Category Archives: Tinkering

Interesting build for a remote pool temperature monitor

Posted on September 20, 2016 by robertwilkie

Its a cheap build too.  Using an ESP8266 (these have been showing up in alot of projects lately).  The build itself is pretty simple but I wonder if the sensor should be somewhere else in the pool instead of inline … Continue reading →

Posted in Arduino, Cheap, sensors, water | Comments Off on Interesting build for a remote pool temperature monitor

Nice build to reverse engineer IR signals

Posted on September 16, 2016 by robertwilkie

Basically the author uses an ESP8266 with a home built IR setup to get/set signals.  This maybe a good solution to help with repurposing old IR remotes to something else. Reverse Engineering and Networking The A/C Remote Control source is … Continue reading →

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Make a mini compressed air motor

Posted on September 14, 2016 by robertwilkie

Nice build.  Would work well with kids. http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Make-a-Mini-Compressed-Air-Motor/  

Posted in Cheap, Misc-Life, Teaching and Learning, Wind | Comments Off on Make a mini compressed air motor

Getting started with ESP8266

Posted on September 14, 2016 by robertwilkie

So, I got one now, started looking around at how to get started with it.  Sofar here are some sites that I found good information on: http://www.instructables.com/id/ESP8266-ESP-12Standalone-Blynk-101/ -custom build, but works with Blynk and good starting point. https://evothings.com/how-to-connect-your-phone-to-your-esp8266-module/ – nice … Continue reading →

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Good article on solar panels for the home (what to get)

Posted on September 13, 2016 by robertwilkie

Basically its a review on one persons install of them. https://www.engadget.com/2016/09/12/the-solar-panels-and-inverter-we-d-get/

Posted in Misc-Life, solar | Comments Off on Good article on solar panels for the home (what to get)

A desktop waterjet CNC

Posted on September 13, 2016 by robertwilkie

Wazer, a kickstarter project for a desktop based water jet CNC.  This looks pretty cool and impressive cuts it can make.  I like water better than laser (less likely to cause fires, and blindness)….but…at $4-6K its a bit out of … Continue reading →

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Cool 3D printed sugar…wish they had instructions on building it

Posted on September 12, 2016 by robertwilkie

Nice build that takes melted sugar and makes pretty glass like structures with it.  Only down side is I can’t find anything on how to build the machine itself. http://www.3ders.org/articles/20160909-hong-kong-guru-creates-3d-printed-sugar-that-looks-like-glass.html

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Neat homebuilt robot dog ball (Doge Ball)

Posted on September 12, 2016 by robertwilkie

Its a hampster wheel that is motorized, with some smarts in it (oh and an app to help out too). Doge Ball: remotely play with your dog and give it treats you can find the project here: http://devpost.com/software/doge-ball

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Simple tutorial for ESP8266

Posted on September 12, 2016 by robertwilkie

I just got a few of these myself.  This looks like a simple write up to try out. http://www.instructables.com/id/HOW-TO-BLINK-LED-USING-ESP8266/

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Using an RPi to know who is home

Posted on September 7, 2016 by robertwilkie

Pretty good idea, uses MAC addresses to figure out who is home or not.  Given the RPi Zero is $5, the rest of the stuff to go with it puts it around $20. https://github.com/initialstate/pi-sensor-free-presence-detector/wiki

Posted in Misc-Life, RaspberryPi, Security | Comments Off on Using an RPi to know who is home