Battery Reference

Just for reference, I took a picture of the batteries before pulling it all apart. I put the batteries in the garage, wired them back together (series-parallel) and put a charger on them. There are also a couple of small gauge wires attached to the battery bank. On the lower left negative terminal is the temperature sensor and the battery voltage sense for the solar charge controller is upper left to lower right. I took the picture just in case someone else needs to re-install the batteries. After lifting these batteries out of the box and into the car makes the LiFePO⁴ batteries look better and better. Less than half the weight for twice the useable capacity.

I take the batteries out of the RV since there is a very small parasitic drain which I could fix with some longer cables. The Progressive Dynamics converter is just attached to the catastrophic fuse and it appears to always draw a little bit of power. I also have a dc-dc converter to provide 5v to the Raspberry Pi that is collecting data from the charge controller. Today (Thursday) we went back to finish the winterization by pumping RV antifreeze through the water lines and pump. To power the pump, I just brought the small lithium jumper box I use on the Ural. I removed the dc-dc converter for the Raspberry Pi and the TPMS booster that I had installed in the battery compartment. I am bringing the TPMS system from the truck/5th wheel to use on the new-to-us RV. I don’t remember seeing any TPMS sensors. I have eight sensors but I may need to order a couple more if the system allows different tire pressure on the trailer. I don’t think it does so I can’t monitor the tow dolly tires and the Prius rear tires.

I picked up some 2/0 AWG arc welding cable and connectors to install the Victron battery monitor in the coach. I had also picked up a hydraulic crimp tool to use instead of the hammer crimp tool I used on the 5th wheel installation. The tool came with a large selection of die sizes and according to a table on the Internet, I would use a 70 die for the 2/0 AWG cable.

After stripping the insulation, you insert the wire and pump the handle to apply 16 tons of pressure making a hexagonal crimp. The wire was still a little loose so I switched to a smaller die. The crimp was tight but it looked "over-crimped". The recommendation is to look for heavier copper lugs.

After crimping, I covered the lug with heat shrink tubing for a nice finished lug. I had purchased 3' of the 2/0 AWG cable and for now, installed a lug on both ends. Once I actually install the shunt and a negative bus bar, I just need to cut the two cables to length and install two more lugs. I just wanted to try out the crimp tool and it worked great. What is now shown is the anti-oxidant that is put onto the bare copper before being crimped.

Over three years of activity tracking on the Apple Watch got me a virtual award. Exceeding my move goal 1000 times. Granted, I never increased it from the default but I did exceed it by 2x, 3x, or 4x almost 400 times during that period. 

Obsessed?

I really didn't feel like going out today. I must be getting soft in my old age. But I had at least one errand to do this morning. I needed to pick up something a little more comfortable than jeans for an airplane ride towards the right coast. Especially since my "minor surgery" last week is still making it somewhat painful to sit for any length of time and needing to occasionally take pain medication. I think that it may be a long plane ride.

Since I was heading into town, I stopped at College Coffeehouse and there were a couple of the regulars there. That's really when I realized what the temperature was. It made the coffee that much better. After coffee, I headed over to REI and picked up a pair of fleece pants. Very comfy and I was finally able to use up my dividend.

I tend to get caught up in things that may not mean much. An example of that are the exercise "rings" on my Apple Watch. Based on your activity during the day these rings gradually complete. The center ring is just from standing up for a few minutes every hour. The next ring is from some sort of activity such as walks and the outside ring is just estimated calorie consumption from everyday activity. Last month, I decided to at least try and "close the rings" every day. It seemed like a modest goal. Some would say that I am obsessed since the watch will remind you to stand up every hour.

The "rewards" are these little virtual badges that show up on the phone. So does this make me obsessed?

All Hallows' Eve Romp

On a whim, I had signed up for a "virtual run" where they send you a number and a t-shirt for participating and you just find somewhere local to run and log your time on their web site. On Monday mid-morning, I left the hut intending on just staying in the shelter of the NARL campus but ended up on the main road to Point Barrow. I turned around at the road into the DEW line site and went to Cakeeater Road before returning to the hut. It was still really windy but since the wind was coming off of the ocean, I didn't have to run directly into it. The total was 3.27 miles according to the gps on my phone with a time of 43 minutes which, for me, is fast. Running on the snow was much easier on my knee than the bike paths and roads are in Fairbanks though you do have to watch out for ice. Sometime I don't know why I sign up for things like this as I don't think it was "fun" or anything like that. But if it wasn't for this, I probably would not gone out and ran while in Barrow. I returned to Fairbanks that evening but wanted to do my run in Barrow since it was much warmer. 28°F is still feels warm compared to  10°F.

I didn't receive my bib number in the mail until yesterday. I needed it to enter my time on the website. Not that I plan on winning but just wanted to log that I did do something. 

Georgeson Botanical Gardens

 

My credit union sponsored a tour of the Georgeson Botanical Gardens on Thursday late afternoon. It is only a short walk from my office and I frequently wander through the gardens throughout the summer on my noon walks. This HDR photo near the entrance shows some of their giant cabbages intermixed with kale. These cabbages aren't very large but they frequently get up to 60 lbs. A while back, neighbor gave me a couple of 40 pounders and I made a pile of great sauerkraut.

I used to wonder if corn would grow in Fairbanks. Now I know that indeed it will. They had to warm the ground by covering it with black fabric in the spring to speed thawing plus circulate warm water through through the ground using a passive solar heat exchanger. I think that maybe this isn't a commercially viable crop for interior Alaska. Each of these square plots is some sort of project or test and all are vegetables. (no picking allowed!)

The walkways were lined with beautiful choke cherry trees many of them with little signs dedicating them to someone formerly associated with the gardens. The gardens started out as a USDA experimental farm around the turn of the last century and predates the University of Alaska. The government was wondering if Alaska would ever support a population. Of the eleven farms established, only this one in Fairbanks and the one in Palmer are still around. Both are now part of the School of Natural Resources and Agricultural Sciences here in Fairbanks. In addition to the botanical gardens, there is cultivated crop land and domesticated animals. Right now, reindeer occupy the animal pens here in Fairbanks. Over the years I've seen cattle, hogs and goats but reindeer seem to attract more tourists.

Last summer, there was a group that wanted to learn how to build a wood pile cordwood masonary structure and the gardens were the beneficiary of their efforts. They built a small building on the grounds as part of a university summer sessions class using old telephone poles and bottles. The old telephone poles were probably a bad idea as now the interior smells like creosote so the building is only useable as a tool shed. The mortar is only on the interior and exterior walls and the space between the mortar is filled with sawdust and straw for additional insulation.

It was a great way to end the afternoon as it was unseasonably warm (70°F) and large flocks of cranes were circling the grain fields across the street on their way south.

Non-Facebook Psychopath

Another week of just commuting and no entertaining rides at all. I have been somewhat focused on getting ready for the Equinox Marathon next month by trying to walk whenever the opportunity presents itself. I should probably be walking to/from work instead of riding but anytime I go out to the garage, I just want to jump on the bike and go somewhere... anywhere. This morning brought a few showers and these wonderful rainbows showed up shortly after I went across the street for coffee.

It appears that some of the trees are anxious for Fall and Winter to arrive and are working hard to shed some leaves. There are patches of yellow showing up all over the hills. Our morning temperatures have warmed up to the high 40's (°F) and a couple of times our highs have ventured into the low 80's.

On another note. There has been a lot of discussion lately on a couple of articles written about those that refuse to turn their life over to Facebook. According to Forbes, I probably am a psychopath (i.e. non-Facebook user). They explain how potential employers now "wonder" about someone who doesn't have a digital life and how mass murderers usually aren't on Facebook. Apparantly, not having an account makes you "suspicious"...

Is Riding Unhealthy?

Today, during lunch, I walked down to Ballaine Lake. For anyone reading this blog regularly will recognize this small lake as it has shown up many times but I thought that it was especially pretty today. No retouching, that is the actual color this afternoon. This is just a tiny lake north of the university along the bicycle path with a nice little picnic area on the north shore. 4.43 miles round trip from my office according to the Nike+ app.

I really need to get out and walk a lot more. Back in March and April I was getting in a couple of hundred miles per month and I was even considering entering the Equinox Marathon again. Since May (and the bike coming out of storage) only about fifteen miles per month. So should my conclusion be that motorcycle riding is bad for my health?

Fall Colors

Yesterday, being 9/11, was a good day to reflect and for me walking is still the best way to let my mind wander. The day started out cold and wet but by noon, the clouds were starting to thin out and you could see a bit of sunshine. When leaving church, I turned right instead of left which ensured a minimum of 5½ mile walk to get back home. I have really slacked off with exercise over the last year or so. Back in the Spring of 2010, I was walking between 5 and 10 miles per day pretty consistently. In the last year, it had gone down to maybe 10 miles per week. I did the Equinox Marathon back in 2008 and one of my goals was to do it again in less time. Last year, I was originally thinking that maybe this would be the year but not a chance. Earlier in the Summer, a couple of us thought about doing it as a team but none of us really pushed for it so it never happened. As a team, you each do a third of the marathon or about 9 miles.

Here in the interior, we are right in the middle of Fall with most of the leaves having changed but are still clinging to the branches. You may notice that we don't get many colors mostly different shades of yellow. Nowhere near as colorful as other parts of the country. This is along Eton Drive and is one of my favorite places to walk as the traffic is light and the views are pretty good. And plenty of hills for those of us crazy enough to have a need for them. Walking without hills would get pretty boring.

This is the view looking towards the south. The clouds are still obscuring the Alaska Range and most of the city of Fairbanks is off to the left out of frame. I ended up doing this walk twice yesterday, once in each direction, to at least get in a single ten mile day this week. I must admit that the evening walk was done instead of a motorcycle ride. Too many activities and too little time. I couldn't be gone too long as during this same time, I had a couple of pots on the stove but they were in their "simmer for a long time" phase. Some of my favorites, collard greens (from the farmers market) and jambalaya...

I'm afraid that winter is just around the corner. No way to escape it. Another sure sign of approaching winter, this morning, I met my brother at Wright's Air Service as he and his friends were on their annual moose hunt. They usually go south of the Tanana River and are generally pretty successful. I used to go hunting 20 years ago or so but it became a real challenge due to time and dollars needed. For now, I'll satisfy my moose meat "fix" with an ice chest full of moose. Thank you Steve!

For me, walking is still a great way to think and reflect. Maybe I should do more of it. At least my knees aren't hurting anymore. Maybe there is some good that came out of all that slack time...

On the Road Again (Again!)

I'm sitting in the Seattle airport after taking the red-eye. I remember taking off then the next thing I knew they were waking people up before landing in Seattle. Then a three hour layover before the next flight to Washington D.C. One of my meds got misplaced during packing so that may be a challenge on this trip. I guess I'll just have to do extra walking even if it is on the treadmill. Just as I typed the last line, I realized that I also forgot my exercise clothes. This is a good start to the trip. I do have some alternative oral medication but it isn't anywhere near as effective as the Byetta. Plus I tend to get hypoglycemic if I don't eat enough carbs. I haven't had that problem for years.

Not too many miles this last week but I think I'm up to about 1650 miles on the Nike+ gadget. I'm still doing well on several of the challenges but that is only due to the miles in February and March. Kind of strange that once we have warmer weather, miles drop. We'll see what happens over the next couple of weeks.

Monday evening - I thought that I had done pretty well but the carbs must have snuck in. Lots of vegetables, very little bread and salads for lunch and dinner. Maybe the tasty balsamic salad dressing had a lot of sugar. Anyway, it's 1:00 in the morning and I have high BG levels. I suspect that I'll be exhausted tomorrow morning. I tried to go for a walk this evening (after 8:00) but it was still miserably hot.

Today, there were a lot of advisory group (AG) meetings. I attended the K12 AG, Application and Middleware AG, Shibboleth working group and InCommon Federation meetings. Good material at all of them though I had to leave the InCommon meeting early due to a staff meeting. All of them applicable to the University, AK20, or BASC. Tomorrows agenda is very full with many interesting offerings in every time slot. These Internet² member meetings are always great. Lots of content hardly any fluff. I also worked on the Perl program running on the server in Barrow. I must have deleted a line by accident when I was "cleaning up" before flying out on Saturday night. No loss of data so no problem. Plus no connectivity problem here during the meeting. Imagine that.

Tuesday Evening - Several meetings today including the Internet² Multicast Working Group (I'm chair). As usual most of them were pretty interesting. There was a question on the number of sites using multicast during the inauguration event last January and there was a Quilt presentation on the event. Apparently, this was the largest spike in traffic ever seen on the network. Unfortunately, they didn't collect any multicast statistics. There was less of the "gee whiz" of previous meetings and more focused on what are we going to do now. That was one of my agenda items for the multicast WG meeting but we really never got around to it. So I guess I need to initiate a discussion on the list.

The program committee has done a fabulous job again in coming up with the selection of sessions.