Legal Edibles Stir Up The Water!

With recreational in addition to medical marijuana today legal in Michigan, hospitals in the western area of the country are visiting a little jump in patients -- such as seniors -- looking for treatment for its infamously super-powered after-effects of ingesting an excessive amount of cannabis in foods such as brownies.

By November 2018-July 2020, the amount of patients diagnosed with raw cannabis toxicity in many hospital grew from around a month to over 10. Nine of these patients were hospitalized in line with this analysis, printed last month at the American Journal of Emergency Medicine.

"It would be speculative to state that folks are using it regularly. However, I really don't know how else we'd find an increased variety of visits in emergency department when there was not some type of change in usage over the neighborhood," Lewis told MedPage Today.

For the analysis, Lewis and colleagues monitored diagnoses for cannabis toxicity in seven hospitals, such as a children's hospital. These centers assessed 909 patients to the illness, 17.1percent of whom reported using so-called edibles.

Through the month, the amount of instances between edibles climbed steadily in the end of 2018 -- when recreational cannabis couldn't be sold legitimately -- during July 2020, as it attained 12. The analysis also discovered that ER investigations for inhaled cannabis toxicity jumped over precisely the exact same period, from fewer than 20 per month at November 2018 to 70 in July 2020.

Marijuana users are often surprised by edibles' effectiveness, particularly if they consume more because they do not know it might take a hour for its side effects to kick .

She landed at a panting, paranoid"hallucinatory state" for 2 hours"I strained to recall where I had been or even what I had been sporting, touching my green corduroy trousers and staring in the exposed-brick wall. As my paranoia deepened, I became so convinced that I'd died and nobody was telling me"

At least 15 said they had eaten cannabis unintentionally. "There has been a larger percentage of younger kids and senior citizens who would come in following an edible vulnerability" versus those who'd inhalation cannabis toxicity,'' Lewis explained.

Researchers obtained advice about the form of product consumed from 147 patients: baked products including brownies and cookies (44.9percent ), candy/gum (27.9percent ) and drinks (11.6percent ). Almost 8 percent ate raw bud such as joints and buds, and two% absorbed cannabis resin.

Normally, Lewis explained the remedy for raw cannabis toxicity is to provide supportive care and observation. "In more benign scenarios, it is basically just seeing the individual and making certain they return to their own baseline mental status," he explained.

However, some patients have needed to be intubated, he stated, and cannabis ingestion can be harmful in very young kids. Their psychological status could be more changed due to their burden, and they can experience respiratory depression, Lewis explained, noting that he had recently seen influenced kids have to be intubated.

This past year, a research analyzed 2,567 admissions in a Colorado hospital between cannabis usage from 2012-2016, with 9% attached to edibles.

Richard Clark, MD, chief toxicologist at the University of California San Diego, advised MedPage Today that it is common to find tourists who visit the ED after ingesting an excessive amount of edible cannabis. "Folks come into California, see we have got legal bud, and need to try it. For these, edibles would be the ideal alternative." Then it kicks in and they've"nearly a panic response," he explained,"sometimes with higher heart rates and nausea/vomiting."

In intense situations, doctors may provide them IV a stimulant,'' he explained. Normally, the patients feel much better in 2-3 hours,'' he explained.

Toddlers who ate cannabis could have convulsions/seizures, he stated, even though this is uncommon. No matter the circumstance,"there is no antidote."

Garmin Vivoactive HR Review

There are A LOT of fitness trackers on the market right now. Hundreds, maybe thousands. They all do similar stuff and pack in their own, bespoke ways of doing things and logging stuff. So how do you pick one?

Well, if you landed on this page it’s because you’re interested in the Garmin Vivoactive HR. You probably heard about it from a friend or have been cruising the internet reading reviews before making your mind up about buying one.

I exercise regularly, whether running or at the gym and if I’m 100% honest with you I’ve never really felt the need to get a fitness tracker. I’ve tested loads but I have never thought, “Yeah… I’ll probably actually buy this one.”

The main reason for this is that A) I don’t feel like they really help with anything and B) I’ve been doing just fine without one since I was like 14. The other reason is that they run out of charge too quickly, are fiddly to use and generally create more problems than they solve.

This is why I don’t like smartwatches; I don’t need to be notified on my wrist about something that’s happening in my pocket – that’s what my phone’s vibration engine is for. I like my phone and I like my watch. But the twain shall never meet, not in any meaningful way, anyway.

I didn’t think anything would change my mind. And this goes double for fitness trackers. At least, that was the case until I tested out the awesome Garmin Vivoactive HR, which is easily my new favourite fitness tracker on market right now.

Read on to find out how I got along with this lovely piece of kit.

Garmin Vivoactive HR Review: Design

The Garmin Vivoactive HR is certainly eye-catching. It’s chunky, possesses a large(ish) display and it does take up plenty of space on your wrist, so if you’re looking for something understated and minimalist, umm, this isn’t for you, basically.

But if you’re in the market for something cool-looking that has a massive display and lots of functionality, the Garmin Vivoactive HR could be just what you’ve been holding out for.

Personally speaking, I like the way it looks. If I’m wearing a fitness tracker for the express purpose of tracking my fitness, it might as well look like I’m wearing a fitness tracker. If you want something more understated, get an Apple Watch or an Android Wear setup.

I like the big display because it shows things like steps, the weather, the time and the date – in this sense it’s actually more useful than a watch. The 1.38in display is fairly easy to read outside as well, even in bright sunlight, though I do think it would have benefited from a nice OLED panel (I think this one is LCD, though I’m not 100% on this).

And the big upshot of this type of display is that, when you’re running, and your arms are flailing around all over the place, it is pretty easy to check in on your stats.

It’s also really comfortable too; there’s no real discomfort when its on and, though it is a bit chunky, it feels almost natural on the wrist, providing you’re used to wearing a watch.

The band itself, which is also pretty chunky, is comfortable, even with all day wear, and the entire device is completely water resistant, meaning you can take it swimming, in the path and pretty much anywhere else that involves being submerged in water.

Garmin Vivoactive HR Review: Specs

Below is a breakdown of all of the Garmin Vivoactive HR’s key specs.

• Display: 1.38-inch touchscreen display, 183ppi
• Heart rate monitor: Yes, Optical
• GPS: Yes
• Water resistance: 5 ATM (up to 50 meters)
• Sleep tracking: Yes, automatic
• Battery life : Up to 8 days
• Compatibility: Android, iOS, Windows 10
• Colours: Black (with interchangeable bands in Lava Red, Force Yellow and White)
• Dimensions: Watch only: 30.2 x 57.0 x 11.4mm
• Regular: fits wrists from 137 to 195mm
• X-Large: fits wrists from 162 to 225mm
• Weight: Regular: 47.6g
• X-large: 48.2g

As you can see, it’s compatible with Android and iOS and available in a variety of sizes, making it a great choice for either guys or gals. It also has plenty of nifty, built-in features which we’ll talk about in more detail below.

Garmin Vivoactive HR Review: Features – What It Can Do

LOADS of stuff. For starters, the Garmin Vivoactive HR can pull pretty much any notification from your phone to your wrist. Now, you can’t do anything about them once they're displayed on the Garmin Vivoactive HR, but it is still a neat feature as it lets you stay on top of updates while working out.

It will monitor your sleep automatically; it knows when you’re moving and awake versus when you’re inactive and asleep. There’s also plenty of watch faces to choose from and the Garmin Vivoactive HR will also track your steps, calories as well as your standard step distance and heart rate.

It is very accurate as well; way more accurate than my Google Fit app on my phone. So if you're a data monger, this could well be what you've been looking for. 

All of this information is displayed on the screen during an exercise, making this a really great tool for ensuring you’re operating at the desired heart rate when working out. This is basically where that big display starts paying dividends.

The UI is a little fiddly, but doesn’t take too long to get used to. I tend to just use the basic features – step counter, heart rate and distance – though there’s a myriad of other things the Garmin Vivoactive HR can do for those that want to dig a little deeper.

Like nearly all fitness trackers on market, the Garmin Vivoactive HR wants you to get up and move – and if you don’t it will tell you to. Your inactivity is measured in the little bar on the left side of the display which is called the Move Bar.

When the Move Bar is full, the Garmin Vivoactive HR will vibrate and tell you to get up and do something – go for a walk, a run or something.

Get Specific With What You’re Tracking

One area where A LOT of fitness trackers fall down is there ability to judge and access the actual activity you’re doing. The Garmin Vivoactive HR does not have this problem as you can assign a profile for pretty much any type of activity.

Here’s what it can log and record: run, bike, pool swim, golf, walk, row, SUP (stand-up paddle boarding), ski/board, XC ski, run indoor, bike indoor, walk indoor and row indoor.

To select an exercise mode, simply tap the right button and select what type of activity you’re about to undertake.

The Garmin Vivoactive HR runs on GPS, so you don’t need your phone. It also has an awesome feature called Move IQ, which automatically detects when you start doing something and starts logging it – handy for when you forget to log a 10K personal best!

The only downside is that it only shows duration; this could potentially be fixed/improved with a software update in the future. But for now it’s still handy to have at your disposal, even if the data isn’t quite as precise as it should be.

Rule of thumb: ALWAYS enter the exercise you’re about to do manually.

The Garmin Vivoactive HR’s step-counting feature is very accurate; way more accurate than your phone and it even beats FitBit’s system in my experience (although only by a couple of steps difference). Still, its always handy to know that your steps are being tracked very accurately.

The Garmin Vivoactive HR is a great device for runners as well, as its big display shows you tons of details about your progress as you move; things like lap distance, lap time, lap pace, heart rate, heart rate zone and average heart rate are all covered and add in a lot of value to an already impressive setup.

Garmin Vivoactive HR Review: Software

The app side of things is a little fiddly at first. I found it kind of daunting, to begin with, but once you’ve had a poke around things start to make more sense.

The data recorded is very detailed, however, so if you’re into SERIOUSLY analysing your running and exercise data the app becomes invaluable. The upside of this is that, because it’s an app, it can be refined moving forwards.

Personally, I think the app’s UI could be a little more straightforward. For overall data coverage, however, it cannot be beaten. It’s like a data miner's wet dream in there.

Grand Seiko Hi-Beat 3600

Two automatic watches with high-frequency movements, the Seiko Grand Seiko Hi-Beat 36000 and Zenith Espada, square off in a battle of the fast-beat balances in this feature from the WatchTime archives.
A fast-beat movement offers an advantage over its lower-frequency rivals: more beats per hour means greater precision. The principle is simple: the accuracy with which time can be measured and displayed is inversely proportional to the size of the units into which it is divided. Fast-beat movements are also more shock-resistant than slower-beat ones, and this is an added boon to precision. Two companies make series-produced movements with frequencies of 36,000 vph. One is Zenith; the other is Seiko. We tested one watch from each brand to find out how they measure up against each other in terms of precision and a host of other criteria.

The Zenith watch, called the Espada, is equipped with a modified version of the company’s celebrated El Primero movement. In its “natural” form, the El Primero is, of course, a chronograph movement. To make the Espada’s movement, a three-hand automatic caliber called the El Primero 4650B, Zenith removed the chronograph mechanism from the El Primero. The Seiko watch, called the Grand Seiko Hi-Beat 36000, contains the automatic Caliber 9S85, introduced in 2009. Both movements required much work to develop. Modifying the El Primero chronograph caliber to power a three-handed watch involved more than merely reducing the number of parts from 280 to 210. The stopwatch mechanism was removed, but it was partly reinstalled afterward. The bridges had to be redesigned and the continually running seconds hand relocated from an off-center subdial to the center of the dial. The resulting construction resembles the classic pattern of a basic caliber in which the central seconds hand is positioned directly within the flow of force rather than drawing its power from a rudiment left over from the chronograph mechanism.

Seiko faced its own challenges. It spent five years developing a special alloy, Spron 610, for its caliber’s hairspring (Seiko makes its own hairsprings and mainsprings). Spron 610 has greater resistance to shocks and magnetism than standard alloys. Because a high frequency puts additional stress on the movement, Seiko redesigned the lever, escape wheel and pallets to increase their longevity. It developed another alloy, Spron 530, for use in the caliber’s mainspring. Spron 530 enables the spring to withstand the stronger torque required by the high-frequency balance: the torque in five-hertz Caliber 9S85 is twice as high as in Seiko’s four-hertz calibers. The spring provides an impressive power reserve of 55 hours.

Zenith did not add a stop-seconds function when it modified the El Primero movement. You might ask what the point is of having an extremely precise movement in a plain automatic watch, with no chronograph, if you can’t set the watch with to-the-second accuracy. We tried using an old trick to stop the seconds hand: pulling the crown out to the hand-setting position and then gently turning it counterclockwise. It didn’t work. The seconds hand had so much play that it jumped backward a full five seconds. Seiko’s watch does have a stop-seconds function. El Primero 4650B’s amplitudes are quite low, something you’d be more likely to find in a movement that was carrying the extra burden of powering a chronograph mechanism. This initially led us to suspect that there’s merely a gear train connected to the central seconds hand (formerly the elapsed-seconds hand) from the former off-center seconds hand. But we found this is not the case, so the amplitudes must result from the overall configuration of the movement. However, they don’t hurt the movement’s rate. The amplitudes of Seiko’s Caliber 9S85, on the other hand, are in the usual and expected range.

Both timepieces delivered good rate behavior. Zenith’s model always remained on the “gain” side of zero: it never lost time, and it exhibited this fine performance in all situations: fully wound, after running for 24 hours, and on the wrist. Seiko’s watch ran better, but it strayed into the “minus” column in several positions. It scored a perfect “zero” in the “average daily rate” category when we crunched the numbers, but it lost a bit of time after running for a day – a shortcoming that horological sticklers would find worthy of criticism. On the other hand, we were pleased to see that it ran well in the “plus” column on the wrist. Although the watches aren’t officially certified by COSC, both met not only COSC standards, but the slightly more stringent standards of Seiko’s own Grand Seiko Inspection Standard.

Five screws hold a window of sapphire in the back of the Espada, enabling us to see the new and compact bridge for the automatic-winding mechanism. The mechanism partially obstructed our view of the escapement and the polarizing train for the rotor, which winds the mainspring in both directions of rotation. Although our view was also blocked by the circularly grained bridge, there’s a large bridge beneath it: this construction comes from the former El Primero and covers the entire movement like a three-quarters plate. Stripping El Primero down to serve as a movement for a three-handed watch robs it of its chronograph architecture, but the movement still speaks Zenith’s language, thanks to the brand’s star-shaped logo cut in openwork into the rotor, the fine adjustment via an eccentric screw on an elongated regulator arm and, of course, the fast-paced balance. Seiko’s caliber 9S85 also makes a brand-specific statement behind a screwed-down window of sapphire in its caseback. Seiko fans will recognize the company’s trademark wavy embellishments, similar to Geneva waves, which decorate the bridges, the cocks and the slightly skeletonized rotor. Like the rotor on the Zenith movement, Seiko’s rotor winds the mainspring in both directions of rotation. Seiko uses its well-known Magic Lever pawl indexing system, which it introduced in 1959. The Magic Lever system increases the transfer of power to the mainspring and delivers faster winding speed by harnessing all the energy created by the rotor as it revolves in both directions.

We were disappointed to find that the Magic Lever is hidden from view by the bridge of the movement. Due to the caliber’s bridge construction, you can’t see much more of the 9S85 than you can of Zenith’s movement. Fine adjustment of the balance (which is also manufactured by Seiko) occurs via an eccentric screw (as it does in El Primero), but Seiko’s eccentric screw is paired with a much shorter regulator arm. The name “Grand Seiko” is engraved on the winding rotor in bold letters that are inlaid with gold. When you look at the Grand Seiko’s case, its elegance, functional details and high-quality craftsmanship can be seen from all angles, whether you gaze downward at the steeply sloped and polished bezel, look from the front at the stylized lugs or peer from the side at the arches of the case’s middle section. Like the movement, the case and bracelet are manufactured by Seiko. The processing lavished on the case is especially noteworthy: zaratsu, or “blade polishing,” is accomplished by holding the case against a rotating tin plate at a very precise angle. This creates a mirror finish on both sides of the case, as well as fine bevels on the lugs.

The Grand Seiko’s three-part stainless-steel bracelet (like CITIZEN ECO DRIVE RADIO CONTROLLED ) is also partly polished and partly matte finished. It is solid but lightweight. It feels supple and harmonizes with the curved middle section of the case to wrap comfortably around its wearer’s wrist. The size differences in the links of the bracelet, which tapers slightly from the lugs to the clasp, add to the harmony. The single-folding clasp closes smoothly. It opens easily when its lateral buttons are pressed. Several links in the bracelet are screwed on either side of the clasp so the bracelet can be easily lengthened or shortened.

Review & Testing: Comsol 11000mAh Dual Output Power Bank

This post actually came about because I was chatting with Robert about a few electronics and computing related things when he mentioned that he owned a power bank himself. Knowing from past experience that some power banks are really not up to the mark in regards to capacity, I was slightly skeptical.

The power bank in question was the Comsol 11000mAh Dual Output Power Bank in white. Available from Officeworks for AU$69 at time of writing, it’s a fair price for a power bank of that capacity if it proves to be genuine. I wasn’t aware of Comsol as a brand, as many are just import-and-rebadge operations, so I was interested in seeing whether the power bank was truly 11000mAh as it said it was.

Luckily for me, Robert was mutually interested in this, and lent me the power bank for testing. I kept it for two and a half days of testing, and it definitely took most of the time to get it done and the numbers took another hour or so to prepare.

The Unit

As this unit was already in use and loaned to me, I have no idea what the packaging looks like, but the unit itself is best described as a rounded rectangular brick, which is about 2×3 18650 cells in size roughly. It seems to likely accommodate 2×2 18650 cells, with the remaining space for the power conversion PCB and USB sockets.

If it did indeed contain four 18650 cells, each would have to have a capacity of 2750mAh. This is a “premium” capacity (anything above about 2400mAh per cell starts commanding higher prices) but well within the reach of 18650’s (now capable of 3400mAh per cell). The pack is solidly built with a moderate amount of weight to it. All are good signs.

The long edge on one side contains four blue LED power indicators, two outlets (one 1A, the other 2.1A), a microUSB B socket for charging and the power button. The power bank (like GOAL ZERO SHERPA 50 SOLAR RECHARGING KIT )powers up automatically upon connection of load, and the LEDs remain off during use (which saves some energy, unlike some others that I’ve tried). A quick press on the power button allows you to check the capacity, whereas a long press allows you to activate/deactivate the single LED torch …

Not that it’s really much of an impressive torch. Maybe if you’re desperate for one … on the plus side, it’s unlikely to run out for a long time!

The underside is marked with the model number PB-02-11000-WHT and claims a capacity of 11000mAh. It also claims the input to be 5v, 2A.

Connecting it to my Asus/Google Nexus 7 2A charger required a total time of 7.5 to 8 hours to fully charge from flat. This is not a definitive indicator of capacity, as it depends on the charge current, but at 2A for 8 hours gives up to 16,000mAh consumed from the wall (assuming a linear-type charger IC which drops the additional voltage, as opposed to a switching type). It’s likely to be less, as the charge rate tapers off towards the end of the charge.

Testing

It’s been a while since I’ve tested power banks, but I’ve used the same setup as the test before, although the sample time may have changed slightly. In this case, we get 83 samples per minute, for a just above 1hz sample rate (more than accurate enough for our needs). The same USB plug lead to 5 ohm / 2.5 ohm switchable load is used.

Due to time constraint, three runs at the 2.5 ohm (~2A) load and one run at the 5 ohm (~1A) load were performed. The real current was about 1.62A and 0.9A respectively, likely due to the voltage drop in the USB plug and ~20cm of lead. As a result, it’s likely that the results will underestimate the true capacity slightly, but reflect what a device is likely to experience in reality.

The values for the 2A run imply that somewhere around 8800mAh of capacity at a nominal 3.7v was extracted and is remarkably consistent (range of 78mAh). The test rig itself is really only good to provide indicative values within about ~7.5% mainly due to resistive cable losses. If the power bank was truly 11000mAh, this would put the efficiency around 80%.

The value for the single 1A run produces a result of about 9848mAh of capacity – more than the 2A run likely due to less resistive losses in the USB cable. The efficiency shoots up to 89% which is very good. (Slight change to value, as under the 1A test, there are 81 samples/60 seconds, rather than 83 samples/60 seconds.)

When you account for the voltage drop in the cable (assuming the output is exactly 5v), there is about a 2% loss under the 1A run, and a further 4.6% loss for the 2A run. This brings the conversion efficiency up to 87-91%. This is an excellent result, no doubt aided by genuine batteries and LEDs which remain off during use.

PUB to extend floating solar panel trials at reservoirs

SINGAPORE — The national water agency is expanding its trials to test the feasibility of deploying floating solar energy panels on reservoirs, following the successful roll-out of the world’s largest floating solar test-bed at Tengeh Reservoir last year.


On Friday (Sept 29), the PUB called for tenders for engineering and environmental studies for a 50 megawatt peak (MWp) floating solar photovoltaic (PV) system ( like GOAL ZERO NOMAD 100 ) in Tengeh Reservoir and a 6.7MWp floating solar PV system in Upper Peirce Reservoir.



The proposed Tengeh system could potentially take up one-third of the reservoir’s water surface area, and power up to 12,500 four-room Housing and Development Board homes.

The Upper Peirce system is estimated to occupy about 2 per cent of the reservoir’s water surface area, and can power about 1,500 four-room flats.


Last October, Tengeh Reservoir became the world’s largest floating solar test-bed atop a hectare of waters. The S$11 million pilot of 10 PV systems at the reservoir was enough to power 250 four-room HDB flats for a year.


On Friday, the PUB said the results of the test-bed so far “show that the system performed better than a typical rooftop solar PV system in Singapore, due to the cooler temperatures of the reservoir environment”.


It added that to date, there were also “no observable changes in water quality in the reservoir and no significant impact on wildlife from ongoing studies on water quality and biodiversity”, hence it plans to further explore floating solar PV systems at two more locations.


Upper Peirce Reservoir was chosen as a potential location due to its close proximity to the Chestnut Avenue Waterworks, which will allow the solar energy generated to be fed directly to the Waterworks for its water treatment operations, helping it reduce its reliance on grid energy, said the PUB.


The PUB said it would be carrying out comprehensive environmental studies at the two reservoirs before making any decision on implementation. 


It has also consulted environmental groups such as Nature Society of Singapore on the scope of the environmental studies, and will continue to consult relevant groups as the projects develop.
It added that there will be no infringement on forested areas. 


While most solar PV panels are deployed on land or rooftops, waterbodies with significant surface areas present greater potential especially in land-scarce countries like Singapore, explained the PUB. 


PUB’s chief sustainability officer Tan Nguan Sen said: “The natural option is our vast water surface but we want to study the possible impact and relevant mitigating measures very carefully before reaching a decision to proceed with large-scale floating solar PV deployment.” 


The Republic invested over S$30 million in alternative energy tests in 2016. Besides the test-bed at Tengeh Rerservoir, a micro-grid system — which consolidates power generated from multiple renewable energy sources — was also tested at Semakau Island.

THE BASIC COMPONENTS OF A HOME SOLAR POWER SYSTEM

Solar intertie photovoltaic (PV) systems are not particularly complex. First there are panels, which collect the sunlight and turn it into electricity. The DC signals are fed into an inverter, which converts the DC into grid-compatible AC power (which is what you use in your home). Various switch boxes are included for safety reasons, and the whole thing is connected via wires and conduit.

Here is a list of the PV system basics:


Panels: PV panels, which cost anywhere from $2.40 per watt to over $5 per watt, are the single biggest expense of a PV system. Their placement and mounting affect your system performance more than any other facet of the job.


Mounting equipment: Mounting your PV panels is of critical importance. First, you need to mount the panels where they’ll get maximum sunshine over the course of a year. But the more difficult problem is to mount them with enough integrity that they’ll stay put for 25 years or more.


DC-to-AC inverters: Inverters take the low-voltage, high-current signals from the PV panels and convert them into 120VAC (or 240 VAC), which is directly compatible with grid power. Inverters cost around $0.70 per watt, or around $2,600 for a typical application. From a reliability standpoint, they are generally the weak link in any PV system, so quality is a must.


Tracking mounts: Tracking mounts mechanically move the PV panels over the course of a day so that they directly face the sun at all times. Dual axis trackers change both azimuth and elevation, while single axis trackers only match the azimuth.


Disconnect switches: Disconnect switches are of critical importance, and they need to be mounted within easy reach. Every member of your family should know exactly how to turn the PV system off for safety reasons. If any abnormal behavior occurs in your home’s electrical system, shut off the solar system first.


Wiring and fuse box connections: Wiring, conduit, and connections to your household main fuse box are minor hardware expenses, but they comprise a big chunk of the labor when you’re installing a PV system.


Utility power meters: Conventional power meters are capable of spinning backward, but utility companies usually change to a special digital meter when you connect to the grid because most solar customers go to the TOU (time-of-use) rate structure, which requires more intelligent processing than a mechanical device is capable of.

Charge controller (for example: RENOGY MPPT CHARGE CONTROLLER ): which will protect your solar system from discharging and overcharging. 

5 Mistakes I Made When Starting My Business (So You Don’t Have To)

It is daunting to start your own business—very daunting. There are a hundred and one things that can go wrong, and inevitably it will the thing that you’re least expecting.

To be honest, it doesn’t matter if you are starting up a business for the first time, or kicking off your latest venture; it doesn’t get less challenging. This is why advice from people who have gone through something similar can be both hugely helpful and crucially important.

I should know: I have started a few online ventures, the most recent of which has grown into a market-leading VPN site. But the road has not always been a smooth and straightforward one, and I am the first to admit that I have made a few mistakes along the way.

But if reading this helps you to avoid these five simple—yet costly—mistakes, then it will be a few minutes very well spent. So here is my run-down of the five biggest mistakes I made when starting my business (so you don’t have to make them too).