Recent content by ipgenie

I used to heat only with propane and power was $100-150/mo, but since installing solar panels the electricity is already paid for so I heat primarily with electric and use propane as backup now. I used to drive only with gas/diesel but now drive an inexpensive EV for the same reason. But that...

We have pretty low power rates in Idaho. I have a heater like that, 240V, 7500W, in my well insulated shop (foam R42 walls, R49 ceiling R18 sectional doors). I used it last winter to heat 1500 sq ft. I have an energy monitor on the heater and set the shop at 50 degrees last winter. It was one...

I've been slowly collecting parts to make an electric international cub cadet. Power steering isn't really nessesary but I'm going to try using a 12v power assist from a small car in my build. I don't plan to mow with mine. I could, and may change my mind, but I plan to use it as a yard goat...

Assuming you are not paying cash, most of the monthly loan payment is going to interest for the first several years. Even if you sell for more than the purchase price, you'll have title transfer and probably realtor fees associated with the sale and your monthly payments won't hardly have...

My Bobcat could use a little touch up paint too. I figured I'd just stop by our local Sherwin Williams and have them match it and mix up a pint. I may even add a white square on top of the cab like they do on school busses to help with the heat gain. Done right it should look pretty good.

Best part about the fastback with the driver is having room for an extra blade. I used mine today to help an elderly neighbor remove a bunch of twine string they ran over with the riding mower. My blade was getting dull and it was nice to swap to the spare without having to go find a new one.

No need for a tool. It does come with one and if you really crank down on the set bolt with a tool you'll need it or any pair of pliers to loosen it, but I've got three of these knives and I simply tighten/loosen it with my fingers. Never been a problem. Edit to add, it really isn't any big...

I've probably got 50 utility knives of various makes. Maybe more than that. Most of the ones listed in this thread. If you want one for every day carry, it'll be hard to beat that oknife I pictured above. If it just sits in a drawer or on the shelf till you need it, anything will work fine...

I don't know how many feet of tubing I have but my home has 2800sq ft of heated floor in the house and 730 in the garage. I'm in Idaho and heat it most nights during off peak hours with two 4500W heating elements in a residential water heater. It's wired to run both elements at the same time...

I moved my home office into a 2'x5' closet for over a year. Worked in it every day. The chair sat in the closet opening so it used part of the room and became just a room chair when turned away from the 'cloffice'. It worked fine but is now much nicer to be in the little loft office I built in...

My little 2000 series John Deere compact tractor won't fit under an 8' door without folding the ROPs. I didn't have room for a 9' door on the side of my pole barn so I went 8.5. It would be a real pain to have to fold the ROPs all the time. My mini-x needs more than 8' but less than 9. My...

For the sub with the 60A circuit, if you put a vue on the main going into the sub and the 50A sensors on every other circuit in that sub except for the 60A circuit, Emporia will show the use of that unmonitored circuit as the balance. Probably good enough for a heating circuit.

I have three Vues stacked, one at the main that includes some shop circuits, one on the 200A sub going to my solar and another on the 200A sub in my house. You can dedicate a whole Vue to your 60A circuit if you need to but I'd throw a clamp meter on it and see if it really draws that much. I...

It is surprising the difference a lighter color makes. My pole barn was 20yrs old when I added onto it. The existing roof metal was galvalume, same as the new roof, but was a little dull and slightly darker due to exposure. Working on the roof installing solar panels, I couldn't leave a bare...

I have a corded harbor freight chainsaw that I used to drag around with a generator. I'd put my little Honda in the loader bucker or in a little trailer behind the lawn tractor and run around the property to trim trees. Worked great but I haven't used it since getting a battery saw. Just a lot...