I have a DIY video security system at the house. It uses a Linux box with two video capture cards connected to two security cameras. The Linux box runs an app called motion [motion, motionrpm] that will capture images and videos when motion is detected in a video frame. It works extremely well, except that I need to leave the Linux box running 24/7. It uses between 60-70 watts according to the Kill-A-Watt, so it's a prime candidate for lowering the power bill.
The motion wiki pointed me to a box called the Aviosys IP Video 9100A ![[B000HBVTCA]](http://www.mikeyp.com/css/external.gif)
. It takes up to four composite video inputs, and serves up either snapshots or a real-time video stream over the network. Basically, it's a little Linux box that runs in under 5W. Sold!
Here's the before and after shot, with both boxes plugged into a WiFi bridge.
The motion software supports IP cameras natively, so I set up the software on my main Linux server, pointed it at the 9100A, and just like that, no more extra 65W Linux box running 24/7.
Even better, the guys at Yoics have developed an alternate firmware that allows direct access to JPGs for each video device. It also provides a very nice iPhone-optimized view of the cameras. Their firmware is highly recommended.
I love my old Delta Compound Miter saw. I have a fairly basic model, but it does what it is designed to do: make straight cuts at measured angles. But with basic saws you do miss out on some cool features of more expensive models.
Like laser guides, for instance.
I usually make a pretty accurate cut, but when I found that Irwin makes a Miter Saw Laser Guide accessory that works with most miter saws, I had to try it.
Installation of the Irwin Laser Guide was straightforward. You just replace the outside washer of the saw blade with the laser guide, and bolt it back on. The laser activates automatically when the saw blade starts spinning. And that's all there is to it - the basic saw now has a laser that accurately marks the cut point of the saw blade. Neat!
There are a couple of downsides. The first is that the automatic activation means that blade needs to move to get the laser to draw. I wish I could manually turn it on instead, as it seems unnecessarily risky to activate the saw just to check a measurement. The second downside is common to most laser guides, and that is that the laser is nearly impossible to see when the saw is being used outdoors on a sunny day.
But hey, for only $25, the Irwin Miter Saw Laser Guide is a great accessory for an inexpensive miter saw.
This week, the large brown lumbering vehicle made its customary journey to my homestead. Upon arrival, the humanoid occupant emerged, also clad in brown (yet with the odd insignia "U.P.S." emblazoned on his cloak). After the usual paperwork negotiations and a shout of "Utini!", the brown vehicle lumbered away and I was left with my new droid.
"Porter-Cable 7812", as it is called, should work out just fine. And if this droid does work out, I think I'll transmit my application to the Academy this year and… well, maybe next year.
It sure is nice to have a real tool-triggered Shop Vac in the house for a change.
With a house on the northern slope of a hill, I need to pressure wash my siding and decks annually. Of course, I haven't actually done this in five years, so I have plenty of pressure washing to do. Rather than rent a washer for several days, I decided to buy one.
It only took a little research to decide that I should buy a gas-powered model instead of electric, as even the smallest gas models are more powerful than the typical electric washer. http://www.pressurewashersdirect.com/ has a lot of good buying information, but their recommended models are frequently sold out. The cheapest recommended models are in the $250-$300 price range, and use either Honda or Briggs & Stratton engines.
Out of pure luck I stumbled upon a Briggs and Stratton 2050 PSI Clean Shot Pressure Washer on amazon.com for $199, with an instant $25-off coupon. For $175, that is an excellent deal for a gas-powered pressure washer, so I bought it.
At 2050 PSI plus 2.0 GPM water flow, you can send a stream of water so powerful that it will cut a piece of weathered 1×4 redwood clean in two (as I almost did). You need to dial back the sprayer to make sure it won't destroy the wood. Sturdy shoes, long pants, earplugs, eye goggles, and a dust mask are mandatory when using this thing.
So far, I've used the Briggs washer to blast away several years of gray mildew and weathering from a 265 sq/ft deck. Not including the time to remove everything from the deck and spray down some Superdeck no-bleach cleaning solution, the whole pressure washing process took me about two and a half hours plus about a half gallon of gas. Not bad at all, and now the deck has a natural wood finish that is (almost) ready for some new stain.
In the future, I'll consider buying a more powerful washer so I can clean the decks with a wider spray setting, but for now, this is a perfect budget pressure washer.
There are several tax credits available next year for homeowners who upgrade the energy efficiency of their homes. I'm particularly interested in the $300 credit for a water heater upgrade. My water heater is likely 20 years old...
