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Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Loren Amelang C++ Programming Pioneer Hacks and Builds His Off-Grid DIY Smart Home - YouTube Video

In this Video, by Kirsten Dirksen. Loren Amelang, shows how he Built and Automated his Off-Grid Smart Home, over the years... Check out the related videos below too...

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When Loren Amelang bought land outside of Philo, California in 1973, it was a place to "live like hippies on the weekend". Years later, his Silicon Valley employer put in fluorescent lighting and wouldn't let employees bring in their own lights so Amelang decided to move full-time to his off-grid property and to create a space where he would have total control over his environment. At first he lived in a tiny cabin he had built in the old sheep barn, but deciding he needed more room for his solar panels, he began building a home that would help him generate "free hot water, free power and a decent chunk of free heat". Read more... http://faircompanies.com/videos/view/c-programming-pioneer-hacksf-grid-diy-smart-home/


Loren Amelang responds to questions on his off-grid, DIY, smart home
  • In reply to all the comments on the video "C++ programming pioneer hacks off-grid, DIY, smart home", Loren Amelang has written more in-depth responses (below video).



    > Do you think even if I was more fluent with things like C++ and DC lighting that I would be able to do anything close to what you have?

    There are lots of startups making Lego-style electronic gadgets that most anybody can learn to use. But their market is more toys for rich suburban homes than survival gear for hard-core totally off-grid folks. This kind of thing:
    http://www.makershed.com/All_Kits_s/20.htm
    http://gigaom.com/2013/05/26/how-big-can-the-diy-and-maker-movement-get-sparkfun-wants-to-know/

    You don't need C++ programming skills, there are simpler languages, or PLCs, or even old fashioned mechanical switches, but you do need to be able to hack things together somehow. Maybe even "re-purpose" the toy stuff. High level computing is fun to show off, but the important thing is where the energy comes from, not how you turn it on and off.

    > Speaking of DC, is that the one Tesla came up with or is that AC?

    Tesla and Westinghouse were AC, Edison DC. At this point, AC is far more convenient for powering big things at a distance (like my well pump at 300' away). But more and more of our toys are tiny things that can run from a USB cable and want DC internally. We waste lots of "phantom power" by feeding them from "wall warts". Same for LED lighting - houses need a low voltage DC system alongside the regular AC.

    > What do you mean by wasting "phantom power" and feeding things from "wall warts"?

Read More...
http://faircompanies.com/forum/discussion/69/loren-amelang-responds-to-questions-on-his-off-grid-diy-smart-home




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