Part 2 of my FreeCAD learning series is up!

Went from "how hard could it be?" to actually making progress on my solar-powered Terminal Dawn enclosure. This week: wrestling with the Move/Array tool and discovering the magic of Trim Edge in the sketcher.

Spoiler: FreeCAD and I are in a complicated situationship

Includes a step-by-step breakdown of the Array workflow that works.

#FreeCAD #CAD #3DDesign #SolarPowered #RaspberryPi #OffGrid #MakerSpace #TutorialSeries

https://terminaldawn.dev/posts/freecad-series-part-2/

Aptera Solar EV: Driving on Sunshine

We talk about the Aptera Solar EV, a revolutionary electric vehicle that can drive up to 40 miles daily powered solely by sunlight captured through solar panels integrated into its roof. This car eliminates the need for a traditional battery, offering pure solar-powered freedom with no range anxiety or need for charging stations. #SolarEV #ElectricVehicle #RangeAnxiety #SolarPowered #FuelFree from Tesla In The Gong

https://teslainthegongyt.wordpress.com/2025/07/06/aptera-solar-ev-driving-on-sunshine/

Design Milk : A Maui Home Blends Modern Minimalism With Climate-Conscious Design https://design-milk.com/a-maui-home-blends-modern-minimalism-with-climate-conscious-design/ #HawaiiOffGrid #Architecture #eco-friendly #solarpowered #residential #slantedroof #blackhouse #solarpanel #solarpower #offgrid #Hawaii #house #Main #Maui

“#Plastic Becomes #Hydrogen Under the #Sun”: #SouthKorea Unleashes #SolarPowered Breakthrough That Vaporizes #Waste Into #CleanFuel

In a groundbreaking development, #SouthKorean #scientists have unveiled a revolutionary system that transforms #plasticwaste into #cleanhydrogen #fuel using #sunlight, offering a promising solution to global waste and energy challenges.

https://www.sustainability-times.com/energy/plastic-becomes-hydrogen-under-the-sun-south-korea-unleashes-solar-powered-breakthrough-that-vaporizes-waste-into-clean-fuel/

Goldmedal Electricals Unveils "Ranger" – A Stylish and Powerful Portable LED Solar Filament Lamp

#AsianTalks #GoldmedalElectricals#RangerLamp #SolarLighting #LEDLamp #PortableLighting #SmartLighting #SustainableTech #SolarPowered #FilamentLamp #OutdoorLighting #EmergencyLight #HomeLighting #TechForTomorrow #InnovationInLighting #EcoFriendlyDesign #TouchSensorLamp #MadeInIndia #LightingSolutions #SmartHome #FMEG

https://theasiantalks.com/goldmedal-ranger-fast-charging-long-lasting-solar-lamp/

Goldmedal Electricals Unveils "Ranger" – A Stylish and Powerful Portable LED Solar Filament Lamp

#TycoonWorld #GoldmedalElectricals #RangerLamp #SolarLighting #LEDLamp #PortableLighting #SmartLighting #SustainableTech #SolarPowered #FilamentLamp #OutdoorLighting #EmergencyLight #HomeLighting #TechForTomorrow #InnovationInLighting #EcoFriendlyDesign #TouchSensorLamp #MadeInIndia #LightingSolutions #SmartHome #FMEG

https://tycoonworld.in/goldmedal-ranger-solar-led-filament-lamp-torch/

#Solarpowered #hydroponics are now online! During the summer I have excess solar power from the @solaradmin setup so last year I decided to try and use the spare power for a bit of hydroponics. It was a reasonable success so this year I'm going to do it again.

I'm going to grow basil again using the #kratkymethod as it worked well and we made lovely pesto with it. Particular lessons I've learnt include that I've upgraded my pH meter to a half decent one and properly calibrated with the solutions. Also with the change in the solar setup to a 24v system I think I'll have more power so will be able to max the on time for the lights.
I also started the basil plants on a windowsill in rockwool and only did one seed per block and each germinated so no crowding. I've also installed the 10W water heater just to ensure it's reasonably warm.

Let's see how it goes!

The solar-powered Quarto project is making progress. The pre-render python script to dither and downsize images works :).

Context:
Quarto is a scientific/ technical publishing system. Among other things, it allows you to create static websites from a mixture of R/ Python/ Julia/ ObservableJS and Markdown. I'm trying to create a Quarto setup for a static website with a very minimal footprint to run on a small solar-powered server.

WRITER FUEL: New solar-powered EV can drive 40 miles daily using the power of the sun — and it's 50% more efficient than a Tesla.

https://www.limfic.com/2025/04/03/writer-fuel-new-solar-powered-ev-can-go-40-miles-on-sunlight-alone/

Lenovo Unveils Yoga Solar PC Concept at MWC 2025 #computing #concept #laptop #laptops #lenovo #mwc2025 #solarpanels #solarpowered #yogasolarpcconcept

https://www.lowyat.net/2025/344292/lenovo-yoga-solar-pc-concept-mwc-2025/

Something is beating me #mastodon server to death.

It has relatively few connections active at any time. A few thousand request and hour.

Are there other implementations that folks would recommend that do not consume all the memory in the box and make it fall over?

Preferably something smaller, leaner and compiled?

I want to move this host to solar power. At this rate, it would eat up any battery I can put on it on a few hours.

#ruby
#selfhost
#small #server
#Solar
#SolarPowered

£30 Green Gathering Promo Code

[Read on Ethical Revolution]

Using my promo code you can take £30 off the full price of adult weekend tickets for Green Gathering Festival 2025.

The original off-grid festival takes place in Chepstow from 31st July to 3rd August 2025. It’s four days of low impact living in an area of outstanding beauty, with every corner bursting with music, creativity, natural abundance and community spirit.

There are intimate solar stages hosting up and coming acts, festival legends, DJs and spellbinding spoken word.

The original off-grid, non-profit festival: we’re powered by sun, wind, people and passion for change.

It’s an opportunity to share wisdom and skills; find friends old and new; weave, weld and tell stories; have a party – then wake up and put the world to rights.

It’s a festival whose impact lasts longer than a weekend.

I have 20 promo codes in total so it will be first come first serve for these.

Promo Code: G5ERN14

Instructions on redeeming your discount: Paste the promo code above into the box marked ‘promo code’. Then scroll up and ‘Affinity Tickets’ will have been revealed – £140 for an adult ticket instead of the full price of £170.

Click here to read more on what to expect at Green Gathering.

@greengathering

Offer expires at 11:59pm on Monday June 30th, 2025

[Via Ethical Revolution]

‘[This] not only transforms daily life but also builds resilience’ https://www.diningandcooking.com/1855275/this-not-only-transforms-daily-life-but-also-builds-resilience/ #AirQuality #Cooking #CoventryUniversity #firewood #SolarCooking #SolarPowered

Student government president welcomes donors designers builders to #AgnesScott hall. #leedcertified #solarpowered restoration of the first electrified building on #dekalbga

#mellonfoundation gift to tell the story of the artisans builders engineers of colour who made this place (including figuring out how to hang the bell)

https://www.albawaba.com/slideshow/belgian-team-wins-prestigious-solar-car-1586504

Belgian students and engineers emerge victorious in the #SasolSolarChallenge, a grueling 8-day race across #SouthAfrica…considered the most demanding test of #solarpowered vehicle technology.

“If you want to create a renewable future, we still have a lot of work to do but we believe in ourselves and it’s possible to do it,” said Arne Besteijns, …for Innoptus Solar.

…other teams hailed from South Africa, Qatar, Italy, Netherlands, Turkey and Germany…

Version 2.

Bloody hell, I hope this actually works and I don't just blow up connecting the battery cables...

If I never post again, this is what killed me!