Very Slow and The Parting

Back in July 2021 I purchased from China some T-Bolts for the camper trailer.  After waiting a month for delivery I eventually decided to make my own T-bolts and completed the trailer modifications.

Order placed on 29 July 2021

Today the postie delivered a small package from China containing my much anticipated rivet nuts which are required to complete the ebike.

When the package was opened I found the T-Bolts!!  

It’s only taken six months for them to be delivered by air freight.  They will go in my “might be useful one day” jar.  I now have to hope the rivet nuts don’t take the same time to arrive.

Yesterday afternoon I went for a 16km bike ride, primarily to test the two camera mounting positions.   The image shudders too much when the camera is fitted to the handlebar mount.  Less shuddering on top of the helmet, but I have to make a conscious effort to either keep looking directly ahead or moving my head very slowly. More practice is required.

Both Paul and Brian left comments on my post about the pool solar hot water system suggesting I consider a Temperature Switch rather than a thermostatic valve.   It’s an option I should have identified; but obviously age is catching up with me. This option would see a temperature switch monitoring the water temperature at the panel outlet.  The switch would be connected into the pump electrical supply.  When the water temperature reaches the set level the switch would close providing power to the pump.  As the hot water in the panels was replaced with cold the temperature would drop and the switch would open.

I think I’ve found a suitable (ie, cheap) temperature switch.

 

Aliexpress $18.76 

The switch is for a motorbike radiator with a temperature setting of 83-77°C 

In a further effort to keep the cost down I’ve decided to take one of the two solar panels from the camper trailer array and use it to power the pool solar pump.  Back in 2017 I bought two 150W solar panels and; as usual for me; over-engineered the requirement.  When travelling the outback I usually only spend 1-2 nights in a location with the bulk of the battery charging being done by the 4WD alternator.  One panel should be sufficient for my camping needs.

The array has been split, rewired and I relocated the panel angle support brackets.

An additional advantage is one panel is lighter to carry.

Meanwhile Jan has pointed out an issue with the swimming pool.  There is a large gap between the fibreglass coping of the pool and the underside of the cement coping pavers.  The gap is a consequence of the top of the fibreglass being bowed downward whilst the pavers are level,  Rain has been migrating the paving sand under the pavers into the pool. 

To prevent the loss of bedding sand and the pool filling with sand the gap needs to be filled.  I’m thinking of using aerosol insulation foam but need to check if it will have an adverse reaction with salt water.