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Posts Tagged ‘Interface’

Preparing The Evaporative Cooler Duct For Winter

October 5th, 2009 Greg Smith 1 comment

I’m still not done renovating the interface from the evaporative cooler to the underground duct work. I’m getting close but I need to get it sealed up for winter before I finish it this year.

The typical set up for cooling and heating in New Mexico involves separate evaporative cooling units from heating units. Dampers are installed that block air from entering one unit when the other is running. The damper is almost always a flimsy piece of metal that slides into the duct without any kind of insulation or air barrier around it.

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This is fine when blocking the cooler air from entering the heater in the summer but it’s not fine when blocking the heated air from entering the cooler in the winter. I’ve been looking at automatic barometric dampers, they open and close based on which way the air is moving. Some automatic dampers look like they might seal the air penetrations when closed but they are not insulated. I’m thinking of designing my own insulated automatic barometric dampener but for now I’m going to have to seal the duct manually.

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I started by cutting a piece of polyethylene foam I had from some shipping materials slight larger than the 18 x 18 inch opening. I placed it over the flimsy metal dampener. I sealed it up with some self adhesive foil covered foam pipe wrap.

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I covered the lower portion of the duct that is under the dampener with more polyethylene foam and covered it with the foil pipe wrap.

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It should be well sealed and airtight for this winter and easy to remove the foam when I finish it up next summer. I still have a number of issues to deal with.

I had Steamatic come out and clean the duct work. They tried cleaning the main duct from the cooler to the manifold the distributes the air to the rest of the house. The dirt was too caked on to get it all. The Steamatic guys suggested I pull a flexible duct through to seal it up.

It’s a great idea and something I will try next year. I also need to finish sealing the main interface with cement and sealing it with a moisture barrier.

It’s still hard to believe that the previous residence of my house was a HVAC contractor considering all the problems I have had with the evaporative cooler. I haven’t started writing about the super crappy heating system.

MacWorld Reviews Online Backup Services

September 9th, 2009 Greg Smith No comments

How convenient that MacWorld reviewed 8 online backup services for Mac. Perfect timing for me since I just dumped Mozy, my online backup service since fall of 2007.

Since using Mozy, I rarely have had to restore files. When I have it hasn’t been an issue, until recently. It was the end of July 2009 that I needed to restore a file. It took until the end of August 2009 that I was finally able to restore the file from their web based interface but could never get the native Mac restore application to work properly.

MacWorld’s review of Mozy mostly agrees with me.

PROS
Terrific initial backup selection set; simple approach for basic use.
CONS
Controls and status windows are split into too many pieces; restore software failed on one computer; backup halted due to bugs for four weeks on one computer (fixed in a subsequent release).

My next pick, which I have been testing locally for several months, is CrashPlan. It’s also MacWorld’s pick. I like it when MacWorld agrees with me.

What I like about CrashPlan is it lets you back up to your own server for free and has an inexpensive family plan.

CrashPlan has worked great until I upgraded to Mac OS X 10.6. The non Mac OS X 10.6 version of CrashPlan caused my Mac to freeze. Reasonable enough I tried to upgrade to the Snow Leopard approved version. The CrashPlan installer fails to install the application citing errors of an unknown kind: “There were errors with the installation. You may want to try installing again” and “The Installer encountered an error that caused the installation to fail. Contact the software manufacturer for assistance”.

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At the moment I am without a offsite backup option. Hopefully CrashPlan responds to my support issues.

Get Free MP3s From Amazon

July 22nd, 2009 Greg Smith No comments

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Did you know Amazon has a free selection of MP3s? It was back in 2005 that I first wrote about this but now they have improved their interface and you can view by genre.

Check out the free MP3’s at Amazon.com.

Weeder Board Integration With Indigo Using Applescript And Serial Bridge

May 6th, 2009 Greg Smith No comments

Weeder Technologies makes nice I/O board that can be used for a variety of purposes. I have a WTDIO-M that I’ve been experimenting with for use with my home automation system. To interface with Indigo I use Serial Bridge and it output data to variables in Indigo. I had a poorly written script and never bother to make it production worthy.

A user on the Perceptive Automation message boards shared a nice generic script that interfaces with the analog and digital boards and outputs the data to Indigo variables.

This scripts requires a trigger action to run at a set time (1 hour) to poll the analog board using the following code.

tell application "Serial Bridge"
     request reading from WT Analog I/O
    
send to source "wtdio" string "BS" & return
    
end tell

For the digital board, the a Auto Zeroize function needs to be performed one a day with this code in a trigger action.

tell application "Serial Bridge"
     AutoZeroize WT Analog I/O
    
send to source "wtdio" string "BZ" & return
    
end tell

Below is the script that is used with Serial Bridge.

on MyProcessSerialData(connectionName)
    tell application "Serial Bridge"
        wait for data from source connectionName to count 1
        
set whichWeeder to read string from source connectionName to count 1
        
if whichWeeder = "A" then digital I/O
            
            
capture the remaingin two character word from the Weeder Module
            
set WeederResponse to read string from source connectionName to count 2
            
            
Log it in its untraslated state
            
log "The Weeder says… " & "A" & WeederResponse using type "Sample"
            
set restOfString to read string from source connectionName
            
            
Identify the which contact the Weeder is reporting on.
            
set ContactName to "Contact_" & first character of WeederResponse as text
            
            
Convert the Contact state to state of the Contact
            
set ContactState to second character of WeederResponse
            
if ContactState = "L" then
                set ContactState to "CLOSED" as text
            else if ContactState = "H" then
                set ContactState to "OPEN" as text
            end if
            
Log the the tranaslated state.
            
log "That translates to… " & ContactName & " is " & ContactState & "."
            
Get a timestamp from the OS.
            
set time_stamp to do shell script "date +%Y-%m-%d\ %H:%M:%S"
            
            
tell application "IndigoServer"
                log ContactName & " is " & ContactState & "."
                
                
Create if neccessary a state varable name after the Contact, then set the state.
                
if not (variable ContactName exists) then
                    make new variable with properties {name:ContactName, value:ContactState}
                else
                    set value of variable ContactName to ContactState
                end if
                
                
Create a dynamic variable name (just because we are going to call on it several times)
                
set ContactTimestamp to ContactName & "_LastEvent_TimeStamp"
                
                
Create if neccessary a timestamp varable name after the Contact number, then set the timestamp.
                
if not (variable ContactTimestamp exists) then
                    make new variable with properties {name:ContactTimestamp, value:time_stamp}
                else
                    set value of variable ContactTimestamp to time_stamp
                end if
            end tell
            
        else if whichWeeder = "B" then analog I/O
            
            
delay 0.2
            
set wtaio to read string from source connectionName
            
log "Analog I/O: " & wtaio
            
set measurement1 to word 1 of wtaio as integer
            
log "Word 1: " & measurement1
            
            
tell application "IndigoServer"
                set AutoZero to word 1 of wtaio
                
if AutoZero = "Z" then
                    log "AutoZeroize WT Analog I/O"
                else
                    set value of variable "wtaio1" to word 1 of wtaio
                    
set value of variable "wtaio2" to word 2 of wtaio
                    
set value of variable "wtaio3" to word 3 of wtaio
                    
set value of variable "wtaio4" to word 4 of wtaio
                    
set value of variable "wtaio5" to word 5 of wtaio
                    
set value of variable "wtaio6" to word 6 of wtaio
                    
set value of variable "wtaio7" to word 7 of wtaio
                    
set value of variable "wtaio8" to word 8 of wtaio
                    
log "Reading WT Analog I/O"
                    
                    
adjust scaling for integer degrees with a single decimal place
                    
set t1 to (get value of variable "wtaio8" as string)
                    
set t1Last to last character of t1
                    
set t1Len to length of t1
                    
set t1 to characters 1 thru (t1Len - 1) of t1 as string
                    
set value of variable "TempBasement" to t1 & "." & t1Last
                    
set value of variable "TempBasement" to t1
                    
set t1 to (get value of variable "wtaio1" as string)
                    
set t1Last to last character of t1
                    
set t1Len to length of t1
                    
set t1 to characters 1 thru (t1Len - 1) of t1 as string
                    
set value of variable "TempOutside" to t1 & "." & t1Last
                end if
            end tell
        end if
    end tell
end MyProcessSerialData

—————————————————————————
on startCommunication(connectionName)
    tell application "Serial Bridge"
         initialize Serial Bridge; 5 contacts into Switch Mode
        
        
send to source connectionName string "ASI" & return
        
delay 0.2
        
send to source connectionName string "ASJ" & return
        
delay 0.2
        
send to source connectionName string "ASK" & return
        
delay 0.2
        
send to source connectionName string "ASL" & return
        
delay 0.2
        
send to source connectionName string "ASM" & return
        
delay 0.2
        
        
make other ios into outputs to prevent false triggering
        
send to source connectionName string "AHA" & return
        
delay 0.2
        
send to source connectionName string "AHB" & return
        
delay 0.2
        
send to source connectionName string "AHC" & return
        
delay 0.2
        
send to source connectionName string "AHD" & return
        
delay 0.2
        
send to source connectionName string "AHE" & return
        
delay 0.2
        
send to source connectionName string "AHF" & return
        
delay 0.2
        
send to source connectionName string "AHG" & return
        
delay 0.2
        
send to source connectionName string "AHH" & return
        
delay 0.2
        
send to source connectionName string "AHN" & return
        
        
log "INITIALIZED" using type "Error"
        
        
repeat while true
            try
                set maxTimeoutDelay to 8947848 103.56 days (hex 0×00888888)
                
with timeout of maxTimeoutDelay seconds
                    my MyProcessSerialData(connectionName)
                end timeout
            on error number errNum
                
                
if errNum is -1712 then
                    log "timeout waiting for serial data" using type "Error"
                else if errNum is -1708 then
                    log "AppleEvent not handled" using type "Error"
                    
return fatal error; exit script processing
                else if errNum is -128 then
                    log "connection script aborted" using type "Error"
                    
return fatal error; exit script processing
                else
                    log "error " & errNum & " inside MyProcessSerialData()" using type "Error"
                    
return maybe fatal error; exit script processing
                end if
                
            end try
        end repeat
    end tell
end startCommunication

I have not yet implemented this applescript. If you want to know more, check out the thread on the Perceptive Automation message boards.

iPhone App Of The Week: iHome Remote

April 25th, 2009 Greg Smith No comments

iHome Remote brings an 3rd party Indigo interface to your phone as a stand alone application. That’s interesting because there is a iPhone application available from developer of Indigo, Perceptive Automation, for freeicon.

Why purchase iHome Remote? The official free app only works with 4.0, if you don’t want to pay the upgrade fee from 3.0 to 4.0, iHome Remote will work with 3.0. iHome Remote doesn’t have access to action groups but it does have access to Scenes which the official app does not. iHome Remote is $8.99 from the iTunes App Storeicon.

1038A750-9DC8-4E29-BF3B-06EA456A069B.jpgHave you ever wondered if you left the lights on at home? Do you want to have everything just so before arriving home?

Used in conjunction with Indigo on your Mac, iHome will allow you to control your home lighting (Insteon and X10) using your iPhone or iPod Touch from anywhere.

** This app requires the Indigo Control Server from Perceptive Automation to be running on your Mac to work and is compatible with either version 3 or the soon to be released version 4 of Indigo.

FEATURES:
- View the status of your home lights and appliances
- Control lights and their dim level
- Turn appliances on and off
- Execute Scenes/Action Groups
- Access your home from anywhere
- Insteon and X10 control

Both Insteon and X10 allow you to add automation to your home without any rewiring required.

Insteon is a new standard in home control, which features true bidirectional communication to ensure that your iPhone knows the status of what you are controlling.

With iHome and Indigo, you can have full remote control of your home!

More iMovie Experimentation And YouTube Uploads

March 27th, 2009 Greg Smith No comments

I’m continuing to practice with movie editing in iMovie ‘09 and I’m starting to become much more skilled with the interface. iMovie ‘09 8.0.1 came out yesterday and made some significant improvements, not only to stablility which are noticeable, it also added some features. TidBits more information on all the new features but one welcome improvement is the addition of HD uploads in the YouTube uploader.

I’ve uploaded my first HD video using iMovie ‘09. The video is of the City of Rio Rancho’s 2008 4th of July fireworks as seen from my roof. It was taken from my Canon G9 and although not true HD looks pretty good. Be sure to view the HD version by clicking the HD button in the video controller.

Indigo 4.0 and Indigo Touch Beta

January 3rd, 2009 Greg Smith No comments

Indigo 4ScreenSnapz001.jpgThe Mac home automation software Indigo that I use was updated to version 4.0 Beta. A list of changes are available on the Perceptive Automation message board but the big changes are: Pro and lite version, folder support and iPhone application.

I’ve been using the beta of the Mac and iPhone apps since they came out. They are still rough around the edges (that’s why they are called betas) but are still very functional.

Indigo itself hasn’t changed much except the addition of folders in the UI. The big change is support for IndigoTouch, which runs on the iPhone and the iPod Touch. IndigoTouch has basic functionality; you can control devices but not set them up, you can control existing actions, you can view but not edit variables and you can interact with control pages.

I’d like to see the ability to create devices on the phone which makes it easier to install new devices. I’d also like to see the log and the time date action in real time.

I did have some trouble getting it set up. It will connect, via bonjour, to the server when on the same network which works flawlessly for me. Getting the ports configure through my firewall so I could connect outside the network was a bit of a pain. It’s working now without much problems and using the prism service would eliminate the need for this.

Below are pictures of the interface on flickr or you can visit the set.

IndigoTouch SettingIndigoTouch DevicesIndigoTouch ActionsIndigoTouch VariablesIndigoTouch Control Pages

Delivery Status 4.0 Beta: Package Tracking For Dashboard

January 13th, 2008 Greg Smith No comments

I’ve found little use for Dashboard. I use the stock and weather widgets and that’s about it. Package Tracker is a extremely handy widget for tracking packages. It works well as a widget since it’s something I simply want to check out once or twice a day. It also supports Growl, so if I’m sitting at my computer I get a instant notification of the status. The interface is well thought out and it’s free, as far as I can tell.

The 4.0 beta is out with a lot of improvements. check it out at Mike Piontek’s website.

iMovie ‘08: What The Hell?

August 9th, 2007 Greg Smith 2 comments

iMovie

I’ve been playing around with the new iMovie with iLife ‘08 and I just don’t get it. Why did Apple mess with it so much. They didn’t just update iMovie they completely rewrote it and totally screwed it up.

The one thing I liked about the old iMovie is that it was pretty obvious how to use it. This new version is far more complicated to figure out.

All I wanted from the old iMovie interface was a finder style movie clip interface so I could sort items by date. This whole rewrite was unnecessary.

On the other hand, iPhoto ‘08 is a great improvement.

Listpic Has Been Banned From Craigslist

June 7th, 2007 Greg Smith Comments off

Listpic is a alternative to interface to Craigslist for viewing listings. It shows only the listings with photos and shows the photos first. I have used it nearly everyday since it came out to quickly see what people have for sale.

All the pages indicate that it’s been blocked and point to this forum to complain. According to comments in this Apartment Therapy Chicago post, the owners of the website have received a “Cease and Desist” order.

Hopefully Craig Newmark will make a comment that they plan their own such interface, or I see a user revolt on their hands.

Update 7/7/07 9:12 PM: Response from Craig

Here’s some honest info… < craig° > 06/07 18:15:20

I’m swamped, traveling, so here’s the short version regarding the listpic thing.

The listpic technology was taking a lot of bandwidth from our servers making it harder for the vast bulk of people who visit our site.

The listpic people are aware of this and other issues, which they do not disclose.

Perhaps they should disclose those reasons here, and also, maybe explain their attempt to monetize our site.

thanks!

Craig