Author: Peter Jones

So I finished reading my book on brewing beer. This gave me a better idea of the of flavors I got and why (as well as now I can tell the flavors when I drink professional beer). The important thing is, at least next to my computer, it looks like I’m pushing about eighty degrees continuously. Admittedly, these numbers might be of, so I’m going to try a few other tests to make sure everything is working to spec.
Unfortunately, eighty degrees yields tannins and esters that just aren’t great in beer, so I need to chill things. I’m thinking either a mini fridge and hack the shit out of it, or… make cooling jacket driven by a peltier element. I need to run some numbers though.
On other notes, I still need to design beer boxes. Making these based on a 12×18 sheet of paper isn’t easy do far. I might give that a try again tonight.

So baseline dimensions, this being based on the bottle I grabbed from the box:

With cap – 9″ tall, 2.375″ diameter

I have stock that’s 12×18, I’ll probably want a minimum lip of 1″

Right. Tomorrow night then.

Had a whole stack of cardboard. I sliced it down, roughly faced it, and glued five pieces together at a time. Last night I roughly cut each “board” down to the same length. Tonight I’ll build a box around it, and possibly start dremmeling in some contour.
Once the kitteh’s scratcher is done, it’ll finally be terrorarium time. I now have a glass cutter, so I should be able to get right on it. I need to start slow though, as I really don’t want a lot of broken glass running around the house. I don’t think that’s very conducive to a happy marriage…

I want to vent. Just deleted three long paragraphs.

Gotta get two more blueberry bushes (compatible with one we have) as well as mulch. A soil pH sensor world be nice as well. I should look at environmentally responsible fertilizer options.

Tried connecting to the Thing, but sunbathing about how I’m joking stuff up is causing issues. I have some theories, but I’m not sure which one is right. So I’ll probably just do this with the Arduino, it just kinda bugs me. I’ll contribute poking at the Thing, but later.
On that note, I need to start looking at my data accuracy. The temperature and humidity seems solid, but last night I was getting a negative pressure. If we had a negative pressure I’m pretty sure if have a hard time breathing.
Found my copper tape and high power LEDd. Tonight I clean.
Valhalla.

Whatever it is. I now have a stream of atmospheric data coming through the Arduino. Next, switch that to the Thing and have it pumping data into database of some kind via node.js.
First, I need the Thing getting the data, I’ll flash an LED to verify the connection to the BME280.
Next connect node.js to a database. Manually poke data into distance via a browser.
Last, make the Thing do the poking.
Then it’ll be time to add LEDs, and actuators.

Events visited, it’s chill. I’ll probably pivot tonight. I’ve got glass, I’ve got copper tape. I’ve got solder.
I’m thinking I might build a more traditional terrarium, and leave the plant cubes for another day.
On a different note, got working with the logger again. I kept having communication hangs, when.trying to do baseline I2C for the atmospheric sensor on the Thing. I’m assuming that if I dig into the headers, I’ll probably find #defined pins in conflict. That would be my guess. Of course, I wish I should have guessed it last night. That’s probably the challenge of working on my projects for an hour before going to bed.
Tonight, check #defines in headers.

Cubes of self contained planters. Sensors watching temperature, humidity, light, moisture and airflow.
I wonder if I popped in an IR sensor, I could get some baseline of plant liveliness.
Use a solenoid valve for drip watering, lights on timers, computer fans for ventilation, cooking and self-propagation.
All dumping data back.
Maybe then stackable. A rack mount farm. A server farm.
Right now I’m hanging with the Wif, but maybe later. Either today or tomorrow pop into the Despot and Swanson’s.

Going to stop off at the Despot and get supplies. I need:
Smaller sheet of plywood
Killz or sealer
Caulk
Hinges
Glass cutter

I’m now thinking I’m going to go 18″ cubes. Start with one, and then…
Grow from there.

Hahaha