Norcal Spotted and BS Thread

Here is what I did over the weekend, I finished up that desk clock I made out of a 1st Gen Jeep ZJ (Grand Cherokee) VIC, or Vehicle Information Center. Stock, it would do things like tell you if the doors were open, if a sensor was bad, if a bulb burned out, or yell at you to change the oil. Now all it's really good for is a clock. It was for a good friend of mine's birthday.



DISCLAIMER: I have never woodworked in my life, so don't be too harsh.

I made the case from a 6" plank of Red Oak Hardwood from Home Depot. I cut it to size to fit the VIC, and glued it together with wood glue. The molding is quarter round cut on a miter saw. I filled in the imperfections with wood filler.



Mistake #1 was wiping the excess wood glue. As you can see, it created areas where the stain would not adhere to. Kind of gives it a rustic look, so I'm not too upset.

Now, I'm on to the wiring. The VIC tells you all sorts of things about the vehicle. I didn't need any of that, just the four total wires that power on the unit.



Pin 2 is for Constant 12v, Pin 3 and 20 are for Ground, and Pin 16 was for Switched 12v (Ignition) I de-pinned everything else to leave those four wires.



In order to keep with the Chrysler tradition, I over-engineered the power delivery system and added in a lighted switch to simulate an ignition. I wanted this to have a removable power supply, so I ordered some 2.1x5.5mm 12v barrel receptacles.

You can see this all in my schematic below.


And now, the wiring.





It draws about 1.2 Amps at startup, and settles around 800-950 MA. I tried a 1.5, 2A, and 2.5A power adapter, but they did not work. I had to get a 5A power brick to finally get it to to turn on outside my lab DC power supply.



Originally, I had another board of Oak to seal the back shut. However, when I went to drill my holes for the power jack and button, it split the wood. In my desperation, I found a clipboard and cut it up to use.



And there it is, here is the final product:



What I started with:

 

Dude, what the fuck? This is one of the coolest things I have seen in a hot minute. Totally blown away about the originality and creativity behind this.

 

Thank you! Although I can't take all the credit, I took the inspiration from this Instructables.

 

No way I'm going through all that for a $25 Amazon item I can easily return.

I have one of these, but liked the spout better on the new one... I guess I'll just have to steal my flex-spout from my shed can.

 

Spout shmout. One of these

$12 EZ-Pour Gas Can Cap - Replacement Gasoline Can Cap - Update Your Can Today (Pack of 2)

gray caps and a

$18 The Original Safety Siphon 6 Foot Hose For Gasoline And More - 1/2" Valve Siphon Pump - Use for Cars, Boats, Mowers - Self Priming Pump Transfers 3.5 Gallons per Minute - FDA Food Grade for Home Brews

siphon.

 

This is what I've got for my cans at home:

$12 EZ-POUR Replacement Spout - Water Jug Or Gas Can Spout - Update Your Old Can

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CYNDNM8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_kiDICb8F09YZA

 

So dealing with all the logistics after my brothers accident and we called his insurance today. Turns out he didn’t pay his premium this month (he is bad at managing that kind of stuff) and his coverage lapsed at 12:01 AM yesterday. Now they aren’t covering anything and leaving him to deal with it all (hit a city bus). That pissed me off as it was 15 hours after the deadline and years of being a customer. Offered to pay what he owed (only $141) but they basically told us to kick rocks. Stupid AAA

 

That's some BS there.
Quick to take your money, quick to bail on you over technicality

 

Did you add in a random seatbelt buzzer?

 

I rode in a ZJ everyday for a good 10 years. If you don't hear a random buzzer every five minutes, then something is wrong.

 

^facts

 

Wow.

1998 Toyota Tacoma Mechanics Special (660,000 Original Miles) - $1850

https://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/cto/d/dublin-1998-toyota-tacoma-mechanics/6839291443.html

 

That's disgusting, fucking leaches.

 

yup.

 

I would have asked if they got the check that you mailed last week, kinda sounds like a post office problem to me

 

Woah that sucks. Maybe call an insurance lawyer and see if there might be precedent here? Good luck

 

Was he mid policy, or up for renewal? From my understanding if he was just late on payment they are supposed to send a notice of cancellation. But if his policy had expired and not renewed(Which is what it sounds like), He might be SOL.

 

similar thing happened to my uncle who lost his house in the Camp Fire. Insurance allegedly lapsed just before the fire.

Hopefully your fight has better results.

 

I fucking hate insurance companies. Their lobbyists have gotten the laws changed so we are basically forced to buy their product, pay what ever they want to charge us... And when it comes time for them to pay up }poof{ they vanish.


There's a reason the tallest buildings in the biggest cities are owned by insurance companies.

 

Happy steak and BJ day gents....Git-sum