60+ year old thread.

Nice!
That is very commendable what you do and I wish you the best sincerely in your future endeavors even when it turns into just retirement.

 

Good Morning Porchies!
Our scam solution is we simply don't answer the phone. Unless someone real pops up on the screen. We installed a no more robo that is maybe 90% effective on killing them on the first ring. On my cell, I never pick up unless I know, so.... Either way, if it was someone important, they will leave a message.
Been rebuilding the free solar water system for the greenhouse last few days. You name it, it's gone wrong. After moving pump number one inside the shed, and installing a space heater on a thermostat, as well as several check valves (this pump will not self prime), I discovered that apparently the heating and cooling properties of the water in the tubes STILL prevented the system from always pumping water, and I think that bothered the pumps. Finally, Saturday after my shot, I came home to find even the solar controller shut down! Anyway, I got that reset and charging again, found a intermittent connection on the ground, and got the system back running. So, I could start the Secret Squirrel Third World Pumping system rebuild!

The intermittent wire was on the motor ground - everything else worked - so it was of course a pain to find. In the middle....



So, here is the new system inside the shed. The top pump is a self priming, cut off pump that I started with originally. What I found was that as I put in the drip irrigators, apparently I had the equivalent of an opening and closing faucet (these pumps are used in RV systems), so the pump was constantly "on its limits", and I really didn't get the 10 minutes of watering scheduled. NOW, it's job is simply to fill the new reservoir I just got; so that the circulating pump on the bottom will always have flooded suction (they DON'T self prime, and my check valves didn't overcome expansion/contraction); water is available immediately! The reservoir will overflow back into the rain barrel outside. (I have a flow valve coming so I can adjust to minimize that.)



And INSIDE the greenhouse, I constructed a duplicate reservoir, so that the SECOND circulating pump would also always have flooded suction. The second pump was needed because circulating pumps can only overcome so much rise or head. The water line rises 5' above the pump in the shed, over about 8' run as it gets to the greenhouse, which just wasn't enough to actually move it through the drips. Now, you would think the two identical circulating pumps would flow the same? Of course not, so, another flow valve will let me balance that as well. I have a feeling as I remove drips for summer use, that balance will change! But, now I have water!



You know what else I have? AIR. Irrigation tubing isn't a 100% seal, and I learned through yet more searching all my problems, I need to install anti-vacuum valves (air bleeds) at the high points on my water runs. This UFO attractor device is on top of the greenhouse, and I will put some small ones on the lines inside as well! One of the 4 check valves is below it.



Ain't retirement GRAND?

 

Interesting -- I bet your plumbing supply loves you!
That is unless it is all "free" as you state: "Been rebuilding the free solar water system for the greenhouse"

 

Were you a plumber? electrician? HVAC guy? or a mechanical engineer in your pre-retirement times? If not I admire your abilities -still I admire the talents either way. Looking at your profile page, you have a sharp truck as well!

 

Morning all:
Darn Kurt, looks like you've been busy!

My neighbor hooked up a outside wood burning stove inside an outbuilding that's near his house. When he showed me how it was set up and what he did for storing hot water etc. I was amazed!

Was just having a discussion about the owner of a local lumber co. who had covid and didn't make it, rumor is that the ventilator he was on wasn't working properly. It was mentioned that if covid is in the air, and you walk through a polluted area where it is airborne,, how can you stop it from getting in your eyes without wearing eye protection? The eye protection has been mentioned, but almost no one is wearing it, they just say don't touch your eyes or nose until you wash your hands and now they are also saying to double or triple up on masks and that a triple mask is about 90% effective, WTH!!!!
Really didn't want to post this, but the part about the unprotected eyes, which are a known receptor for this virus, just makes sense and something to think about, hope I don't get a time out!
I think Mark had the right idea with the full face respirator, it may come to that shortly!

 

https://www.youtube.com/c/JimBrowning/videos

 

Afternoon folks.
Read this morning that they strongly recommend NOT taking Ibuprofen, antephetomine or any other OTC such as Aleve or Tylenol before getting your Covid shot as it weakens the potency of the vaccine . What next?

 

In addition to your comments it is actually possible to be infected through the ears. The nose has the most receptors for the virus to enter the body. Stuff is getting serious Carl. So our county is opening restaurants this Friday. I feel empathy for the workers and owners but restaurants are one of the main hotspots for this virus. I will continue with curbside pick up from out favorite restaurants.

 

No, but I played them all at work! I've been through a lot of different things, even though I was at the same company for 37 years! Only place I ever worked after I got out of the Roadie biz! Now, it changed names, owners, many GMs, and even moved three times in the same city. But, I did darn near everything there was to do there.

"Free Solar Water" started innocently enough. I had a shed built in March, then I built the new greenhouse next to it. I decided that I certainly could catch rain water if I put up gutters, and a rain barrel. Then, I got a solar system via Amazon that would power a pump to get it from the shed to the greenhouse. All the lessons started from that innocent point! Oh, the fancy meters were just to geek out over (can measure the Watts, Amps, and Volts so I know I'm using less than the solar creates), and the time clocks are more cheapo Amazon goodies. One for pump, the other for the shed lights (which are repurposed truck bed/rock LEDs).

And so it started..... it's like living with Columbo..... "and, one more thing..."

 

That Sir, is not a greenhouse. It's a missile launch facility and we know what's going on...lmao.
Looks good man.
Zim

 

No, really, plants man. And not even exciting ones. Just because you can't SEE them......

 

Oh shit. I just discovered I'm in the "60" thread, and not the "50" thread where I'm a member. I'm 64, so is there a penalty?
LMAO
Zim

 

You have to fill the cooler, I believe!

 

You are definitely welcome here!

 

and welcome to the porch...

 

Beautiful. Just beautiful.
(don't think for a minute you can't disguise a missile silo with green houses...beautiful green houses I might add)
Nice work man.
Zim
I'm soon going to be helping a friend develop some low humidity coolers for cannabis and beer production. I'm no scientist, just a sheet metal guy..lol
Zim

 

You know I be lurkin. LOL. Thanks fella's. The porch is a good place to be.
Zim

 

That sounds fun!
When I was re-doing the garage this past month, I was joking about putting a brewery behind the doors. But alas, it's just storage. Kinda wish I did have room somewhere!

 

No penalty except new folks need to fill the cooler on the porch. No need to be shy and stay in the 50 thread, you can come sit on the porch anytime Zim. Welcome.

 

Damn that's cool. You got some cool places to do stuff. I've got a car port and a 5x8 room at the end.
Zim