#longer updates = ~120 panels once a month

[thisiskindagross]

Honestly, is Satan and me over? It feels like it's going to take years for this story to be fully told now that it takes months for updates

((Short version, long version under the cut))Nope! Satan and Me will never be discontinued, I plan to finish the story to the fullest. Rest assured, even though I work full time now and have more IRL obligations like friends/family and bills, you will always have an update to look forward to! 

On average, about an update a month, but I try to keep them pretty long and colored nicely UuU

Thank you for your support and interest in the series!

No, Satan and Me is not over. I have no intention of stopping the project or discontinuing it.I plan to see the series through to the very end even if it takes me a few years.

I guess going into reading this comic, something has to be kinda understood that the updates are slower than previous years. From April 2014 to April 2017 I was usually unemployed or going to school, so I had a lot of free time to draw. And I drew a lot, like sometimes 8 hours every day for a while. So I updated the comic sometimes even 4 times a month.

Then last year I had surgery for my kidney tumor and had 5 trips to the ER following the surgery in April for multiple health reasons. My health made it harder to draw. I also became employed in an art job, so my wrist is very taxed atm. I only get weekends to work on “Satan and Me” and “Here it Comes”, and while I do tend to work on them every weekend, I also still have irl responsibilities, like errands and seeing my family/friends.

I know it sucks having to wait a month or so for an update, but I do try to make the updates longer, and I put a lot more time into the art/coloring in hopes of making up for it. If I could be employed to make “Satan and Me”, I would happily update every week or two weeks like before :)! But I’m 26 and I have bills and friends I can’t neglect anymore. For a long time my life was just art alone in my room. I don’t want to cut off my social life or experiences just being a nonstop artist either.

I feel for this. Believe me, I do. I’m always lowkey sad/stressed that I can’t update fast enough for the readers. But even if I wasn’t doing full time work for “Beneath the Ark” right now, I’d still have to do full time work for something else like retail, so I’d have the same amount of time to update as I currently do now.

I hate responsibilities, but I’ve got a lot of bills now :( Hopefully y’all can be understanding, but I’ll continue to try my best to put updates out as fast as I can without taxing myself. On average tho, it’s realistically gonna be like once every 3-6 weeks.

Thank y’all for being patient and understanding and supportive. Man, I would kill to live in a world where I could just draw all day, dudes, you don’t even know lmao

EDIT:

I just wanted to add this for a little perspective as well.  I just looked at the dates for the last couple updates. They came 3 weeks apart. There were 48 panels in 3 weeks drawn. Average an hour a panel. That’s almost 2 full time workweeks of free art outside of my 120 hour employed worktime. I definitely am not gonna ask to be paid for SaM updates cuz I love just giving it to you guys, but I just wanted to kinda give you an idea of how much art I do on a regular and see why I have to juggle it.

[hydrus]

Version 436

windows

zip

exe

macOS

app

linux

tar.gz

I had a great few days mostly cleaning and fixing things. If you sync with the PTR, update will take a minute this week.

macos release polish

I cleaned up the new macOS release. It seems to have launched and otherwise generally worked last week, but there was a bug in finding the specific database location macOS users are used to. Without the '--d' launch parameter, it was creating an empty new db inside the app, in the 'db' dir hydrus would normally use (and the really old App used to use, if you remember that), and hence would say 'hey, this looks like the first time you are running the program...' on boot. I have fixed the 'I am running in an app' detection and the ~/Library/Hydrus database path calculation routine, so everything should be back to normal.

It also has the old readme and Applications shortcut in the dmg, and the filename should be fixed too. I expect this to be the only macOS release I put out from now on. Let me know if you have any more trouble!

miscount fix

Last week, I made the number in the 'pending (1,234)' menu title add up in a more efficient way. Rather than counting raw mapping rows every time, it uses a table of pre-computed numbers, the same used for autocomplete results. It turns out there were some legacy (from a long time ago) miscount bugs in there for some users. This resulted in a 'sticky' number that would not go away even after committing. A maintenance routine exists to fix this, but it is a sledgehammer when we need a scalpel.

So, I have written a maintenance routine to regen this pending data efficiently and correct these old bugs. It is basically the same as I did a few months ago with the 'display' caches during the siblings and parents work, but for a deeper level of tags. It will be run on update, along with a new thing that forces the menu's count to regen, both of which can now be accessed from database->regenerate menu in case we need them again in future. If you sync with the PTR, it may take a minute or so to finish.

I hope this will fix the issue completely, but if you still have a bad count, or if your count drifts off zero again over time, please let me know!

underscores

After discussion with some users, I have added an experimental setting to options->tag presentation that replaces all underscore characters in tags with space characters, as long as you are in 'front-facing' UI like regular search pages or the media viewer. It works on the same system as the 'hide namespace' option--and siblings--in that you still see the raw truth in manage tags and other edit locations.

This setting is experimental since it will add a bit of CPU lag to tag presentation and may result in some seemingly duplicate rows. I have long planned to fix the underscore issue with a really nice system, but I was convinced that adding a hacky system in the meantime would be a good thing to play with. If you care about this issue, give it a go and let me know if you run into any problems.

full list

macOS:

I fixed an issue with last week's Big Sur compatible release where it wasn't finding your old database correctly--it was defaulting to a different location, so without a specific launch command otherwise, it started a fresh db and said 'hey, looks like first time you ran the program'. if you are a long-time user of hydrus, please install and run 436 as usual, it should figure out your old db location correctly as ~/Library/Hydrus without any launch command override needed

If you never ran any of the old macOS builds, and you started using hydrus for the first time on macOS last week with the experimental Big Sur compatible build, your brand new database is in a funky location! don't update yet, or you will delete it! You will want to copy your .db files and the client_files folder from inside_the_435_app/Contents/MacOS/db to ~/Library/Hydrus, which should for most people be /Users/(YOU)/Library/Hydrus. feel free to ask for help if you can't figure this out

fixed a 'this is macOS' platform check for newer macOS releases, which ensures the 'userpath' fallback is correctly initialised to ~/Library/Hydrus

fixed the new macOS github workflow build script to tell hydrus that it is running from inside an App, so it knows to default to the userpath fallback correctly

the macOS build now has the old filename

it also has the ReadMeFirst.rtf file and Applications shortcut

collected the new build-related files in static/build_files, which will likely see more files in future

.

pending tag cache regen:

two new maintenance tasks are added to the database->regenerate menu--one that forces a recalc of your total 'pending' count as used in the pending menu, and one that recalculates the cached pending tag mappings for storage tags (just like the display one added some time ago, but one layer deeper). the menu entries are relabelled appropriately

these routines will be run on database update, and should correct the bad pending menu counts many users discovered last week (the new efficient way that the pending count is calculated exposed some legacy bad cached pending storage mappings entries. we'll see if they come back, or if this is just clearing up bad counts hanging around from ages ago)

the quick pending mapping cache regen routines take a little longer to initialise now, but they now clear out surplus tag data, rather than just regenerating the 'correct' tags

.

misc:

added an experimental setting to _options->tag presentation_ to replace all underscores in tags with spaces. this is just a render rule, so it will only apply in front-facing 'display' contexts (a bit like how siblings work in search pages, but you see the truth in _manage tags_), will consume a little more CPU with big lists, and may result in some duplicate rows, but let's see how it goes. this is basically a quick hardcoded hack until there is a more beautiful solution here

in the two 'Duck' dark QSS styles, removed fixed font size on button labels that wasn't scaling on high DPI screens

the filename tagging panel now shows parents and siblings correctly on the 'tags for all' and 'tags for selected' taglists. I'd like to show siblings and parents in the file list above in future, but it'll be a bit more tricky to do neatly and without megalag

GUGs and NGUGs now report their reasons for not being functional in the downloader selector list and subscription errors. typically this will be a missing url class or an url class missing a matching parser, but more complicated example-url-parsing errors will also be outlined

fixed a bug in the client api in the set-cookies call when no cookies are set, and ensured all cookies added this way are saved permanently (before, some could be lost if that domain was not used in network traffic before the next client shutdown)

the 'refresh account' button in _review services_ now works on the new async system. it presents errors nicely

a repository's current update period is now stated in its review services panel

review services now says 'checking for updates in...' rather than 'next update due...', which is more accurate and will matter more with small update times

fixed some false positive instances of 'this server was not a tag repo' error in the network engine.

the hydrus server now also outputs hydrus specific 'Server' header (rather than some twisted default) on 'unsupported request' 404s and any other unusual 'infrastructure' 4XX or 5XX

if the repository updates in the filesystem are lacking some required file information when calculating what to process, the client now queues those files for a metadata regen maintenance job and raises a cleaner error

just as a safety measure, if a repository ever happens to deliver a metadata update slice with a 'next update due' time that has already passed, the client now adds a buffer and checks tomorrow instead

a new program launch argument, db_transaction_commit_time, lets you change how often the database's changes are committed to disk. default is 30 (seconds) for client, 120 for server

altering the repository update period now prints a summary of the change to the log

updated the ipfs links in the help

updated the main help index.html and the github readme.md with the user-run repo and wiki at https://github.com/CuddleBear92/Hydrus-Presets-and-Scripts

next week

I may or may not be tied up with IRL stuff for a bit. Once I am back to things, I will keep working on smaller issues and get started on the pre-work for multiple local file services. There are several hundred locations where the 'my files' service is hardcoded as the local file reference, so a decent part of this work, before I get to file service migration and new location import options, will just be putting some time into ancient code.

[appliancesreviews]

Evolution cost of iRobot Roomba: i7+ vs S9+

Robotic vacuum cleaners have long ceased to be an expensive toy for pets who love to ride around the apartment on it. Only 10 years ago, most models basically cleaned hard floors of debris and dust. At the same time, low suction power limited the cleaning of even low-pile carpets. In addition, robots often became entangled in wires on the floor and could hardly overcome even low obstacles. Usually, battery life provided cleaning the medium-sized room. The lack of automatic following to the base for recharging and starting from the breakpoint required its manual carrying. The lack of effective sensors and navigation required the use of virtual walls or magnetic boundary tapes. Of course, all these restrictions significantly reduced the level of cleaning automation. In recent years, developers have successfully solved most of these problems, turning the robot vacuum cleaner into an effective automatic cleaning device. Of course, depending on the price, their functionality varies in a very wide range. But even budget modern models, as a rule, support automatic charging, several modes, provide cleaning the several rooms for one charge, and may not very carefully clean a carpet with a low pile at a suction power of about 20-25 AW.

Introduction

Of course, the functionality and capabilities of premium models are radically different. A few years ago, the American Neato Robotics introduced the Neato Botvac Connected with increased power. The company did not indicate the exact suction power, but some experts indicate in their reviews up to 120 AW. But this value seems too optimistic. Test results showed around 60 AW that much more believable. However, this power has already ensured a sufficiently high cleaning quality even for medium-pile carpets. But already at CES 2018, LG introduced the flagship LG CordZero R9 Master with real suction power up to 120 AW in turbo mode. This model already cleans carpets even with long pile.

Of course, other specs have also radically improved. The list of improvements included a significant increase in runtime, 3D navigation, scheduled cleaning, control via a smartphone, mapping, mopping on some models, etс. Like any segment of consumer electronics, the market for modern robot vacuums has several distinct leaders. As a rule, their innovative models most fully demonstrate trends. As known, the American iRobot introduced in 2002 the first Roomba robot. Since then, the company has confidently dominated the premium segment, periodically introducing innovative models. In September 2018, iRobot introduced a new premium Roomba i7/i7+ with updated brush extractors and imprint navigation with iRobot Home app. But, of course, the self-emptying Clean Base with Automatic Dirt Disposal function became its main sensation. However, the company did not stop there, and in may 2019, introduced a much more powerful D-shaped Roomba s9/s9+ with automatic dirt disposal, and with innovative Imprint Link technology for synchronization with the Braava Jet M6 mop.

Innovations

In fact, the i7 and s9 are positioned as the new generation of Roomba vacuums with a revolutionary extension of automation level. The list of main innovation includes self-emptying Clean Base, Imprint Smart Mapping and Imprint Link technologies, and significantly improved Smart-functions, including Keep Out Zones. As known, a plus in the model name indicates the presence of Clean Base in the package. Traditionally, the compact design of any robot vacuum significantly limits developers when choosing bin. Usually, it holds about 400 ml. As a result, the user is forced to manually empty it after every few cleaning cycles. Of course, this aspect significantly reduces, for example, the pros of scheduled cleaning, and the overall level of automation. Auto-emptying docking station uses a much more capacious bin. Its capacity is approximately 30 times greater than the bin capacity in the robot. After cleaning, Clean Base automatically sucks the debris and dust from Roomba.

The replacement frequency of a significantly more capacious AllergenLock Dirt Disposal Bag usually does not exceed once a month.

Unfortunately, i7+ Clean Base is not suitable for s9+.

Moreover, the s9 Clean Base has a more high-efficiency hypoallergenic filtration system. Of course, Braava is primarily intended for mopping the hard floors, including parquet, tile, linoleum, etc. Nevertheless, the robot has a panel for dry cleaning, for example, a low-pile carpet. Its surface is different from the wet wipe panel, which is shown on the right in the photo.

Unfortunately, the use of Braava reduces the overall automation level due to the need to manually pour water and install the appropriate panel or wipes.

Similarities

- auto charging; - control options with voice commands and the iRobot Home app; - camera-based navigation (vSLAM).

- Clean Base charging station; - Imprint Link for synchronization with Braava mopping robots; - both models can use local controls, including Clean, Home and Spot clean buttons on the faceplate, voice or mobile app; - Carpet Boost (Power Boost) function; - navigation and mapping use iAdapt 3.0 and innovative Imprint Smart Mapping. But iAdapt algorithms of s9 are more efficient in terms of choosing the cleaning passes. Imprint Smart Mapping makes a complete map and assigns a name to each room using the mobile app. In the future, the user can give direct commands, for example, “Alexa, have Roomba clean the bedroom.”

- after update on the iRobot Home app in the summer 2019, both models support Keep Out Zones. This option radically simplifies the problem of blocking cleaning zones. Now, a rectangle drawn in the app, replaces Virtual Walls or magnetic tape.

Differences

1.D-shaped design The company developed a design for s9 in the style of Neato models. As known, D-shaped robots more efficiently clean corners and along baseboards. In addition, s9 uses a new five-beam side brush with shorter brushes (Perfect Edge technology), and 30% longer central brushless rollers for increased performance.

In addition, a slower spinning side brush of s9 provides more thorough cleaning. 2. Suction power Suction power is the main difference between the models. The company does not indicate their suction power, but according to its data, s9 is about 4 times more powerful than i7 (10x suction vs 40x suction compared to Roomba 600 series.) But numerous tests have demonstrated s7 suction power of 30 AW or higher. Accordingly, s9 should provide approximately 120 AW. Thus, it catches up with the previous champion LG CordZero R9 Master with suction power up to 120 AW in turbo mode. 3. Runtime The company indicates 120 minutes of runtime for both models. Unfortunately, testing only showed about 80 to 90 minutes for i7+ when cleaning parquet/carpet. In contrast, S9+ confirmed claimed 120 minutes. This increase is due to the expansion of settings. In particular, the S9+ supports three engine speed modes, including low / high / auto. In the latter mode, the robot selects the optimal mode depending on the Dirt Detect data and floor type. As a result, an increase in runtime extends the cleaning area (about 400 to 500 square foot.) Moreover, smart charging reduces its duration, providing a charge level only until the cleaning end, instead of 100%.

Testing and price

Testing showed the following results: - s9 overcomes obstacles perfectly, easily riding up even on the carpet with pile height is almost 1.2 in; - the quality of its cleaning claims did not cause. The robot easily picked up even small grains of rice on the carpet; - the D-shape allowed the robot to clean the surface almost close to the furniture; - the noise level during cleaning did not exceed 50 dB, which is an excellent result. It increased to 60 dB only on the charging station when emptying bin, but the duration of this process did not exceed several seconds. Moreover, the settings in the app offer a choice of reduced power with minimal noise for night work; - after the end of dry cleaning, the robot returns to the base and activates Braava.

- Braava runtime significantly depends on the selected settings; - Braava jet m6 sprays water from the nozzle on the front panel, then passes through a wetted area of the surface, wiping it with a panel.

In addition, the package contains a small bottle of detergent; - Braava noise level is much less compared to Roomba; - Braava settings contain normal / turbo / reduced power modes and the amount of sprayed liquid. Today the company’s website contains the following offers: - s9+ & Braava jet m6 (6110) - $ 1,260; - s9 & Braava jet m6 Robot Mop Bundle - $ 1,080; - s9+ (9550) - $ 1,000; - i7+ & Braava jet m6 - $ 990; - s9 - $ 900; - i7 & Braava jet m6 - $ 810; - i7+ - $ 700; - i7 - $ 500.

Conclusions

The pros of the new generation over previous models include innovative self-emptying Clean Base (auto-emptying docking station), Imprint Smart Mapping and Imprint Link technologies. S9 is superior to i7 in terms of suction power and runtime, supports Keep Out Zones (smart-analog of Virtual Walls), uses AllergenLock Dirt Disposal Bag and more efficient brushless rollers. Among the cons, most often experts indicate a high price. But today the topicality of this reproach is doubtful. It's unlikely that $ 500 can be considered too high a price for a premium robot vacuum. A set of three devices, including Roomba, Clean Base, and Braava, costing $ 1,260, also does not seem too expensive. In fact, it provides an almost fully automated comprehensive cleaning of a large house. In addition, the lack of mopping function is also often indicated among the cons. Indeed, many modern models support this mode. But this rebuke is also controversial. As a rule, any combi model wins in terms of size and price, but loses in performance, functionality and quality of integrated devices. But storing Braava jet m6 is unlikely to be a problem. At the same time, it works much more efficiently in comparison with the mopping modes in other models. Moreover, being a separate device, Braava can perfectly work separately from Roomba, for example, in another apartment. In general, many experts rightly call i7+ and s9+ one of the best on the market. Probably, the possibilities of s9 + will be redundant for a small apartment. In this case, i7+ is more appropriate. Given the power and runtime, s9+ is well suited for large enough houses, including even with long-pile carpets. This video shows Keep Out Zones for Roomba i7, S9 and Braava M6. Read the full article

[terrybowyerusa]

Everything You Wanted to Know About Tesla Powerwall 2

We have installed many Tesla Powerwall 2 Home Batteries for our customers. It is a great way to store the energy that your solar panels are getting from the sun.  But, there are a lot of questions about the home battery.  So, we thought we’d answer some of these questions.

Can Tesla Powerwall 2 be used off grid?

Are you interested in going off grid with the Tesla Powerwall 2? The Tesla Powerwall, with its huge 13.5kWh of energy storage IS able to be used in Off Grid systems, enabling you to remove your grid connection completely.

 Can a Tesla Powerwall power a home?

Powerwall is a rechargeable home battery system that stores energy from solar or from the grid and makes it available on demand. It can power your home during the night or back up your home in the event of a power outage. … As with all Tesla products, new features will be added to Powerwall with over-the-air updates.

 Does Tesla Powerwall save money?

So in terms of household cash flow, the Powerwall and solar system only saves around $650 a year, but that still needs to pay back the original purchase cost too.

 Can Tesla Powerwall replace a generator?

Your solar system and your Tesla Powerwall will not power your home while your generator is running. Instead, if the sun is up, your solar will charge your Tesla Powerwall while your generator powers your home.

 Can Tesla Powerwall be charged by Generator?

Powerwall is installed between the utility meter and the transfer switch and can charge from solar while the grid is operational. However, the Powerwall and generator are not directly integrated which means Powerwall does not charge from the generator.

 How many solar panels does it take to charge a Powerwall?

So in the real scenario you would need 2.25×1000 / 400 = 5.625 kW solar panels . You usually have 200-400 W panels readily available in the market. Assuming there is a panel with a rating of 300 watts, then you will need about 18 such panels to charge your Tesla Powerwall in a day.

How long can a Powerwall power a house?

Alternative Power Solutions For starters, in its recommended configuration, the Tesla Powerwall can keep your home powered for seven days (or more!) without you having to do a thing.

 How many solar panels does it take to charge a Tesla Powerwall 2?

The maximum solar panel capacity that is allowed is up to 133% the size of the inverter. This means a house with a 4.999 kilowatt inverter could install up to 6.66 kilowatts of panels 4, which should be sufficient to regularly fully charge a Powerwall 2, provided daytime electricity use isn’t too high.

 How many solar panels does it take to run a house off grid?

So, when we divide our total consumption by the expected output of one solar panel, we see that roughly ten solar panels of this size would be enough to power the home. Ten solar panels at a size of 365 watts per panel results in an on or off the grid solar system of around 3.65 kilowatts.

 How many KW is a Tesla Powerwall 2?

How long will Powerwall last in an outage? Powerwall stores 13.5 kWh of usable electricity and will recharge using solar power (if you have it).

 Do I need an inverter with Tesla Powerwall?

The Powerwall 2 is an AC battery (AC in / AC out), so in order to function together with a solar array the Powerwall 2 requires a separate solar inverter (Refer to diagram below).Nov 20, 2019

 Who can install Tesla Powerwall?

Installers can use a smartphone, tablet or laptop to commission the Powerwall system. Installation should be performed by a certified electrician. For Powerwall installations with Backup Gateway 1, see the Backup Gateway 1 Installation Page.

 How many Ah is a Tesla Powerwall?

Batteries often have their storage capacity in terms of Amp hours (Ah), with a typical 12v car battery at 40Ah and larger deep cycle battery around 110Ah. So we need to convert the Powerwall 10 kWh to Ah for a simple comparison.

 What is the best solar battery?

What are the best batteries for solar? Batteries used in home energy storage typically are made with one of three chemical compositions: lead acid, lithium ion, and saltwater. In most cases, lithium ion batteries are the best option for a solar panel system, though other battery types can be more affordable.

 How many batteries are needed to power a house?

A battery bank designed to power an average American household for three days would need to supply 90 kilowatt-hours of energy. The battery from the previous example can supply 2.4 kilowatt-hours, so this system would need 38 batteries.

 Are whole house generators worth it?

One solution, some experts say, is the whole house generator. Yes, they’re expensive — often costing as much as $15,000 — but they will kick in automatically in the event your house goes off the grid. … With 3.5 million Americans left without power in any given week, these generators may be worth considering.

 Can Tesla Powerwall be installed outside?

Powerwall can be installed indoors or outdoors and can operate within a wide range of temperatures, from -4°F to 122°F. … If you are in an area that is often outside of the 32°F to 86°F range, we recommend that Powerwall is installed indoors.

 How much does a Tesla add to your electric bill?

As an example, let’s take the Tesla Model X Long Range which houses a 100 kWh battery. Using the U.S. national average electricity rate of 13.27 cents per kWh, we can quickly calculate that it would cost 13.27 to “fill up” a Model X from a completely drained battery. That equates to roughly $0.04 per mile driven.

  How many solar panels do I need to run a refrigerator?

The average refrigerator takes about three or four average solar panels to run, but that number could be as low as one or quite a bit higher.

 How many solar panels does it take to produce 1000 kWh?

30 solar panels

A home that consumes 1,000 kWh per month will normally need between 20 and 30 solar panels. The exact number changes depending on the specifications of the chosen panel model, as well as the sunshine available at the project site.

 How many batteries do you need to live off grid?

In a typical off grid cottage application, you would have a 24 or 48-volt battery bank which is somewhere in the range of 600 to 800 amp hour. They can go as high as 6,000 amp hour or more in larger systems. What type of cells do you need?

 How much does a Tesla Powerwall 2 weigh?

Dimensions: 1150 mm x 755 mm x 155 mm (45.3 in x 29.7 in x 6.1 in) Weight: 122 kg (269 lbs)

 How does the Tesla Powerwall work?

Powerwall is charged by solar during the day, when solar panels are producing more electricity than the home is consuming. Powerwall then stores that energy until the home needs it, such as when solar is no longer producing at night, or when the utility grid is offline during a power outage.

 How do I reset my Tesla Powerwall Gateway?

How do I reboot my Tesla Powerwall?

Turn off the circuit breaker isolator of your solar inverter.• Turn off your Tesla Powerwall by setting its ON/OFF switch to the OFF position.• Turn off the normal supply main switch to the house (usually located in your main meter board or in the Tesla gateway).• Turn off the Tesla main switch.

 What is a Powerwall Gateway?

 Backup Gateway 2 for Tesla Powerwall provides energy management and monitoring for solar self-consumption, time-based control, and backup operation. … Communicating directly with Powerwall, Backup Gateway 2 allows you to monitor energy use and manage backup energy reserves from any mobile device with the Tesla app.

 How many batteries can a 100 watt solar panel charge?

 By the rule of thumb, a 100 watt solar panel inputs 30 amp-hours per day into your batteries. So you would need 1.33 100 watt panels, or one 133 watt panel to match your solar power needs.

 How many batteries do I need for a 5kw solar system?

Most inverters that are capable of delivering 5 KiloWatts of power can have an input voltage ranging from 96 Volts to 120 Volts depending on the model. If the inverter requires 96 Volts, then you should connect 8 batteries in series.

 Is it worth getting a battery with solar?

Solar batteries still cost more than a standard diesel generator, but they can provide backup power without producing greenhouse gas emissions. If you have a standard solar panel system, you’ll still lose power during a power outage because of how your panels are connected to the electric grid.

 How many 200ah battery can power a home?

200 x 12 watts equals 2400 watts at 12 volts DC for 1 hour divided by 20 equals 240 watts with AC for 1 hour at 240 volts. A home requires 2Kw heater, 15Kw cooker, 6Kw water heater, Lights’ TV’ Stereo and other small electricals, totalling up to 30Kw maximum. 3o Kilowatts divided by 1Amp DC (=12w) = 2500 Amps DC.

  Can you run a whole house on solar power?

With the ongoing refinement in the industry, once inefficient solar panels are now capable of powering your entire home. The right combination of solar panels, inverters, and battery packs can do it. You can run your entire home with a solar panel system. You need to know what you’re doing, though.

 How many solar panels does it take to charge a 12 volt battery?

For a 12V system, if you need to replace 100A/h of charge to your batteries each day, and you have 8 sunlight hours in each day you will need… 1200WH / 8H = 150W of solar panels. In reality it is recommended that you always overrate your requirements by at least 20%, therefore you would need 180W of solar panels.

 Are whole house generators tax deductible?

Are whole-home generators tax deductible? No. A generator is not solar powered and doesn’t meet the requirements to qualify for *any* tax breaks of *any* type on *any* return – state or federal.

 Will a 22kw generator run my house?

A 20kW generator will run most house receptacles, lights, and up to a 5-ton central air conditioner. … You have a second air conditioner and heating system for the upstairs, but this area of the home is not important to you while operating on generator power.

 Which home generator is better generac or Kohler?

Kohler generators know to automatically switch on because their standby generator models are installed permanently next to your home, and are always monitoring your power supply. Additionally, Kohler engines are a bit sturdier than Generac engines.

 How much does it cost to install a Tesla Powerwall?

As a rough estimate, you can expect the Tesla Powerwall to cost between $9,600 and $15,600 for a full system installation. That number includes the battery, an inverter, various other equipment costs, and estimated installation costs.

 How long can a UPS power a router?

The trick is that most of your home infrastructure devices are low power, pulling maybe a dozen watts at most. The same UPS capable of keeping your desktop computer and monitor on for 15 minutes will likely power your cable modem, router, and Wi-Fi access points (if separate) for 90 minutes or more.

 Which is better CyberPower or APC?

Which is better CyberPower or APC?

Power Rating The APC provides 225W while the CyberPower is a bit higher at 255W. Despite this difference, the APC model has longer run times. Expect about 35 minutes of runtime with 50W of equipment compared to 26 minutes with the CyberPower unit.

Do solar panels drain batteries at night?

What is a Solar Charge Controller. A solar charge controller manages the power going into the battery bank from the solar array. It ensures that the deep cycle batteries are not overcharged during the day, and that the power doesn’t run backwards to the solar panels overnight and drain the batteries.

 How long will a 12 volt battery run a refrigerator?

A very small user of power is a 1.2 watt LED light running on a 12 volt power source will use 1.2W / 12V = 0.1 amps. Therefore a 100ah (amp hour) battery will last for 1000 hours. A slightly different example is a 60 watt fridge running on a 12 volt power source uses 60 /12 = 5 amps, but only while the motor runs.

 Can a 100 watt solar panel run a refrigerator?

Originally Answered: Can a 100-watt solar panel run a refrigerator? Yes. A full size SunFrost fridge uses about 30 watts. So 100 is enough for that batteries on the system would be good too.

 What are the 2 main disadvantages to solar energy?

Disadvantages of Solar Energy

Cost. The initial cost of purchasing a solar system is fairly high. … • Weather Dependent. Although solar energy can still be collected during cloudy and rainy days, the efficiency of the solar system drops. … • Solar Energy Storage Is Expensive. … • Uses a Lot of Space. … • Associated with Pollution.

 What can a 300 watt solar panel run?

A 300 Watt solar power plant is sufficient to charge up one 12 Volt 150 AH DC Battery within 4 to 6 hours of clear day light which may help you to run your load of at least 270 Watt continuously for 6 hours span. Two ceiling fan (60 to 80 watt) along with 2–3 led bulbs (10 watt each) might run continuously for 6 hours.

  How many solar panels do I need to power a 3000 square foot house?

 Depending on where you live, the average 3,000 sqft house will need between 17 and 26 premium solar panels to supply 100% of its electricity needs.

 Is living off the grid worth it?

Going off the grid is an attractive option for those who want more self-sufficiency and less dependence on the currently established institutions. Creating a life where you are no longer dependent on the electrical grid means you produce your own power, collect or pump your own water and often grow your own food.

 How many batteries do I need to run a 2000 watt inverter?

Now come to batteries, a 2000 watts inverter usually needs 24 volts to generate power. 2 batteries of 12 volts 200AH (you can use other capacity too) in series connection needed and out of them you would be able to use 100 AH x 24 volts that is 2.4kWh.

 The post Everything You Wanted to Know About Tesla Powerwall 2 appeared first on Nevada Solar Group.

source https://nevadasolargroup.com/everything-about-tesla-powerwall-2/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=everything-about-tesla-powerwall-2 source https://nevadasolargroup.blogspot.com/2020/09/everything-you-wanted-to-know-about.html

[andylocksmithtipsntricks]

Frontpoint vs. Vivint Security

Winner

Vivint Home Security

Learn More

Cutting-edge equipment

No-contract option

Cutting-edge equipment

No-contract option

Visit Vivint

Learn More

Frontpoint Home Security

Learn More

Great customer reviews

Easy DIY installation

No contracts

Great customer reviews

Easy DIY installation

No contracts

Visit Frontpoint

Learn More

Last Updated: A day ago

Frontpoint updated its contract terms, pricing, and package offerings on November 18. We’re happy with lots of these changes, though we wish there were a cheaper monitoring option.

As the bar for quality home security gets higher, it’s tougher to tell what makes one security company better than another. To help you figure it out, we’re facing off our top security systems against one another. Vivint is well-established as the one to watch when it comes to combining home security and home automation. But Frontpoint hasn’t let the smart home trend pass them by and they don’t require a contract.

If you’re trying to decide between these two home security giants, here’s a breakdown of what makes each company stand out, and where they could improve.

Pricing and Plan Comparison

Frontpoint Ultimate Plan Vivint Smart Home Video Visit Frontpoint Visit Vivint Monthly Monitoring Cost $44.99 $49.99 Equipment Cost Starting at $0 down Quote required Activation Fee None None Installation Fee None $99 Trial Period 30-day, 100% risk-free None Connection Type Cellular Cellular Contract Length Month-to-Month 42 or 60 months None with up-front equipment purchase Customer Service 5 stars 4 stars Base Equipment

Wireless control panel

Panic pendant

Door and window sensors

Flood sensor

Garage sensor

Glass break sensor

Motion sensor

Smoke and CO detector

Vivint SkyControl panel

Door sensors

Window sensors

Motion detectors

Smoke detector

Home Automation Features

Light control

Smart locks

Smart thermostat

Doorbell camera

Security cameras

Live video streaming

Frontpoint mobile app

Compatible with Amazon Alexa, Z-Wave

Smart locks

Smart thermostat

Doorbell camera

Security cameras

Live video

Vivint Sky app

Compatible with Nest, Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Z-Wave

Stand-Out Feature Crash & Smash protection Smart energy management

*Data as of 11/18/19. Offers and availability subject to change.

What Do Frontpoint and Vivint Have in Common?

Vivint and Frontpoint have more in common than not. Both security companies have strong reputations, 24/7 professional monitoring services, and advanced technology. Plus you can get environmental safety monitoring (like smoke detectors and flood sensors) along with security measures. Here’s a breakdown of other ways Vivint and Frontpoint are similar:

Included home automation features

Free mobile app

Monthly monitoring costs

Live video streaming available

Cellular monitoring

Compatibility with third-party home automation devices

What Makes Vivint and Frontpoint Different?

Where Frontpoint and Vivint most diverge is installation and contract options. Frontpoint is a DIY-only system and Vivint requires professional installation. We’ll look more closely at the impact that difference makes below, but another disparity is contract length.

Vivint has a no-contract option like Frontpoint, but you have to pay for everything at once. While Frontpoint lets you put $0 for a month-to-month deal. If you want to finance with Vivint, you could potentially get locked into a five-year contract.

 Before we dive deeper, here’s a summary of Vivint’s and Frontpoint’s significant distinctions:

Installation type

Portability of equipment

Trial period

Financing

Contract options

Customer reviews

Frontpoint Home Security at a Glance

Frontpoint has been a home security frontrunner for a number of years and delivers reliable, standard home security. From its contract terms to its monthly monitoring fees, Frontpoint remains a solid choice that conforms to industry standards.

Frontpoint Monthly Plans

Monthly Price Home Automation Video Montioring Interactive Plan $44.99 Compatible None Ultimate Plan $49.99 Compatible Included

*Data as of 11/18/19. Offers and availability subject to change.

Contracts and Warranties

Unlike Vivint, Frontpoint doesn’t require a contract and includes a three-year warranty on its equipment. If you don’t want to pay upfront for your equipment, you can finance it for $0 down. This results in a month-to-month deal with a little more freedom for renters and frequent movers.

Customer Service

This company puts customers first, which is evident in ongoing customer feedback.¹ Frontpoint consistently ranks four stars or higher on customer reviews, and the company boasts that “96% of new customers would recommend Frontpoint.”

DIY Installation

Beyond customer service, Frontpoint stands out with its DIY installation. This type of install is usually associated with more stripped-down home security systems like Scout or SimpliSafe. But Frontpoint manages to provide robust home security that is still simple for a homeowner (or renter) to install on their own. And all the equipment comes pre-programmed, so all you have to do is power up the devices and they’re ready to go.

Portable Equipment

This is one of Frontpoint’s best features—equipment that’s easy to pick up and take with you if you move while still under contract. Unlike other companies (like ADT) that make you start over with new equipment, you can uninstall your Frontpoint security devices and reinstall in them in your new digs. All you need to do is inform the company of your new address so they know where to send help if you need it.

Who Frontpoint Is Best For

Even though Frontpoint is a solid home security choice for anyone, we think its DIY installation and wireless equipment are the perfect match for renters and those with smaller homes and properties. Because it’s a self-installed system, it can get complicated to set up multiple sensors, cameras, etc. on different floors and across a larger property—especially if you’re not a seasoned DIY-er.

It’s also tough to know exactly how much security is right for your situation. Because Frontpoint’s security experts work with you over the phone (instead of in person), it’s harder to know if you’ve got everything covered. But if all you need is straightforward security for a small- to medium-sized home, Frontpoint can be an easy solution. And if you might move in the next three years, Frontpoint’s portable equipment is ideal.

Pros

30-day, risk-free trial

Equipment you can move

Strong customer service

Home automation options

No long contracts

Cons

No professional installation option

High monthly monitoring costs

Read our full Frontpoint home security review or visit Frontpoint.

Vivint Home Security at a Glance

Vivint is probably the biggest home security innovator in the industry. This company has married home automation and security to transform our idea of what home security can do. Vivint’s modern twist on traditional home security can make your life more secure and convenient—all at once.

Vivint Monthly Plans

Monthly Price Home Automation Video Monitoring Vivint Smart Security $29.99 Not compatible None Vivint Smart Home $39.99 Included None Vivint Smart Home Video $49.99 Included Included

*Data as of 11/06/18. Offers and availability subject to change.

Contracts and Warranties

Vivint is unique in that you can start out with a month-to-month contract if you buy your home security equipment outright. This option is rare when it comes to full-fledged, professionally-monitored alarm systems. But if you’d rather not fork over hundreds of dollars up front, you can finance your equipment. If you finance, you’re looking at a 42- or 60-month contract, which is much longer than the industry standard of 36 months. And if you cancel early, you’re on the hook for 100% of the remainder of the contract.

In regard to warranties, Vivint equipment comes with a 120-day warranty, but if you get premium service, Vivint will repair or replace faulty equipment as long as you have Vivint service. But you can get repair and replacement service outside the 120-day window (or without premium service)—you just have to pay for the service call.

Customer Service

This is an area where Vivint struggled—especially when they first hit the scene. But the company’s response to customer feedback was swift and sustained. Vivint has recovered significantly from its initial poor reputation to become a company that’s been awarded for its outstanding service, both in-house (how it treats its employees) and in the world.²

Professional Installation

Vivint shines for its customized approach to installation. Not only do you get a pro who knows exactly what they’re doing, but Vivint includes a home security assessment as well. That means you’ll get an expert determination of your home’s security vulnerabilities along with a thorough recommendation of what security measures make the most sense. The only downsides are having to wait around for the installer and welcoming a stranger into your home.

High-Tech Security Equipment

Vivint has been acknowledged as a home security and home automation innovator by experts and trade associations.³ When you bring Vivint’s AI system (called Sky) into your home, you get a smart home system that not only follows your commands but also learns your habits and preferences automatically. Vivint’s seamless integration of smart home tech and home security tech is like having a sentry that looks out for danger and works hard to make you as comfortable as possible.  

Who Vivint Is Best For

If you love technology and dig the idea of having the smartest home on the block, then Vivint is a standout option for home security. It’s also a good match for those who aren’t into DIY or those who have a larger home or property that needs protection.

Even though Vivint may seem more expensive than Frontpoint (when it comes to initial equipment), if you have a big house or a large yard, you’ll need to add on a lot of extras with Frontpoint. By the time you’re done, you’ll be in the same neighborhood (cost-wise) or higher than Vivint. And you’ll have to set up all those components yourself. Plus, if you’re able to pay for equipment up front, you won’t be tied to a contract.

Pros

No contract option

More affordable monitoring options

Advanced home automation tech

Professional install with security assessment

Cons

Steep termination fees

Long contracts without up-front equipment purchase

Hefty up-front costs

Read our full Vivint home security review or visit Vivint.

The Bottom Line

It’s hard to see a clear-cut winner between Frontpoint and Vivint. A lot of it depends on your circumstances and security needs—and both companies deliver diligent home security that you can rely on to keep your home and family safe. But we think that when you throw Vivint in the ring you have to emphasize home automation and other technical specs. In that regard, we put Vivint on top.

But there are still plenty of valid considerations that impact whether Vivint or Frontpoint is the best home security choice for you.

Price and Contract: While there are some differences between these two—Vivint has a cheaper entry-level plan (but neither company offers full home automation at lower price points), but Frontpoint doesn’t require a contract. But when you line it all up, the disparities come out in the wash, so this one is a draw.

Customer Service: Frontpoint takes this category. Even though Vivint has made huge strides in this area, it just doesn’t have the longstanding reputation for great service that Frontpoint enjoys.

Features and Tech: Vivint is the clear winner here. Although Frontpoint offers more home automation tech and compatibility than many security companies, it just doesn’t compare to Vivint’s innovation. And because Vivint provides an in-home assessment, the company does a better job covering both security and smart home needs.

Overall Winner: Vivint

For customized home security that integrates seamlessly with home automation, Vivint is the clear choice.

More Smart Home Security Options

If you still feel like shopping around, here are some other home security options that deliver professional monitoring along with home automation options.

ADT Pulse®

Read Review

Home automation starting at $52.99

Professional installation

Mobile app

Visit ADT Link Interactive

Read Review

Home automation starting at $30.99

Shorter contracts available

30-day, risk-free trial

Visit Link Interactive

*Data effective 11/06/18. Offers and availability subject to change.

Sources:

Better Business Bureau, “Customer Reviews, FrontPoint Security Solutions, LLC”; Consumer Affairs, “Frontpoint Consumer Reviews and Complaints”; Frontpoint Security, “Customer Reviews”; Yelp, “Frontpoint Home Security Washington”; Trustpilot, “Frontpoint Security Reviews”

The American Business Awards, “2017 Customer Service Award Winners”; The Monitoring Association, “Vivint is TMA 2017 Monitoring Center of the Year”; CISION PR Newswire, “Women Tech Council Reveals 2018 Shatter List”; Flexjobs, “100 Top Companies with Remote Jobs in 2018”; Great Places to Work, “Vivint Smart Home”; Forbes, “America’s Best Midsize Employers”

Fast Company, “Most Innovative Companies”; IOT Breakthrough, “Winner’s Circle, Connected Home”; The Daily Herald, “Vivint Smart Home Earns Utah Genius Award, Provo No. 2 for Working Parents”

The post Frontpoint vs. Vivint Security appeared first on SafeWise.

Article source here: Frontpoint vs. Vivint Security

[terryblount]

System 3 has removed the Denuvo anti-tamper tech from Constructor

System 3 has announced that it has removed the Denuvo anti-tamper tech from Constructor. Constructor was released in 2017 and back then a number of players complained about the inclusion of this controversial anti-tamper tech. In order to please these gamers, the company has decided to remove it.

In Constructor, players take on the role of a budding property tycoon who must do battle with your competitors to create a thriving and profitable city in any way they see fit. Players can build houses and factories, cope with the incessant demands of their tenants as well as keeping a whole bunch of undesirable characters under control.

Alongside the removal of Denuvo, the game’s latest update has implemented an option to restart the current game as well as the ability to change HUD animation speed, adds toggle to invert mouse-wheel scrolling of the map, adds new particles for Psycho Chainsaw attack and Foreman takeover, and adds names to… cockroaches.

As always, Steam will auto-download this latest patch and you can find its complete changelog below.

Constructor Patch November 23rd Release Notes

QUALITY OF LIFE CHANGES/NEW FEATURES

Implemented option to restart the current game.

Implemented ability to change HUD animation speed.

Allow for continuous placement of the same property whilst shift is held allowing you to place multiple buildings of the same type without needing to go through the estate manager multiple times.

Workteams are now smarter and will automatically go between the inside and outside of a home to finish any room upgrades/fence that is in progress.

Workteams will now automatically enter a Gadget Factory if standing in the grounds, and there are currently gadgets waiting to be manufactured.

Added alert sound for “last conflict” notification.

Allow stepping through building lists using < and > keys. Useful to progress through tenant properties by one level at a time.

Players may now change the fences on Undesirable abodes depending on the type of undesirable. This will only be available if you have at least two choices of fence. The default fence will always be available regardless of whether you have unlocked it via the resources.

Players may now change the fence for their Headquarters.

Sheds placed in the grounds of a Gadget Factory provide additional storage for Gadgets (caps at four Sheds).

Sheds placed in the grounds of a Resource Yard provide additional storage for that particular resource (caps at four Sheds).

Added strength factor to fence display in UI – each star represents the number of hits one panel may take before being pulled down.

Save games can be confirmed using the mouse/controller on PC as opposed to just the keyboard.

Added toggle to invert mouse-wheel scrolling of the map.

New hint messages have been added to various areas of the game, and will trigger up to three times (not in the same game) after certain events. You may disable these by toggling “Hide Hints” in the Message Options.

Added View Previous Messages button to mission briefing display on subsequent visits.

Right-click on the time will now revert the game speed to normal speed if it was running at a faster speed.

Monuments such as the Liberty Statue, Washington Monument, and the System 3 Statue will provide a trickle of income based on how many tenants visit them.

Allow full control of game functions in pause mode.

Enable cloud synchronisation of saved games so that settings and saves are accessible across all user’s machines.

FIXES

Implemented relinking of opponent lists when loading a game if any were corrupted, to resolve certain crashes.

Fixed instance where messages for overcrowded prisons would be displayed if prisoners were dropped off at the Housing Authority building.

Fixed memory leak caused by continuous loading of SFX that were not loaded at boot, as a result of changes to the SFX routine for the Switch.

Fixed logic for repeating messages within 30 days so that it works as expected.

Fixed wrong image capture being used if save was cancelled the next time you try to save, or visit a screen which uses the last image taken as a background.

Corrected RMB functionality where it no longer allowed right-clicking the resource icons on the left-hand side to zoom to the relevant building.

Corrected RMB functionality which stopped right-click cancelling out of placing external gadgets.

Fixed characters remaining in frozen state if hypnotised by Clown whilst Clown’s Arcade was destroyed.

Fixed instance where Mr Fixit being arrested as his ladder deployed conflicted with his arrested status.

Fixed Council Workers sometimes paving the wrong tile if they were interrupted during the tiling animation.

Fixed recoil animation for laser weapon not correctly resetting to character’s default animation in certain situations.

Corrected character videos playing more than once for newly created characters when video mode “Once” was selected.

AI CHANGES

AI will now reassign repairmen shortly after they are removed from an estate as a result of being knocked out – a companion change to go with the previous changes in this area.

Decreased delay of AI assignment routine for repairmen to 4 months down from 8.

AI no longer immediately build/rebuild their Police Station. It is instead put on a timer that scales inversely with the difficulty.

AI must have a resource of the correct type built in order to build more buildings.

AI will protect high priority building sites such as the now required resource yards more effectively.

AI defenders on building sites/completed sites will chase intruders a short distance.

AI must now have a functioning resource yard before they can continue building structures that require that resource.

Take-over hits for AI fences reduced by 1-2 depending on the fence type.

Made adjustments to SOS logic so that the Street Party + Gangster combination is not quite so effective, but is still a valid strategy against the AI.

AI repair logic now runs in two stages, and AI frequency for creating repairmen is dictated by difficulty. Easy – 120 days/repairman Normal – 120 days/repairman Hard – 60 days/repairman Original – 90 days/repairman

MISCELLANEOUS CHANGES

Auto-Save now runs in a separate thread and will no longer cause the game to hitch.

Spooky The Ghost is no longer able to block work sites.

Unlinked Police Station so that it no longer only unlocks when one of the original three level two houses is built to resolve an issue where only building DLC level two homes did not unlock it, and later caused it to disappear from the list until one of the original level two homes were built.

Removed Denuvo Anti-tamper.

New option menu “Config” for certain configuration options.

Cockroaches now have names.

Increased favours per gangster converted at HQ to 3 on Hard Difficulty.

Increased Prison capacity to 5 prisoners.

HQ button changed to display the colour of the team you are playing.

Adjusted font for character names to compensate for longer names.

Additional door-knock voices added for the following tenants (triggered by clicking on rival homes): * Slob * Greaser * Major

Clown molotov explosion now much more spectacular.

Improved flooded building destruction sequence.

Repair Kit no longer expires.

Added new particles for Psycho Chainsaw attack, and Foreman takeover.

Gangsters no longer target tenants that enter the grounds of Parks.

Ordering multiple internal gadgets no longer allows creation of multiple tenants to collect the gadgets. Instead, any internal gadgets beyond the first two ordered will be picked up in subsequent trips.

All buildings affect tenant stress. A green, happy face, will show above houses when the effect is positive (Parks, Schools etc). A red, unhappy face, will show above houses when the effect is negative (Prisons, Undesirables etc).

Lower level houses negatively impact the happiness of tenants in higher level houses. This is only a minor effect of -5 happiness per level of difference.

Added faint black outline to all characters to reduce blending in large groups.

Rebalanced Lounge effect so that positive stress modifiers are a little more pronounced.

Removed requirement of Deluxe Rooms in Beach House for final stage of Basic Job.

Story missions will unlock sequentially (if you have not previously completed them) but you need only attempt a mission to unlock the next one.

Story missions will now display the number of times the mission was attempted.

Emergency fence repair of undesirable abodes will only restore the original fence if it has not been completely replaced with either the destroyed fence panels or the takeover barriers.

Gangster weapons deal slightly reduced damage against HQs.

Added currently selected estate highlight when purchasing/viewing estates.

Added floating icon above buildings that are being picketed by a Hippy.

Various balancing functions added to make certain aspects of the AI/game relate to difficulty better. This includes: • Frequency of response to intruders on AI building sites • Earliest time the AI can build its Police Station • Earliest time it can rebuild its Police Station after it is destroyed • How likely it is to build on another team’s estate if “Build On Enemy Estates” is on • How often it will send its undesirables to harass another team • How often it builds undesirable abodes • How effectively it responds to a player’s Street Party when attempting to defend its HQ • How strong a player’s own characters are against other teams (only applies to easy(100% bonus dmg) and normal(50% bonus damage) which is intended to make things a tad easier for new fans. • How many buildings a player can take over without the AI retaliating (only applies to easy(2)/normal(1)) • How often the AI attempts to take over another team’s properties • How often the AI creates its own repairmen

Improved Wood Yard’s Tin Roof.

Dog Kennel no longer requires Brick Factory.

System 3 has removed the Denuvo anti-tamper tech from Constructor published first on https://touchgen.tumblr.com/