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Joined 2 years ago
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Cake day: November 20th, 2023

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  • I actually have been doing the same thing for a year or so now! Works great!

    I tried the magnetic door sensor but ended up switching over to an accelerometer sensor because I got it to work more consistently. I can power the sensor from my LED controller and just ran the wire alongside the LED strip and used a command strip to mount it inside the door. Plus I don’t need batteries!

    I benefited from that also because I can tell if my door is cracked vs open with the tilt. I used the open status to help reset the status to empty if the door is open fully for 3minutes.

    I could share some of my automation if you’re curious but I also upgraded it to start/stop/reset home assistant timer entities. I can use those timers to have the LED strip fill halfway if it’s in the middle of its drying cycle as an example. When it’s done it’s lit all the way across.








  • Every system is different so can’t speak for you. All the grid infrastructure is built to deliver peak demand so it’s not all about cost of generation resources.

    Large companies that can use power consistently for 24hour will get “better” rates because in theory they are maximizing energy sales with the designed lines. That has value too but “better” isn’t always “cheaper”; energy kWh’s and peak demand are valued differently based on the grid/consumers needs.

    Nearly every residential user does not use energy that way 24hrs a day. Sun goes down, lights come on, dinner prepped, and home climate changes contribute to significant demand that adds up quickly. That’s why most utilities offer time of use rates, if you want a cheaper energy bill than do your part by either not straining the grid at peak hours or paying into your contribution.

    All that to say as long as your utility is not an investor owned utility than 6x may not be that crazy for your system. The fundamentals of energy costs is supply vs. demand. But IOU’s is a completely different ballgame.




  • I don’t really agree that restaurants couldn’t make it work. It’s just going to have to take all or nothing.

    Getting away from tipped wages is the real problem. Give all restaurant workers fair livable wages, they won’t be on tighter budgets on would spend more going out.

    Workers can’t live paycheck to paycheck just for the profits to sit in some CEO or owners back account. The economy is heathy with an exchange of money. More money in the pockets of the people the more they will spend.

    Of course it won’t work if one restaurant (or any single company) does it differently when everyone is still on tight budgets. You won’t get the business from your own employees but need others to have the means to come to you too.