home improvement turns into science fair projects?

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mediatechnology
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Re: home improvement turns into science fair projects?

Post by mediatechnology »

Maybe you should just cut the USB cable near the power supply and find out.
Something attached to one end of that cable is broken so you don't have a lot to lose.

My bet is power supply too.
Bet they'll run on 6V if you have a wall wart in that voltage.
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terkio
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Re: home improvement turns into science fair projects?

Post by terkio »

JR. wrote: Sat Nov 09, 2019 1:39 pm The grow lights are secured to the green house shelves so I can't just drag them inside to a computer USB.
Perhaps you can bring a Notebook or Tablet PC to them.
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mediatechnology
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Re: home improvement turns into science fair projects?

Post by mediatechnology »

We've started installing USB wall outlets here.
The Levitons have two USB ports and two NEMA outlets.
The USB is 15W.

I would love to have a bunch of adapters that would take 5V USB from the outlets and give me switchable 6, 9 and 12V to replace conventional magnetic wall warts.
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JR.
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Re: home improvement turns into science fair projects?

Post by JR. »

OK this just got interesting again... I was able to plug a USB cable into the PS on my bench and probe around the square open other USB end for voltage.. I found 5.2V between the metal shell and one contact, suggesting the PS was indeed working at that moment in time. :lol:

So back out to my laundry room where the grow lights now fire up and respond to the controller. This sucker has several brightness intensities and a few programable on times (2hr/4hr/8hr). Once you program a time and intensity it just repeats every 24 hours, or is supposed to.

It is working again so I will see if it can survive another near freezing overnight.

I am not very suspicious of low temperature being a factor, perhaps the USB connecter was not making good contact? Or the mains plug into the cube tap adapter.

We'll see.... how this goes next...
====

Seems eminently possible to standardize on 5V DC for powering modest gear from a USB cable, if you don't mind switcher on switcher fun.... :lol:

JR
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mediatechnology
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Re: home improvement turns into science fair projects?

Post by mediatechnology »

Seems eminently possible to standardize on 5V DC for powering modest gear from a USB cable, if you don't mind switcher on switcher fun.... :lol:
I've seen some on Amazon IIRC that were USB Male to a blob near the load end of the cable and then a barrel connector.
But they were fixed-voltage and the coaxial barrel end was only one size.
It would be cool to have a switch for voltage and polarity along with interchangeable ends.
Radio Shack used to make Universal Wall-Warts and they were extremely handy.
Not for technically illiterate but OK for some of us.

Fingers crossed your lights work when it gets cold.
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terkio
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Re: home improvement turns into science fair projects?

Post by terkio »

mediatechnology wrote: Sat Nov 09, 2019 2:19 pm We've started installing USB wall outlets here.
The Levitons have two USB ports and two NEMA outlets.
The USB is 15W.

I would love to have a bunch of adapters that would take 5V USB from the outlets and give me switchable 6, 9 and 12V to replace conventional magnetic wall warts.
Do you mean you are installing a USB network in your premises.
AFAIK the max length of a USB cable is 5 meters.
Not sure about USB USB2 USB3.
Don't you need repeaters ? Are USB hubs, able to do this ?
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JR.
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Re: home improvement turns into science fair projects?

Post by JR. »

terkio wrote: Sat Nov 09, 2019 3:43 pm
mediatechnology wrote: Sat Nov 09, 2019 2:19 pm We've started installing USB wall outlets here.
The Levitons have two USB ports and two NEMA outlets.
The USB is 15W.

I would love to have a bunch of adapters that would take 5V USB from the outlets and give me switchable 6, 9 and 12V to replace conventional magnetic wall warts.
Do you mean you are installing a USB network in your premises.
AFAIK the max length of a USB cable is 5 meters.
Not sure about USB USB2 USB3.
Don't you need repeaters ? Are USB hubs, able to do this ?
I suspect the outlets are just 5V supplies to charge phones and the like.

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mediatechnology
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Re: home improvement turns into science fair projects?

Post by mediatechnology »

Yes, charging/power outlets.

I do have a Tripp-Lite USB 2.0 extender though.
It's 30 feet IIRC and an active repeater.
Worked great on a scanner but I don't use it anymore.
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JR.
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Re: home improvement turns into science fair projects?

Post by JR. »

mediatechnology wrote: Sat Nov 09, 2019 2:59 pm
Seems eminently possible to standardize on 5V DC for powering modest gear from a USB cable, if you don't mind switcher on switcher fun.... :lol:
I've seen some on Amazon IIRC that were USB Male to a blob near the load end of the cable and then a barrel connector.
But they were fixed-voltage and the coaxial barrel end was only one size.
to keep carl consumer from blowing up stuff...? :lol:

It would be cool to have a switch for voltage and polarity along with interchangeable ends.
Radio Shack used to make Universal Wall-Warts and they were extremely handy.
Not for technically illiterate but OK for some of us.
small market
Fingers crossed your lights work when it gets cold.
That may help... :lol: Still on when I checked a few minutes ago... timer set for 4 hours on. The grow lights may help if i turn this green house into an all year round operation... I have a few buds on the bell pepper plant still growing, and a bunch of tiny ass thai peppers, that seem oddly small.

The important light now is the 60W bulb keeping my pepper plants from freezing... Right now I have that thermostat set for just under 50' I worry it may turn completely off, on the very low end of the scale past the lowest marking (thats what I would do for a room thermostat design, on second thought I might keep it working to prevent freezing pipes). It seems to have a bunch of travel past 50' so I may experiment setting it even lower. Just as long as it prevent's freezing.

JR
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