DenkiJidousha

Yet another community based IOT air pollution sensor project, http://www.hackair.eu/hackair-home-v2/ - Air quality sensor: Nova PM SDS011, Temperature and humidity sensor: DHT22, Microcontroller: Wemos D1 mini (based on an earlier iteration using an Arduino). They upload data every 10 minutes, and have public maps online at https://platform.hackair.eu/ - looks like a scattering over England and Wales, but none in Scotland so far. They also have a hackAIR portable design, which can be built with SEN0177, SDS011 or PPD42 particle sensors. The code is on GitHub at https://github.com/hackair-project/hackAir-Arduino and https://github.com/hackair-project/hackAIR-PSoC and they have lots of reports at http://www.hackair.eu/deliverables/ (presumably mandated by their EU funding?) including some information on testing the particle sensors.

Here's another IOT style air pollution monitoring effort based in Germany, https://luftdaten.info/en/home-en/ They have a few UK contributors on the map: http://stuttgart.maps.luftdaten.info/#6/54.635/-1.782 Their sensor build page is currently only in German, Dutch, French, but lists the sensors used: https://luftdaten.info/feinstaubsensor-bauen/ SDS011 fine particle sensor (formerly PPD42NS) DHT22, temperature & humidity (optional) Update, from their FAQ using Google's translation: Until September 2016 we used the SHINYEI PPD42NS sensor. This uses the optical measuring method and a heating resistor. Currently we use the NOVA SDS011 as a fine particle sensor. It has the digital outputs for PM10 and PM2.5. This uses the optical measuring method with a built-in fan. Update, Found their English build page which include lots of photos and the wiring diagram: https://luftdaten.info/en/construction-manual/ And another set of English instructions on this blog post: https://www.byteyourlife.com/en/household-tools/particulate-matter-sensor-controller-project-luftdaten-info/7204 Update, while looking for anything in English, I found a Belgian project using the Luftdaten approach as a basis: http://influencair.be/build-your-sensor/ Update, and this spin off group in Bulgaria, https://en.airbg.info/how-to/

(Ended up with a double post somehow)

What does PCM34 and PCM58 mean? Is one handling your hot water and the other heating?

Once up on their wheels, the Internorm HS330 and KS430 both run easily - single finger. However, if fitted with the slam protection widget (I don't recall its official name), you need a bit of muscle or technique to open them. There's the handle turn to lift, then leaning with your body was recommended to overcome this safety tensioner. The sales person did say many of their elderly customers deliberate do not have this soft closing feature because it makes opening that little bit harder.

Budget may well be the limit According to https://www.gaulhofer.com/uk/contact/search-authorized-dealers their only official UK dealer is EcoWin, but luckily they're only an hour or so away from us. I've emailed an enquiry. I preferred the look of the wood/aluminium Internorm HS330, but their UPVC/aluminium KS430 was cheaper and noticeably lighter which swung us. We were going to go with that, but the installation price has just jumped after their site visit assessment, so I'm rethinking this.

Another possibility: Solarlux SL 160 lift-and-slide-system, maximum panel height of 3400 mm, width of 3200 mm https://www.solarlux.co.uk/en/sliding-systems/terrasse-balkon-wintergarten.cfm (I've seen several references to their bifold doors on here, but not to their lift-and-slide)

Have you seen PurpleAir? USA based and a bit pricey to import, but ready made internet linked sensors. They list some of the parts used here - PMS5003 Laser Particle Counter (same as you picked!) and an ESP8266 chip programmed from an Arduino: https://www.purpleair.com/technology

There's a new presentation up on the Sunamp website: Andrew Bissell at Energy Storage & Connected Systems 2018 (Feb 8): https://www.sunamp.com/sunamp-energy-storage-connected-systems/ https://www.sunamp.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Sunamp-Optimising-Electrical-Systems-via-Smart-Heat-Batteries-PUBLIC.pdf This drops some hints about their 3rd generation heat battery domestic product which is capable of use for hot water and/or heating, and is able to take AC input or DC (direct from your solar panels).

Sunamp recently announced some new heat battery products at BuilditLive (Feb 2018), hope to see details on their website before too long: - hope

Thanks - certainly Ideal Combi have a low-profile sliding door, but the website is light on details like maximum sizes: https://idealcombi.com/doors/sliding-doors/low-threshold-sliding-door/ Zooming in on their photos, it seems these sliding doors use some sort of lever in each of the four corners which supports the moving panel. I'm curious to see more details of this mechanism, but suspect it puts a weight limit on the frame and glass - so it unlikely to work on larger panels?

Thanks both.

Most panels are about 1m by 1.6m, so like a letter or a photo, to me it makes sense to refer to the possible orientations as portrait and landscape. Are there standard terms for this in the trade? Anyway, I've noticed that unless the roof space is constrained, most installations are two rows of "portrait" orientation solar panels. Sometimes you see a few squeezed in as "landscape". I wondered why. Two reasons have occurred to me. First with traditional inverters expecting two matching strings of panels, two rows is a simple way to set this up on a typical UK house roof. Second, with the portrait mounting you'd need about 2m of rail per panel, versus landscape needing 3.2m of railing per panel - so that's a simple materials cost difference. Other than that, is there any other reason? Is one way round more secure/stronger? With a modern micro-inverter or similar design if it just down to a nicely filling the available space?

Thanks @Barney12, that's mixed praise but positive on the Internorm HS330 sliding door.

Are you still happy with it? We looked at the Internorm HS330 and their UPCV equivalent KS430 in a showroom. I agree, seems very nice, but not cheap. The timber version not only costs more, but also weighs a lot more too - significantly harder to open/close/slide which swayed us towards the plastic version. We're looking at a triple glazed sliding door with a low-profile sill for an upstairs room onto a small balcony, the opening is 3m wide by 2.7m high. As a single unit the height seems to rule out all of the suppliers I've looked at (other than Internorm), but have I overlooked anyone? Thanks! Update: To be clear, looking for installation too.

Thanks everyone. Heh heh - yes, most folk here are quite looking forward to the new V&A opening later this year - the outside is about done and looks glorious. Dundee also claims to be the sunniest city on Scotland (which bodes well for my solar panel aspirations)

My username is Denki jidousha (電気 自動車) which is Japanese for electric car. I'm on twitter as https://twitter.com/DenkiJidousha I discovered the Build Hub via the older ebuild forum (which still exists in read only form), which had some great information on the SunampPV product which I was reading up on as part of planning for a solar installation (PV). Using solar electricity to charge an electric car is great if you're at home during the day. Right now the prices of home batteries do not seem to make sense versus the current price of electricity. However, using a heat battery to offset gas costs might... I've also found browsing the forum useful for thinking about other house upgrades, including replacing failing double glazing units.