Hacker News

Ask HN: Great maker projects for 8th grade kids and above

Hacker News - Sun, 11/17/2024 - 5:36am

As a father of a 13-year-old kid, I tried to do my best to initiate him to different aspects of life. It could be watching a documentary about black holes, building coffee table or just enjoying a simple walk in nature.

I asked to some friends if they have great project idea that could be done by an 8th grade kid with or without support. I personally like to do it with him as it is a privileged time to build something together (for me) and learn new skills (for him).

The purpose of this thread is to assemble some ideas for Christmas presents.

I’m starting…

1. DIY LED Christmas tree kit for soldering (https://www.az-delivery.de/en/products/diy-weihnachtsbaum-kit-alles-inklusive-versandkostenfrei)

2. Software Defined Radios kit (https://www.rtl-sdr.com/about-rtl-sdr/ and https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CD7558GT)

3. DIY Internet Radio Alarm clock with touch screen control (https://www.az-delivery.de/en/products/radiowecker-mit-dem-az-touch)

Any other ideas or suggestions?

Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42163302

Points: 1

# Comments: 0

Categories: Hacker News

Show HN: PVBenchmark – UserBenchmark for PV Systems

Hacker News - Sun, 11/17/2024 - 5:25am

Hi HN,

I’d like to share a side project I’ve been working on: https://pvbenchmark.de/.

In Germany, small plug-and-play photovoltaic systems, often referred to as “balcony PV systems,” have become increasingly popular. These systems are designed for easy installation on balconies or rooftops, allowing homeowners and renters to feed a small amount of renewable energy back into the grid while reducing their electricity bills. However, one challenge for many users is assessing whether their system is performing well or if there’s room for optimization.

Inspired by online communities where users share performance data, I built PVBenchmark, a platform to help small PV system owners benchmark their energy production.

Here’s how it works:

Upload: Share a screenshot from your inverter app and input basic system data (ZIP code, peak power, orientation, tilt). Analysis: The tool extracts the data, matches it with local weather and site conditions, and calculates the theoretical potential for your setup. Comparison: See how your daily, monthly, or yearly energy generation stacks up against similar systems from other users.

Right now, the site is in German (sorry!), as it’s primarily targeting German users who own these small systems. If there’s interest, I’d be happy to work on making it more accessible to a broader audience.

I’d love for the HN community to check it out and share any feedback. It’s an early version, and I’m eager to improve it.

Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42163260

Points: 1

# Comments: 0

Categories: Hacker News

How to Get More Headcount

Hacker News - Sun, 11/17/2024 - 5:23am
Categories: Hacker News

We are shutting down Ondsel

Hacker News - Sun, 11/17/2024 - 4:51am

Article URL: https://ondsel.com/blog/goodbye/

Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42163141

Points: 1

# Comments: 0

Categories: Hacker News

What Is Your Dream for Mozilla?

Hacker News - Sun, 11/17/2024 - 4:50am
Categories: Hacker News

The official Aztec C online museum

Hacker News - Sun, 11/17/2024 - 4:42am

Article URL: https://www.aztecmuseum.ca/

Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42163099

Points: 1

# Comments: 0

Categories: Hacker News

Micropayments

Hacker News - Sun, 11/17/2024 - 4:40am
Categories: Hacker News

How do cars do in out-of-sample crash testing?

Hacker News - Sun, 11/17/2024 - 4:38am

Article URL: https://danluu.com/car-safety/

Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42163086

Points: 1

# Comments: 0

Categories: Hacker News

Ask HN: Any Good Alternatives to Disqus?

Hacker News - Sun, 11/17/2024 - 4:35am

Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42163070

Points: 2

# Comments: 0

Categories: Hacker News

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