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Groups > comp.arch.embedded > #12676
| From | Don Y <this@isnotme.com> |
|---|---|
| Newsgroups | sci.electronics.design, comp.arch.embedded |
| Subject | Re: Cutting panels |
| Date | 2013-07-23 15:54 -0700 |
| Organization | Aioe.org NNTP Server |
| Message-ID | <ksn1jb$gda$1@speranza.aioe.org> (permalink) |
| References | (3 earlier) <b554dsFj3euU2@mid.individual.net> <ksk0ck$je7$1@speranza.aioe.org> <b55sruFoba5U1@mid.individual.net> <ksknl5$c7c$1@speranza.aioe.org> <b57h5gF4ahrU1@mid.individual.net> |
Cross-posted to 2 groups.
Hi Joerg, On 7/23/2013 7:09 AM, Joerg wrote: > Don Y wrote: >> You probably *don't* have an equipment rack anywhere in your >> home. And, probably don't want to see a mess of cables and >> equipment. Or *hear* them (fans, etc.). Instead, you want to >> tuck it all into some corner where it is just barely accessible. >> "Make it fit". > > We do, in a utility closet. As in "tuck it all into some corner"! > Phone, LAN, TV distribution, vidoe modulator > feedback lines, central sprinkler circuit control, things like that. I have these things all scattered around the house as befits their roles. E.g., the CATV distribution amp is located in the "space" above the front door (what would be an "attic" in a normal house but, here, is just a foot or so "tall"). Barely accessible but rarely *needing* access! The irrigation controller is located in the garage near the garage door as it's easy to get out through the wall to the valves (well, actually, the valves are distributed all around the yard -- front/back/sides -- but this is where I chose to bring them all through the wall since it is close to the rest of the "water" stuff (future flow meter, valve, master irrigation valve, softener, filtration, etc.) -- things that are handled by the "water" controller! (i.e., a home may or may not have an irrigation system -- but *should* have "water"!) The HVAC controller is located in with the furnace (d'uh!) as that's a convenient place to get at the wiring for the swamp cooler, furnace, ac compressor and "thermostat" (temperature sensor). Since every home needs one *and* every home needs a doorbell (?), that controller also monitors the various doorbell (buttons) and drives a pair of speakers in the ceiling in two different parts of the house. Since AC power is readily available, there, I can spend a fair bit of power "making noise" when someone comes to one of the doors (front/side/back/garage/driveway). Media gets served from a set of processors in a closet off the kitchen (since I need rotating media, there, and places like "in the ceiling" or "in the garage" would not be appropriate. All of these are integral parts of the automation system so none of them has a user interface, etc. I.e., no silly thermostats, doorbells, etc. hanging off walls in hallways, etc. >> E.g., here, I have the various processors, switches, UPS, etc. >> hiding in the bottom of a "closet" off the kitchen. Space that >> isn't easily used for anything that we would want to get at >> often (because it's too low to the ground). >> >> I can imagine others wanting to put it all in a big box and hide >> it in a bedroom closet. (I'm not sure I would recommend locating >> it in "non-living" space -- reliability! :< ) My goal is to >> shrink things to about 10U -- I'm about double that, currently >> (because I have lots of COTS components in the current implementation) > > I would recommend locating it in non-living space. It is best to have a > utility closet in a house but unfortunately many builders skimp or want > to boast the highest living square-footage possible. That's how stuff > ends in garages where it cooks all summer long and gets dirty. Closet is considered "living space". I.e., heated/cooled. You *could* survive in a closet whereas you couldn't in a garage. Here, garage is a death sentence for all things electronic. Even with our insulated door it still gets pretty warm in there! (before the new door, it would easily hit 140) I keep debating running "air" into the store room in the garage and moving the doorway to open into the interior of the house (instead of into the garage). That's a fairly large space that would be a great home for the freezer (currently in the garage!), my larger printers, plotter, etc. But... <shrug> >> I'd like to come up with a "solution" that lets folks figure out >> how best to package/deploy their own version instead of imposing >> a solution. You want to use an equipment rack? Fine! *You* >> figure out where to put it... (I have a friend with one of these >> 5,000sq ft palaces that *likes* making his toys visible. He'd >> probably set it in a 42U rack with glass doors sitting in a >> corner of his living room! "Conversation Piece" :-/ Sheesh!) > > With smoked glass doors and mood lighting :-) I have another friend with a small rack in his *bedroom*! Dunno what the appeal of that is supposed to be... <frown> [Though, having said that, I've thought of replacing the library card catalog I have with a pair of short racks and put much of this rack-mountable kit in them instead of treating them all as free-standing devices. Problem is finding racks that are the right height (I want to use the top of the racks as a "standing" work surface) *and* not too deep (front to back).] >> The idea of "custom panels" IN GENERAL makes perfect sense (e.g., >> the examples you cite). I just don't think many would pursue it >> for *this* project (which would already be hard to get past your >> S.O. -- regardless of how many shoes she has!! :> ) >> > > Mine was real happy after I installed the system, when I showed her how > we can now watch a movie anywhere, including outside. Mine is getting more and more nervous as the "controls" are disappearing. "Why can't I just use change (radio) stations like I used to? What do you mean, there soon will be *no* remote for the TV??" As a concession, I had to install three "control panels" so she can interact with the system in a more "traditional" manner. I've rationalized this to myself by locating them in the three places where you would typically want a quick summary of system status and presenting this visually would be most efficient: the two primary doors by which we enter/exit the house and the hallway to the bedrooms (where you "say good night/morning" to the house). [There's also a panel located in the closet that houses the media servers but that's more of a convenience for *me*... so I can do maintenance work without having to boot up a PC to "talk" to the system.] >>>> It's called a photograph. You buy them at Walgreens, Target, Costco, >>>> Walmart, etc. >>> >>> Yeah, but those photos don't last. >> >> Laminated they will last damn near forever. Remember, you aren't >> poking at this every hour/day/week. You plug stuff in and forget >> it. Until something stops working or you want to add some capability. >> >> How often do you have to replace the labels on your fuse box >> outside (?) your home? And, I suspect you spend far more time >> in there (resetting breakers, etc.) than you ever would, here! >> >> (E.g., how often do you reconfigure the cables going to your >> network switch(es)?) > > Never. But I keep a number system. 1, 2, 3, 4 ... and then there is a > printed sheet next to it saying what goes where. Reconfiguring would be > totally easy. The numbers correspond to laocations and are followed by a > 2nd number which indicated the kind of connection (Phone, LAN, TV, > modulator feedback). Some locations only have TV going there. I have two sorts of "connection points" in the house. One type is dedicated for specific needs. E.g., the drop for the irrigation controller is *just* a network drop FOR THE IRRIGATION CONTROLLER. The "uncommitted" points in the house (24 of them) each have a network drop, CATV drop and a POTS drop. So, you can plug in a laptop, phone or "conventional" (i.e., non-IP) TV in any of those locations. All the POTS drops terminate at a pair of punchdown blocks mounted on the wall alongside the furnace. All the CATV drops terminate at the distribution amp above the front door. All the CAt5 drops terminate in this small closet (the subject of this "panel" design). >>>> With the custom panel, you still are spending time. And, waiting >>>> days/weeks to see if you've screwed up. >>>> >>>>> Which probably means another hour just for the drive >>>>> into town, plus 2-3 gallons of gas at $4 a pop. >>>> >>>> Some of us have indoor plumbing, Joerg (i.e., we don't live 35+ >>>> miles from <wherever>) :> Even a thin sheet of rigid plastic can >>>> be purchased from any of the local craft stores. Remember, it >>>> doesn't have to *do* anything -- just cover some holes that we want >>>> to pretend don't exist and "support" a photograph. >>> >>> Ain't no crafts store in this here town. But we can get saddles, boots, >>> spurs, and glow plugs for the John Deere. >> >> Ah. Perhaps that's why I thought you lived further out (east)! >> [I've had an image of a spot near Lake Tahoe in my mind -- even >> though I know you don't live in Tahoe!] > > Between Placerville and Folsom. There might be a crafts store in Folsom, > somewhere. Placerville has the oldest hardware store west of the > Mississippi. Ah, OK. I knew a guy from (?) placerville. *Small* town (?) >> E.g., we've dropped about a kilobuck into *just* the irrigation >> system -- with none of that spent on "labor" or "profit". We >> could never have justified what it would have cost to *contract* >> that job out! If I'd *tried* to contract *this* project out, >> neither of us would *ever* retire (to enjoy it!) :> > > Same here. We just painted the house. It would have cost us around 7k. > This way it cost about $400 in paint and several Saturdays. Yup. Though it's not just "saving money". I find these sorts of "puzzles" to help keep my thinking "pliable" since the sorts of constraints that you face are very different than the "9 to 5" sorts. E.g., deciding how to plumb the pressure regulator/master valve/ anti-siphon device/main shutoff assembly required a fair bit of 3 dimensional thinking: "Yeah, I can envision all these parts *assembled*. But, will I be able to *disassemble* them once they are positioned in this particular location? Will I be able to unscrew this fitting? Do I need to add a union? You also learn things like: galvanized pipe sucks! (e.g., I've replaced everything with copper pipe and brass fittings -- *threaded* fittings instead of slip fittings so it's easier for *me* to service in the future!) And, you can control the *quality* of the workmanship. E.g., the *hired* plumber initially installed some of this kit -- and didn't seem to know what "vertical" meant! (No, 80 degrees isn't vertical... it might be considered "upright" by some but it sure isn't vertical!) Finally, it avoids the "Olde Farte" syndrome -- folks who rationalize hiring people to do things because they are too lazy/unambitious to do/learn for themselves! Sooner or later, the body will limit what I can do. Until then, I'd like to "try" as much as I can! :> [12 tons of rock coming this fall... at least I was smart enough to schedule it when its COOLER!] Having said all that (rant!), I may change my tune after I replace the roof next year... <frown> I guess a lot will depend on how much heavy stuff I have to carry up there! (so far, I've only dealt with 80 pound felt -- heavy but manageable!) --don
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Cutting panels Don Y <this@isnotme.com> - 2013-07-21 02:47 -0700
Re: Cutting panels John Fields <jfields@austininstruments.com> - 2013-07-21 08:05 -0500
Re: Cutting panels Roberto Waltman <usenet@rwaltman.com> - 2013-07-21 10:38 -0400
Re: Cutting panels "Carl Ijames" <carl.ijames@nonono.verizon.net> - 2013-07-21 12:36 -0400
Re: Cutting panels Joerg <invalid@invalid.invalid> - 2013-07-21 09:48 -0700
Re: Cutting panels Don Y <this@isnotme.com> - 2013-07-21 13:29 -0700
Re: Cutting panels Joerg <invalid@invalid.invalid> - 2013-07-21 14:10 -0700
Re: Cutting panels Don Y <this@isnotme.com> - 2013-07-23 16:23 -0700
Re: Cutting panels Grant Edwards <invalid@invalid.invalid> - 2013-07-21 21:04 +0000
Re: Cutting panels Joerg <invalid@invalid.invalid> - 2013-07-21 15:07 -0700
Re: Cutting panels Don Y <this@isnotme.com> - 2013-07-21 16:35 -0700
Re: Cutting panels Joerg <invalid@invalid.invalid> - 2013-07-21 17:11 -0700
Re: Cutting panels Don Y <this@isnotme.com> - 2013-07-23 16:27 -0700
Re: Cutting panels Robert Wessel <robertwessel2@yahoo.com> - 2013-07-23 21:50 -0500
Re: Cutting panels Don Y <this@isnotme.com> - 2013-07-23 21:24 -0700
Re: Cutting panels Jasen Betts <jasen@xnet.co.nz> - 2013-07-24 09:09 +0000
Re: Cutting panels Don Y <this@isnotme.com> - 2013-07-24 16:02 -0700
Re: Cutting panels hamilton <hamilton@nothere.com> - 2013-07-21 16:52 -0600
Re: Cutting panels Joerg <invalid@invalid.invalid> - 2013-07-21 17:13 -0700
Re: Cutting panels Don Y <this@isnotme.com> - 2013-07-21 12:35 -0700
Re: Cutting panels amdx <nojunk@knology.net> - 2013-07-21 09:54 -0500
Re: Cutting panels Joerg <invalid@invalid.invalid> - 2013-07-21 09:32 -0700
Re: Cutting panels Don Y <this@isnotme.com> - 2013-07-21 13:36 -0700
Re: Cutting panels Joerg <invalid@invalid.invalid> - 2013-07-21 14:04 -0700
Re: Cutting panels [solved?] Don Y <this@isnotme.com> - 2013-07-21 13:14 -0700
Re: Cutting panels [solved?] Don Y <this@isnotme.com> - 2013-07-21 13:26 -0700
Re: Cutting panels [solved?] Joerg <invalid@invalid.invalid> - 2013-07-21 14:06 -0700
Re: Cutting panels [solved?] Don Y <this@isnotme.com> - 2013-07-21 16:08 -0700
Re: Cutting panels [solved?] Rich Webb <webb.ra@example.net> - 2013-07-21 19:42 -0400
Re: Cutting panels [solved?] Don Y <this@isnotme.com> - 2013-07-23 21:45 -0700
Re: Cutting panels [solved?] Jan Panteltje <pNaonStpealmtje@yahoo.com> - 2013-07-22 07:51 +0000
Re: Cutting panels [solved?] Charlie E. <edmondson@ieee.org> - 2013-07-23 05:57 -0700
Re: Cutting panels [solved?] Don Y <this@isnotme.com> - 2013-07-23 14:46 -0700
Re: Cutting panels [solved?] Don Lancaster <don@tinaja.com> - 2013-07-23 16:41 -0700
Re: Cutting panels [solved?] Charlie E. <edmondson@ieee.org> - 2013-07-23 17:21 -0700
Re: Cutting panels [solved?] Jasen Betts <jasen@xnet.co.nz> - 2013-07-24 09:26 +0000
Re: Cutting panels [solved?] Don Y <this@isnotme.com> - 2013-07-25 12:11 -0700
Re: Cutting panels [solved?] Spehro Pefhany <speffSNIP@interlogDOTyou.knowwhat> - 2013-07-25 16:04 -0400
Re: Cutting panels [solved?] Don Y <this@isnotme.com> - 2013-07-25 13:03 -0700
Re: Cutting panels [solved?] Jasen Betts <jasen@xnet.co.nz> - 2013-07-23 13:40 +0000
Re: Cutting panels [solved?] Joerg <invalid@invalid.invalid> - 2013-07-23 07:38 -0700
Re: Cutting panels [solved?]/summary Don Y <this@isnotme.com> - 2013-07-29 15:18 -0700
Re: Cutting panels andrews@sdf.lonestar.org - 2013-07-21 12:45 -0700
Re: Cutting panels Don Y <this@isnotme.com> - 2013-07-22 19:17 -0700
Re: Cutting panels Spehro Pefhany <speffSNIP@interlogDOTyou.knowwhat> - 2013-07-21 19:45 -0400
Re: Cutting panels Don Y <this@isnotme.com> - 2013-07-21 17:07 -0700
Re: Cutting panels Peter Bennett <peterbb@somewhere.invalid> - 2013-07-21 16:57 -0700
Re: Cutting panels Don Y <this@isnotme.com> - 2013-07-21 20:58 -0700
Re: Cutting panels Don Y <this@isnotme.com> - 2013-07-21 21:02 -0700
Re: Cutting panels Joerg <invalid@invalid.invalid> - 2013-07-22 09:20 -0700
Re: Cutting panels Don Y <this@isnotme.com> - 2013-07-22 12:15 -0700
Re: Cutting panels Joerg <invalid@invalid.invalid> - 2013-07-22 16:17 -0700
Re: Cutting panels Don Y <this@isnotme.com> - 2013-07-22 18:52 -0700
Re: Cutting panels Jasen Betts <jasen@xnet.co.nz> - 2013-07-23 14:00 +0000
Re: Cutting panels Don Y <this@isnotme.com> - 2013-07-23 15:13 -0700
Re: Cutting panels Joerg <invalid@invalid.invalid> - 2013-07-23 07:09 -0700
Re: Cutting panels Charlie E. <edmondson@ieee.org> - 2013-07-23 10:03 -0700
Re: Cutting panels Don Y <this@isnotme.com> - 2013-07-23 21:59 -0700
Re: Cutting panels Don Y <this@isnotme.com> - 2013-07-23 15:54 -0700
Re: Cutting panels Joerg <invalid@invalid.invalid> - 2013-07-24 13:09 -0700
Re: Cutting panels Don Y <this@isnotme.com> - 2013-07-24 15:51 -0700
Re: Cutting panels Joerg <invalid@invalid.invalid> - 2013-07-26 09:13 -0700
Re: Cutting panels Don Y <this@isnotme.com> - 2013-07-26 11:35 -0700
Re: Cutting panels Paul Rubin <no.email@nospam.invalid> - 2013-07-26 12:06 -0700
Re: Cutting panels Jan Panteltje <panteltje@yahoo.com> - 2013-07-26 19:44 +0000
Re: Cutting panels Paul Rubin <no.email@nospam.invalid> - 2013-07-26 22:21 -0700
Re: Cutting panels Jan Panteltje <pNaonStpealmtje@yahoo.com> - 2013-07-27 08:12 +0000
Re: Cutting panels Don Y <this@isnotme.com> - 2013-07-26 13:42 -0700
Re: Cutting panels Paul Rubin <no.email@nospam.invalid> - 2013-07-26 18:50 -0700
Re: Cutting panels Don Y <this@isnotme.com> - 2013-07-26 22:49 -0700
Re: Cutting panels Paul Rubin <no.email@nospam.invalid> - 2013-07-27 00:53 -0700
Re: Cutting panels Don Y <this@isnotme.com> - 2013-07-27 10:16 -0700
Re: Cutting panels Joerg <invalid@invalid.invalid> - 2013-07-26 23:52 -0700
Re: Cutting panels Don Y <this@isnotme.com> - 2013-07-27 17:36 -0700
Re: Cutting panels Joerg <invalid@invalid.invalid> - 2013-07-28 09:22 -0700
Re: Cutting panels Don Y <this@isnotme.com> - 2013-07-28 12:31 -0700
Re: Cutting panels Paul Rubin <no.email@nospam.invalid> - 2013-07-28 13:48 -0700
Re: Cutting panels Joerg <invalid@invalid.invalid> - 2013-07-28 14:20 -0700
Re: Cutting panels Don Y <this@isnotme.com> - 2013-07-28 16:35 -0700
Re: Cutting panels Joerg <invalid@invalid.invalid> - 2013-07-28 17:39 -0700
Re: Cutting panels Don Y <this@isnotme.com> - 2013-07-28 19:38 -0700
Re: Cutting panels Joerg <invalid@invalid.invalid> - 2013-07-29 11:15 -0700
Re: Cutting panels Don Y <this@isnotme.com> - 2013-07-29 16:30 -0700
Re: Cutting panels Joerg <invalid@invalid.invalid> - 2013-07-29 17:38 -0700
Re: Cutting panels Don Y <this@isnotme.com> - 2013-07-29 21:45 -0700
Re: Cutting panels Joerg <invalid@invalid.invalid> - 2013-07-30 12:20 -0700
Re: Cutting panels Jeff Liebermann <jeffl@cruzio.com> - 2013-07-21 21:38 -0700
Re: Cutting panels Robert Wessel <robertwessel2@yahoo.com> - 2013-07-22 00:39 -0500
Re: Cutting panels Don Y <this@isnotme.com> - 2013-07-22 01:39 -0700
Re: Cutting panels Robert Wessel <robertwessel2@yahoo.com> - 2013-07-22 19:09 -0500
Re: Cutting panels Don Y <this@isnotme.com> - 2013-07-22 20:10 -0700
Re: Cutting panels Jasen Betts <jasen@xnet.co.nz> - 2013-07-23 14:07 +0000
Re: Cutting panels Theo Markettos <theom+news@chiark.greenend.org.uk> - 2013-07-22 18:33 +0100
Re: Cutting panels Spehro Pefhany <speffSNIP@interlogDOTyou.knowwhat> - 2013-07-22 13:44 -0400
Re: Cutting panels Don Y <this@isnotme.com> - 2013-07-22 19:00 -0700
Re: Cutting panels Jan Panteltje <pNaonStpealmtje@yahoo.com> - 2013-07-23 10:09 +0000
Re: Cutting panels Theo Markettos <theom+news@chiark.greenend.org.uk> - 2013-07-23 11:45 +0100
Re: Cutting panels Theo Markettos <theom+news@chiark.greenend.org.uk> - 2013-07-23 13:46 +0100
Re: Cutting panels 0bama <0B@nocontrast.org> - 2013-07-23 13:06 +0000
Re: Cutting panels Theo Markettos <theom+news@chiark.greenend.org.uk> - 2013-07-23 22:19 +0100
Re: Cutting panels 0bama <0B@nocontrast.org> - 2013-07-24 08:05 +0000
Re: Cutting panels Spehro Pefhany <speffSNIP@interlogDOTyou.knowwhat> - 2013-07-23 10:07 -0400
Re: Cutting panels Don Y <this@isnotme.com> - 2013-07-25 01:26 -0700
Re: Cutting panels Jasen Betts <jasen@xnet.co.nz> - 2013-07-23 14:18 +0000
Re: Cutting panels Spehro Pefhany <speffSNIP@interlogDOTyou.knowwhat> - 2013-07-23 11:38 -0400
Re: Cutting panels Theo Markettos <theom+news@chiark.greenend.org.uk> - 2013-07-23 22:32 +0100
Re: Cutting panels Frank Miles <fpm@u.washington.edu> - 2013-07-23 21:37 +0000
Re: Cutting panels Don Y <this@isnotme.com> - 2013-07-23 16:16 -0700
Re: Cutting panels Theo Markettos <theom+news@chiark.greenend.org.uk> - 2013-07-24 10:37 +0100
Re: Cutting panels Don Y <this@isnotme.com> - 2013-07-25 01:27 -0700
Re: Cutting panels Gonadicus <gonadicus@no_spam.com> - 2013-07-23 12:46 +0800
Re: Cutting panels sms <scharf.steven@geemail.com> - 2013-07-23 04:58 -0700
Re: Cutting panels Don Y <this@isnotme.com> - 2013-07-23 16:13 -0700
Re: Cutting panels Jasen Betts <jasen@xnet.co.nz> - 2013-07-23 13:25 +0000
Re: Cutting panels Don Y <this@isnotme.com> - 2013-07-23 21:42 -0700
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