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Sofabaton X1S Universal Remote with Hub/App Control
Remote controls are an area of deep personal interest. There are so many things that need to get nailed on the hardware and software sides to create the perfect one. […]
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Use Ubiquiti AI Theta Speaker As A Doorbell Chime
It annoys me that Ubiquiti doesn’t allow me to use the speaker in the AI Theta speakers. This video outlines one way to fix that oversight.
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NextHaus Alliance Sustainable House Panel Q/A
Last night I participated in a panel discussion around building sustainable homes that was sponsored by NextHaus Alliance, the folks who are building our passive house. This is totally why […]
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EVDANCE Tesla NACS to J1772 Adapter
Testing out the 60A version of EVDANCE’s NACS (Tesla) to J1772 adapter. Lets you use Level 2 Tesla chargers (EVSE) at hotels, parking lots, or sharing one at home. EVDANCE’s […]
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Ubiquiti UniFi Protect Ai Theta / Pro Lens / AI Audio
I wasn’t able to find any reviews of the Ubiquiti UniFi Protect Ai Theta camera system that answered my questions around imaging performance. Specifically, how well it worked in low-light […]
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Risk Is Hard: EV + Garage Edition
A friend recently mentioned some hesitancy around parking an EV in their attached garage. I get that, kind of, we all probably remember the problems that Chevy had with their […]
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Emporia Vue 2 Smart Home Energy Monitor
This is a review of the Gen 2 Emporia 2 and a comparison to the IoTaWatt, which provides similar functionality.
Level 1 Charging – Can and Should aren’t the same thing…
Every now and again I run across some EV evangelist pushing the narrative that Level 1 (120V) charging is plenty fine, good enough, blah blah blah. OK, so, they are kind of right but not in the way that makes the EV experience “better” than what most people would experience with an ICE vehicle.
Comparing Heat Pump Apples and Tomatoes
Matt really likes his ground source heat pump (GSHP). TBF, if I had one, I would probably be trying to keep making it look good too. This isn’t the first time Matt has brought up the ASHP (air source heat pump) comparison, but it is the first time he’s done it with “real” data comparing his house + HP and […]
Math shouldn’t be a political thing…
Here I am again, posting about another TC video… Of all of his videos that I’ve mentioned, this is the one to watch all the way through (yeah, I know it’s long)… My recommendation is to do it at 1.75x, he talks slow :).
EVSE Circuit Sizing, IMO…
I watch a lot of this guy’s videos, he does his homework, and I’ve yet to find something where he’s totally wrong (cough, V2L)… per se… but, I often find myself in the “can do” vs. “should do” place with his conclusions… Sure, that is an approach that will work, for you and people who think like you, but is […]
Emporia Pro Level 2 EV Charger Launched
I hope that the Emporia Pro is an indicator of future Emporia EVSE design language. I think I prefer the industrial looks to their previous “Classic” models. Obviously, not for everyone though. Looks aside, the feature set of the “Pro” model is enticing – assuming you have an electrical panel that’s close to the edge.
Reliable UI Protect Doorbell Chimes
I was having reliability issues with the doorbell chimes I built when triggered via Home Assistant, so I found a better way to accomplish the goal.
NGL, that looks cool, Ubiquiti
Obviously, we’ll have to reserve judgement, ’cause, you know… Ubiquiti… But, I can’t deny that the promises made in this recently released video outlining new hardware and features in Unifi Protect looks awesome. Especially the AI Port – that looks like a fantastic bit of magic.
Why Don’t We Use Natural Gas In Passive House?
I’ve mentioned a few times that we’re building a passive house (fence just went up, Yay!). One of the “different” things about passive house is that everything is electric – everything. In a recent discussion around HVAC in passive houses, I mentioned that using natural gas (NG) would be a really bad idea. The other person asked, why. Having spent […]
SVS Drops the Bass; launches 17-Ultra R
There is no substitute for a excellent subwoofer in your setup when want to feel the music. SVS Sound is well known for delivering brilliant subs, for a reasonable price. I have SVS kit in my home theater / audio room – love it. The just announced 17-Ultra R is a step up in price compared to their previous generation […]
A2Z TYPHOON PRO First Look
I got tired of waiting for the NACS (J3400) to CCS adapter that Ford promised me back in February, so I picked up an A2Z TYPHOON PRO. It only took a month to get here :).