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Learn It, Make It

April 11, 2010
With so many resources available at the click of a mouse, you can find out how to do just about anything through the Internet. However, it doesn’t replace classic trial and error, and with so many different resources and tools, it’s up to... Read more.

When electronics think they’re smarter than you

April 9, 2010
Today’s electronic devices have a lot of features, automation, and indicators that are supposed to make things easier. Although most of these things may be well-intended, there are times when I find myself wondering if they weren’t actually... Read more.

Choosing a USB Flash Drive

April 7, 2010
Choosing a USB flash drive may seem trivial with only a few things to consider, but there are a few technical details that many people don’t consider or know about. Storage capacity is a given, transfer rates are usually considered, but memory... Read more.

The Problems with “Christianity”

April 6, 2010
Most of you probably already know I’m a Christian, but I know there is a growing number of people that may wonder why anyone would want to be a Christian. There is a definite distinction between Biblical Christianity and the generic “Christianity”... Read more.

Why I prefer Cinema 4D over Maya

April 3, 2010
If you plan to develop something in 3D, maybe you’ve wondered what software package would be the best for you, (unless you plan to develop your own and reinvent the wheel). Some of you may already know that I have a preference for Cinema 4D, but... Read more.

Anthropomorphic Character Modesty (1 of 2)

March 27, 2010
In our normal world, there is a general standard where humans wear clothing and animals don’t. In the world of art and animation however, we mix the two in the form of anthropomorphic characters, and this complicates things. When does it become... Read more.

Adding batteries to your devices

March 24, 2010
Whether you’re on vacation taking pictures and video or working on your laptop in the park, extended battery life can be a big help. Maybe you’ve lost or had a cell phone charger die and wondered if you could use an old one of the same voltage... Read more.

Make Your Own UPS

March 19, 2010
Before uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) were made as a single unit, people had to make one with batteries, an inverter, and a charger. There are still advantages to doing this, like expandability and knowing how it will react to a situation. If you... Read more.

Let’s go camping with solar

March 17, 2010
Let us consider a possible scenario. You want to go camping and want to use solar power to charge a 12V battery connected to a 120VAC inverter to power your stuff. Calculating battery size and solar panel power is important if you don’t want to... Read more.

It’s not rocket science

March 14, 2010
It’s true that the necessary parts to have a usable solar/wind system are fairly expensive, but the skill required to make it work isn’t rocket science. In fact, it’s probably easier than auto repair. Probably more often than not, contractors... Read more.

Using microinverters for solar power

March 13, 2010
If you only plan to sell the electricity you produce back to the electric company and not go off the electrical utility grid, then the microinverter may be the most elegant solution. You use a single one of these inverters with every solar panel in the... Read more.

Living on DC

March 8, 2010
Most of our everyday appliances and electronic devices operate using AC (alternating current), right? … It might surprise you that most appliances we use today are using DC (direct current) rather than AC. Internally they convert the AC to DC.... Read more.

Solar panel wiring

February 28, 2010
Some may think there’s a lot to know about wiring a solar system, but the truth is the basics are pretty much the same as they were 20 years ago. Wiring solar panels is like wiring Christmas lights. There are several sites out there that show you... Read more.

A close look at Inverloch

February 24, 2010
I understand that a writer/artist has free reign to make a story any way they choose, especially if it’s for themselves. But as an outside reader, it’s no fun to vomit up something that tasted so good. I suppose you could say... Read more.

Choosing a charge controller

February 21, 2010
Solar panels and wind generators produce electricity, but their output varies widely based on the available sun or wind speed. Therefore there is a need to convert that output to something a little more consistent using a charge controller. ... Read more.

Will incandescent lights die?

February 20, 2010
There’s been a lot of advancement in the field of lighting, particularly solid state lighting with LEDs, but that doesn’t necessarily mean incandescent bulbs will phase out. Consider that they were probably conceived as a way to replace candles,... Read more.

Reusing the CFL circuit base

February 18, 2010
For you hobbyists out there wanting to reuse the parts from a burnt out CLF (compact florescent light), there are some ways to reuse the circuit in the base. With a few steps I’ll show you how to wire up a small florescent light to take it’s... Read more.

Is it on, off, or idling and how to tell

February 17, 2010
I’m sure most of you have heard or read that some appliances still use electricity when they’re “off.” There is no doubt this is true, but how can you tell? Identifying what’s idling and what isn’t (without paying... Read more.

Choosing solar panels

February 16, 2010
There’s a lot of different solar panels out there, and with so many choices, it would be helpful to know what to look for when buying one. I’m going to explain some of that technical jargon. This way you can better understand how or what... Read more.

Buying a simple grid-tie solar system

February 12, 2010
If you’ve done any amount of home improvement, then setting up a simple solar system isn’t a challenge. However, it would be good to know a few basics and what parts you need. Please keep in mind you may have to contact your... Read more.