The Home Improvement Thread

[SecretSquirrel]

Eufy is generally better for those seeking no monthly fees, higher 2K/4K resolution, and local storage, while Ring excels in smart home integration (Alexa), reliability, and a wider range of accessories. Eufy often provides superior battery life and dual-camera options for better, comprehensive coverage.

Key Takeaways:

• Costs: Eufy is superior for long-term value, as most features operate without a subscription, storing videos locally on a HomeBase. Ring requires a monthly subscription for cloud storage and video history.
• Video & Features:Eufy typically offers higher 2K-4K resolution and, in some models (like E340), dual cameras to eliminate blind spots
  . Ring offers excellent 1080p-4K video, with a slight edge in app performance and quick, reliable motion alerts.
• • Storage: Eufy uses local storage (SD card or HomeBase), increasing privacy. Ring utilizes cloud storage.
  • Installation & Battery: Eufy cameras often boast better battery life, with some lasting up to six months.

Choose Eufy if: You want to avoid monthly fees, prefer local storage, and want high-resolution, dual-camera coverage.
Choose Ring if: You are heavily invested in the Amazon Alexa ecosystem, want faster, more consistent app notifications, and need a wider range of security accessories.

 

[Anathollo]

Ordered and installed this whole house surge protector. I've had some power blips the past few weeks and want to make sure my house doesn't get damaged. These should be standard in all house panels in my opinion.

 

[Silverback]

So last Summer I signed up for Base Power, they are a power company that puts battery backups at your house. Catch is that they can use those batteries to feed back into the grid during times when there is peak demand and surplus is low. Anyhow, so far I have been extremely pleased. I have 2 25kwh batteries, enough to power the house for well over a day, possibly 2, if I am conserving. I get weekly emails stating how much I have put back into the grid, also tells me how many times I was on backup alone. So far the power has only went out once but I didn't know it. Had a blip in the lights and that was it. Best thing about it... 9 cents per Kwh locked in for the next 3 years. Which is very good, I think the best out there now is about 13-14 cents. You can find cheaper on powertochoose.org but you will notice those companies have a 2 star rating or it's for a very short duration, usually less than a year. They are hoping you forget and they autorenew you at 18 cents a kwh. I did have to pay about $1200 to get them installed. If you only do one battery bank its about half that price to install. But I made that up in the first 6-8 months or so. Also, I don't own these, I do not pay rent or a lease fee. If something goes wrong with them (they are being monitored for bad cells or anything like that) the company will send someone out to repair it. I waited to see how the system and company was before I said anything about them, and I am very pleased. Anyhow, here is what the system looks like.

 

[balakay]

So last Summer I signed up for Base Power, they are a power company that puts battery backups at your house. Catch is that they can use those batteries to feed back into the grid during times when there is peak demand and surplus is low. Anyhow, so far I have been extremely pleased. I have 2 25kwh batteries, enough to power the house for well over a day, possibly 2, if I am conserving. I get weekly emails stating how much I have put back into the grid, also tells me how many times I was on backup alone. So far the power has only went out once but I didn't know it. Had a blip in the lights and that was it. Best thing about it... 9 cents per Kwh locked in for the next 3 years. Which is very good, I think the best out there now is about 13-14 cents. You can find cheaper on powertochoose.org but you will notice those companies have a 2 star rating or it's for a very short duration, usually less than a year. They are hoping you forget and they autorenew you at 18 cents a kwh. I did have to pay about $1200 to get them installed. If you only do one battery bank its about half that price to install. But I made that up in the first 6-8 months or so. Also, I don't own these, I do not pay rent or a lease fee. If something goes wrong with them (they are being monitored for bad cells or anything like that) the company will send someone out to repair it. I waited to see how the system and company was before I said anything about them, and I am very pleased. Anyhow, here is what the system looks like.

View attachment 67402

I've seen these but never heard anyone's first hand experience with them. Good to hear, I may look into it when I upgrade my panel. Much cheaper than a generator.

 

[MatthewMay1]

So last Summer I signed up for Base Power, they are a power company that puts battery backups at your house. Catch is that they can use those batteries to feed back into the grid during times when there is peak demand and surplus is low. Anyhow, so far I have been extremely pleased. I have 2 25kwh batteries, enough to power the house for well over a day, possibly 2, if I am conserving. I get weekly emails stating how much I have put back into the grid, also tells me how many times I was on backup alone. So far the power has only went out once but I didn't know it. Had a blip in the lights and that was it. Best thing about it... 9 cents per Kwh locked in for the next 3 years. Which is very good, I think the best out there now is about 13-14 cents. You can find cheaper on powertochoose.org but you will notice those companies have a 2 star rating or it's for a very short duration, usually less than a year. They are hoping you forget and they autorenew you at 18 cents a kwh. I did have to pay about $1200 to get them installed. If you only do one battery bank its about half that price to install. But I made that up in the first 6-8 months or so. Also, I don't own these, I do not pay rent or a lease fee. If something goes wrong with them (they are being monitored for bad cells or anything like that) the company will send someone out to repair it. I waited to see how the system and company was before I said anything about them, and I am very pleased. Anyhow, here is what the system looks like.

View attachment 67402

That’s pretty cool.

I am still all over the place on the smart home stuff. I like the idea of Apple HomeKit and I would go all in on Ecobee products but they don’t seem to offer exterior cameras. I mostly liked the Ring Floodlight cameras but didn’t like how they only recorded on motion and half the time they would stop recording before the event ended and I’m left wondering what happened.

Edit - Okay well now I just discovered that I can get different brand devices and as long as they are Matter over Thread compatible, I can control them through Apple Home. So now I’m thinking I can set up Kwikset Aura Reach locks with Ecobee thermostat and doorbell cam and control them all through the Apple Home app. Now it seems I just need to find some exterior cameras that will mesh with this ecosystem.

 

[balakay]

Well, my wife finally gave in. Said she's ready to move out of the city. Looked at a house the other day that we really like on 1.25 acres with a shop. But it's bad timing and we would be super strapped if our house didn't sale almost immediately. So we decided to spend this year tying up a few loose ends at the current house and then make a move in 2027. Sewage lines, roof, HVAC, most of the fence, and foundation piers are all new (since 2023) so just a few small things to finish up to get it ready for sale. We're looking at lots as well to purchase in the mean time and build on but it seems like every lot has restrictions on being able to put a camper on it to live in during build which is what we would want to do. That was the deciding factor in not buying the lot my parents have for sale. Oh well, we're not in a hurry and will find something when the time is right. just glad she is finally on board.

 

[Silverback]

Not really a big improvement but I picked up a couple US General storage shelves on sale for $30 each. I used them to organize my car cleaning supplies... even found a few things I forgot I had. Like the little battery powered polisher, the Makita polisher, and the ceramic coating from Cerakote. . Now to see how long it stays organized. My wife and daughter fuck it up all the time. I just picked up a bunch of wrappers and dirty rags from the old shelf that was there, never put shit back, leave bottles on their sides... enough to really piss me off. Next will be a locking cabinet if this doesn't stay clean.

 

[tex]

Any open space on a shelf is an open invite for a woman to put something there.

 

[Silverback]

I was just out there and thought, I need one more shelving unit. Might go swing by HF tomorrow. I have a small Bauer pressure washer I want to store there.

 

[Silverback]

Ended up with a 3rd shelving unit. Now to cleanup the rest of that area.