Archive for August, 2019

Duct Fans, Ranked

Aug

29

2019

I needed to help out some of the ductwork in a section of the house that wasn’t getting as cool as the rest of the house. It was due to poor airflow, so I had to add a return and a duct booster fan. I went through a few different types, so I’ll try to help you out should you ever need a duct fan.

I’m starting with the cheapest fan and working up from there.

1. The Big Box Special

image of a cheap duct booster vent fan

This one can be picked up in stock at various home improvement stores. The other fans in this post have to be ordered.

While it does move air, it doesn’t move it much and it’s rather noisy. If you aim this fan at a butterfly, you would be suggesting a direction to the butterfly.

2. The Better-Constructed Version

image of a decent duct booster vent fan

This one is more solidly constructed, which helps with NVH. And durability too, I expect. It moves slightly more air. The butterfly will have to put in some effort to overcome this fan.

3. The Best One

image of a very good duct booster vent fan

This one has a different style. There is actually some engineering going on in there – not just a tube with a fan in it. I got the Silent version and it is much quieter. I wouldn’t say it’s silent, but you don’t need to raise your voice to be heard over it. It also comes with an Off-Low-High switch, which is handy. The butterfly will not get a choice with this fan.

4. Overkill

image of a crazy duct booster vent fan

This one is ridiculous. It is a centrifugal fan. It moves a lot of air. It has to spool up – I turned it on and thought “That’s not very impressive” but after 5 more seconds I changed my mind. It needs to be attached to something secure because of the force the spinning produces. Have you gone to a science center or hands-on museum that had the display where you hold a spinning bicycle tire or other rotating mass and you felt it pulling you left or right depending on which way you tilt it? If so, then you know how this thing feels while it’s going. And it is very loud.

If you aim this one at a butterfly you will kill it. Also, do not wear a necktie near this fan.

Those are my thoughts on various duct fans or inline boosters or what-have-you. The best one is not that much more money than the better-constructed axial fan, but the performance is much better, so I’d say it’s the best value. I’m sure there’s a use for the centrifugal fan, but not for anything residential.

He caused the east wind to blow in the heavens And by His power He directed the south wind.

Psalm 78:26

Posted in Technical | 1 Comment »

Stadiums

Aug

22

2019

I’ve noticed that Google is announcing their gaming platform, Stadia.

All that reminds me of is one of my favorite pairs of shoes. I wore a white-and-gray-with-blue-accents pair of Stadia tennis shoes for a significant amount of time. I don’t remember exactly when, my guess is late junior high / early high school timeframe.

I don’t remember any of my other shoes from that time, other than my spikes I used for cross country and track. I didn’t use the Stadia for anything in particular, just my normal daily shoes.

What was memorable about them was the logo: a stylized Roman coliseum. I’m picturing it on the top of the tongue, in blue.

They don’t make ’em like they used to.

Speaking of shoes, I heard an ad for Skechers shoes on the radio the other day, and it amused me. Their main line was “No shoes are as comfortable as Skechers.”

I enjoy ambiguous grammar that I can misinterpret.

So, Skechers company, you’re saying that going barefoot is just as comfortable as Skechers? In that case, I can save my money and use no shoes rather than buy Skechers.

at that time the Lord spoke through Isaiah the son of Amoz, saying, “Go and loosen the sackcloth from your hips and take your shoes off your feet.” And he did so, going naked and barefoot.

Isaiah 20:2

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Cube Life

Aug

14

2019

I remember a comic had a routine that included the observation that people in cubicles always look out at people passing by.

I’ve tried not to look at people passing by my cubicle so that I would be the exception.

But then I noticed that I’m still part of the problem, because I glance into other people’s cubicles as I walk by them.

I don’t know why I do that.

I know the people already. Do I look in to see if they are the type to look out at passers-by? I should make an effort not to peer through cube doorways as I walk by.

On a related note, if Pavlov were making conclusions today, he might have been inspired by the response of project managers to the sound of someone joining a conference call.

*ding
“Hello who joined?”
“Alfred”
“Ok, welcome. On slide 3 you will s-”
*ding
“Hello who joined?”
“Hi, Ted here.”
“Alright, the timing cha-”
*ding
“Hello who joined?”
*ding
“Hello who joined?”

They develop an instinct of whenever they hear that chime/ding of the conference call system, they have to know who joined the call. It’s fascinating.

But Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, “As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpet, then you shall say, ‘Absalom is king in Hebron.'”

2 Samuel 15:10

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Secretary of State

Aug

10

2019

Our DMV system was much improved a couple years back when they added online check-in. I learned about it when I went in for something and I could enter my cell phone number and they texted me updates, such as my wait time of 2.5 hours. So I went back to work until my wait time was about 20 minutes and then I headed back in. Worked great.

But even better was the shortcut I found. Then time I went in, I wanted to get there when they opened. I did, but so did a few dozen other people. I knew from my precious visit that I could send a text to get in line, so I did. But I learned that the online line didn’t open until the office did. So I couldn’t get in line early like I thought I could.

But here’s the shortcut: the online check-in opened at the same time as the doors. So even though I was 30th in line or so, I ended up being second in line because the people in the physical line can’t check in as fast as online.

It was great. We would all file through the doors and they called my number just as I was walking in. Literally no wait. I was in my car driving out of there in less than 10 minutes after they opened, and I didn’t have to stand outside for half an hour to be first in line.

The next couple of trips to the DMV were like that: get there a couple minutes before they opened, stand happily in line because I knew it didn’t matter where I was standing really, and then check in right at 9:00, file into the office and get called up right away.

I would be in the car heading back to work before 9:10, which is awesome for a system that had been leaving me to sit in a hard plastic chair for two hours awaiting my turn.

Then this last time I got in line just before they opened. I was about 50th in line, but I didn’t worry. The doors opened at 9:00 and I checked in online only to be informed that “this branch is appointment only”.

Well that threw a wrench into my plans. Now I had to wait in line with the common folk.

So I waited, and I heard someone else ask the line-directing lady about checking in online, to which she answered that online check-in now starts 30 minutes after the doors open.

Rats.

They’re onto my scheme.

So the line-directing lady sent most of us into another line and some other people she sent to sit in a waiting area. Our line actually went relatively quickly. I though about checking in online right at 9:30 to skip ahead a few spots, but I was next in line at 9:30 anyway so I didn’t do that.

I suppose I can’t complain. The new way is more fair. I’ll just have to get in line a little earlier.

The people were waiting for Zacharias, and were wondering at his delay in the temple.

Luke 1:21

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