diff --git a/posts/creating-a-router-cabinet.md b/posts/creating-a-router-cabinet.md index 76d80c5..325fdb5 100644 --- a/posts/creating-a-router-cabinet.md +++ b/posts/creating-a-router-cabinet.md @@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ title: "Creating a router cabinet" slug: /creating-a-router-cabinet/ date: 2025-10-05 -tags: ["personal", "projects", "diy"] +tags: ["personal", "projects", "DIY"] --- As you can see below, my consumer networking was quite messy. I wanted to hide @@ -51,5 +51,9 @@ my Philips Hue bridge and a Raspberry Pi 3 which I am running on the mesh network as a [Pihole](https://pi-hole.net/). The main router wouldn't sit nicely on the shelf so I just used a couple of wood screws to hold it in place. -The total cost was £38.78 covering the price of the cabinet and a new -surge-protected Masterplug extension lead. +The total cost was £35.47. + +| Product | Cost | +| ------------------------------------- | ----- | +| Wall Mounted Kitchen Storage Cabinet | 26.67 | +| Masterplug Four Socket Extension Lead | 8.80 | diff --git a/posts/homeowner-at-last.md b/posts/homeowner-at-last.md index ddd6095..cc402e1 100644 --- a/posts/homeowner-at-last.md +++ b/posts/homeowner-at-last.md @@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ title: "Homeowner at last" slug: /homeowner-at-last/ date: 2025-08-28 -tags: ["personal", "projects", "diy"] +tags: ["personal", "projects"] --- After many years of saving and renting I am finally a homeowner! I bought a diff --git a/posts/img/product-image.png b/posts/img/product-image.png new file mode 100644 index 0000000..aa35a10 Binary files /dev/null and b/posts/img/product-image.png differ diff --git a/posts/img/security-light-battery-unit.jpg b/posts/img/security-light-battery-unit.jpg new file mode 100644 index 0000000..56b78b4 Binary files /dev/null and b/posts/img/security-light-battery-unit.jpg differ diff --git a/posts/img/security-light-closeup.jpg b/posts/img/security-light-closeup.jpg new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e0b7265 Binary files /dev/null and b/posts/img/security-light-closeup.jpg differ diff --git a/posts/img/security-light-device-taping.jpg b/posts/img/security-light-device-taping.jpg new file mode 100644 index 0000000..feac69a Binary files /dev/null and b/posts/img/security-light-device-taping.jpg differ diff --git a/posts/img/security-light-feeding-cable-rotated.jpg b/posts/img/security-light-feeding-cable-rotated.jpg new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6f5a041 Binary files /dev/null and b/posts/img/security-light-feeding-cable-rotated.jpg differ diff --git a/posts/img/security-light-feeding-cable.jpg b/posts/img/security-light-feeding-cable.jpg new file mode 100644 index 0000000..3362aa7 Binary files /dev/null and b/posts/img/security-light-feeding-cable.jpg differ diff --git a/posts/img/security-light-finished.jpg b/posts/img/security-light-finished.jpg new file mode 100644 index 0000000..4f2a483 Binary files /dev/null and b/posts/img/security-light-finished.jpg differ diff --git a/posts/img/security-light-flexible-trunking.jpg b/posts/img/security-light-flexible-trunking.jpg new file mode 100644 index 0000000..7d2cced Binary files /dev/null and b/posts/img/security-light-flexible-trunking.jpg differ diff --git a/posts/img/security-light-panel-taping.jpg b/posts/img/security-light-panel-taping.jpg new file mode 100644 index 0000000..252aea1 Binary files /dev/null and b/posts/img/security-light-panel-taping.jpg differ diff --git a/posts/installing-a-solar-powered-security-light.md b/posts/installing-a-solar-powered-security-light.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..968062c --- /dev/null +++ b/posts/installing-a-solar-powered-security-light.md @@ -0,0 +1,88 @@ +--- +title: "Installing a solar-powered security light" +slug: /installing-a-security-light/ +date: 2025-11-16 +tags: ["projects", "DIY"] +--- + +![](./img/security-light-closeup.jpg) + +I recently installed a security light in the back garden. I wanted it to be +"dumb" (not IoT-linked) and solar-powered with battery power as a fallback. + +The +[Auraglow Hybrid](https://web.archive.org/web/20250826070058/https://www.diy.com/departments/auraglow-hybrid-solar-battery-twin-led-security-light-cyrus/5060539629306_BQ.prd) +met these criteria and was very cheap. + +Normally, I would pay more for a higher quality device but the reviews were +uniformly good and I wanted to see how plausible a solar-powered light would be +in English winters, before shelling out any more. + +![](./img/product-image.png) + +I placed it above the garage side-door to illuminate the garden and the pathway +to the garage from the Command Center. + +In order to maximise access to sunlight, I had to use the full-length of the +solar panel cable (5m) to stretch it round from the back of the garage (which is +south-facing) to the side door. + +The cable connecting the solar panel to the light is a 3.5mm TRS cable - the +same as those used for earphones. It's very flimsy, like a pair of liquorice +laces and once I had tacked it along the roof of the garage I started to worry +about how well it would endure, longer-term. I think this is the only aspect of +the light where you get what you pay for. The loose wire also looked a bit +rubbish and the aesthetics of this grated on me. + +![Feeding the conduit](./img/security-light-feeding-cable-rotated.jpg) + +So, to improve its water-proofing and protect it from UV I bought some +cylindrical black conduit from Screwfix. I don't think this is truly +outdoors-grade but it's a lot better than than exposing the thin cable to the +elements. As the diameter of the conduit is several times wider than the cable, +it can be used for additional cabling down the line, should I need it. + +![Cable safely fed through the conduit](./img/security-light-finished.jpg) + +This left the cable loose at the terminals so I bought some flexible trunking to +protect the cable at the joins. (This is also intended for indoor use so I'll +have to see how well it lasts.) I joined the trunking to the conduit with +self-amalgamating tape for a water-tight seal. + +![Close up of flexible trunking](./img/security-light-flexible-trunking.jpg) + +I'm happy with the appearance and think it looks quite professional. + +![Taping at the light 💅](./img/security-light-device-taping.jpg) + +![Taping at the solar panel 🥰](./img/security-light-panel-taping.jpg) + +As for the device itself, the performance is as good as the reviews suggested. +The LED luminosity is very bright and the sensor is effective. (Perhaps a bit +too effective since I've noticed it being triggered by spiders weaving webs +around the light.) After a couple of days I removed the back-up batteries to see +how well the solar panel was working. I waited two days before putting them +back, and the light functioned exactly the same as it did on battery power +throughout this period. (For the last few weeks, we have mostly had cloudy, +rainy days with only occasional bursts of sunlight.) + +Other than the spiders, the only other main drawback is that it requires C-type +batteries. As rechargable batteries of this type are hard to come by it meant I +couldn't use a high-quality brand like Eneloop. I had to go for the least-worst +Chinese-branded batteries I could find on Amazon if I wanted to use +rechargables. + +Ideally I would want some visual indicator of the current capacity of the solar +battery and the back-up batteries but for a device under £20 this is probably +asking a bit too much. + +Mostly due to me over-engineering the cabling, the total cost of this project +was £60.17. + +| Product | Cost | +| ------------------------------------------------------------- | ----- | +| Auraglow Hybrid Solar & Battery Twin LED Security Light (B&Q) | 15.99 | +| Round conduit and connectors (Screwfix) | 17.52 | +| Flexible trunking (Amazon) | 6.15 | +| Self-amalgamating tape 10m (Amazon) | 6.52 | +| EBL 5000mAh C-type recharageable batteries (Amazon) | 13.99 | diff --git a/src/components/EolasListing.tsx b/src/components/EolasListing.tsx index 7d45d52..5e9a045 100644 --- a/src/components/EolasListing.tsx +++ b/src/components/EolasListing.tsx @@ -10,13 +10,13 @@ const EolasEntries = ({ entries }) => {