Fire, Smoke & CO Detection And Alarming 31May21

I checked our Blodgett smoke detectors and they were all manufactured between 1994-1998. The sensors in these things last about 10 years so, yeah, they are way too old. I replaced all 10 @ ~$32 each with new Kidde units; they are all wired for 120vAC power and interconnected with a signal line so when one goes off, they all do. Of course the bezels needed to be changed too, as did the connector to attach to the detector - so complete swaps; I did reuse the wirenuts. One was actually faulty so I returned it and got a replacement the next day from AMZ.

I also wanted to have the smoke/CO detectors connect to my home IoT network so I can monitor in the SmartThings app. I first checked the ZWave compatible detectors available but they are more expensive and only battery powered. Another alternative is to install a "listening" ZWave sensor which will trigger if it "hears" the actual alarm sound... sounded hokey. Instead I used special relays tapped off of one of my new smoke detectors to capture smoke alerts and CO alerts - basically I'm using the signaling built into wired smoke detectors to capture any event throughout that network. The relays convert to signals that open/clove 120v which normally one can use to drive something else like sirens or lights. Instead I connected the relay output to some normal Ecolink ZWave window open/close sensors (because they have a binding block to accept an external open/close signal). Here are the relays ($15 each) and sensor hardware ($30 each).

I used a standard project box ($9) to house all the stuff and tacked it to the ceiling in a back bedroom with a smoke detector, off of which I could tap. I ran 3/14 Romex between the tapped smoke detector and the relays inside the project box.

The open/close sensors are battery powered so I need ongoing access to them to change batteries (or I need to add a 3.3v transformer to the install). The sensors are attached to the lid of the project box; I drilled holes through the top for wiring and used smaller gauge wires to tie into the external trigger interface block of the sensor (see small red and black wires attached to block).

I then wired the whole mess together tying the relays into the smoke alarm interconnect signal wire, and power, and relay outputs to the open/close sensors. Here it is before buttoned up - wiring is pretty straightforward with instructions included with the relays. I tested stuff before stuffing it all into the project box.

 

Once I had the ZWave open/close sensors joined to SmartThings, I associated custom device handlers (from vseven on SmartThings community) to them to get a more appropriate UI and alerting scheme (detected/clear vs window open/closed) within SmartThings. Done! Here's what the app looks like but I receive normal iOS alerts and can get email and/or SMS if desired. The CO detection and alert is similar.

I now get SmartThings alerts if Blodgett is on fire or experiencing a CO event. I needed this IoT connection in order to monitor smoke remotely the way I do for the garage doors, the spa temps, flood detection, intrusion detection, etc. since we split our time between Blodgett and the Nest.

UPDATE 11Jun21 - It Worked So Well I Automated The Nest Too... Cleaner Install

Building The Rodfather Stripper [drc #10 4pc 6wt Fast ~ ERN 6.5 & AA 71°] 25May21

The Stripper is naked; I knew I could do better for a dedicated streamer rod than the drc #6. On the RF Rainbow the fixed fighting butt and the down-locking real seat are serviceable for balance but are not my favorites, though the TFO BVK blank at the core of the rod is fine and fast enough. And, I was out of rods to build and have "always" wanted to build off the "other" New Zealand rod blank maker, Epic. They offered a deal on their 6 wt carbon blank and I bought one for ~$225. It has a super smooth feel, probably from the ferrules being long and ground; it is true to AFTMA 6 line weight with a 6.5 ERN; it is sweet fast like the CTS Affinity-Xs with an AA of 71. They are also from NZ and are my quiver favorites thus far ~ Sage Busters builds: a 4 wt in plum and a 5wt in all black; I haven't looked back.

This 4 pc blank is a smidge unusual given it's ground male side ferrules - I don't really know if I should wax them or not yet. In part they do it for consistency - I don't need to send other sections back to them if something breaks, 'cause they are standard grinds to tight tolerances.

For the RF Stripper I went upscale again with Snake brand guides and tip top, and my favorite uplocking REC nickel silver knurled reel seat with removable fighting butt hardware and cocobollo wood insert to match the gloss grey rod.

I liked the spin effect on the drc #4 handle so I turned a custom grip variant of this with a "consistent 1/6th spin" and matching fighting butt, including cool variegated burnt & normal cork sections.

I wrapped it all up with bright blue thread for a very chill finish IMO. Probably my best handiwork as I am getting pretty good.

I don't use a 6wt often but I need to learn to yank streamers and this is the rod - it will happen this year - I guess it's an OB21, Orvis Buster, as it is better for me than my Orvis Helios 6wt. Now that one is really for sale. My Orvis Mirage III reel loaded with 200 grain fast sink mates decently with the rod, but not in color as it's gold and it's loaded a bit heavy for an ERN of 6.5. I also loaded the 3rd spool of the Lamson Remix HD reel (grey but big ~ used mostly with two handed micro spey) with some alternative SA WF6S line; while the balance is only close, the line matches better and color is right. I may need to look for a new reel or spare spool to make this beauty shine - it is really a great all around 6 wt so two spools would be best to get at both floating and sinking setups quickly. Here's the latest full quiver metrics: green are go-to RF rods, blue are more specialty RF rods, and red are the manufacturer rods.

UPDATE 08Jun21 - Acquiring Matching Orvis Mirage Reel

I found a great deal on eBay for a Orvis Mirage III (5/6/7) like the gold one I sold to Andy but a newer USA build and in black with an extra spool. Great luck ~ the hardware was basically new and the would've cost $870 new and I paid just $550 loaded with 6wt and 7wt Orvis premium line. Rodfather Stripper is now complete with a keen mated reel and well-matched 6F and 6S lines to boot. The guy even sent a well made full sink tip rig for times when you have the floating line loaded but want to pull some streamers well - just swap the leader for the FS tip rig and you're in business. The balance (lighter than the Lamson Remix HD) and color of the full rig are now perfect. I can't wait to fish this beauty. Mirage is a very keen and very smooth reel with no noticeable startup drag hesitation - few I've felt other than maybe Jim's Abel reel are smoother. I've been checking out the casting and feel of the RF Stripper @ the park ~ amazingly light and powerful ~ netting me fewer errors.

JRiver MC27 And Again On Dynamic Range ~ But The AFA Yard Was Full 25May21

I don't know when it entered the potential tag items for tracks, but the dynamic range of every track can be claimed on publication, and can be measured. JRiver (at least MC27) includes these in the tag list and they are filled by their integrated Audio Analysis tool. Here are some very new and some old tag lists including publication of dynamic range specs ~ cool. Who's the best and eschews loudness? Amazing Rhythm Aces do very well and others less so. I've railed on this simple measure of music from time to time... discerning quiet to loud, something a human ear can sense well, is too often now overridden by mixing engineers to obtain a continuously "loud" offer. Bullshit. Just like dynamics, frequency response and other measurable attributes of a track, DR counts considerably. And I do not understand why many modern offers ignore this - but maybe I do.

We had a yard-full of gawkers disappointed in the cloud cover but the graduating kids from AFA got plenty of show. Thunderbirds dowsed the field and flew missing man...

New Butts 25May21

I was not completely satisfied with the different look of the fighting butt on my Rodfather Cutthroat (4pc 4wt), relative to the custom grip, but that's how the hardware comes. I wrote the company, my fav real seat company REC, describing my dilemma in having to buy a fully made fighting butt from them and then deconstruct it to use the metal only, when wanting to build a custom butt. They responded understandingly and added the right separate fighting butt hardware components to their website and I bought a couple sets for the Cutty and a future build. GR8 response from them, and they were just $15 each, pretty reasonable. Anyway, I built a new fighting butt, matching the handle, for the Cutty and it came out great. I will definitely proceed to match all handles when adding fighting butts to Rodfather builds - I prefer the removable kind so I can "have" or "not have."

Grouplove - This Is This [Moment] 21May21

So the album drop was some time ago - it is good, again. They'll play Fort Collins closest so no Red Rocks. I awaited their typical trail of "liveish" plays. This is serious stadium alt pop rock and the official vids are fine but the live shows are energetic and test the tape... Grouplove can beat that test. From the album... my favorite is Sit Still, 1st up here, dropped yesterday. Are you kidding me with dueling percussionists! Click images to open performances.

There are plenty of others from this more introspective set of tracks from the new dad & mom... like Raspberry.

More includes Close Your Eyes and Count To Ten.. Harmonies!

And more is angry Seagulls... back to it.

Specifically not live, I'll close with the first official vid from the album. Deadline is cool.

Slabs On The Blue 21May21

I checked the flows @ Williams Fk and Blue River below Green Mtn Rez - Williams Fk was a dangerously low 23cfs so off to Jurassic Pk I went. Nice partially cloudy day and 60° with low 80cfs flow. Only two other cars there on arrival! Back up... on the drive out I contemplated another possible weak outing on this section - it seemed that last year, both in spring & fall, I caught just two weakish cutbows and mostly smallish browns - I said to myself if it happens again then I will reduce my outings here. I felt a bit luckier though when I found Haine left me the cool Tres Litros gaiter I'd chosen (which I attempted to put in his bag). I was wrong to doubt this tailwater. Even the hellish decent to the river is now rope-aided. I had one of my best days ever in Jurassic Pk. Perhaps it is the recovering economy and resultant fewer fishermen; perhaps it is the day; perhaps it was me - I caught a number of ~14" browns like those shown, especially on mayfly nymphs and emergers; the big brown I spied, I could not move. But all was forgiven when, during a modest BWO emergence, I was able to land two total fat slabs of cutbow from the same run; they were very thick & strong and both over 20". One grabbed the black ice weight and the other larger 21+" bit on Destiny's Child. The Blue felt redeemed and I acknowledge. Both fights were 5+ minutes and on the first fight I did swim when stumbling on a submerged big rock. Still, with such a fish on here, and the fact that I didn't bust my RF Cutty 4 wt, I shook myself off and fired again - to catch something bigger. GR8 day on the Blue.

 

Summit Co is so cool - a week of fresh tracks @ ABay, awesome gumbo with Kala, laps of Whale's Tail with Brown, many chores completed (Vols, garage floor, spa, IoT batteries, tube rolling 300Bs & measuring NestT, etc.) and slabs on the Blue - is even topped with ORB in your backyard for celebration... collaboration with New Image, Sticky, is excellent, as was Slushy (a DDH DIPA), as is Crystaline (DDH hazy west coast).