Bern Morrison Zip Mold Cycle Helmet Review

Bern Morrison Zip Mold Cycle Helmet Review - Intro

I have a massive / huge / disproportionately large head, and finding a cycle helmet (or any type of hat) that fits on this engorged melon has always been a problem.

The Bern Morrison advertised fitting a head circumference up to 63.5cm which is a tiny bit smaller than my dome, but it was the biggest I could find. If you know of nay bigger helmets please leave a comment.

Bern Morrison Zip Mold Cycle Helmet Review - Style

The helmet is a kind of mountain bikers, rough stuff tourer helmet. It has excellent ventilation holes, which add to the look, and keep the helmet fairly light.It sits quite low on the head, which I would consider a bonus. Here compared to a skate helmet which sits so low as to cover the eye brows.

Bern Morrison Zip Mold Cycle Helmet Review - Fit

Fit can be adjusted using the adjustment screw at the rear of helmet, although in my case I undid this all the way. The system seems to work well though, and grips the head well, when used.

The "clicks" or increments on the screw I guess stop it coming undone, but they might be considered a little large, and do not allow for VERY fine adjustment, if you were being fussy.

Bern Morrison Zip Mold Cycle Helmet Review - More Pictures

Rest fo pictures not used thus far:

Label show size, and measurements etc.

Visor helmet interface

View from Front

View from top / rear

View from top / front

View from Rear

Bern Morrison Zip Mold Cycle Helmet Review - Conclusions

The Bern Morrison is a very high quality helmet, it is not super light, and I think is designed for rugged, and constant use. The style is futuristic, and I very much like it is every way except. . . .my swollen shill has defeated yet another hat, it is just too small!

I would say they are sized a little on the small side. My head is 62cm circumfrance when measured with a builder tape measure. So this hat should fit, but it is tight.

Bern - Official Blurb

Bern’s premium cross-over helmet, the Morrison is equally at home in the urban jungle and on the trails. A hard visor, ample venting, and premium Boa adjustment system (new for 2016) make this lid stand out both functionally and stylistically. 

The 2016 Morrison features our new Zipmold+ and Boa retention system. Zipmold+ is our proprietary liquid foam construction that is thinner, lighter, and stronger than traditional EPS construction. This allows for certified and safe helmets with an ultra-low profile and fit. Designed with 16 vents there is more than twice as much airflow than Bern’s other leading bike models to keep one’s head cooler on those warmer summer days. The performance liner with adjustable dial allows for a customized fit with moisture control and is replaceable should one need to freshen up a bit. 

Bern Morrison Video

Illustrator Devon 

Energy Strategy

Bosch GKS 190 Circular Saw Review

Bosch GKS 190 Circular Saw Review - Intro

I bought this saw from my local builders merchants. . . Jewson I think. . . and it was a good little saw for what I needed it for. I pushed this thing to its limits and is coped just fine. There are bigger more powerful saws around I am sure, and if you need to cut more than about 3" / 60mm thickness stuff then perhaps a bigger saw is what is required.

Bosch GKS 190 Circular Saw Review - In Use 

I was cutting 7" x 3" timber down the grain, this is slightly more than the maximum cut depth, and so I had to flip the timber and run the saw down the other side too. I did a whole pile of the timbers, and the saw although a little slow was not tedious to use.

Across the grain it cuts like an animal. Pretty much as quick as you could want. The saw comes with all the usual guides etc. If you are using the saw to cut along a line without the guide (which might be bad practice?) there is no slot in the rest plate that allows you to follow the line, so you have to make a mark with a permanent maker, and use that the line the saw up. 

Bosch GKS 190 Circular Saw Review - Photos

The Safety Switch is Activated with the thumb.

The saw has the normal clamps etc. for angled cuts.

The saw is quite wide, which may hinder some.

Some facts and figures.

The cuts depth is around 3"

Underside of circular saw.

The balde despite being large toothed give a clean cut.

Bosch GKS 190 Circular Saw Review - Conclusion

A good saw which I have tested do so prolonged and demanding cuts, power wise excellent. A great saw to use.

Environmental Permit Applications  

Cannot Start Outlook: ".pst is in use"

Cannot Start Outlook: ".pst is in use"

This is a message that popped up this morning, when I opened oulook. Fixt it:

1. Your .pst file is corrupted.
2. Your .pst file is in use by another program.

1 - Your .pst file is corrupted.

There are plenty of good guides on how to repair your .pst file:

Guide for repair of outlook .pst file. 

This can also help if outlook fails to index.

2 - Your .pst file is in use by another program.

After a few years of use a .pst file can become very large. Mine is currently at 9.0GB. This means that a backup / sync programs such as syncbac, can take several minutes to backup / sync the .pst file.

During this time you will receive the error message ".pst file in use", if you open outlook. 

Waste Transfer Station Permit
Illustrator Devon 
Energy Strategy

Using a 3 Speed Switch on an EBike

Using a 3 Speed Switch on an EBike - Intro

When using an EBike normally the speed is controlled by:

• Pedaling (with assistance from the motor)
• Use of Throttle

So why would you require a 3 speed switch to control the speed as well? 

Using a 3 Speed Switch on an EBike - Types of 3 Speed Switch

There are lots of different types of 3 speed switch available, the most simple is shown below. 

Some are slightly more complex . . . 

The above model incorporates a "walk" mode and also  power level indicator for batteries. 

Using a 3 Speed Switch on an EBike - Why Use One?

When using pedal sensors the speed switch can be used to control the amount of exertion put in by the rider, over a certain speed you will have to do the work . . so you:

1. Get more exercise
2. Use less battery

On a bike with a throttle, the reasons are a little more complex. There are two main reasons for having one . . . 

1 - Helps control speed.

If you have ever tried to travel across rough ground whilst holding a throttle in a half open position, you will know that generally your hand wiggles around, cause the throttle to move and the bike to surge forward occasionally, because your wobbly hand is moving the throttle. 

By using a three speed switch you can set the speed at a low speed, and fully open the throttle. This makes for a smoother low speed experience on rough ground. 

This is also useful for kids, as you can limit the maximum speed they can use. 

If you find that the motor pulls the bike along at a speed which is too fast for you to pedal, then a switch can be used to slow the bike down to a speed where you can provide useful pedal assistance. Installing a cheap switch is easier and cheaper than changing the gearing of a bike. 

2 - May limit peak wattage and protect motor in steep climbs.

This reason depends on the controller you have installed, but the premise holds true for most controllers that allow for connection of a 3 speed switch. 

When you choose a lower speed, you are selecting a lower voltage, for example a 48v controller in low speed may deliver 24v.

All controllers have a maximum current that is supported. My controller for example has a 15 amp upper limit. So in low speed I have restricted my motor to 360w. And so in a steep climb using maximum amps, and therefore maintaining maximum torque there is a reduced chance of overheating the motor. 

This is of use when non technically minded people are riding an e bike in a hilly area. "You need to be on speed setting 1" for example is a lot easier than saying "third throttle ".

Questions I do not know the answer to:

When normally entering a steep hill at full speed, the bike will slow down as it climbs the hill. Without using a speed controller what is happening inside the motor? 

Are 48 volts and up to 720w trying to turn the motor, with non movement resulting in buildup of heat?

or

Does the controller adjust the voltage according to speed, ignoring throttle position, so as to reduce wattage, and reduce chance of overheating?

If you would like to learn more about the relationship between torque, amps and wattage < read this. 

Using a 3 Speed Switch on an EBike - Do they work on any ebike.

It is not the bike, that is important, but the controller. Look at the controller's wiring diagram. . . is there a connector labelled for "3 speed switch" or "speed switch"? If yes there is a good chance you will be able to use one.

The 3 speed switch that I purchased, worked fine with one controller but not with another.  

Using a 3 Speed Switch on an EBike - Notes 

It is worth noting that is you have an e bike that goes 15mph, the 3 speed settings will result in the following speeds:

1. 17.5mph
2. 15.0mph
3. 12.0mph

So you have to be careful that installing a switch pushes you over your max allowable speed for road use. In my case I uninstalled my switch because in the high speed setting it made the bike illegal.

Using a 3 Speed Switch on an EBike - Conclusion

Part of me thinks that these switches are surplus to requirements, they serve no real purpose because the bikes speed can be controlled via the throttle.

BUT they do add in a extra option for controllability of the bike at a very low cost. 

Fire Prevention Plan 

Environmental Permit Applications  

Notes on Using Douglas Fir for Fire Wood

Notes on Using Douglas Fir for Fire Wood - Intro

I do not like to cut down an Ash or heaven forbid a mighty Oak, but I am less sympathetic towards the Douglas Fir. My farmer, in-laws have a few acre's worth of Douglas Fir which they have invited me to hack away at. I have been doing this for the last few years, and here shared is what I have learnt. I am not a pro.But help yourself.

Fir is over looked as a fire wood, with everybody normally hankering after hard wood. But in truth if Douglas Fir is seasoned for long enough it burns very well, if a little quickly.

This quickness to burn is handy in that it creates a lot of heat, but also means you will need a bigger wood shed to last the winter! It is best burned in a stove where the air inflow can be slowed to allow for slower burning. For many a fire in the evening is what is required, and Douglas fir is ideal for this, as it blazes well, and heats the room quickly.

Notes on Using Douglas Fir for Fire Wood - Choosing a Tree

When choosing a tree make sure there is room for the Douglas fir to fall clear to the ground without it bumping in to any other trees. Given the slightest chance a falling fir tree will get "hung up" in a neighboring tree and this means you will have a dangerous situation where you ave to try and get in "un-hung".

Allow Enough Distance

This can be done with a winch, or block and tackle, but will waste you time. So make sure the clearing is big enough or start from the edge of the wood. I am not a woodsman so I will not go in to how to feel a tree plenty of guides elsewhere for that.

Oh No! Disaster

Note: If you are looking to cut a tree that has been blown over in the wind, take care. The tree is likely to be under stress from being bent, and also the large root stock with tone and mud attached can add downward force in that area. I have cut through a tree before only to see the 1/2 tree left remaining magically stand back up again! Once I saw this happen with my chainsaw jammed in a cut, after cutting through the trunk with an axe. I had to get a ladder to retrieve my saw.

Using Rope & Cable is Dangerous - Be Careful

Notes on Using Douglas Fir for Fire Wood - Moving

The closer you split the logs to the fire the better. This means less movements. I prefer to get all of the cutting out of the way in the woods, but splitting them after I got them home would be more efficient.

A tractor and trailer would be ideal, but I do not have use of tractor so I use a trailer and quad bike. If you intend to move the trailer on to another vehicle then you will probably need a jockey wheel on the trailer. I tow the logs how behind my VW Polo (small car).

It is very unlikely that ownership of a 4x4 will pay for itself from cutting logs for use at home. Heat from mains gas or oil costs 5p / 10c a KWh. Say you keep you stove lit for 100 days a year, and it is a 5KW stove. This equates to a £600 / $1000 saving. Just to a fuel a 4x4 for a year would cost more than that let alone buying a 4x4.

Notes on Using Douglas Fir for Fire Wood - Cutting

Douglas Fir blunts a chainsaw blade a lot quicker than a hard wood tree. Soft wood you would think would be easier to cut, but no it is not. A chain will probably need a sharpen every few hours when cutting fir.

As a minimum you will need a saw and an axe. A chainsaw is preferential of course, although more dangerous. I cut logs for a number of years with a bow saw, but you can only really cut thin trees, and it is very hard work.

After cutting off the side branches, which can be don with an axe or a saw. Start to cut the trunk in to split-table sections. Choose a length that will fit in you stove say 40cm, but vary the length dependent on where you find knots:

Cut Across Knots

Top Tip: Cut through the knots! You will notice that the knots are clustered in "layers", you do not want these knots in the center of a log (end to end) that you are trying to split, it will make splitting very hard work. Instead cut through these knotty sections, so that they are at the ends of the log you are splitting.

Examples of Good and Bad Logs

Notes on Using Douglas Fir for Fire Wood - Drying / Seasoning

Douglas fir has a very high moisture content when green and will not burn very well at all. You will need to leave your wood for 1 year before you can burn it, wood cut in the spring will burn "OK" in the autumn, but it need to be early spring, and then stored in a shed after splitting. Burning green or slightly green pine can leave deposits in you chimney so best avoided.

If you are starting out you will need to make some headway, fell enough trees for 2 or 3 years worth of logs. Leave the branches un-trimmed as this will keep the trunk off the floor and damp. Leave the trunks un-logged for a year or more. Keep a year ahead at all times.

So. . .if you are reading this in the summer, you will probably need to go and cut down an ash tree, as these burn OK even when green.

Notes on Using Douglas Fir for Fire Wood - Conclusion

You will need to plan ahead. Split more logs. And sharpen you saw more. But Douglas Fir is just fine for use as fire wood.

Environmental Consultants London 

6, 9 or 12 MOSFETs - Are more MOSFETs Better?

1 - Introduction

I am unsure what other applications MOSFETs could be used in other then EBike controllers, as that is as far as my limited knowledge of electronics extends, but I have pondered long and hard as to whether it is a worthwhile exercise upgrading my 6 MOSFET Controller, to a 9 MOSFET or 12 MOSFET controller.

Will there be any benefit?

2 - What is a MOSFET?

A MOSFET when used in an EBike controller works like a valve or gate that allows current to be drawn from the battery and used in the motor. The MOSFETs are there so as to switch off the current supplied from the battery when it reaches its minimum safe volatage.

The MOSFET is left "open" while the battery has charge left in it, but once a minimum voltage is reached the MOSFET is "closed" to prevent the battery becoming over discharged, which can damage the battery / cells.

3 - Are more MOSFETs Better?

A quick look for MOSFETs on google shopping will show you that they come in all sorts of sizes, in terms of their rated current. Some can handle 0.5A whilst others will handle 50A. So in order to say whether more MOSFETs are better, one would need to establish whether they were the same type of MOSFET, when comparing 2 controllers.

3 - 6, 9 or 12 MOSFETs

When looking at a controller from the same manufacturer say Crystalyte you can see that there controllers have more MOSFETs relative to the current they can handle. Their 15 Amp controller has 6 MOSFETs, whilsts their 25 Amp has 12 MOSFETs.

4 - Conclusions

If you are comparing EBike controllers from the same manufacturer then there is a chance that their 6 MOSFET controller will handle half the current of their 12 MOSFET controller. But this presumes the same MOSFETs are used in each.

So really the number of MOSFETs is not really important, concentrate instead on whether the controller receives good reviews, and pick the correct Amperage for you intended application.

For more advanced users some controllers can be programmed so say a 40A contoller with say 12 MOSFETs can be used to provide a maximum of 10A. This would possibly provide a benefit in terms reducing over heating, but using a high Amperage controller, when you do not need the amps, and have no means of controlling them may damage your motor.

Energy Strategy

Property Investment Company London 

Custom Lithium Battery

Choosing a EBike Headlight

Choosing a EBike Headlight

Choosing a EBike Headlight - Intro

EBike have variable voltages 12 volts, 36 volts, 48 volts . . . . .and more exotic. So you would think that finding a headlight would be tricky, but with some very simple wiring and a few bits from EBay there are tons of ways to get a great headlight on your EBike.

LEDs are the light of choice as the use the least energy.

Very Bright - Can be Dangerous Dazzling Other Road Users

Choosing a EBike Headlight - A "Universal" Light

If you have deep pockets Busch and Muller make a EBike Headlight that takes 24v - 50v it is that easy. Just connect it up and away you go. But these lights cost £50 / $80 upwards so pretty steep.

However if you look hard on ebay you can find a Chinese equivalent for £5 / $8. There is no set term for these lights but try "universal scooter head lamp" or "universal ebike headlight".

NOTE: One important difference between a high quality Busch and Muller lights and the cheapo chinese versions is that the Busch and Muller Ebike lights have an excellent beam pattern, that is to say 95% of the light goes on the road ahead, and not up in to the sky, or in to oncoming drivers eyes. An 80 Lux Busch and Muller light will draw 3W and yet provides so much light on the road it compares to a 15W light that splashes light all over the place.

Choosing a EBike Headlight - 12V Lights

By far the most popular volatge for lamps and headlights (of any type) is 12V, this is because cars and 4x4s etc. use a 12V system, so there are plenty to choose from trying searching for "12V LED work lamp" and you will see for off road use there are some amazingly bright lights that will run off 12V.

I would not recommend any thing more powerful than 3W for on road use, as you will dazzle oncoming drivers. Of course you could set up a big headlight for off road, and a smaller headlight for onroad use.

But the problem remains that you have a 24, 36 or 48 volt battery, and a 12 v headlight, so you need to provide a 12 volts supply. . .  .

Choosing a EBike Headlight - Supplying 12V 

These lights do not use a great deal of energy especially is you keep under 5W, they will run for 12 hours on a 12 ah battery.

Choice 1 - Separate Battery

Although this complicates charging it also means that you will not be taking power from your main battery. You could choose a 12V SLA battery and charge with a cheap charger, or there are lithium 12v offering that although expensive do not require constant charging as they do not self discharge.

The choices (2 and 3)  below without spending a lot of money are limited to about 1amp current, which means another advantage of a separate battery is that  you can run very powerful lights.

Choice 2 - Variable Voltage Regulator

This a great choice, you connect you main battery (24v, 36v , 48v) one side and adjust the voltage to required which could be 12v or 6v if you wanted to re-use some older dynamo lights. You can choose. Most of the cheaper regulators are limited to around 1amp current of a 10W (at 12V) LED headlight.

Choice 3 - Buck Converter

A buck converter will drop a set voltage say 36V to 12V so you can run your headlights, this is probably the easiest option. Make sure you choose the right volatge, most reasonably priced buck converter will kick out about 1 amp so you are limited to about a 10W headlight.

Illustrator Devon