Anova Precision Handheld Vacuum Sealer – Works with FoodSaver Jar sealer accessories

Anova handheld vacuum sealer on top of a foodsaver jar sealer

We have a FoodSaver vacuum sealer that we only use for the accessory port with the mason / canning jar lid sealer accessories. [These allow you to vacuum seal items inside a canning jar.]

I purchased an Anova handheld vacuum sealer (that is made to work with re-usable ziplock style vacuum bags) and verified that it fits well enough onto the top of the FoodSaver jar sealer accessories to vacuum seal jars without the use of the (rather large FoodSaver).  This will allow me to get rid of the foodsaver, and only store the mason jar lid accessories with the Anova handheld vacuum pump.

I confirmed that the Anova unit could pull 14 inHg on the initial vacuum, and if you pushed the button a second time, it would get the vacuum down to 15 inHg. [The plug-in full sized FoodSaver unit drew down to 16 inHg, so slightly more vacuum, but not enough more to justify the space it takes up.]

 

 

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VECY’s CR60 car Fridge / Freezer (Dual Zone) Review

VECY's CR60 fridge

I reviewed the VECY’s CR60 car refrigerator / freezer. It is a 60 L wheeled cooler with built in dual zone compressor heat pump.  It has a dual zone control panel that can maintain temperatures between 68F down to -4F, and is powered by 12-24 volts DC. (It also includes an AC adapter to power it from 120-240v AC.)

You can watch my 5 minute summary review here:

(I also have a 30 minute long full review…but unless you are REALLY interested…the summary review gives you all you need to know.)

If you would prefer to read your review, here are the relevant details:

 

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Battery Tray / Door discoloration on First Alert Smoke Detector (2018, SA511)

When changing smoke detector batteries on my First Alert SA511 smoke detectors, I noticed that ONE (of the six) has a discolored battery tray/door. It appears that the plastic used to make the battery tray was of a different composition from the rest of the shell, as it has turned yellow with age, while the rest of the smoke detector has not. (Also, my other five smoke detectors all have pure white battery trays that match the body as well…) Continue reading

ezShare (ez Sh@are) Wi-Fi SD Card – Works with Linux (and any WiFi enabled device with a web browser)!

32 GB ez Share Wifi SD card

A while back I purchased a generic Wifi Micro-SD card adapter that didn’t work with my Linux computer due to the proprietary protocol it used.  This ez Sh@are 32GB SDHC +Wi-Fi card is what I should have purchased in the first place.

When powered in the camera, it acts as an AP and broadcasts a Wi-Fi network (default SDID: ez Share, default PW: 88888888  – eight eights) that you can connect to with any laptop or phone. It captures your browser and directs it to a “ezshare.card” web-server that displays the photos on your SD card. (If that doesn’t work, you can direct your browser directly to 192.168.4.1).

You can view thumbnail previews of the images, and download a single image, or a selection of images (as a tar file) or all images in the folder (again, as a tar file).

If you want to see or download videos on the card, you need to select the “Video Gallary” link (it doesn’t show previews of the videos).

The only configuration options are to change the SSID of the network, the WiFi network password, and the administrative password (the default admin password is “admin”).  You should change the wifi password and the admin password if you don’t want random people downloading the photos from your SD card anytime your camera is on.

If you mess up the configuration, or find a ezShare WiFi card that you can’t access, the configuration is stored in a file on the card, so if you format the card it will overwrite the configuration and go back to the defaults.

I bought the 32GB card that includes a “share” (or not) switch on the bottom that gives you the option to turn off the WiFi AP when you don’t want to export one (Airplane mode, or to save power).  You can also purchase a TF/MicroSD card “adapter” version, that includes the WiFi server, but does NOT include any memory, allowing you to insert a larger sized MicroSD card if you need more than 32 GB of storage.

Gluing the glass lid back on my Glowforge

Remember back when the handle fell off my glowforge? Or when the glass lid detached from the hinge?  After the laser tube went out, I got a (refurbished) replacement unit, which has been working fine for a year. However, now the glass lid on my new (to me) replacement unit started to detach from the left rear hinge.
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VECYS IC1209 Countertop Ice Maker Review

I tested the VECYS IC1209 countertop ice maker.

It takes 1h 20min to make a pound of ice, and draws 100 watts per hour average (max draw is close to 250 watts when heating the evaporators to drop the ice, and may surge to 350-800 watts for a second when the compressor kicks on).

I was surprised to find that my fridge/freezer door mounted ice maker only made 0.19 pounds of ice in the same time, justifying having a separate appliance if you need to make a lot of ice in a quick amount of time. [You will have to add more water and remove the ice every 1-2 hours, so it’s not for completely unattended operation…]

Amazon Affiliate link: https://amzn.to/3FtQIVO

VECYS CR18 Car Refrigerator review

I reviewed the VECYS CR18 Car refrigerator.

This is an 18L fridge/freezer (it can get down to -14C / 6.8F) that runs on 12-24 volts DC (although it ships with an AC adapter that allows you to use it off of mains power).

At refrigeration temperatures (0c/32f) it takes 190 watt hours to maintain temperature for 24 hours.

At freezing temperatures(-20c on the control panel, -14c inside), it takes 520 watt hours to maintain temperature for 24 hours.

It takes almost 24 hours to fully freeze a 1L / 1kg / 2lb water gel pack.

You may also be interested in the (much larger, 60 Liter) VECY’s CR60.

Amazon Affiliate link: https://amzn.to/3mfW5zc

Ring Mailbox Sensor Review

Ring sells a “Mailbox Sensor” ($29) which tells you when somebody opens your mailbox. (i.e. it notifies you when the mail is delivered, or picked up.)

Really, it’s just one of their ring outdoor light motion sensor modules with an extra external antenna jack. (The small round object near the white square in the photo below.) It is powered by 3 AAA batteries, and lasts about 2.5 months under “normal” usage (e.g. opening the mailbox twice a day six days a week) using generic AAA batteries. Continue reading