So, here we are, putting the final(-ish) touches on our smart fan controller project. What started as a simple temperature-based fan switch has evolved into something much more sophisticated. Now, we’re talking temperature offsets, data logging, real-time charts, and even NTP time synchronization. If you missed the original posts where this project started, make sure…
CategoriesBuilds, Projects & Solutions
Adding OTA Updates to Your ESP8266 Fan Controller
In our ongoing quest to improve our custom fan controller project, we’re taking a major step forward by introducing Over-the-Air (OTA) updates. This addition will allow us to push new sketches to our ESP8266-based fan controller without needing to physically access the device, making maintenance and updates a breeze. If you missed our previous posts,…
CategoriesBuilds, Projects & Solutions
Enhancing Your Fan Controller: Adding a Web Interface
Following up on our initial project, Building a Smarter Fan Controller for Your Rack, we’re taking it a step further by adding a web interface. This will allow us to display the current temperature, as well as the on and off threshold temperatures, making it easier to monitor and view the current configuration of our…
CategoriesBuilds, Projects & Solutions
Building a Smarter Fan Controller for Your Rack
Ah, the joys of tech life – nothing beats the satisfaction of optimizing your gear to run just right. Today, I’m diving into a little project we had at our office, involving our 37U rack from Sysracks. The rack itself has been fantastic, shipped flat-packed, and built with solid instructions. It’s a four-post wonder with…
CategoriesGuides & Hacks
Complete Guide to Wiping Microsoft Surface Pro and Creating Recovery Drive
Recently, I had an old Microsoft Surface Pro 4 come across my desk that simply wouldn’t boot and was stuck in a BSOD loop. Since the contents on the device weren’t important, I decided it would be best just to wipe it with a factory image. Reinstalling Windows on a Surface device differs slightly from…
CategoriesGuides & Hacks
How to Repair a USB Drive That Won’t Cooperate
Ever had a USB drive that just wouldn’t cooperate? I’ve experienced this quite often, usually as a result of doing a DD image write, which often screws up the drive’s partitions. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how I get these USB drives back in working order. Symptoms of a Corrupted USB Drive Using Diskpart to…
CategoriesGuides & Hacks
Configuring the BCM on a Ram 1500 for Alpharex Headlights (2009-2018)
Recently I installed a new set of headlights on my Ram 1500, the Alpharex Luxx. I noticed some oddities in the lights functionality though. I’ll walk you through configuring the Body Control Module (BCM) on a Ram 1500 to make Alpharex headlights function as expected. This guide is especially useful if you had the factory…
CategoriesReviews & News
Unlock Your Potential: Garmin Epix Gen 2 Review After Two Weeks
For the past two weeks, I’ve been testing out the Garmin Epix Gen 2, transitioning from my previous Pixel Watch 2. This switch has been quite an experience, and I’m excited to share my thoughts on this impressive piece of technology. Unmatched Display Quality One of the first things that stood out to me with…
CategoriesGuides & Hacks
Bypassing Installer Lockout on the DSC PC5010: A Step-by-Step Guide
In this post, I’ll share a method for bypassing the installer lockout on the DSC PC5010 security panel. This technique can be particularly useful if you find yourself locked out of the system and unable to access the installer programming mode. This is an old semi-well known method that I used when I was still…
CategoriesGuides & Hacks
Maximizing Storage on the Asus Ally
For those looking to enhance their Asus Ally handheld gaming console, upgrading the built-in 512GB SSD to a larger capacity can offer a more expansive and enjoyable gaming experience. The process is surprisingly simple, and according to Asus, it does not void your warranty! Here’s how I upgraded to the largest available 2230 NVMe SSD…