So we’re down to the last couple of Beta units available for the Canadian Beta which is great. I’m already getting feedback after so many Canada Post exceptions, issues, and lies. Onto the update though!
In historical order I will start with 240v 50hz testing. If the Beta is only Canada why bother? Well, I didn’t know this before I started and I did want the design to be usable in other places. Initially I did a bit of a botch job of testing as explained in the video. I simulated 50hz through an amp and check timings. I tested those times against the data I had for 60hz fans and it looked like default timings should work. I would have to keep checking the math in my head but I think I’ve settled on 50hz = slower = less critical and more leeway. However I won’t know for certain until some 50hz fans are used and even if I imported one, that’s just one. I’ve tested about 10 fans on 60hz so far and never had to go to Home Depot and be chased out. Now more people are testing other fans in the real world. It’s exciting.
So the Rube Goldberg Machine of Volts was born to solve this problem of 240v/50hz. It’s 110/60 to 12DC to 230/50 to 100V/50 and each of those is more than one conversion. I think the whole process is about 8 – 10 frequency, AC/DC or other changes. It’s more of a technical video about how to do this but I think it covers off how to shoestring you through the hurdles.
Most startups burn through cash at unbelievable rates, but I’m so used to my unorthodox low cost methods that this is just the norm for me. Realistically, if investor money was in the mix I’d be just as far but maybe 3 months earlier, and an investor would be out $100000 for what I’ve accomplished on less. That’s not bad. It’s cost me a lot more than I expected though and my one idea a month prototype went out the window.
With all the relocating, downsizing, and lifestyle changes over the last few years one of the surviving items has been my girlfriends “tiny” (and she reminded me that using tiny twice in the video was unnecessary and it wasn’t that small) Christmas tree from her University days. We aspire to more minimalist lifestyles to try and just stay away from too much wanton consumerism. It’s harder for me due to needing tools and parts to build things, but we try and that means not replacing unless you need to. So sure enough the Christmas tree is from the bygone era of incandescent bulbs. Bulbs that work great with traditional dimmers. In the video I actually had 3 Maelstrom controllers, one on a dimmable LED bulb but it just flickered constantly even though it said dimmable. So there goes some footage and down to two.
While the video didn’t turn out as nice as I’d like, trying to deal with multiple high bit rate 4k streams was hard. 1-2 is okay on a hard drive. 3+ means maybe SSD in the future for editing drive. In the future we’ll see how things go in the editing department, but hopefully you’ll enjoy the video.
Lastly, it’s no surprise that Canada Post at holiday time is swamped. I forgive them this. I expected this. However I’ve starting to learn something about when they can’t met their standards. A little trick they use, I can only assume so they don’t get reprimanded, is to state wrong address in tracking. This gives them +1 month on the delivery date. It happened multiple times with much concern from the people in the beta. And rightly so. I’m sure if I was on the end of being told not to worry, the address is right, Canada post is just being lazy, that they start believing I’m scamming them. It turns my stomach. It also turns my stomach to get disconnected waiting to talk to someone after being on hold for 45 mins for them to give me no information. We’re at 95% delivered with only a couple remaining. If you want into the beta head over to maelstrom.me and follow instructions.