Shift timer update

>

> >
> > _ wrote:

> >>
> >> On Thu, 15 May 2008 11:50:47 -0400, Tom Gardner wrote:
> >>
> >> >>
> >> >> _ wrote:
> >> >>>
> >> >>> On Wed, 14 May 2008 23:47:18 -0400, Tom Gardner wrote:
> >> >>>
> >> >>> >>
> >> >>> >> Tom Gardner wrote:
> >> >>> >>>
> >> >>> >>> Thanks for all the ideas! We decided to dedicate an older PC
> >> >>> >>> running
> >> >>> >>> freeware
> >> >>> >>> "Perfect Alarm Clock".
> >> >>> >>> http://www.celescom.com/ It has infinite set point events that
> >> >>> >>> will
> >> >>> >>> play a
> >> >>> >>> .wav file (or do other stuff) for each event. So, after breaks
> >> >>> >>> it'll
> >> >>> >>> play
> >> >>> >>> the
> >> >>> >>> sound of a cracking whip, at the end of the day it'll play Taps,
> >> >>> >>> and so
> >> >>> >>> on.
> >> >>> >>> The
> >> >>> >>> sound card's output will just connect to our PA system. I'll put
> >> >>> >>> it on a
> >> >>> >>> UPS
> >> >>> >>> and run atomic clock software to keep it accurate. I'll have to
> >> >>> >>> buy a
> >> >>> >>> MIC
> >> >>> >>> connector to fit the PA amp, everything else is free or lying
> >> >>> >>> around.
> >> >>> >>
> >> >>> >> Well, don't forget the $20/month in electricity to power the
> >> >>> >> overkill
> >> >>> >> solution. Much better to run that software on a machine that's
> >> >>> >> already
> >> >>> >> up 24x365 like a web/file server.
> >> >>> >
> >> >>> > We don't keep any PCs up 24/7. All get shut-down at the end of the
> >> >>> > day,
> >> >>> > thus
> >> >>> > the old PC. Do you really think it'll cost $20/month? The HD will
> >> >>> > be in
> >> >>> > stand-by mode, monitor turned off and other minimalist measures.
> >> >>>
> >> >>> Probably not.
> >> >>>
> >> >>> 720 hours in a month, 10 cents a unit, a small pc ps uses a tenth of
> >> >>> a unit
> >> >>> per hour.
> >> >>>
> >> >>> 7$.
> >> >>
> >> >> Try putting a meter on a PC, ~200W is typical. If you pay $0.10/KWh
> >> >> your
> >> >> closer to $15, and if your electric rate is higher (more like $0.12
> >> >> here) or you add in other items like cable modem/router/switch the $20
> >> >> I
> >> >> indicated is pretty much it.
> >> >
> >> > Hmmm, thanks for the heads-up.
> >>
> >> I don't think it's that high.
> >>
> >> Old pc's had 200/250 watt supplies, but that was for motherboards boards
> >> full of stuff that was just past ttl, extra cards for every function,
> >> full
> >> or half-height 5.25 drives, lots of power needed. If you have a 3 to 500
> >> mHz machine with a smaller newer drive and integrated video, the monitor
> >> turned off, standby mode, as you say, I don't think it would be using
> >> anywhere near 200 watts - and even if it did, do you heat your shop?
> >>
> >> But as Pete says, you could put a meter on it.

> >
> > A Kill-a-Watt meter is a handy tool for checking stuff like this. If you
> > can find an old laptop you can probably cut the power consumption a bit
> > over a desktop machine.

>
> I could set the PC up to turn off after the last buzzer and turn on before
> the first. The clock will still keep time and would get an update as soon
> as it boots.

>
> Tom Gardner wrote:

>>

>> >
>> > _ wrote:
>> >>
>> >> On Thu, 15 May 2008 11:50:47 -0400, Tom Gardner wrote:
>> >>
>> >> >>
>> >> >> _ wrote:
>> >> >>>
>> >> >>> On Wed, 14 May 2008 23:47:18 -0400, Tom Gardner wrote:
>> >> >>>
>> >> >>> >>
>> >> >>> >> Tom Gardner wrote:
>> >> >>> >>>
>> >> >>> >>> Thanks for all the ideas! We decided to dedicate an older PC
>> >> >>> >>> running
>> >> >>> >>> freeware
>> >> >>> >>> "Perfect Alarm Clock".
>> >> >>> >>> http://www.celescom.com/ It has infinite set point events that
>> >> >>> >>> will
>> >> >>> >>> play a
>> >> >>> >>> .wav file (or do other stuff) for each event. So, after breaks
>> >> >>> >>> it'll
>> >> >>> >>> play
>> >> >>> >>> the
>> >> >>> >>> sound of a cracking whip, at the end of the day it'll play Taps,
>> >> >>> >>> and so
>> >> >>> >>> on.
>> >> >>> >>> The
>> >> >>> >>> sound card's output will just connect to our PA system. I'll put
>> >> >>> >>> it on a
>> >> >>> >>> UPS
>> >> >>> >>> and run atomic clock software to keep it accurate. I'll have to
>> >> >>> >>> buy a
>> >> >>> >>> MIC
>> >> >>> >>> connector to fit the PA amp, everything else is free or lying
>> >> >>> >>> around.
>> >> >>> >>
>> >> >>> >> Well, don't forget the $20/month in electricity to power the
>> >> >>> >> overkill
>> >> >>> >> solution. Much better to run that software on a machine that's
>> >> >>> >> already
>> >> >>> >> up 24x365 like a web/file server.
>> >> >>> >
>> >> >>> > We don't keep any PCs up 24/7. All get shut-down at the end of the
>> >> >>> > day,
>> >> >>> > thus
>> >> >>> > the old PC. Do you really think it'll cost $20/month? The HD will
>> >> >>> > be in
>> >> >>> > stand-by mode, monitor turned off and other minimalist measures.
>> >> >>>
>> >> >>> Probably not.
>> >> >>>
>> >> >>> 720 hours in a month, 10 cents a unit, a small pc ps uses a tenth of
>> >> >>> a unit
>> >> >>> per hour.
>> >> >>>
>> >> >>> 7$.
>> >> >>
>> >> >> Try putting a meter on a PC, ~200W is typical. If you pay $0.10/KWh
>> >> >> your
>> >> >> closer to $15, and if your electric rate is higher (more like $0.12
>> >> >> here) or you add in other items like cable modem/router/switch the $20
>> >> >> I
>> >> >> indicated is pretty much it.
>> >> >
>> >> > Hmmm, thanks for the heads-up.
>> >>
>> >> I don't think it's that high.
>> >>
>> >> Old pc's had 200/250 watt supplies, but that was for motherboards boards
>> >> full of stuff that was just past ttl, extra cards for every function,
>> >> full
>> >> or half-height 5.25 drives, lots of power needed. If you have a 3 to 500
>> >> mHz machine with a smaller newer drive and integrated video, the monitor
>> >> turned off, standby mode, as you say, I don't think it would be using
>> >> anywhere near 200 watts - and even if it did, do you heat your shop?
>> >>
>> >> But as Pete says, you could put a meter on it.
>> >
>> > A Kill-a-Watt meter is a handy tool for checking stuff like this. If you
>> > can find an old laptop you can probably cut the power consumption a bit
>> > over a desktop machine.

>>
>> I could set the PC up to turn off after the last buzzer and turn on before
>> the first. The clock will still keep time and would get an update as soon
>> as it boots.

>
> Yes. You can also find other practical uses for the PC, like get a
> security DVR PC to record from security cameras and let it run your
> clock stuff as well.

>

> >
> > Tom Gardner wrote:

> >>
> >> >
> >> > _ wrote:
> >> >>
> >> >> On Thu, 15 May 2008 11:50:47 -0400, Tom Gardner wrote:
> >> >>
> >> >> >>
> >> >> >> _ wrote:
> >> >> >>>
> >> >> >>> On Wed, 14 May 2008 23:47:18 -0400, Tom Gardner wrote:
> >> >> >>>
> >> >> >>> >>
> >> >> >>> >> Tom Gardner wrote:
> >> >> >>> >>>
> >> >> >>> >>> Thanks for all the ideas! We decided to dedicate an older PC
> >> >> >>> >>> running
> >> >> >>> >>> freeware
> >> >> >>> >>> "Perfect Alarm Clock".
> >> >> >>> >>> http://www.celescom.com/ It has infinite set point events that
> >> >> >>> >>> will
> >> >> >>> >>> play a
> >> >> >>> >>> .wav file (or do other stuff) for each event. So, after breaks
> >> >> >>> >>> it'll
> >> >> >>> >>> play
> >> >> >>> >>> the
> >> >> >>> >>> sound of a cracking whip, at the end of the day it'll play Taps,
> >> >> >>> >>> and so
> >> >> >>> >>> on.
> >> >> >>> >>> The
> >> >> >>> >>> sound card's output will just connect to our PA system. I'll put
> >> >> >>> >>> it on a
> >> >> >>> >>> UPS
> >> >> >>> >>> and run atomic clock software to keep it accurate. I'll have to
> >> >> >>> >>> buy a
> >> >> >>> >>> MIC
> >> >> >>> >>> connector to fit the PA amp, everything else is free or lying
> >> >> >>> >>> around.
> >> >> >>> >>
> >> >> >>> >> Well, don't forget the $20/month in electricity to power the
> >> >> >>> >> overkill
> >> >> >>> >> solution. Much better to run that software on a machine that's
> >> >> >>> >> already
> >> >> >>> >> up 24x365 like a web/file server.
> >> >> >>> >
> >> >> >>> > We don't keep any PCs up 24/7. All get shut-down at the end of the
> >> >> >>> > day,
> >> >> >>> > thus
> >> >> >>> > the old PC. Do you really think it'll cost $20/month? The HD will
> >> >> >>> > be in
> >> >> >>> > stand-by mode, monitor turned off and other minimalist measures.
> >> >> >>>
> >> >> >>> Probably not.
> >> >> >>>
> >> >> >>> 720 hours in a month, 10 cents a unit, a small pc ps uses a tenth of
> >> >> >>> a unit
> >> >> >>> per hour.
> >> >> >>>
> >> >> >>> 7$.
> >> >> >>
> >> >> >> Try putting a meter on a PC, ~200W is typical. If you pay $0.10/KWh
> >> >> >> your
> >> >> >> closer to $15, and if your electric rate is higher (more like $0.12
> >> >> >> here) or you add in other items like cable modem/router/switch the $20
> >> >> >> I
> >> >> >> indicated is pretty much it.
> >> >> >
> >> >> > Hmmm, thanks for the heads-up.
> >> >>
> >> >> I don't think it's that high.
> >> >>
> >> >> Old pc's had 200/250 watt supplies, but that was for motherboards boards
> >> >> full of stuff that was just past ttl, extra cards for every function,
> >> >> full
> >> >> or half-height 5.25 drives, lots of power needed. If you have a 3 to 500
> >> >> mHz machine with a smaller newer drive and integrated video, the monitor
> >> >> turned off, standby mode, as you say, I don't think it would be using
> >> >> anywhere near 200 watts - and even if it did, do you heat your shop?
> >> >>
> >> >> But as Pete says, you could put a meter on it.
> >> >
> >> > A Kill-a-Watt meter is a handy tool for checking stuff like this. If you
> >> > can find an old laptop you can probably cut the power consumption a bit
> >> > over a desktop machine.
> >>
> >> I could set the PC up to turn off after the last buzzer and turn on before
> >> the first. The clock will still keep time and would get an update as soon
> >> as it boots.

> >
> > Yes. You can also find other practical uses for the PC, like get a
> > security DVR PC to record from security cameras and let it run your
> > clock stuff as well.

>
> I forgot...I've got a dvr running 12 cameras 24/7, you should have reminded me
> sooner. I shall use that!

>
> A Kill-a-Watt meter is a handy tool for checking stuff like this. If you
> can find an old laptop you can probably cut the power consumption a bit
> over a desktop machine.-

>We don't keep any PCs up 24/7. All get shut-down at the end of the day, thus
>the old PC. Do you really think it'll cost $20/month? The HD will be in
>stand-by mode, monitor turned off and other minimalist measures.