The Weekend

[noahgibbs]

I had a really productive four-day weekend.

Evil OS installed on computer: check

Installed Mandrake linux on computer: check

New computer working with decent video modes, linux and windows: check

Motorcycle fixed: check

Saw out-of-town friends: check

Saw Rachel: check

Changed oil in car: check

Assembled desk and installed it in new location: check

Cleaned apt: half-check (partial vacuuming and full rearranging)

Laundry: check

Dry cleaning: nope, they were closed

Secured ungodly quantity of fresh fruit and dessert: check, plus I made Sangria

Released MUDLib version 0.009: check

Computer prepped for WarCraft III later this week: check

And probably other things I'm forgetting. This weekend rocked as far as getting stuff done. I even finished Barry Hughart's "Eight Skilled Gentlemen".

Comments

[mh75.livejournal.com]

So, did the motorcycle battery turn out to be scary?

My experience with car batteries is that they're not terribly frightening. I've never seen something very bad happen because someone forgot what they were doing. (My impression is that you can damage the battery, or perhaps the electronics in the car, but, i've never seen it.)

I was thinking that the warning about the cable could be due to the possibility of arcing?? Seems like if that were the case you'd need space between the battery and charger as much as anything else.

I should note: while i know a fair amount about mechanical systems, and about cars, electricity is still very unknown to me. I don't seem to be able to get a very good grasp of the stuff. This is, essentially, why i didn't bother to answer the other day. I can guess, but, i wouldn't take my word as gospel.

[angelbob.livejournal.com]

The battery thing turned out to be quite straightforward though it takes 12 hours to fully charge it with my little drip-charger. Nothing complicated, only had to recharge the battery.

I just kept the charger (which gets *hot*) far from the battery and all was well. Installing and removing the battery was remarkably straightforward, even compared to doing the same thing with my car.

With the car (months ago) I had some minor problems with sparking, and even blew a fuse when I reinstalled the battery. It's under two bucks to replace, but still a major pain, at least with the master fuse on a Mazda 626. I'm told that with most cars you'd just be out two bucks for a new fuse rather than it taking lots of time and effort to change it.

[eub.livejournal.com]

My dad had a patient once who had managed something rather bad with a car battery. Involving hydrogen explosion and battery acid and eyes. Of course, for any X, my dad had a patient who had a bad story involving X and eyes.

[angelbob.livejournal.com]

Yeah. That phenomenon is why I kept the hot, metal charger away from the hydrogen-generating battery. But the hydrogen accumulates quite slowly so you can either use a well-ventilated area or fan it away manually.

Wouldn't really explain why all the extra cabling on the negative terminal, though, unless that's just paranoia on the charger people's part.