OT - Grumpy Old Man Thread

[SFBadger96]

Water heater connects to wi-fi.....Whaaaa?

I'm definitely behind the times......gladly, probably.

Frankly, I'm a little annoyed (grumpy old man-style) at that, too.

We have a tankless water heater (good decision, but it has its downsides), and it has a recirc pump so that if you know you're going to want hot water at a faucet far away from the heater, it's a good idea to run the recirc for a few minutes beforehand. You activate the recirc pump through the wi-fi. Generally it works well, and when you live in a place without much water, it's better not to just run the water until the hot water arrives, which can be as much as minutes later, depending on where in the house (PS it's not that big a house). There's another part of this story, which is the crappy job the plumber did when this system was installed, but it's just something we've learned to live with.

Anyway, because of the way this system works, with the use of wifi, the freaking mfg knows everything about my water use. That bugs me. Not that it will ever matter, but it is a little creepy that some chatbot knows when I'm using my hot water.

[betarhoalphadelta]

Wife's RX needs front lower control arms replaced, and full pads & rotors all around. That's... Not cheap. 

[Brutus Buckeye]

Wife's RX needs front lower control arms replaced, and full pads & rotors all around. That's... Not cheap.

You're an engineer, just DIY it. 

[Cincydawg]

Our thermostat connects to wifi which comes in handy, but water heater?

[betarhoalphadelta]

You're an engineer, just DIY it.

I would for my Jeep. Heck, I installed the entire lift kit myself. 

Not messing with her car. I'd rather pay the money than do something wrong and get blamed for it 

[847badgerfan]

You're an engineer, just DIY it.

So, I'm an engineer too, and when I look under my hood and see this



I know to get the hell away from it.

[Brutus Buckeye]

So, I'm an engineer too, and when I look under my hood and see this



I know to get the hell away from it.

You should be able to design a better one, machining each of the components from scratch. 

[Gigem]

You're an engineer, just DIY it.

You obviously don’t understand what an engineer does. 

Engineer is not a technician. 

[FearlessF]

So, I'm an engineer too, and when I look under my hood and see this

Ed Zachery.  Engineers cause this crap
not technicians

[OrangeAfroMan]

I hate how everything is covered up nowadays.  Even the undercarriage (for good reasons, but still). 

I miss my lifted Jeep where I could literally roll under it, work on it, take a nap, and roll back out.  And I'm not svelte.

[betarhoalphadelta]

Engineers can do anything, with enough time and study. But the humility of an engineer is to know that in some cases, you simply don't have the knowledge and experience to trump other engineers who have been honing their craft for decades. 

I am not an engineer in anything remotely automotive. I can turn a wrench from time to time, but automotive design is not my field. Just as any engineer working for the Big 3 would take 5-10 years (minimum) to remotely equal my knowledge and experience in my field. 

[847badgerfan]

Engineers can do anything, with enough time and study. But the humility of an engineer is to know that in some cases, you simply don't have the knowledge and experience to trump other engineers who have been honing their craft for decades.

I am not an engineer in anything remotely automotive. I can turn a wrench from time to time, but automotive design is not my field. Just as any engineer working for the Big 3 would take 5-10 years (minimum) to remotely equal my knowledge and experience in my field.

Exactly.

I've been practicing since September 4, 1984.

I'm still practicing.

Soon, I will quit.

[Cincydawg]

Is there some function beyond asthetics for engine covers?  I understand aero underneath, but on top?

This is the Hyundai.  I actually never open the hood until the washer fluid indicates low.  I can probably change the air filter, if it's in the box on the left.  I used to check the oil religiously back in the day.  I think the orange thing on the right relates to the electric motor, maybe.

The somewhat annoying feature of this car is that it shuts down after about a week of sitting, as in, you can't open the doors.  I have to detach a plastic cover off the door handle and use the hard key to enter and reset the battery.  It has two batteries, a regular one and then the hybrid one, so I don't know why it would run out of power sitting a week.

[Cincydawg]

A simpler affair, to me, would be one where the electric motor does all the propelling, no transmission.  An engine is there solely to generate electricity for the battery.  No alternator, one battery, not two, no start stop needed.  Maybe you could plug it in to 110v to juice the small battery a bit.  PHEV.