The kit comes with a solar panel, an intelligent battery pack, a universal USB cell phone battery charger, a wall adapter charger and a 12 volt LED light bulb with power cord.
The battery pack can be charged from either the solar panel or the wall charger from a set of terminals in the back. It has a built in charge controller as well as an alarm that will notify you of an error. On the front of the unit are two 12 volt "cigarette lighter" outlets and two 5 volt USB ports that you can use to draw power. On the front there is also a battery level indicator as well as a charge status indicator.
In these photos you can see the solar panel on a little wooden frame that I built for it. When I first got it I planned on using it for camping trips and emergencies so I made up this portable stand. Now I will make up an aluminum mount and mount it on the roof of my garage with the power cable routed through the roof deck, attic and over to the battery pack. For now I put the panel on the ground beside the shed whenever it's sunny.
The light bulb that came with the kit was particularly interesting. Even though its a 12VDC bulb it has an E26 screw base similar to the ones found on your conventional household 120VAC bulbs. The cord that was included had a bulb screw socket on one end and a "cigarette lighter" style plug on the other end to plug into the battery pack. As strange as the light bulb was it meant that I could install it in a conventional household light fixture as long as it was wired up for 12VDC and not 120VAC. I found more of the same bulbs on eBay and then gathered up some electrical boxes, 18/2 Romex wire, tools and got going.
Here's a great activity for Dads and kids this summer: make a simple PVC didgeridoo then turn it into an instrument of espionage. The key to making a didgeridoo spy tool is to use it as a way to avoid suspicion and get places you wouldn't be able to get into wearing a suit or cloak. Then, when you need special tools or spy gadgets, you can get them from your secret stash inside the didgeridoo!
To make a didgeridoo, cut a 3 1/2 to 4 foot length of 2" PVC pipe (I used 1 3/4" pipe for this instructable, but you can get a better and deeper drone out of a larger diameter pipe).
If you've been meaning to make the switch to a standing desk but just haven't given up your comfy office chair, the folks at DeskHacks have some pointers. They're also running a challenge that will remind you to stand daily, ease you into using a standing desk, and eventually, make standing as easy as sitting ever was.The challenge works like this: You sign up, and DeskHacks will email you a daily reminder to get your standing time in, starting off light and eventually getting longer as the 28 day challenge progresses. Cobble together a standing desk of some sort that makes you comfortable (we have some options to consider), and get started. If you need help, we have some tips to help you ease into the routine.Like many things, switching to a standing desk is a habit change, and changing habits is something you have to work at. It's not going to come from willpower alone, and few people are able to just say "I'm done sitting!" one morning, and use a standing desk ever after. DeskHacks explains that to really make the switch, you need to start small and practice every day—and the Standing Desk Challenge will help you do just that. If you're not a believer in standing desks, that's okay too—remember, moving around regularly is key.How to Finally Make the Sweitch to a Standing Desk | DeskHacksPhoto by Paul Houle.
I have always had a love affair with maps. They can be a beautiful representation of places we've been or places we want to go. I wanted to display a map in my home, but wanted to be creative with it, so I created this paper cut map.
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