Part 2: Getting the voltage information
So we got Home Assistant setup in part 1, now we need to get some data from our battery bank. I opted for a Pi Zero with an Automation HAT-mini from Pimoroni.
- The Pi Zero is small, with a low power consumption.
- But it’s still a Pi with all the goodness you’d expect, such as a Linux based OS, Python, ssh etc. Just with rather less oomph.
- The Automation HAT had 3 analogue to digital inputs (ADC) that work up to 24V
- It has a relay output and some general purpose digital IO that might come in handy
- It has a small LCD which can be used to provide a local voltage display. Or anything else you might come up with.
You’ll need to install and configure the Pi Zero. So grab a micro SD card and setup the Pi Zero with the usual Raspberry Pi OS. Instructions here.
Mar 2, 2024
Robovac battery pack
Our robot vacuum (a eufy Robovac 11S) has recently been refusing to charge. The error (solid red light while charging) indicated a failed battery. Eufy’s vacs are nicely put together and easy to work on, so it was a simple matter to get the old pack out. Two standard screws and you’re in.
I measured the voltage on the pack at 10.2 volts. The battery pack suggests a voltage of 14.4V so 10.2V is rather flat.
Feb 13, 2024
Part 1: Home Assistant setup
The core of my monitoring system is Home Assistan t. It’s probably overkill if you just want to monitor a couple of voltages, but if you think you want to do a bit more, then this is the way to go.
Home Assistant (HA) is designed for home automation, meaning tasks like temperature monitoring, controlling your heating system, activating lights and so on are relatively easy. It gives you a way to collect data from all sorts of sensors and then take actions based on them.
Feb 11, 2024
Narrowboat Remote Battery Monitor
If you live on a boat then batteries are probably something on your mind quite a lot, along with emptying the loo and having enough water in your tank.
It’s really important to know the state of your batteries so you can decided when to charge them. A surprising number of boats don’t have a simple voltmeter fitted. Ours didn’t when we got her. Sticking your voltmeter probes into vacant 12v socket works perfectly well for quick checks. A cheap and cheerful ‘lighter socket” meter can be left plugged in all the time.
Feb 2, 2024
Just Write!
I created this blog some time ago, and didn’t post anything. Then I had the idea to create a blog at the end of last year. And discovered I already had. So here we are!
I’m figuring out what to do with the space. I want to be able to write a bit more than just a tweet or Instagram post, but I’m not even sure what that means. So I’m writing. It may be coherent eventually…
Jan 1, 2024
Moorland mushrooms
The Yorkshire moors may not seem like a good habitat for mushroom hunting. You’re not going to find great swathes of popular edible fungi. Mostly it’s going to be LBMs (little brown mushrooms). But it can still be rewarding and sometimes surprising. I hadn’t expected to find Waxcaps half way up a mountain!
Sep 2, 2023
Identify This Mushroom
So you’ve found a mushroom. Yay! But what exactly is it? There are probably millions of species of fungi, most not yet described. There are something like 15,000 species recorded in the UK. So this is going to be a nightmare, right? Fortunately there are many species out there where ID is straightforward. Even for the trickier ones, the likely candidates can be narrowed down with a bit of investigation.
Aug 22, 2023
Parachute mushrooms
Marasmius fungi are typically small and often very delicate. Either Leaf Parachute or Collared Parachute I think.
Aug 15, 2023
Chanterelles
A few baby chanterelles in my local woodland
Aug 14, 2023
Mushroom Identification
Identifying a new mushroom or fungus can be daunting. Getting a good book (or ten!) is a good place to start. Here are the ones I use.
The Collins Gem: Mushrooms, is a handy field guide. It’s small enough to take anywhere. The mixture of photographs and illustrations is helpful.
Roger Phillips’s classic guide is one of the best. A wide range of fungi, consistently presented with clear details.
Jul 31, 2023
Mottlegill
Mottlegills are so called because their gills tend to have a patchy or mottled appearance. They are classic LBMs (little brown mushrooms) but one of the easier types to differentiate. That said, I’m not confident which of the Mottlegills this is. It was found in damp sheep pasture. Either the Banded or the Brown Mottlegill seem good candidates.
Jul 26, 2023
Fairy Inkcap
I found this lovely cluster of mushrooms on some deadwood. Fairy Inkcap (Trooping Crumblecap, Coprinus disseminatus) forms large troops, there must have been hundreds spread along the length of the log.
Jul 26, 2023
Dryad’s Saddle
Dryad’s Saddle (Cerioporus squamosus), sometimes called Pheasant’s Back is a large polypore typically found on deciduous tree stumps.
Jul 16, 2023
The Prince
At first glance this looked like a bracket sprouting from the roots of a tree. But on closer inspection it proved to be an Agaricus. As this was just a solitary specimen I didn’t gather it. I’m fairly happy to identify it as Agaricus augustus.
Jul 14, 2023