![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkn_-Gzwm1N4KEKMg4NB6RNB9QL_9pbRnX7Gevh_NRinMr8kIY30iLKWTwduKDU8rXjDqHHCdFk3C4rnLOkYm02huYEDS_ne8BhUky2Tfng7o35XqmXvIFNOFeYTEMKEZYEGAVhdiFmJfF/s320/IMG_20110604_180845.jpg)
Running 1/2 Marathons (1:43:43 in the rain. 23rd overall, and 4th in class)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3yIFLpipsnzpIik7rR890gn_wnjXB-fcn4995F7YIqEWq2RNjKNFeIyFOvQAebNBl-bl7HQyJAnRIiC9b1liT0rNCrom4X1ntODMpf-P_tG4eUYek4-zZDPGXW5JlgNZVQe8t-5p8_2Lx/s320/IMG_20110525_181722.jpg)
Traveling internationally for work (Taiwan, and Dresden (twice))
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj9vk1gZtYlICQ26copUePJ0J6ME8e9uf9NYvox0H6nmB2SdVx3Yyt2A2OMoKojnfPosjW8JQX0AqP_joUCz_82jaYEx6sdw7RjDimrXACnZLiVYbBI8i4QxJnOZwWTzl2fftuqG7XSCtZ/s320/IMG_20110518_171758.jpg)
Breaking machine tools.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUoVrVoH2Z_WmAYcCd7KJ8plvY5E5eeunwdoZfLxEd3sBEYJEb26uTVq2C8uCAoCtmn9L5K60dRkDoHyorpNo2QIku3PIX_R273VPoAdq1fld8RB5clZZ-wcjfDRc5H4bubGrx_M2AZxFb/s320/IMG_20110319_164315-1.jpg)
Oh, yeah, and buying a house!
Well, the house is small. I am not talking 1200 ft^2 small, I am talking 554 ft^2 small!
So, one of the first things I did was have a shed built in the back to use as a workshop (The technical term is Calculariam), and NOT for storage!!! Well the city (town) I live in lets me build 120 ft^2 without a permit (Over 1/5th the size of the house). But you can't run power out to it (Sadface). Well, problems have solutions:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmbwwDsh3C5m4QC4wyHyIWo9aZsGUxZM2I7b9_qp5eR32DqeRRKMupfYpji6qRhEz9YJwN0zAEBPOhble1oyguDP4sy8DDdcW27UrKnD6uWFn5jLMhQKEjvJNaR_l99IxGGONzF8Yc3qBb/s320/IMG_20110611_152934.jpg)
Some nuts, bolts, angle, and furniture tips from the hardware store (About $20)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwR9y-K2s7-bDgcCIj5Igt1KhGCfSTQsFpSblM4uIZWIyNLEGkRZ_dnjadzSiznBb-LaLNAxaW170kzZQephRNBKkzv6R1vWlVFF2bdDjlFmjBzXIxNXzzzYv10622YJVVVjiDQGZK0cMl/s320/IMG_20110611_154004.jpg)
Some selections from my Zip-Tie collection,
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi86x0zAt2X0gT6Syf_V6KDI6BPd3VwjJLRnGaV6nm_6MS_y-_RMnYSlPH57AGyW4WNjmZonaveuvDg6c7SMKdLi18DiwNAwuqeNSg76lE5sniqKBLcvoldK2pdpsBdaaKXz-cXtXe7-fPJ/s320/IMG_20110611_154010.jpg)
And some from my back up Zip-Tie collection
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5cEuAVFzhkBQYJykMRx80IBmceGUK3cl9EP9QBZ6tH6yzTcrzQda_MMThm7cE78g2crgnXstbY4TjNXthNkDBdTIrGhW8tGVV_4yt1IVxQI9fp5ae6zB0u0QJHbNIO8cE1IMTXdCH0cv-/s320/IMG_20110611_154434.jpg)
Make a lovely mount for a solar panel (15W for 80$).
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3AJ9K1guaVxV9jbfG4qVXhWuJoxuNjrQ_E4bUb77qpNOKDFV9Htpq6Oj_tmacHH5VB76I9DU0d7FPZo-n1oxQGY8f4sDiSU6o2hyphenhyphense0Q0Tz0vXfXiZhIyc2GNjG9F_1s9uzOiSPMVvmqV/s320/IMG_20110611_160003.jpg)
Mounted on the roof. Everything I have done on this is with an eye towards expanding the system. Now to hook up the running systems:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEcEyZeG5YyIfkMuIAA8iVLsfpbxvftMzpkWC1I7Fe1pL2F7gnfHvESqfbKaos3yJPXl-n96BEqnBTHXHWPdwhg2qbGhOBb8xy2lodAFbi1b9A_HG0IrtN1TfQTmb7RPFYnc5zgogGtSor/s320/IMG_20110611_160944.jpg)
I covered it up during this part as so not to hurt myself (try licking a car battery). It was still pushing out about 3V so I could make sure all my connections were good, but with almost no current, so I swore a lot less.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXP9pxnSwIiOLjN5pBLRsWxrFv2LSLXnkJSdb5HdxddnE1Hyzj-yk_ebES74ycEfTX7duQVZxOh9dRY45cWjGTXMoYoQDTpgeTsO8mwAOGaBFkoYn4N93aBir6N-awrSZN_Ob0k3xcJZNP/s320/IMG_20110611_173558.jpg)
To charge the battery (I have a tiny one in place temporarily, but have a big ass (I think that is the brand) one at work (Free), regulate the power, and protect the panels after sunset ($20, good for 100W).
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXau89UqAsoxHm65U0XePTumhGvpRCuUG6wbFzi6QAQzrTEBBRplEz-v7sQZgRjbLxagap4md9Z5Ut0ftuCzuA8GuWB-CU0Lr4gyTyJFojf5WAKdMw4AWiM_aWh5yhz3YSXfoVaE_kmt3m/s320/IMG_20110611_173936.jpg)
A 50W inverter that I have had kicking around for 15 years or so (and they tell me I should trow things out)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgew-YdBhPThHCXcOdwdc2UDO_JFPzwRc4nBxM77AmKggmKsjdgomdtQ0vwFGIQQxAEjLrcW-So2959lqF2NthnW0PCrcB9r4cUcW919MOZ2H5Bj8f0fnJjLe4feGz_cFPHIeAfYaOMmJvW/s320/IMG_20110611_171635.jpg)
Light provided by a 5W 12V LED bulb ($12). Don't worry, I cleaned up the wiring.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDqmuwOeze4rPeyoNyTzveqdoyOg4giVF013D0oHjMSP2mpvZYQDKjxzOZBpyr7Tk703OqSAEglF56_YDiEO_C4MjJmUBQvdmnrzDkTzkZtU-X4cm8Yp6dly8YT-B26w0VIOBOELDAqMQY/s320/IMG_20110611_183532.jpg)
Half a Saturdays work, finished by sundown. Total cost: $132
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglyQOdwWAL6ZlHDAVoIRXRuPDRkRM4ubEXOd2hOkqQU10sh-LovrRAKaECxWQ3CHupQnQ_aGhqRUwvn1aXEqWW_xzoCBGqWy6w-r8LVvwhcvdMBMnrgTM0yDUodv4D4SOpoutXgD1WVyWY/s320/IMG_20110611_182833.jpg)
And finally, no job is done without one of these :)
1 comment:
nice shed (and story about making the electrical thingy, made me laugh a bit) ...
i hope to see it when i'm traveling about in july/august.
then we can have "one of these" together :)
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