3 ms·

That's what I would usually do. I have almost 2 decades of interesting experience as a software dev. I am now learning hardware design so that I can create nic

That's what I would usually do. I have almost 2 decades of interesting experience as a software dev. I am now learning hardware design so that I can create niche hardware products and use my dev experience as an advantage. I decided to fix it only because I am of the opinion that if I want to act professional in any area I can't shy away from projects like that. If I calculated the time I spent on this I could have easily bought few of these, new, for the time I was not spending on billable hours.

crankylinuxuser 9y ago
It's awesome that you did that :) I know it's one of those compliance issues, but it might be a good idea to have an electrician come out. Last thing a renter wants to see, is bodged together "fire badness". I'm not saying yours is by any means! But sane-ness and law hardly go together :/
- lmilcin 9y ago
  You would be correct (compliance, responsibility, etc.) but I also know for a fact that the guy guys (I won't call them electricians) that would come to fix stuff would not do better job. My kitchen was completely miswired since the building was built. The ground exchanged with neutral line. I tested the lines and put it back together as it should. There were many complaints from previous tenants but nobody was able to figure out and fix it -- seems so basic but nobody could do it.
  - crankylinuxuser 9y ago
    If I wouldn't know better, it sounds like we live at the same place! I get you - that your work is likely higher quality, and you could claim ignorance if anyone did have a complaint. But yeah, on Sunday, I redid some of our outlets and switches. We live in a trailer, and some of the switches were getting intermittent, and some outlets were loose to the point of turning off stuff if they jiggled. But.. I did find out that 1 outlet in the bathroom, the hallway lights, and 1 wall of the living room were on 1 gang... (sigh). I have my work cut out for me if I actually want to do it right.
voltagex_ 9y ago
How'd you get into hardware design from software? I'm trying the same thing but have never really got past blinky LEDs and breadboards.
- lmilcin 9y ago
  I asked myself the same thing. I think its best to start by utilizing your software experience as much as possible and having just enough hardware to get by. Also don't try to learn/solve too many problems at the same time. Most of my projects is relatively little/simple hardware + lots of features in software. For example -- one of my complicated projects requires very precise temperature measurement, precise regulation of mains AC power to 1kW heating element, dealing with PCB environment being very hot and humid (up to 80C), etc. I am splitting the effort of learning all of those things, and first thing I am building is a precise, standalone thermometer. I will build some software features (data acquisition to SD card, USB, etc.) which is relatively simple compared to getting precise temperature measurement. Then I will maybe build standalone power regulator that I could have many uses for especially when connected to the thermometer (for example control my oven to do reflow!). Once I know the building blocks I will attempt building the complex project I have in mind.

crankylinuxuser 9y ago

It's awesome that you did that :) I know it's one of those compliance issues, but it might be a good idea to have an electrician come out. Last thing a renter wants to see, is bodged together "fire badness". I'm not saying yours is by any means! But sane-ness and law hardly go together :/

lmilcin 9y ago
You would be correct (compliance, responsibility, etc.) but I also know for a fact that the guy guys (I won't call them electricians) that would come to fix stuff would not do better job. My kitchen was completely miswired since the building was built. The ground exchanged with neutral line. I tested the lines and put it back together as it should. There were many complaints from previous tenants but nobody was able to figure out and fix it -- seems so basic but nobody could do it.
- crankylinuxuser 9y ago
  If I wouldn't know better, it sounds like we live at the same place! I get you - that your work is likely higher quality, and you could claim ignorance if anyone did have a complaint. But yeah, on Sunday, I redid some of our outlets and switches. We live in a trailer, and some of the switches were getting intermittent, and some outlets were loose to the point of turning off stuff if they jiggled. But.. I did find out that 1 outlet in the bathroom, the hallway lights, and 1 wall of the living room were on 1 gang... (sigh). I have my work cut out for me if I actually want to do it right.

voltagex_ 9y ago

How'd you get into hardware design from software? I'm trying the same thing but have never really got past blinky LEDs and breadboards.

lmilcin 9y ago
I asked myself the same thing. I think its best to start by utilizing your software experience as much as possible and having just enough hardware to get by. Also don't try to learn/solve too many problems at the same time. Most of my projects is relatively little/simple hardware + lots of features in software. For example -- one of my complicated projects requires very precise temperature measurement, precise regulation of mains AC power to 1kW heating element, dealing with PCB environment being very hot and humid (up to 80C), etc. I am splitting the effort of learning all of those things, and first thing I am building is a precise, standalone thermometer. I will build some software features (data acquisition to SD card, USB, etc.) which is relatively simple compared to getting precise temperature measurement. Then I will maybe build standalone power regulator that I could have many uses for especially when connected to the thermometer (for example control my oven to do reflow!). Once I know the building blocks I will attempt building the complex project I have in mind.