Weekly Photo Contest 14th - 21st May 2020 - Looking Down

[AllergyDoc]

Looking down on Wikiki Beach.

 

[uvafan1]

Here is my minimal submission from my archives

 

[mackmgg]

Looking down from above the clouds last week

 

[akash.nu]

Looking down from above the clouds last week

Travelling? Flying yourself?! Drone?!

 

[Hughmac]

A fantastic turnout of great photos - you can keep 'em coming for a little over 12 hours when the challenge will be closed.

Cheers

Hugh

 

[Strider64]

I have no problem looking down and obeying the stay-at-home order here in Michigan. ?

 

[Hughmac]

Competition is now closed.

Thanks very much for all the entries, and I'll be back tomorrow with results.

Cheers

Hugh

 

[mollyc]

I have no problem looking down and obeying the stay-at-home order here in Michigan. ?

You can answer after Hugh tallies his own votes, but is this a drone image or from a balcony/window/similar? I live in a restricted area and can't have a drone, and I really want one!

 

[akash.nu]

You can answer after Hugh tallies his own votes, but is this a drone image or from a balcony/window/similar? I live in a restricted area and can't have a drone, and I really want one!

I don’t live in a restricted area and can have a drone but don’t have one.

 

[mackmgg]

Travelling? Flying yourself?! Drone?!

Hiking. We're allowed to hike within 10 miles of where we live, and luckily there's plenty of mountains to climb within that!

 

[Hughmac]

Well, what a great set of entries, thank you for sharing them

It's got dark here, and unfortunately I've just discovered the automatic lights in our hallway have failed. One failed last week and I thought we'd be OK for a while.
My wife (who has dementia) needs the lights to be automatic because if she gets up in the night for the bathroom she cannot find the light switch.
I'm going to need to spend tomorrow fixing the lights; I have sensor battery lights up now as a temporary measure but they're pretty weak.

I'm sorry but this means the results are going to be very brief, and they are:-

3rd Place @mollyc for a very much down looking and lovely photo
2nd Place @someoldguy for his great mono shot
1st Place @dmb8021 - I'm a sucker for a great landscape such as this, especially taken from such a height

Thanks everyone, and remind me to turn the lighting circuit off in the morning

If it all goes well I shall attempt to give more detailed feedback later on.

Cheers

Hugh

 

[mollyc]

Well, what a great set of entries, thank you for sharing them

It's got dark here, and unfortunately I've just discovered the automatic lights in our hallway have failed. One failed last week and I thought we'd be OK for a while.
My wife (who has dementia) needs the lights to be automatic because if she gets up in the night for the bathroom she cannot find the light switch.
I'm going to need to spend tomorrow fixing the lights; I have sensor battery lights up now as a temporary measure but they're pretty weak.

I'm sorry but this means the results are going to be very brief, and they are:-

3rd Place @mollyc for a very much down looking and lovely photo
2nd Place @someoldguy for his great mono shot
1st Place @dmb8021 - I'm a sucker for a great landscape such as this, especially taken from such a height

Thanks everyone, and remind me to turn the lighting circuit off in the morning

If it all goes well I shall attempt to give more detailed feedback later on.

Cheers

Hugh

Thanks for the mention, Hugh and go take care of your wife. We can always wait. Congrats to @dmb8021. A stunning photo!
[automerge]1590098681[/automerge]

 

[RogerWilco6502]

Well, what a great set of entries, thank you for sharing them

It's got dark here, and unfortunately I've just discovered the automatic lights in our hallway have failed. One failed last week and I thought we'd be OK for a while.
My wife (who has dementia) needs the lights to be automatic because if she gets up in the night for the bathroom she cannot find the light switch.
I'm going to need to spend tomorrow fixing the lights; I have sensor battery lights up now as a temporary measure but they're pretty weak.

I'm sorry but this means the results are going to be very brief, and they are:-

3rd Place @mollyc for a very much down looking and lovely photo
2nd Place @someoldguy for his great mono shot
1st Place @dmb8021 - I'm a sucker for a great landscape such as this, especially taken from such a height

Thanks everyone, and remind me to turn the lighting circuit off in the morning

If it all goes well I shall attempt to give more detailed feedback later on.

Cheers

Hugh

Congrats to the winners and I wish you and your wife well <3

 

[dmb8021]

Well, what a great set of entries, thank you for sharing them

It's got dark here, and unfortunately I've just discovered the automatic lights in our hallway have failed. One failed last week and I thought we'd be OK for a while.
My wife (who has dementia) needs the lights to be automatic because if she gets up in the night for the bathroom she cannot find the light switch.
I'm going to need to spend tomorrow fixing the lights; I have sensor battery lights up now as a temporary measure but they're pretty weak.

I'm sorry but this means the results are going to be very brief, and they are:-

3rd Place @mollyc for a very much down looking and lovely photo
2nd Place @someoldguy for his great mono shot
1st Place @dmb8021 - I'm a sucker for a great landscape such as this, especially taken from such a height

Thanks everyone, and remind me to turn the lighting circuit off in the morning

If it all goes well I shall attempt to give more detailed feedback later on.

Cheers

Hugh

Thank you for the kind words. I haven’t run one of these contests before so I need to think of a theme in the next day or two. Good luck with the lighting, hopefully it all works out.

 

[someoldguy]

Congrats to @mollyc , thanks for the second , and condolences to @dmb8021 (stay safe , stay well!!!). Just as a fyi , my entry is of 'Square Tower House' in Mesa Verde N.P.. At the time I was there , there were small ranger led tours (10 folks or so) that went out every other day or so ; one tour per day . The one day that had a tour when I was there was booked up , wasn't too happy . But I'll settle for the images from the mesa top.

 

[Strider64]

You can answer after Hugh tallies his own votes, but is this a drone image or from a balcony/window/similar? I live in a restricted area and can't have a drone, and I really want one!

It's a drone shot and I working on getting my part 107 license plus insurance so I can do some commercial work like home realty, surveying or something along that nature. I'm surprised I'm not in a restricted zone as Detroit Metro Airport isn't that far away from me (10 miles). Though I can't wait until the Stay-at-Home order is lifted which isn't to far away. (I hope) The only house I flyover is my house other than that I just fly along the sidewalks paying attention that no one or vehicle is underneath the drone. I also have to be careful about helicopters as from time to time they flyby my house, but I can hear them coming and the DJI Drone App tells me if there's an aircraft in the area, plus 90 percent of the time I don't fly too high. Just enough to get over the Trees though on occasion I do get around 350 Feet in the air as in this picture though it's straight up from my house and on a very clear day. The only thing I don't like now is I have to be careful in what communities I fly in (as some of them have restrictions) and sometimes the police give me a hard time though usually they are pretty cool about it once I explain I am just doing it as hobby (for now). An if they do give me a hard time I just land my drone and apologize to the officer. Though that is rare as most of them are just curious about the drone. Though the last couple of months with this stay-at-home order I haven't had to worry about that. ? BTW Congratulations to the winners!

 

[deep diver]

Thank you for the kind words. I haven’t run one of these contests before so I need to think of a theme in the next day or two. Good luck with the lighting, hopefully it all works out.

In spite of what we say, judging is hard but a lot of fun.

 

[akash.nu]

Thanks for judging another awesome competition @Hughmac , hope you get the lighting situation sorted soon.

Many congratulations to the winners. Looking forward to the next one.

 

[Hughmac]

So, in case you're interested I'm still alive and with fully working automatic hall lights.

However someone has it in for us because we went out in our motorhome this afternoon (easier and more comfortable for my wife), first trip out in a couple of months, and somewhere on the road is the solar panel that charges the domestic battery. I really hope it didn't cause anyone any damage.
No idea when it blew off but it wasn't there when we got home. By the looks of it the idiot who owned the motorhome before us had just stuck it on with mastic

Tomorrow's job - try and source another panel.

Cheers

Hugh

 

[akash.nu]

So, in case you're interested I'm still alive and with fully working automatic hall lights.

However someone has it in for us because we went out in our motorhome this afternoon (easier and more comfortable for my wife), first trip out in a couple of months, and somewhere on the road is the solar panel that charges the domestic battery. I really hope it didn't cause anyone any damage.
No idea when it blew off but it wasn't there when we got home. By the looks of it the idiot who owned the motorhome before us had just stuck it on with mastic

Tomorrow's job - try and source another panel.

Cheers

Hugh

Glad you’re ok and the lights are fixed.

What is a motor home though?! More like a camper van?!

 

[Hughmac]

Glad you’re ok and the lights are fixed.

What is a motor home though?! More like a camper van?!

Yes, like a camper van but larger and with full facilities for living away from home. Ours is about 20 years old but very comfortable, and the important thing for my wife is familiar surroundings, plus we always have a toilet/shower with us.

Campervan and Motorhome Differences
Campervan -
A van equipped as a self-contained travelling home, campervans are normally smaller than a motorhome. There is generally no divide between the cab and the living quarters. Campervans usually have basic facilities for cooking, washing, and sleeping.

Motorhome -
A motor vehicle built on a truck or bus chassis and designed to serve as self-contained living quarters for recreational travel. There is normally a divide between the cab and the living quarters behind, which contain sleeping space, ablution and kitchen facilities.

Cheers

Hugh

 

[tizeye]

Well, what a great set of entries, thank you for sharing them

It's got dark here, and unfortunately I've just discovered the automatic lights in our hallway have failed. One failed last week and I thought we'd be OK for a while.
My wife (who has dementia) needs the lights to be automatic because if she gets up in the night for the bathroom she cannot find the light switch.
I'm going to need to spend tomorrow fixing the lights; I have sensor battery lights up now as a temporary measure but they're pretty weak.

I feel for you as I am going through the same thing as I re-wire the entire house (convert from aluminum to copper wiring - pigtail method, not rip out and replace). Traveler wire mismatch resolved easily so didn't have a major problem with the 3 and 4 way switched in the hall but the 2 exterior lights with motion sensors were impossible am waiting until exterior light wire pigtail conversion. Can't tell if working during the day due to the motion/light sensor. While easy to determine the power wire may do one or both. Rig a 9v battery with alligator clips to attach to wires/ground and a voltage tester on other end to see which wire goes to light and traveler wire to other switch. Also, since have to convert as well, temporarily mount a regular non-motion basic exterior light there for immediate feedback on the switch.

Sorry to hear about the solar panels on the RV. I am seriously considering (researching/shopping) and RV and while I have the skills to add aftermarket, have ruled out the "solar ready" and limit it to factory installed. That really limits choices.

 

[Hughmac]

I feel for you as I am going through the same thing as I re-wire the entire house (convert from aluminum to copper wiring - pigtail method, not rip out and replace). Traveler wire mismatch resolved easily so didn't have a major problem with the 3 and 4 way switched in the hall but the 2 exterior lights with motion sensors were impossible am waiting until exterior light wire pigtail conversion. Can't tell if working during the day due to the motion/light sensor. While easy to determine the power wire may do one or both. Rig a 9v battery with alligator clips to attach to wires/ground and a voltage tester on other end to see which wire goes to light and traveler wire to other switch. Also, since have to convert as well, temporarily mount a regular non-motion basic exterior light there for immediate feedback on the switch.

Sorry to hear about the solar panels on the RV. I am seriously considering (researching/shopping) and RV and while I have the skills to add aftermarket, have ruled out the "solar ready" and limit it to factory installed. That really limits choices.

My electrical skills are very limited, so I was pleased to be successful in my repair, but really all I did was to put back the old light fittings and then install sensor bulbs. They worked well last night, if a little too bright, so I will source some lower wattage bulbs.
I will never take on a complete house rewire

It looks as if the wiring for the solar panel is intact so I should just be able to find a replacement of the same size / capacity and plug it in. There will be much more than mastic holding it in place though!

Having solar isn't that important as the engine charges the domestic battery, but in our case it was already fitted when we bought the RV second hand.

Cheers

Hugh

 

[tizeye]

It looks as if the wiring for the solar panel is intact so I should just be able to find a replacement of the same size / capacity and plug it in. There will be much more than mastic holding it in place though!

Having solar isn't that important as the engine charges the domestic battery, but in our case it was already fitted when we bought the RV second hand.

Cheers

Hugh

A lot of YouTube videos on installs. Hard or soft panel originally installed that blew off? Hard is more durable, but if installed correctly would have been on raised mounts allowing airflow under and the mastic would have been used to waterproof the drill holes in the roof to secure the mounts. Soft panels have a shorter life but fit flat to the roof and conform to the shape (like an AirStream roof). I was thinking they came self sticking and any mastic would simply be extra. I could be wrong though. While the flexible is more expensive, typically both panel types are relatively inexpensive. What adds cost is the inverter/controller, and of course, a lithium battery upgrade which at a minimum would require inverter/controller re-programming if not a full replacement. Thankfully, you don't have to replace those. May want to research your inverter/controller to see what panels and maximum load they support - and better yet if the have some "built systems" that will identify components used.

I know solar isn't necessary as don't intend on boondocking. Although, following a hurricane, I could end up boondocking in my own driveway for days until power is restored and fuel stations are re-supplied. I may purchase without as it opens up more models/manufacturers, but the price differential of adding later vs factory isn't that great. The larger problem, while looking at Sprinter based units, Tiffen and Winnebago (factory installs) are not discounted as much as Jayco, Entegra, and various Forest River models (solar ready), and don't like the Thor (also factory install models) floorplans.

 

[Hughmac]

It was a hard panel and mounted as you described, but yes the wiring and controller are still in place. I'm spending today doing some research but I reason that a panel of the same size and with the same connectors should be suitable.
Thanks for the advice

Cheers

Hugh