Power center basic functionality complete.

I didn't get much done over the week.  I did bring my truck in.  The rims look nicer again.  More importantly, I don't have to keep the air compressor in the truck any more.  Surprisingly it makes the truck handle a lot better too.  It no longer pulls hard to the right too, which is nice, it drives almost perfectly straight again.  It is amazing how much difference tires and rims make.  

I got the truck cleaned out and can even carry a passenger again in my 4 door pickup.

I also got the cables done during the week.

Saturday started off kind of wet and not nice, so I didn't do do much.  It cleared out in the afternoon though, so I started off with the power center.

I still don't know what these are, but this time I knew to look for them.  I brought out a lighter and torched them out.  

The cables are attached, and are even long enough that I can open and close the lid.  

I would still like to create some sort of protector for these so they aren't exposed.  It would not be a good thing to cause a short on the bus bars.

I also got the new light on the trailer installed.  It is now ready to haul to KY once I drop the boat off it.

Sunday was really nice.  I started off with testing the power center.  It tested ok, or at least to the extent that I could test it.  The battery charger came on and the batteries should be topped off.  I don't have a significant enough load to fully test its capabilities though.  I had another thought: I will need a new way to hold the batteries in place.  I was originally planning on just strapping them together, but with the terminals coming out the sides, that won't work.

I might investigate trying to attach the cords vertically.  The batteries came with these, I never looked at them because they aren't the right size for the lugs, but I can fix that with a bigger washer if needed; it isn't the post that carries the current.  

Annoyingly, I can't lift it to slide it off while the batteries are in it; I couldn't lift the back to get it on the bedliner.  It is too heavy, so I have to disassemble it to move it.  

This got me thinking: since the original desired generator is no longer available, I have decided on a larger generator (large enough to run everything but the microwave and AC at the same time) the need for the power center is diminished somewhat.  The new chosen generator is also dual-fuel; I won't have to worry about it running out of fuel halfway through the day (where I would just use the battery instead for the other half) since I can just hook up dual 20 or 30lb tanks.  If I decide it just isn't worth the hassle, I might be willing to part with it: it would make an amazing off grid solar kit.

Most of the rest of Sunday was spent enjoying the dropping humidity and 70s.  I got my bike out again and rode around town some.  I had some visitors shortly after I got home though.  A mom and her kid.  Good to know they haven't been completely scared away by all the construction going on nearby.

I had hoped to start on the shed, but got lazy and didn't.  I am not sure if I am ready to call the power complete, since I am not sure I would trust driving down the road with it in the back of my truck as is.  I think I will see this fall when I take it on a trip whether it is worth the hassle or if just a generator in a baffle box is sufficient.  I might decide it takes up too much space in the bed, or drops the rear end of my truck too far (on the tailgate it sinks the back end several inches, though when traveling it would be strapped in close to the cab).  When you add a trailer on the ball, a generator, and presumably some other equipment though, I might end up with headlights pointed to the sky.  Or not enough room in the bed.

2021 Projects:

• Shed supports
• Table
• South wall siding
• Review options for house (mobile home vs stick built vs modular)
• Level back yard
• Level front yard 
• Remove dead/dying beech trees
• Eliminate pile of crap in back
• Camper Power Center (portable AC power source and generator)
• Baffle box
• Driveway round three
• Fix shed floor.

Shed problems confirmed.

I had a pretty meh weekend.  I went out on Saturday and got the rest of the rocks from Greg that I started to grab last year.  There was enough to make the back end start to squat, but not quite a full load.  I had already taken a few shovel's worth out at this point.  

The pile of rocks.  I need to get my weedwacker running so I can clear that area and spray it down with grass killer.

I also got the Cub fixed, the wheel is back on.  

Even though my yard wasn't terrible, I mowed.  I even did the pushmowing.  The Cub finished without breaking, so its streak is now back to 1 mowing without failure.

Sunday I was dodging precipitation once I got back from planning the Colorado trip.  I got a tongue jack installed on the boat trailer I had picked up.  It will be nice to not have to be perfect to get it on the truck, since at least while the boat is on it, I struggle to lift and move it.

I also went up and crawled under the shed.  I confirmed that it was the joists falling off.  While good in that it doesn't require new lumber to fix, it won't be a fun repair.  This is today's lesson in why you don't use undersized nails (even if you use more of them).

The other side isn't looking healthy, but hasn't failed yet.  I will fix this side first so I can safely shift everything around in the shed.  This will mostly just be nail it back together.

I did some cleaning up in the shed, but haven't really started fixing it yet, so that isn't in progress yet.

2021 Projects:

• Shed supports
• Table
• South wall siding
• Review options for house (mobile home vs stick built vs modular)
• Level back yard
• Level front yard 
• Remove dead/dying beech trees
• Eliminate pile of crap in back
• Camper Power Center (portable AC power source and generator)
• Baffle box
• Driveway round three
• Fix shed floor.

Short dirty update.

I didn't do too much the last couple of days.  I went and got some dirt last night.  I unfortunately forgot to get a picture until it was better than half unloaded.  I am putting this over by the side of the shed.  I would eventually like to level that out so I can move a utility trailer over there and get it out of my back yard.

I also went and measured my wires, I have plenty of spare wire.  I measured 5' of leftover, which explains why I was a cable short; there should have only been 3.  This is unfortunate, since 3' was the amount that I needed.  I will need to stop by someone's house and get it cut, and then I can crimp it.  It does unfortunately mean that I won't get it completed this weekend.  Even if I stop by Barry's or Tim's and get it cut, I won't have access to the press at work for crimping until Monday.

With the power center on hold until I get everything crimped, I will have to decide what I want to do this weekend.  It looks like a hot one, but at least Saturday will be dry.  Perhaps I will go fetch the rest of Greg's rocks and start working on that.  I might start on one of the shed items too, nail in the side that isn't coming apart properly so I can move all the tools that are falling onto the ground to that side.  That said, no progress yet on the projects.

2021 Projects:

• Shed supports
• Table
• South wall siding
• Review options for house (mobile home vs stick built vs modular)
• Level back yard
• Level front yard 
• Remove dead/dying beech trees
• Eliminate pile of crap in back
• Camper Power Center (portable AC power source and generator)
• Baffle box
• Driveway round three
• Fix shed floor.

Ugh

I stopped at Home Depot after going to the gym on Monday, and picked up some bolts.  They were the shortest ones I could find.  I got them attached to the copper plates, just to find out that the cables weren't long enough by about an inch.  Ugh.  I still have a little bit of unused cable left, I might go take a look at how long it is, or for this I can just go to the auto parts store and pick up a cable (this would be fine with 0-gauge, the most common battery cable size).  

I noticed that while I was out there I seemed to pick up a lot of little itty bitty bugs of some sort.  Not sure what they are; they are way smaller than anything I can identify.  They are less than a tenth the size of a fruit fly.  The picture is just a tiny black spec, but that was the closest my camera would focus.  

Still no movement on the projects.  I had hoped to wrap up the power center yesterday except for testing, but no dice.

2021 Projects:

• Shed supports
• Table
• South wall siding
• Review options for house (mobile home vs stick built vs modular)
• Level back yard
• Level front yard 
• Remove dead/dying beech trees
• Eliminate pile of crap in back
• Camper Power Center (portable AC power source and generator)
• Baffle box
• Driveway round three
• Fix shed floor.

Legs unhappy, but table is finished.

It was quite chilly when I awoke on Saturday, in the upper 40s outside according to my truck, and it was in the low 60s in my house.  I loved it.  Unusual for July, but I will take it.  Especially since it came without rain.  

Saturday I went hiking with Brian and Greg up Mondadnock.  I was slow and let them go ahead.  The trail didn't start off too bad.  I didn't feel that way for long though.  This was a rougher hike than any of the hikes I did in the Adirondacks.  

It was muddy, but I guess that isn't unexpected with the continuous battles with rain we have had.

Because I was slow, I didn't reach the summit before Brian and Greg were on their way down, but I still got some views.  

When I got home I sat on my couch unmoving for a couple of hours, but eventually got around to finishing up the power center (or so I thought).  I got the plastic housing cut away; the Dremel went through it like butter. Disappointingly though I found that the spare bolts I had were 1/4" not 3/8", and those are 3/8" lugs.  Ugh.  I will pick up some on my next trip to Home Depot or Tractor Supply.  Just adding a bolt is easy though.  

I also went and finished pressure testing the rims and tires I picked up.  They all held air far better than anything on the truck.  I set them all to 40 on a hot day and they all read exactly 39.  

I also went and put a final topcoat on the table top.  I was very careful with the urethane.  The coat came out looking ok, but it wasn't the best finish I had ever done.  I probably could have done a wet sanding and another thin coat to make the sheen perfect and smooth, but I didn't bother.

The baby birds are getting big.

Sunday morning we went and hiked Horatio.  It is a lot smaller and shorter than Mondadnock.  It seemed like a good idea at the time, but after not hiking for a couple of years, perhaps two hikes in two days wasn't.  Oh well, my legs will get over it.  

Fortunately the rain held off for a while afterwards, so I decided to work on the table.  I started by attaching the back part.  I was originally planning on putting additional finish nails in the top, but I may not bother.  This seems to be plenty strong enough.  I really need one of those drill bits that puts the indent in for you, the drilling of the aluminum so that the screws would be flush was kind of a pain.  

I got the support installed before I moved the construction inside.  This is what the underside looks like.

When I moved it I noticed a rather unfortunate mistake.  The screws that came with the hinges were about 1/16th too long, and started to poke through.  Grrrrrr.

I finished getting it installed anyways.  I will have to deal with those screws eventually, but not right away.  I will probably just put in shorter ones and then fill the holes with urethane.  The table is complete though.

A couple of things that I hadn't considered that I discovered while testing it: the table itself is structurally very sound.  It is made of 5/8" cabinet grade plywood.  It is attached to my pantry.  The pantry however does not appear to take the torque of leaning on the table all that well, it started to tip.  I will need to do something about that, but haven't figured out yet.  I was debating putting sides and a back on it, which if I use the pressboard I have in the shed will make it quite a bit heavier.  That is an option, but I am not sure if that will be sufficient.  I didn't want to attached the pantry to the wall, but that is an option as well.  I could also build a little foot for it.  For now I just won't lean on it too much.

One other thing I noticed: I took a shortcut and didn't stain the back of the mounting plate.  That is now visible.  Sigh.  

The power center is really close, I really thought I had the bolts.  I have bags of spare bolts, but none the right size.  The table is now complete.  I think I might get some stuff ready and host a work day soon to get the dumpster loaded and finish up the siding, which is halted because I can't put it up myself.  This is the shorter list I proposed last time, which doesn't look too scary

2021 Projects:

• Shed supports
• Table
• South wall siding
• Review options for house (mobile home vs stick built vs modular)
• Level back yard
• Level front yard 
• Remove dead/dying beech trees
• Eliminate pile of crap in back
• Camper Power Center (portable AC power source and generator)
• Baffle box
• Driveway round three
• Fix shed floor.

A tired weekend.

Friday afternoon I didn't do much.  I went out in search of rims that weren't there.  Hurray for outdated posts that say "Don't ask me if they are still here, I will take the ad down when they are gone" and they never take the post down when they are gone.    

Saturday, I went for a bike ride.  I will have to ride in on Monday, since I need to leave the truck to get the seatbelt fixed.  I decided to try a new trail.  It was quite pleasant (despite my current shape being round), though still disappointingly muddy even after several days of no rain.  It was also frustrating that my ratchet shifters had started to seize up, they weren't grabbing right and as a result you had to push the button a specific way to get it to shift.  

When I got back, I started working on the table.  It turned out putting them on paper towels was not the right course of action.  I miss having a nice work area that I could set them on and not care about what is underneath.  I had to take a knife and shave it all off (without removing the stain).

The reason the paper towels were there in the first place was because their drying spot was on my cot in the carport.  The paper towels were insufficient for that task.  Sigh.  There isn't enough urethane on the cot to warrant trying to fix it at least.

I also mowed Saturday.  The whole yard.  The mows between fixes still stands at 1 for the Cub though.  I noticed this while mowing the leech field.  That is the wheel off the deck.  I just raised the deck and mowed with it anyways.  I couldn't find the nut, so I will need to bring the bolt in and get one.  Apparently this wheel has a history of being obnoxious, so I might either double lock nut (if the bolt is long enough, it looked questionable.  Or replace the bolt too) or put some loc-tite on it.

I even mowed the parts that I didn't mow last time because it was too wet like the far back and the creek side of the leech field.  The far back was still slightly damp (to be expected with how tall it was, it was up over the brush guard in spots), and the creek side of the leech field was marshland, but those two spots hadn't been mowed since before my last KY trip, well over a month ago.

When I was mowing the driveway, I noticed that the weed killer is finally working.  

All the pieces are now urethaned.  I think I want to put one more coat on the table top itself, but I ran out of brushes.  I can start assembling the table inside though, the table top is the last piece to get installed.

You may have noticed that I tried painters tape on that last round of urethaning.  It worked better than just paper towels, which this time were just there to protect the truck (as opposed to the paper towels preventing the dripping on the other side in previous coats).  They need a little trimming/sanding because of how thick I slathered it on, but no scraping off paper towel fibers.  Side note, this urethane has a pretty nice shine despite not being a glossy finish, the angle of the picture makes them look so different in shade.  

Sunday of course started off with rain.  So I went and picked up new tires.  I had to drive a couple hours each way to get them, but they were worth it.  They came with tires on them, and not junk ones I will need to replace immediately.  Most importantly, while they have some rust on them, they aren't disintegrating like the ones on the truck are.  These are about as rusty as mine were when I first bought the truck, so I would expect that they will last about 5 years.

For comparison, here is what the rims on the truck look like.  Bald tire edges and all.  

The tires on these are decent.  Two of them are really good, and the other two are better than what I have but that is about it.  With any luck though, I won't have to buy tires for the rest of the truck's life, which at 200+ per tire is nice.  They aren't as aggressive as I like, so the 4WD will get a little extra work this winter.  Right now I am leaning towards replacing the truck next year and doing the house the year after.

I also had some free time after that and worked on the power center some more.  I ordered a copper bar to build an adapter to put lugs on the battery charger.  Unfortunately my pilot drill bit was not up to the task.  Fortunately this wasn't one of my nicer black oxide bits, which I used to finish the job, this was just a bit from a small "quick change" pilot bit set I picked up on clearance.  Even at 75% off, they don't appear to be worth it.  Copper is a fairly soft metal.  

And to add insult to injury, I just put the bit directly in the drill after that and then the bit broke.

I got one of them complete, the easier one.  The other one the split I put down the middle isn't large enough.  I am debating whether I want to make the copper split wider or just use the Dremel to cut the plastic housing away.  The copper is the conductor, and I really don't want to cut away most of it, which it looks like I would have to do.  I will definitely be noting this when I review the battery charger.

At that point the bird was rather unhappy and I was running out of daylight.  Apparently there is a second set of young'ens in the nest.  

Zoomed in, you can see a little baby head sticking out.  

I sprayed some lubrication on the cable for the shifters as best as I could before riding the bike in this morning, and by the time I got in, the shifters were largely working correctly, indicating that the biggest problem with my bike is just that I don't ride it enough anymore, which is kind of sad.  It was an expensive bike, and while I put a lot of miles on it when I lived in Syracuse, I probably put more miles on it in one year in Syracuse than I have cumulative since I moved.

I was also poking around the project list after picking up my tickets for the Colorado trip later this year, and I am thinking of postponing several of the items on the project list.  It occurred to me when I was out riding on Saturday that there is no chance of finishing all of them, and I at times feel like I am too focused on completing projects instead of enjoying things.  That was only the second time I have taken my bike out this year.  I didn't even go out hiking or camping last year.  I am thinking of postponing the ones in red to lighten the load for the rest of the year.  

2021 Projects:

• Prepare summer equipment
• Carport repair
• Windows in shed
• Shed supports
• Table
• South wall siding
• Bridge over creek
• Review options for house (mobile home vs stick built vs modular)
• Trailer hub - I am selling the trailer anyways.
• Rebuild smaller trailer
• Level back yard
• Level side yard - I probably won't do all three, and the side yard is probably the hardest to do.
• Level front yard 
• Clear trees to creek
• Remove dead/dying beech trees
• Retaining walls?
• Eliminate pile of crap in back
• Camper Power Center (portable AC power source and generator)
• Baffle box
• Clean up/level area down by second parking spot
• Driveway round three
• Fix shed door.
• Fix shed floor.

Sometimes I think my truck wants TNT too.

Sometimes I think my truck wants to get dynamite in its gas tank too.  It apparently decided yesterday that I don't get to wear a seatbelt anymore.  The whole mechanism completely seized up.  At least there is enough stuck out that I can make it look like I am wearing a seatbelt until I get it fixed.

Between hunting junkyards for truck rims on Monday and trying to get the seatbelt to loosen up yesterday, I squandered the last two days which were mostly dry.  Last night the storms came back in though.  We got some hail out of this one though.

Right now is a terrible time to buy a truck, but I went and priced them out again this morning.  They have gone up a fair bit in the past year, they are about 6 grand more than they were last year.  It is very tempting assuming I can find one though.  Certainly something to keep in mind.  I might go and see if I can sit in any of the GMC or Chevy ones though, which are still the frontrunners.

No movement on the checklist.

2021 Projects:

• Prepare summer equipment
• Carport repair
• Windows in shed
• Shed supports
• Table
• South wall siding
• Bridge over creek
• Review options for house (mobile home vs stick built vs modular)
• Trailer hub
• Rebuild smaller trailer
• Level back yard
• Level side yard
• Level front yard
• Clear trees to creek
• Remove dead/dying beech trees
• Retaining walls?
• Eliminate pile of crap in back
• Camper Power Center (portable AC power source and generator)
• Baffle box
• Clean up/level area down by second parking spot
• Driveway round three
• Fix shed door.
• Fix shed floor.