Gavin Campbell with the Meater Block, 3D Printing and Smart Toilets via the Finger Bot – HGG615
Gavin Campbell from HomeTech.fm podcast is my guest this week. We discussed various topics, including severe weather preparedness, home automation, tech updates, data storage, and 3D printing. Gavin shared his experiences and recommendations, highlighting the importance of being prepared for severe weather events, investing in reliable backup power sources, and upgrading to high-end 3D printers for improved print quality and faster print speeds. Thanks for listening!
Full show notes, transcriptions (available on request), audio and video at http://theAverageGuy.tv/hgg615
Join Jim Collison / @jcollison for show #615 of Home Gadget Geeks, brought to you by the Average Guy Network.
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Links
Find Gavin at https://www.hometech.fm/
BLUETTI Portable Power Station AC2A
Prusa MK4 3D printer and accessories (enclosure, multi-material unit, dry box)
Finger bot device for pushing buttons and switches
Amazon Echo Spot smart speaker
Show Segments
- Recent flooding in the Midwest with Gavin Campbell.[0:00]
- Jim and Gavin discuss recent heavy rainfall and flooding in their areas.
- Jim Collison discusses using AI for show notes and thanks Patreon subscribers.
- Amazon Prime deals and price tracking.[3:46]
- Gavin Campbell discusses latest Z wave products and interviews with Agnes from zoos.
- Jim Collison mentions TJ’s reviews and the need to catch up with him again.
- Amazon Prime Week prices may fluctuate, so keep an eye on prices with tools like CamelCamelCamel or Honey.
- Amazon Prime Day deals, including solar generators, label makers, and kitchen probes.[7:28]
- Jim Collison and Gavin Campbell discussed their Prime Day purchases, including solar generators, batteries, and label makers.
- Gavin Campbell bought a four-probe meter block on sale during Prime Day, and recommended it to TJ.
- Gavin Campbell and Jim Collison discuss the benefits of using multiple probes for grilling and smoking, including ease of use and accuracy.
- They also mention using a repeater probe for smoking and a dedicated tablet for broadcasting the data to the internet.
- Gavin Campbell recommends investing in a smart home automation system for convenience and safety.
- Jim Collison has found the meter app to be helpful for checking recipes and monitoring home automation systems.
- Backup power options for home during storms.[13:41]
- Gavin Campbell and Jim Collison discuss power outages and backup generators.
- Campbell and Collison share experiences and insights on generator use and maintenance.
- Jim and Gavin discuss the cost of generators and solar panels, with Jim expressing frustration at the high cost and Gavin considering a small indoor battery backup instead.
- TJ mentions that the Blue Eddie 180 AC is a powerful and affordable option for backup power, with prices around $800 during Prime Days.
- Prime Day deals, hard drives, and USB drives.[19:41]
- Gavin and Jim discuss Prime Day deals, strategies, and tracking options.
- Gavin Campbell shared his experience of receiving a wrong hard drive from Western Digital, and the company’s poor customer service.
- Gavin Campbell and Jim Collison discussed the importance of having USB drives on hand for various purposes, such as file sharing and testing.
- USB drives, their storage capacity, and how to dispose of them.[23:37]
- Jim Collison and Gavin Campbell discuss their collection of USB drives, with Jim estimating he has thrown some out and Gavin drilling and destroying his drives.
- The speakers share their methods for disposing of USB drives, including giving them a good smack with a hammer.
- Jim and Gavin discuss the importance of keeping old hard drives for BIOS updates and unraid servers.
- Gavin keeps a bin of power cords in the basement, labels them, and throws out the rest.
- Cables, power strips, and 3D printing.[28:23]
- Jim and Gavin discuss power strips, cables, and USB sizes.
- Gavin and Jim discuss cables, clutter, and 3D printing with John.
- Upgrading 3D printer with Prusa MK4, MMU3, and enclosure.[31:52]
- Gavin Campbell upgraded his 3D printer to a Prusa MK 4, which has not failed him yet.
- He added an enclosure, multi material unit (MMU 3), and an unoriginal Prusa dry box for compact storage and presentation.
- Gavin Campbell finds a new 3D printer worth the investment despite high cost.
- Using 3D printing for functional items and designing custom parts.[36:05]
- Gavin Campbell discusses his two printers, one old and one new, and how he uses them for different purposes.
- Campbell prints functional items such as hooks for the garage and pool equipment, which break frequently.
- Gavin Campbell designs and prints new parts for his pool system, saving money and time.
- He uses Tinkercad and other online resources for design, and measures everything with calipers for accuracy.
- 3D printing and pool maintenance.[41:21]
- Gavin Campbell discusses Prusa 3D printers, praising their self-maintenance capabilities and active community.
- Jim Collison agrees, noting that Prusa’s constant updates and redesigns show their commitment to improving their products.
- Gavin Campbell shares tips on automating a pool’s water level and irrigation system.
- Water bills, lawn moisture sensors, and Amazon Echo Spot.[45:47]
- Jim and Gavin discuss the convenience of a smart plug for controlling a shed’s air conditioner, with Jim expressing concerns about potential issues such as forgetting to turn it off or it running away on him.
- Gavin mentions that water bills can be expensive and hard to detect leaks, with Jim agreeing that it’s not worth the cost and they got rid of their pool due to high bills.
- Jim and Gavin discuss their lawns’ response to recent wet weather, with Jim mentioning his grass is green but not in need of watering.
- Gavin shares his experience with a new Amazon Echo Spot, praising its sound quality and clock feature.
- Amazon Echo devices and their features.[51:34]
- Jim and Gavin discuss the Amazon Echo Spot, a device that displays time, weather, and more, with better sound quality than the Echo Dot.
- Gavin recommends the Echo Spot for a bedroom or desk, but notes that it lacks a USB power cable.
- Gavin Campbell and Jim Collison discuss Amazon Echo devices and their features, including presence detection and integrations with other smart home devices.
- Jim Collison has an extra Amazon Echo with a flickering screen that won’t die, and he’s considering replacing it with a newer model.
- Integrating chat GPT into home assistant for automation and proactive suggestions.[56:53]
- Gavin Campbell uses chat GPT to control home devices, asking specific questions for desired actions.
- Jim Collison’s garage door opener automation broke, requiring him to reconnect the app for it to work again.
- Gavin Campbell discusses the capabilities of a smart home assistant that can analyze data and provide insights, including proactive notifications and automations.
- Campbell mentions that the assistant is not yet mainstream, but it’s something people can play with and integrate with their own data to save money and improve functionality.
- Smart home tech and DIY projects, including automating toilet flushing with a finger bot.[1:01:51]
- Jim and Gavin discuss using AI to analyze home sensor data for temperature and other insights.
- Hosts discuss a listener’s creative use of a finger bot to automate their cat’s toilet use.
- A novel device called “finger bot” for pushing buttons and switches.[1:05:27]
- Jim and Gavin discuss a “finger bot” that can push buttons and switches, with potential uses like controlling a coffee maker or garage door opener.
- The finger bot can be controlled manually or through Google or Amazon control, and has a long battery life of 8 months.
- Jim and Gavin discuss the “finger bot,” a device that can be attached to a toilet to automatically flush it after a cat uses it.
- Gavin shares that he uses a similar device to turn his garage door opener on and off during power outages.
- Meal kit services, including HelloFresh and homemade meals.[1:11:32]
- Jim Collison and Gavin Campbell discuss their community and hosting services, with Jim mentioning a discount code for Maple Grove partners.
- Gavin Campbell’s wife asks about a meal kit service they previously used, and Gavin confirms it was a good deal.
- Jim Collison and Gavin Campbell discuss replacing HelloFresh with a new meal kit service, Sarah Fresh, which they have been testing for a week or two.
- They mention the benefits of Sarah Fresh, including prepping and cooking meals, and how it’s been great so far, despite some initial skepticism.
More from Chat GPT
Jim and Gavin discussed various topics, including severe weather preparedness, home automation, tech updates, data storage, and 3D printing. They shared their experiences and recommendations, highlighting the importance of being prepared for severe weather events, investing in reliable backup power sources, and upgrading to high-end 3D printers for improved print quality and faster print speeds. They also discussed the integration of AI technology into home automation systems and the benefits of using AI-generated show notes. Throughout the conversation, they emphasized the importance of staying informed and up-to-date on the latest technology and trends.
Some of the key products mentioned include:
BLUETTI Portable Power Station AC2A
Prusa MK4 3D printer and accessories (enclosure, multi-material unit, dry box)
Finger bot device for pushing buttons and switches
Amazon Echo Spot smart speaker
Action Items from Otter
Schedule TJ from Home Tech FM to come on Average Guy Network for an update on his home projects.
Look into potential Prime Day deals that may still be available after the show.
Continue experimenting with integrating ChatGPT into Home Assistant for more natural language control.
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Popular Tags: Podcast, Home Gadget Geeks, Jim Collison, Gavin Campbell, 3D Printer, Amazon Prime Day
