alternatasha a site to catalog random projects
temperature sensor
It’s winter time, and I need to monitor temperature throughout my place. I had an extra Maxim DS18B20 “One-Wire” digital temperature sensor. This can easily be read by any arduino-type microprocessor board. I decided to use the Seeeduino Stalker for the task. WIth its numerous digital pins, it made sense for me to hook up [...]
removing a cast iron fitting
This steam pipe ran into the wall and stopped there. It had no purpose, and I needed to install a main vent somewhere on that line. Too nervous to tap a hole in its typical spot (at the end of the main), I decided to use this unused pipe at the top of the riser [...]
main vents for steam heat
These cracked radiator vents, labelled “USAV 880B,” were masking an even greater problem in the crawl space — no real air elimination vents on the mains. The one that was located on the southern main, turned out to be an old Hoffman #43, a convector air valve, not a mains one. Who knows how well [...]
home heating index
How efficient, in terms of heat, is your home? The Home Heating Index (HHI) is a simple calculation that gives you a number with which to categorize your home heating efficiency. A simple guide here takes you step by step through the calculation. Basically, you find the ‘Heating Degree Days’ (HDD) for your area here. [...]
wireless home sensor network, part I
Currently, home sensor networks, whether utilizing Xbee, Wifi, or other frequencies, are relatively expensive, unavailable, or simply unuseful. A low-quality security camera needs several other pieces in order to work properly, looks too industrial for a home, and carries a high price tag. Simple sensors, such as temperature and humidity loggers (such as the popular [...]
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