Good morning!!!!

[Eric Salop]

Good morning, I was lucky to get the sheep moved between fields without a soaking this morning, thunderstorms have so far been content to look threatening and rumble away in the distance.

Had a visit from daughter and family yesterday. Usually they come at the weekend, still struggling to think that it is Wednesday today. That probably means I will probably forget tomorrow is bin day, thank goodness my phone has a more reliable memory.

Bird, do you have the option of renewing driving licenses online ? It has been that way here for many years, so much easier.

Mostly, a real shame about the laptop. Legislation is slowly coming together in Europe to make products have a longer life with a "right to repair" law. It was said America already had that with cars, I think there was something about test cases involving John Deere tractors too ?.
I am sure a lot of us would be willing to pay a little more for electronic products that can be readily repaired.

 

[psvfd]

75F sunny day, high around 95F with high humidity. Finally a few days without rain, but makes it hot. Should be dry enough to finish cutting grass.
Have a nice day and stay safe.

 

[txdon]

Good morning! 75˚F heading to the mid 90s, a few clouds are keeping us out of the 100s today. Yesterday's Whipper trail walk was a bit cooler at 96˚F than the day before but the dog days of August are plowing in. Next chance of rain will be next Tuesday. Next allowable irrigation day is tomorrow and right now the golf course sprinklers are keeping the backyard view green.

EGO batteries are charged and the backyard needs to be mowed. The two batteries need replacing but I'm playing a game to see how long they will last before I have to buy another 5Ah one for $250. The batteries never go on sale and I learned the hard way if you find a lower price it will be from an un-authorized dealer with no warranty. I'm using the defective one from an un-authorized dealer and the original 7 year old battery, both 5Ah. The 7 year old battery is working better than the 2 year old defective battery which is very temperamental both in charging (only when cool) and longevity. I have to charge each battery twice to mow the yard, one is always charging and with taking breaks in the heat I only have to wait when the defective battery gets hot and will not start charging. My goal is to hobble along till next spring so the new battery warranty will last through 2024.

 

[Bird]

Eric Salop said, "Bird, do you have the option of renewing driving licenses online ? It has been that way here for many years, so much easier."

Eric, our laws and regulations have been changing so fast that I haven't kept up with all the changes lately. But yes, I've renewed my license online in the past. The rule USED TO BE, and I think it still is, that we could do that online once, and then the next time have to go in person so they could make a new photo, and read an eye chart to see whether you need glasses, if you didn't already have that restriction on your license.

 

[RoyJackson]

The batteries never go on sale and I learned the hard way if you find a lower price it will be from an un-authorized dealer with no warranty. I'm using the defective one from an un-authorized dealer and the original 7 year old battery, both 5Ah. The 7 year old battery is working better than the 2 year old defective battery which is very temperamental both in charging (only when cool) and longevity. I have to charge each battery twice to mow the yard, one is always charging and with taking breaks in the heat I only have to wait when the defective battery gets hot and will not start charging. My goal is to hobble along till next spring so the new battery warranty will last through 2024.

Been there with purchasing from unauthorized dealers of EGO batteries. Best bet is buy from Home Depot (who may no longer be authorized since they dropped EGO) or Lowes (who picked up EGO when Home Depot dropped them).
I handled the unauthorized dealers (both of which sold through Amazon) in 2 ways...either provide the EGO warranty card or return my money (I got the card and did register the warranty (FYI, EGO warrants batteries for 3 years, if a residential user...1 year, if a commercial user). The other source returned my money and told me to keep the battery.
Both were upset at my scathing reviews on Amazon...and, IMHO, Amazon is just as much at fault (and liable) as the unauthorized sellers.
As far as performance, both seem to be OK, but I've only owned one for about a year and the other for less than a year (6-7 months)

 

[RedNeckGeek]

I waited till later in the day after it cooled off some to finish up with the Lazer I even took the Makita string trimmer for a walk. So far I’m quite impressed with how well it works, and it’s only the single 18v battery model. The leaf blower works well, but has a little less oomph than the Stihl hand held, but is very handy.

That's good news on the string trimmer, Paul. How long does that single battery last?

Did you get the 36V blower? I almost have to use both hands when mine's on the highest setting...

 

[RedNeckGeek]

Good Morning!!!! 79F @ 7:40M. Partly cloudy. High 103F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph.
No measurable rain here yesterday, but I did hear a pitter patter on the steel porch roof a time or two, not even enough to wet the concrete. The rain was much heavier to the north, with flash flood warning issued for the Lava Fire fire scar, which is still burning in Lassen County. The cloud cover caused fire behavior to moderate, and fire fighters were able to continue building the fire line with more back burns. Down canyon winds overnight sent the air quality to the worst level yet this morning, 718 PPM. Inside air filter is working overtime, and it kept me awake overnight. I think today will be a siesta day.

There's a chain called Batteries Plus that rebuilds some types of rechargeable batteries, Don. Maybe they can help with the EGOs?

The latest I've heard here for Right To Repair, Eric, is to extend it to electronic goods like computers and phones. Lots of non-factory shops offer to repair Apple products, but I have mixed feelings about using them, especially with the non-replaceable batteries and all the lithium issues.

Yesterday I double checked the range problem on the Ethernet unit, and left voice mail with the company's tech support early in the day. Still no return call, so today I'll try the outfit I purchased it from. If no response there, it's going back.

A few days ago I turned the deep well pump on long enough for it to pump out the well casing and shut itself off. Instead of water refilling the casing in five minutes or so, the hole stayed dry. That's never happened before, but then the neighbor up the hill put a new well in earlier this year. Talked to my bulldozer neighbor, and he's more than happy to give me enough water to fill the new tank, so that's some relief. Yesterday I turned the deep pump on again, and it stayed on for almost an hour before I shut it off. Didn't quite get enough in the tank to reach the drain bung, but it made me wonder why the well would produce one day and not another. Very likely the neighbor's use of their new well has a lot to do with it.

Looks like an inside start to the day with all the smoke outside, not sure what I'll get up to if it clears up.

Happy Hump Day, folks!

 

[txdon]

There's a chain called Batteries Plus that rebuilds some types of rechargeable batteries, Don. Maybe they can help with the EGOs?

They do not do Lithium, good thought though . . .

 

[sodamo]

70°F and .68 inches rain. A strange orange ball in the sky this morning, vaguely familiar.

Sanding went pretty well. Took a different approach. Normally I tend to be sanding aggressive. I tend to sand off way too much. So this time I was careful to under apply the mud and only lightly sand. Looks like the second cost will bring it really close.

Still a workout for the shoulders, but not too bad.

Prayers for all
Be safe
Have a great day

 

[RoyJackson]

They do not do Lithium, good thought though . . .

If you're handy, there are a number of Youtube vids on troubleshooting and repair/rebuild of EGO batteries...