Hide site, retirement site.

[JR]

OOOO, nice rack Charles,,,,,,,,,,,,,

[Bigdave_185]

OOOO, nice rack Charles,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Look at all of that room for activities



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[JR]

You worry me Dave,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

[Bigdave_185]

That was a good show come on


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[cj7ox]

That was a good show come on


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I'm with you. Never, under any circumstance, touch my drum set! LOL!

[Bigdave_185]

That was a good show come on


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I'm with you. Never, under any circumstance, touch my drum set! LOL!

Did we just become best friends?
Yep


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[cj7ox]

 

[JR]

Sounds like you 2 should go on the overland trip together,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

[TexasRedNeck]

In the same van...

And here are the stencils I got.  Love these things.  At least on thinner stuff.  We’ll see how they work on thicker stuff

https://www.911motorsports.net/Circle-Stencils--Plasma-Cutter-Guide--5pc_p_12.html


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[Flyin6]

Sounds like you 2 should go on the overland trip together,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

I second the motion...All in favor say aye...

[Flyin6]

In the same van...

And here are the stencils I got.  Love these things.  At least on thinner stuff.  We’ll see how they work on thicker stuff

https://www.911motorsports.net/Circle-Stencils--Plasma-Cutter-Guide--5pc_p_12.html


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OOH, I'm gonna get those!

[TexasRedNeck]

In the same van...

And here are the stencils I got.  Love these things.  At least on thinner stuff.  We’ll see how they work on thicker stuff

https://www.911motorsports.net/Circle-Stencils--Plasma-Cutter-Guide--5pc_p_12.html


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OOH, I'm gonna get those!

They ship fast too.  I plan on getting all the stencils eventually..


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[stlaser]

Sounds like you 2 should go on the overland trip together,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

I second the motion...All in favor say aye...

 

[TexasRedNeck]

So having set the generator on the pad it was time to get busy with a shovel. Manual labor time.






I found electrical, comms, and water to casita. Electric to septic.  Electric to pool. Pool light conduits. And all 8 2 inch pipe for the pool. Intertwine that with some serious roots and that’s why I couldn’t use heavy equipment.  Way too much stuff to damage.


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[TexasRedNeck]

 


So first pic is where I tied into the line going to the pool heater.

What is not shown is the copper wire run with the poly pipe. Code requires it so it can be detected.

Pressurized and monitored for 15 minutes. No loss of pressure.

Covered it all up and smoothed it out.

Next up. Final connection to gas and the conduit for electrical and comms and wiring the transfer switch and load shedding center.


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Fixed your thumb,,,,,,

[Bigdave_185]

Hell that looks wet and sticky

Ya have to scrape the shovel off each scoop kinda diggin


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[TexasRedNeck]

Dave its about as ideal as it gets for red clay.  Too wet and its a mess.  Too dry and its like concrete.  Another month in Texas and it would have been like concrete, needing a jackhammer.


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[JR]

Hey, at least he is not wearing man slippers! Thumb is a tad big,,,,,,,,,

You don't put tape in on top? Thought that was required to?

[TexasRedNeck]

Not sure I’m tracking on the tape part...

Non metallic piping just requires a copper wire, per Tx Railroad Commission

But then not much out in the country is up to code.  Those electrical conduits being 6 inches underground is no bueno but I know to be careful and I know generally where the stuff is.


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[KensAuto]

Caution tape, closer to the surface.

Next time someone digs, hopefully hit the tape before the pipe.

[JR]

Caution tape, closer to the surface.

Next time someone digs, hopefully hit the tape before the pipe.

Yep, so when someone digs without knowing where or calling the pipe locators its like, hey there might be something under this tape!

[TexasRedNeck]

Ok. More progress on the generator





Since I’m saving money installing my self I get to buy tools.

Bought a hydraulic hole punch kit for punching holes in the electrical panels.

Works amazing and no shavings.

Got the transfer switch panel mounted and the conduit run to the main panel. No pic yet but got the conduit run all the way to the generator and the wires pulled. Have to do the connections and finish the gas connection.

Then buy a battery, mount the load shedding switch and then have to pull the meter to move over the mains.


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[oklawall]

isn't rule 97 of the man card handbook is that for each new project you must buy 1 new tool?

[Sammconn]

isn't rule 97 of the man card handbook is that for each new project you must buy 1 new tool?

Absolutely correct.

Gotta love the hydraulic knockouts.

[JR]

Only 1, 

[TexasRedNeck]

Gas connected and most connections made at generator. Need to anchor it to the slab and connect the Ethernet cable and a few low voltage signal wires.

The load shedding panel I bought was not nema3 rated for outdoors so I ordered a nema3 enclosure to transfer all the guts to.

Once that gets here I’ll wire that and then it’s just pulling the mains and transferring over and hope it doesn’t go up in smoke.


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[Bob Smith]

Letting the smoke out is usually never a good thing. At some point I need to upgrade our system. Ours is a manual switchover now, and the generator is mounted in the garage with exhaust plumbed to the outside. Very nice job on the install Charles, sorry you have to change out the box.

[TexasRedNeck]

Here is where I left it today.  Low voltage wiring to the ATS complete, Identified ground and neutral (kind of important).  Drilled and secured the gen set with concrete anchors, terminated and connected the Ethernet cable.

Now just need a battery, the load shedding panel replacement box and connect the load shedding panel before pulling the meter.

Talked to my electrician friend and he said I should be able to pull the meter and replace it myself.  I was concerned that since it is monitored over the lines, that they would not reactivate if I pulled it.  If they give me grief he said to tell them he did it.

So that means that I’ll be pulling the meter and making the connections in the next couple of weeks.  Girls are having a few friends up right after school is out next week so I don’t want to pull it and find out that the won’t connect it just as the girls are having their friends up so i will wait until that’s over.

That wall is starting to look pretty busy...


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[Flyin6]

Here is where I left it today.  Low voltage wiring to the ATS complete, Identified ground and neutral (kind of important).  Drilled and secured the gen set with concrete anchors, terminated and connected the Ethernet cable.

Now just need a battery, the load shedding panel replacement box and connect the load shedding panel before pulling the meter.

Talked to my electrician friend and he said I should be able to pull the meter and replace it myself.  I was concerned that since it is monitored over the lines, that they would not reactivate if I pulled it.  If they give me grief he said to tell them he did it.

So that means that I’ll be pulling the meter and making the connections in the next couple of weeks.  Girls are having a few friends up right after school is out next week so I don’t want to pull it and find out that the won’t connect it just as the girls are having their friends up so i will wait until that’s over.

That wall is starting to look pretty busy...


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Man, that looks 1. Pretty busy 2. Like it needs its own enclosure, 3. Where I'd aim if I was shootin' up the place

Are things getting pretty complex or is it just me???

But like all things Tex, perfectly executed!

[TexasRedNeck]

Yeah,  its a bit busy. 200 amp main panel.  Conduit out the main panel feeds:

100 amp sub panel on the Casita
90 amp sub panel in the shop
50 amp service to the pool equipment
20 amp service to pond for aerator and electrical
20 amp service to septic
Left over small conduit to the shop where the original 50 amp service was
20 amp service feeding GFCI/ flood light and sprinkler controller

And soon another 20 amp service to the generator for the charger and associated equipment.

Not including the new connection to the transfer switch.....I think I have about reached the limit


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[Bob Smith]

As long as there is room and a drawing or marking showing where stuff goes, all is good

[TexasRedNeck]

Creeping closer to P day (pulling the meter day)

I received my NEMA 3 enclosure and transferred the electromagnetic relays to it and got it mounted.  Punched the holes with my handy dandy hydraulic punch tool.

Then after figuring out that to load shed the AC i need a 60 amp rated relay, I had to order a new relay.  Now that I know how this all works I would have been much better off building my own.  12v coil activated relays are about $30 each and I paid 100 for the enclosure.  The “kit” was $300.

In any event, I plan to pull the meter and make the connection from the mains to the ATS and the ATS to the house next Tuesday.  Even if I can’t finish the load shedding wiring, getting the mains switched over will allow me to run the generator with just the risk of tripping the breaker if too many loads come on line.

I used the clamp on amp meter to test circuits and the main feed and with the oven, dryer, pool and AC running all at the same time it was pulling 76 amps and the unit is rated for 83.  The only time I think I might have an issue is during the coldest winter months if the electric supplemental heat kicks in to supplement the heat pump.


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[rpar86]

That is one busy wall. The writing really helps understand it all.

[dave945]

I think the only thing you are missing is one of these on your wall.


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[JR]

Just needs a kitchen sink!!

[TexasRedNeck]

Yeah, makes me wonder what its going to look like when I retire and go grid tied solar as well with about 30 panels


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[TexasRedNeck]

My new 80 amp rated relay came in so I swapped out 1 of the 50 amp relays for the 80 and made the final connections from the load shedding panel.

If the generator senses a voltage drop it will send a 12V signal to the relay and take one or both loads off line until the generator has enough capacity and then it de energizes the coil and the relay drops back to bring those loads back on line.

I have the pool and the AC on them. 

That is the last of the connections except the final one which is disconnecting the power from the meter and moving the feed from the meter to the transfer switch and then from the switch to the main panel.  I plan to do that Tuesday after the family leaves since the power will be off for an hour or two.

Then and only then will we know if i got all this right.

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[Bob Smith]

I would venture a guess you are worried about nothing. All will work just like it should.

[JR]

Nice setup. Even the backup has a backup.

[TexasRedNeck]

So as winter approaches I’m focused on a few projects that involves welding.

 Before I can really get serious I need to replace the cardboard and plywood welding table with something more suitable.

Bought 2 sticks of 3x3 tubing which I will turn into the frame. Most likely a 3x5 table with a 3/4 inch plate steel top.

But the wheels showed up today.



I believe these were rated 900 lbs each.  Got two with brakes. And the wheels are red…..


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[JR]

Funny, I have been looking for a 4x4 table for home. Just a 1/2 plate is $300.

[TexasRedNeck]

So here’s the finished table sans top and I’m looking at adding drawers and a shelf underneath.



And upgrading the cutting torch.

Old

New

#4 and a 251. Victor journeyman set up with rosebud inbound from cyberweld

Upgraded the ground on my little promig 180. From #4 to 1-0 with a brass clamp

Hydraulic crimp, solder and heat shrink




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[TexasRedNeck]

And started on a fire pit grate to get the wood up and air circulating.

Some #6 rebar but I ran out of gas.





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[Bigdave_185]

I get a photo of what your fire pit looks like?  Are you gonna cook on this?


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[stlaser]

Looking good Charles 

[JR]

Table looks good.

I used rebar once for a fireplace. Had to replace it. Just sagged with little use. Strong stuff, but it doesn't like heat like that.

[stlaser]

Table looks good.

I used rebar once for a fireplace. Had to replace it. Just sagged with little use. Strong stuff, but it doesn't like heat like that.

Technically rebar is chit, made from junkiest metal they can find to melt down. I was bending some 3/4” diameter up into L shapes when I was 18 in a steel shop and the bar I was hand bending in a hossfeld bender broke. I went head over heels backwards into a pile of junk……

Should work just fine for ya Charles!

[TexasRedNeck]

Nope Dave, no cooking.  Just getting the fire up off the floor.  It will be roughly 27x27 and about 6-7 inches tall.  Ill have 3 pair of “feet” to keep it from sagging and then

Cross bars will be bent up at the ends like this.



Here is the pit Dave,  ID is 39 inches

[Bigdave_185]

I’m with ya now,   I want to build one that I can swing over my pit to cook on


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[JR]

I’m with ya now,   I want to build one that I can swing over my pit to cook on


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I would like do the same for the ridge. BBQ is fine but fires are nice too, why no cook.