with hinges. I have no idea what I could put in those.

Solar room lights

 So far, I have used my solar battery bank to charge phones, tablets, VR headset, smartwatches, power tool batteries, and power other small devices like my dinner doorbell system and my electric roller blinds. I decided to expand the system to add room lights. Even though I could open the curtains during the daytime, the light is at the wrong angle. I also need light at night.

I added five G4 type LED lights (Ryet LED from Ikea). Two of them are above my desk, and connected to a light switch next to the main light switch. The other three are above the window and have a dual level switch to allow all three or just the center to be used. Although it doesn't have the best cord management, they are attached with command hooks so they can be removed or relocated if needed. The light switch is also velcroed on. I located it between the door and the regular light switch so that I see it first when I walk into the room. The lights aren't the brightest but it's plenty of light for working at my desk with my laptop or doing VR.

Automatic Soap Dispenser Adjustments

I decided to swap out the liquid soap in my automatic dispenser for Castille soap. This type is better for the environment than the colored soap I used in the rainbow soap dispenser, or the regular liquid hand soap in the previous version of the automatic foaming soap dispenser. I like the various scents available. I have peppermint now, I want to try eucalyptus next, and there are many others such as lavender, citrus, tea tree, rose, and almond.  Here is an Amazon Affiliate link to the exact one I bought: https://amzn.to/3LdH261

A change I made to accommodate this soap was adding a check valve so that the soap wouldn't drain back down the hose. This soap seems to behave differently than the old stuff. It slips back through the mix pump, but I'm not sure why. This reminds me of how some containers in my lunch box used to leak. The olives would leak every day, but nothing else did. I wonder if it had something to do with the olive oil?

I switched out the old bottle for a different one after experimenting to find out whether mixing the new soap with the old was a bad idea. I also added a switch to be able to turn off the automatic dispensing.

Solar Charging Station

I made this solar charging station to connect to my solar power system. The solar panel is on the porch roof outside my bedroom, and it is connected to a charge controller and a marine battery. I added an extension cord to reach a shelf in the hallway so that it's easier for my parents to plug in their phones.

I rescued the car plug from a parking lot and bought the switch from a Habitat for Humanity Re-Store. Having the switch prevents power from being wasted when the charger isn't in use. The light tells us that the charger is connected to the battery and power is available. It makes more sense to charge phones during the daytime when the most power is being generated, but my parents prefer to charge their devices overnight instead.   

Reusing Glass Bottles with Pour Spouts

When I first started making my own soda syrups, I stored them in plastic squeeze bottles. The disadvantage of using plastic is that even after washing in a dishwasher, they retained the smell of the previous syrup. I decided to use glass bottles instead because they don't have that problem. The cheapest way to find glass bottles is often full of soda. 

I saved bottles from different drinks so now I have a collection of bottles that look unique to help me remember which syrup is in each bottle without having to label them. I have green, clear, brown, and spiral bottles. There's also one I found in the woods that's an antique beer bottle. It's definitely older than 1995 because that's when the fence was installed. It's perfect for root beer.

Of course, the bottle I found outside needed to be cleaned and disinfected. I soaked it in bleach and then scrubbed it clean. After using a thin brush that was designed for cleaning straws, I decided to buy a bottle brush. I modified a baby bottle brush to fit through the mouth of the bottle and reach the bottom. The original handle was thick plastic, so I cut it off and replaced it with a long skinny bolt. Later I unscrewed it and welded on a t-handle.

The soda bottles don't have reusable lids, so I bought pour spout lids that fit. Here's my Amazon Affiliate link for the spouts: https://amzn.to/3REzUU5

I also made a special tool to remove the spouts. It's kind of like an open ended wrench to pry the spout out evenly from both sides without damaging it. 

Greenbriar- Edible Wild Plant

 Greenbriars (smilax) are a wild edible plant in central Texas. The tip of new growth, especially in the spring, looks a bit like asparagus. It tastes kind of like a cross between green beans and asparagus.

Identifying the right plant is very important. Smilax has lots of thorns, unlike the poisonous Carolina Snailseed Moonvine. I have two different species of greenbriars in my yard. The one with dense needle-like thorns tastes bitter, while the one with normal thorns tastes ok. Only the new growth is tender enough to eat. It's also important to harvest from an area without herbicides or pesticides. 

 Unless we are pruning back a whole plant that's in the way, I like to harvest just a little bit each day and then store the shoots in a cup of water in the fridge. Once I've collected enough to cook with, I wash and chop them. They are good in scrambled eggs, omelet, or vegetable stir fry. 

Largest Greenbriar I found, with banana for scale