Tools I like and tools needed to be repaired or figure out what they are for....tool Junkie topic

[pilgrimvalley]

Through the years i have invested in many tools....as a co-worker made the comment to me that the other coworker buying lottery tickets was a waste of money and you would be a lot further ahead buying tools....

so as a DIY person i have bought many tools....and still believe i am further ahead than the lottery ticket crowd...

at any rate the 1st tool i will talk up is the>>>>

Klein brand Katapult wire stripper....at first i was having a hard time stripping the 10AWG PV wire, but once you figure it out a bit it is the best wire stripper i have ever used to strip the PV solar wire 10AWG....i will guarantee you that wire is tough and a bit hard to strip....i make up all the cables with the MC4 connectors but need to strip the ends of the 10AWG solar PV wire 1st....

https://www.kleintools.com/catalog/combination-cutting-tools/katapult-wire-stripper-and-cutter-solid-and-stranded-wire

more later

I have some I think you will enjoy....🤔😎

I am going to work on the big barn more today in the snow and cold before it snows again....

have a great weekend!

Edited December 10, 2022 by pilgrimvalley
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[pilgrimvalley]

old adjustable wrench with wood handle....

on the top is an area that looks like it would do double duty as a hammer....

I found this at a garage sale for  $3 dollars...I liked the design and it was in good shape and still functional...there is a 4 inch area that is made of metal that is knurled for grip to adjust this wrench...

I see absolutely no manufacturer markings on it....but is a good find...

curious who made it and how old it might be??

[AquaticsLive]

On 12/10/2022 at 6:46 AM, pilgrimvalley said:

Klein brand Katapult wire stripper

Nice I got my set in the 90s in Tech school and they still work great. 

Screwdrivers I use the insulated wiha screwdrivers they have a SL PH2 which really makes life so much better when doing a lot of terminations.

[pilgrimvalley]

just ordered a 6 pc set of Klein brand insulated screw drivers for $49.33 off of eBay including tax and delivery to replace the old set of unknown brand insulated screw drivers that i have utililzed the last 20 years...

i like the Klein brand and also looked at Wera and Wiha and Milwaukee insulated screw drivers before I punched the buy it now button. it will be January 2023 before they arrive but at least I did not have to go out in the sub zero crazy cold to go shopping....😎 winter storm is terrible >>> I can only be out in it about 20-30 minutes before my fingers start biting about the frost biting cold.....be safe in the cold weather all....🤔😎

 

Edited December 23, 2022 by pilgrimvalley
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[dickson]

 like the Klein brand .                                   Almost  all my  electrical  tools  are Klein .        How your battery doing in  sub zero temperature or in the shed ?        Your shed should  be warm  with the  Powerjack  running  ?        

[pilgrimvalley]

12 minutes ago, dickson said:

How your battery doing in  sub zero temperature or in the shed ? 

I added a few incandescent light bulbs yesterday as it was 15 degrees below zero with wind chill. I think there is about 300 watts of incandescent light bulbs running ....I did not check this morning but just fed the sheep and cats...terrible cold outside....says minus 10 degrees Fahrenheit outside this morning but feels like minus 39 degrees Fahrenheit with the wind chill....so the online current weather says...I can definitely say it is damn cold outside...20 minutes is too long to be out there....it was colder in the outdoor off grid power shed yesterday so decided to burn the extra light bulbs at about 4pm....

[pilgrimvalley]

heat lamp is in the barn as there was 2 Hair sheep lambs born on Sunday and a singlet Hair sheep lamb born on the 21st of December ....it is always the worst weather when these things pile up on you. I was re-stringing the probably 200 to 250 feet of extension cords Saturday before the last snow storm or so I think....so busy multiple times per day checking the Hair sheep.....no electric finished.re-wired in the big barn yet so slowly doing what I can....in the terrible cold temperatures....

All sheep were in the barn except one this morning which was outside eating a bit....It always amazes me how the animals tolerate the weather....but they seem to quickly grow a thicker hair coat as the weather changes....🤔😎

PowerJack inverters were running well actually had three running; but shut one off as it was just idling along without much purpose...😎

[dickson]

PowerJack inverters were running well actually had three running; but shut one off as it was just idling along without much purpose.

Are your Powerjack running  single phase 120 ac  only ?        I connect one inverter  240 ac  single phase  to Square D  50amp breaker  and the other inverter is 240vac split-phase   to another Square D breaker .      

[pilgrimvalley]

 

 

PowerJack inverters were running well actually had three running; but shut one off as it was just idling along without much purpose.

Are your Powerjack running  single phase 120 ac  only ?  

the 15k PowerJack is wired 120/240 split phase to a Square D QO breaker box,

the smaller PowerJack 6000 and PowerJack 8000 watt inverters are only running with 120 ac...via the outlets on the inverters at the moment....

yesterday or the day before I did power up a different 6000 watt PowerJack on a separate prebuilt battery and noted that the prebuilt battery BMS shut down sometime overnight when the battery got low but the PowerJack did not so the BMS correctly protected the battery but the PowerJack low voltage shut down was not and will not be adequate as a secondary fail safe to protect the battery from too deep of a discharge or if one cell goes bad....this prebuilt battery was not connected to solar or any charging at the time so was strictly checking the battery capacity (at least i know the BMS works correctly)

again I do not always check them 24/7 so it is important to have a secondary fail safe for the expensive LiFePO4 batteries.....

PowerJack inverters are very inexpensive to come by but they will not be an adequate LiFePO4 protection mechanism....

so a WIFI  etc. redesigned PowerJack etal inverter still  can not be a fail safe for the expensive LiFePO4 battery (price of the ESS far exceeds the inverter price and I do not need or want WIFI controlled inverters)!!!!

wishing all have a very merry Christmas and happy Christmas eve this fine morning.....still 5 degrees below zero Fahrenheit this morning....and wind chill is even worse...snow drifts about 5 feet tall burying the north fence line,,,, outside I go in a little bit when the sun comes up.... hi ho hi ho off to work I go

 ( at my slow retired pace >>> mind you)

🤔🤔😎😎

[dickson]

PowerJack inverters are very inexpensive to come by but they will not be an adequate LiFePO4 protection mechanism..so a WIFI  etc. redesigned PowerJack etal inverter still  can not be a fail safe for the expensive LiFePO4 battery (price of the ESS far exceeds the inverter price and I do not need or want WIFI controlled inverters)!!

I  use a cheap camera  connected  to cell phone to keep track of  the battery voltage  .           A  remote switch  is not a solution to shut down  a  Powerjack  when  it is running  a heavy  inductive load  .    The only  fail safe way is to disconnect the battery from the inverter  .               It  seem  like the Powerjack  do not  have enough power  to heat the house  in this cold weather .    Do you use  propane  heater  to keep warm  ?          I use  my inverter to run a portable heater  to heat one room at a time .    The heat from running the inverter keep the patio warm  and the inverter  is use as a  heater outside .             My  15k PowerJack is wired 120/240 split phase to a Square D QO breaker box also   and I  use two  12v dc  Delta fans  running from a 12vdc power supply connected to the 120vac  Powerjack receptacle outlet .   

[AquaticsLive]

On 12/23/2022 at 7:34 AM, pilgrimvalley said:

just ordered a 6 pc set of Klein brand insulated screw drivers

Nice those will do you good for long time.

 

On 12/23/2022 at 7:34 AM, pilgrimvalley said:

winter storm is terrible >>> I can only be out in it about 20-30 minutes before my fingers start biting about the frost biting cold.....be safe in the cold weather all....🤔😎

Yeah it sucks big time I am in Iowa, it has been such a fast shift to this extreme below zero weather really is a pain. 

[pilgrimvalley]

I received the 6 piece Klein insulated screwdrivers and like the quality and the clearly marked butt end of them, and this works well in the tool bag for quick finding the right one...they came last Friday or Thursday I think..

the weather is a bit better maybe get up to 34 today but snow predicted for Monday & Tuesday,,,seems like I always need to broom off the snow from the solar panels.😢 ...even at a 45 degree mounting angel the snow sticks to them....I may need to find something to make the glass slicker....

have a great 1st day of the new year 2023 all! 😎

ps: new years eve >>>i ordered the impact rated screwdriver from Klein as some reviewers thought highly of it..(about 21 dollars from Home Depot with free shipping)..i like a multi-bit screwdriver and use them a lot for projects so the 7-in-one impact rated Klein was the next logical upgrade to the tool bag. 

too keep in the tools I like subject....🤔

 

[pilgrimvalley]

Klein hammer from garage sale cost $2 bucks....

I was tearing apart some free pallets today and noticed the hammer was a Klein and still had the $2 pink sticker on it. it is Fiberglas handle but it comfortable to use....

I got 4 large oversized pallets this morning from the office supply store and a couple needed to be torn apart .... lots of good wood in them to repurpose... for free for time and effort

then the hair sheep had twins, then the snow storm started again, then I had to go get a replacement electric hot water heater ( 240 volt died in 13 months but replacement 2 year warranty) so bolt out bolt in,,, had to bring in the old one 1st...Menards yea! )

ewe number 5 lambed today so 5 had lambs with the 1st one on december 17th 2022.... why in the coldest times ,,, but all is well so far...

the snow drifts are about 5 feet tall and buried the north fence so I had to make a smaller fence up by the barn to keep the sheep from eventually walking over the north fence line... 10 dollar used hog panels are a god send in snow emergencies...😎

 

Edited January 3 by pilgrimvalley
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[pilgrimvalley]

11-in-1 Multi-Bit Screwdriver/Nut Driver, Impact-Rated

Store SKU #1008498515 it was actually a 11-in-one Klein impact rated screwdriver I ordered.....supposed to arrive 1/9/2023....if I can get the driveway scooped out.....and the snow does get too deep with the predicted winds 🤔 stuck in about 17 inch deep snow yesterday and still snowing and the 5th hair sheep had twins yesterday in the snow... school cancelled for today last night about 7pm announcement.  I could hear the big loaders running all day and see snow plows on the highways but I doubt they could keep up with the heavy snow fall... cheers all!

[pilgrimvalley]

Klein insulated lineman type pliers with a spring to open up I bought at some garage sale for a buck...

they have a partial loop on one handle and blue insulation. they are in good shape.

This Klein tool kind of saved me yesterday January 21st 2023 as I was hooking up a redundant 2P8S LiFePO4 Lischen 544ah battery to my Riden 6018 to recharge a low 2P8S battery....the snow is about 24 inches deep and even though the  solar PV panels are mounted at a 45 degree angle the last 12 inch snowfall stuck like glue...had to shovel snow off them but the livestock care comes 1st...

the fences on the north have 5-6 feet deep snow so smaller emergency fences made...

good thing they like the alfalfa hay in 3x4x8 foot 1200 pound bales and come rapidly for more hay!!! 🤔👍👍

found out I broke the camera lens on the back of the android cell phone so I will have to replace it soon....another one bites the dust....can not carry it when working ... i keep breaking them....

the LiFePO4 battery was down to 19 percent SOC and the PowerJack 8000 watt LF PSW SP inverter shut down ..... and was doing the squealing routine.... i got it charged up to 30 percent by dark then shut off the Riden 6018 >>>> so I did not to waste too much solar battery capacity in the night >>>> hopefully more sun today🤔🤔😎

3 other LF PSW inverters were still running so I have redundant systems but snow was a bit overwhelming.....hope it melts soon!!!!

 

[pilgrimvalley]

revision: sorry they are not insulated.the Klein tool blue handle (pvc covered maybe)

got to looking closer and it says warning not insulated on them

brought them inside and took hopefully a better picture with the el cheapo android cellular phone to send to post a hopefully better picture ,,,at any rate I am really careful around the 544ah LiFePO4 battery as I sparked one once and ruined a grub screw / set screw like melting with an arc welder....

I will need to pick and watch my tools a bit closer....somewhat dark in the off-grid solar power shed so this morning took the better pictures in the office inside the 1840-1880 vintage farm house off grid....🤔🤔🤔😎

 

[dickson]

 i got it charged up to 30 percent by dark then shut off the Riden 6018 

I  brought the  Riden 6024  because of your earlier  review .     This is an automatic  battery charger  and will never overcharge my LI Ion  BMW battery .  I  use it to charge all Li Ion battery size  of  15vdc  and 20vdc and  30vdc  and  45vdc and  60vdc  and even  8vdc  Leaf battery .    I  am riunning my new  200 dollars Powerjack 9000 watt  18 hours a day off grid  and run portable heaters to heat the  1800 sq ft  house .    My utility bill is one of the lowest in Arizona  according to the utility company  and even  lower than  people who have solar install by the utility which add  80 dollars  maintence fee a month  to all people  who has solar  and net metering is 4 cents per kwh .       

[pilgrimvalley]

I also bought the Riden 6024 but unfortunately have not yet assembled it....but yesterday did find the small battery it needs and the power cord as those are two items one has to buy separately in the Riden bench power supply builds.... lots of irons in the fire >>> multi-tasking in retirement....

another diy solar friend made me 2 sets of heavier charging leads....

wow ..... it is always amazing and I am a believer in the "pay it forward" motto and often get more enjoyment of helping others for free than being paid... i really like  teaching others when I can... 

great to hear your 200 dollar investment in the 9k PowerJack is working vs being bashed. i will not be grid connected to the electric monopoly....>> no incentive for me...

 I like the Riden 6018 a lot and will try the Riden 6024 later.....

they are predicting more snow in the next couple days, and i scoop a little more each day....

when i lived in Vermont for 15 months they used to pack the snow in the mountains will big rollers and drive on top of it....i thought that was strange but the amount here is getting to the point of thinking that was a good idea as there is not much room to move the snow off the driveway....about 24- 30- inches deep now with lots of fences covered entirely....

cheers all,,,,

from snowy South Dakota 😎 

[pilgrimvalley]

On 1/22/2023 at 9:20 AM, pilgrimvalley said:

I also bought the Riden 6024 but unfortunately have not yet assembled it

well I finally took the time (2 plus days off and on maybe 6 hours) and assembled the Riden 6024 bench top charger....most time is looking for pieces and parts and tools...

Riden 6024 is now functional and will charge up to 60 volts at 24 amps.... yea >>> more power ooo ooo ooo says "Tim" the toolman!!! arh arh arh

It also does not come with the external leads but I have several and plan to make up an improved set with 10 gauge silcone wire for increased flexibility....stiff wire is less to my liking >>>> slow but sure !!!

I put in the coin cell battery (not included) and it also has the WIFI board..... found a 10 amp ac power cord (not included) for the box I bought at a garage sale for 50 cents and it had a right angle end and a cable clamp. so will be more compact cord winding on the bench in the off-grid solar power shed.....not much room...still waiting to build a bigger one.... I find it interesting that all the power cords that fit into the s800 case designed for the Riden >>>i found were rated at 10 amps 120 volts.... they are the same style power cord as what fits into a Dell desktop computer and many other electronic items... some are labeled that they have 18 gauge wire inside those power cords.... hmmm hmmm

this one (Riden 6024) was a bit different than the Riden 6012 and 6018 in that it had 2 larger terminals to connect the Riden 6024 to the power supply so I had to solder the two positives to a larger wire (I used 12gauge copper primary wire (stiff stuff)but wish it was silicone wire instead) (I used electrical solder but the pistol style soldering gun kind of sucked) with a crimped on female spade end (used the Klein tools cr3005 crimper for insulated fasteners) which then fit onto the include male spade end that in turn screws down to the positive and negative respectively.....

my solder skills with the magnifying alligator clamp station were less than stellar....🤔🤣 (I taped the splice but I think I will go back and put heat shrink on that solder wire extension splice (2 wires into one larger wire)).

the reason I bring this up is I was thinking of Sean having to hand solder electric parts for some of the GS inverter work and thinking to myself what a pain in the rear end that will be....

but of course with a better solder iron and a better bench to work upon and a lot of repetitive soldering of small electronic parts >>>the soldering skill will likely improve...

I also made up some inverter cables for another inverter with the 10 ton hydraulic crimper....all works well with the proper tools and I put heat shrink on the ends to minimize the exposed electric and hooked up to a HF inverter 3000Watt.

of course now I need to make up a mount for the large fuse and fuse block between the inverter and the LiFePO4 battery.... 

I think I will order some 12 gauge copper silicone wire,,,, to improve the wire inside the Riden 6024,,,,,

I think the screw down post are an improvement in the ampacity of the Riden 6024 if I can improve my solder connection/workmanship a bit 🤔🤔😎

gotta go 

have a great day all,,,, more snow coming tomorrow....😎

[pilgrimvalley]

[pilgrimvalley]

I am going with 12 awg for the internal wire from the power supply to the Riden 6024.... it connects via a spade type lug that is fastened down via screw terminal....the next thing is the fork type terminals to find or maybe i will make my own with small diameter copper pipe....most of the fork terminals i find are thin gauges China made junk on the internet.....

if you know where i can find better quality fork type terminals let me know...

I have some 10 awg silicone copper wire that  I think I will make some flexible leads with for battery charging....using the Riden 6024...

the Riden 6024 is described as basically a buck converter but can be set anywhere from 0 to 60 volts as a constant current battery charger, and also one can set the constant current if that is the method you need.

for my purposes the battery charging option set at a constant voltage works great and when it is fully charged the amperage just decreases automatically down to zero.... a very handy unit...

[dickson]

 I was thinking of Sean having to hand solder electric parts for some of the GS inverter work and thinking to myself what a pain in the rear end that will be.

I do not think  Sean will do soldering  but have his helper  do the soldering .      He is probably  working with the bank to get his money back so can pay  a soldering company to do the soldering  like the  wire  assembly   company   making  the cable  and the  shell  making  company  doing the work .  

[AquaticsLive]

2 hours ago, dickson said:

I do not think  Sean will do soldering  but have his helper  do the soldering

Reality is that it is very simple and quick, just the equipment he has makes it difficult watching him solder in those older videos just hurt to watch.  He didn't know though so not his fault and was still fun to watch.  I think he has better equipment now because Sid said something to him. 

[Sid Genetry Solar]

2 hours ago, AquaticsLive said:

I think he has better equipment now because Sid said something to him.

Helps considerably now that he has an actual 60W temp-controlled (el cheapo Chinese) soldering iron...instead of a puny battery-powered cordless iron that was uselessly weak.  Oh, and using standard 60/40 solder instead of the lead-free stuff that I still have never been able to get to work.

[pilgrimvalley]

13 hours ago, AquaticsLive said:

Reality is that it is very simple and quick, just the equipment he has makes it difficult watching him solder in those older videos just hurt to watch.  He didn't know though so not his fault and was still fun to watch.

yes better equipment on a work surface with adequate room, the right type of solder, an improved soldering iron will definitely help >>> but a factory that does the same task 1000's of times each week with better equipment will likely produce a higher quality end product.

I primarily solder plumbing parts and when I go to soldering small electronic parts and wires i seem to fumble about more as it is not my best mastered skill, quite the opposite...although now i use more of the pex with crimped connections in whole house plumbing remodels....always a few pieces of copper to be soldered in place though....i have a big plumbing job coming up soon...

I also have hard time with hand soldering small electronic parts, but need a better soldering iron (((yea yea ...more better tools for the budget)))

now >>> hydraulically crimped copper cable connections >>> i do great at those....

my engineer contact uses a lot of smd (surface mount devices) in his electronic assemblies but he has a pick n place machine and an oven for the smd installations.....way beyond my means but he makes a lot of solid state things....

the through hole component soldering of the mosfets would seem to be fairly easy and repetitive once you get started at the right angle of attack....but I have not attempted that task personally....

my 10 ton hydraulic crimper was bought for small size wire crimping and the other (first one i bought) 16 ton hydraulic crimper works great for the larger wire crimping...and when you mount the hydraulic crimper in a adjustable drill press vise it gives you the extra hand you wish you had when using the hydraulic crimper.....

cheers all,

you can order things on alibaba and aliexpress right now even if they are in the Chinese celebrations,,,the shipping may be delayed a bit...some order arrive amazing fast...