#Flame Sensor Repair | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

mariacallous · 8 months ago

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The phone or computer you’re reading this on may not be long for this world. Maybe you’ll drop it in water, or your dog will make a chew toy of it, or it’ll reach obsolescence. If you can’t repair it and have to discard it, the device will become e-waste, joining an alarmingly large mountain of defunct TVs, refrigerators, washing machines, cameras, routers, electric toothbrushes, headphones. This is “electrical and electronic equipment,” aka EEE—anything with a plug or battery. It’s increasingly out of control.

As economies develop and the consumerist lifestyle spreads around the world, e-waste has turned into a full-blown environmental crisis. People living in high-income countries own, on average, 109 EEE devices per capita, while those in low-income nations have just four. A new UN report finds that in 2022, humanity churned out 137 billion pounds of e-waste—more than 17 pounds for every person on Earth—and recycled less than a quarter of it.

That also represents about $62 billion worth of recoverable materials, like iron, copper, and gold, hitting e-waste landfills each year. At this pace, e-waste will grow by 33 percent by 2030, while the recycling rate could decline to 20 percent. (You can see this growth in the graph below: purple is EEE on the market, black is e-waste, and green is what gets recycled.)

“What was really alarming to me is that the speed at which this is growing is much quicker than the speed that e-waste is properly collected and recycled,” says Kees Baldé, a senior scientific specialist at the United Nations Institute for Training and Research and lead author of the report. “We just consume way too much, and we dispose of things way too quickly. We buy things we may not even need, because it's just very cheap. And also these products are not designed to be repaired.”

Humanity has to quickly bump up those recycling rates, the report stresses. In the first pie chart below, you can see the significant amount of metals we could be saving, mostly iron (chemical symbol Fe, in light gray), along with aluminum (Al, in dark gray), copper (Cu), and nickel (Ni). Other EEE metals include zinc, tin, and antimony. Overall, the report found that in 2022, generated e-waste contained 68 billion pounds of metal.

E-waste is a complex thing to break down: A washing machine is made of totally different components than a TV. And even for product categories, not only do different brands use different manufacturing processes, but even different models within those brands vary significantly. A new washing machine has way more sensors and other electronics than one built 30 years ago.

Complicating matters even further, e-waste can contain hazardous materials, like cobalt, flame retardants, and lead. The report found that each year, improperly processed e-waste releases more than 125,000 pounds of mercury alone, imperiling the health of humans and other animals. “Electronic waste is an extremely complex waste stream,” says Vanessa Gray, head of the Environment and Emergency Telecommunications Division at the UN’s International Telecommunication Union and an author of the report. “You have a lot of value in electronic waste, but you also have a lot of toxic materials that are dangerous to the environment.”

That makes recycling e-waste a dangerous occupation. In low- and middle-income countries, informal e-waste recyclers might go door-to-door collecting the stuff. To extract valuable metals, they melt down components without proper safety equipment, poisoning themselves and the environment. The new report notes that in total, 7.3 billion pounds of e-waste is shipped uncontrolled globally, meaning its ultimate management is unknown and likely not done in an environmentally friendly way. Of that, high-income countries shipped 1.8 billion pounds to low- and middle-income countries in 2022, swamping them with dangerous materials.

High-income countries have some of this informal recycling, but they also have formal facilities where e-waste is sorted and safely broken down. Europe, for example, has fairly high formal e-waste recycling rates, at about 43 percent. But globally, recycling is happening nowhere near enough to keep up with the year-over-year growth of the waste. Instead of properly mining EEE for metals, humanity keeps mining more ore out of the ground.

Still, the report found that even the small amount of e-waste that currently gets recycled avoided the mining of 2 trillion pounds of ore for virgin metal in 2022. (It takes a lot of ore to produce a little bit of metal.) The more metals we can recycle from e-waste, the less mining we’ll need to support the proliferation of gadgets. That would in turn avoid the greenhouse gases from such mining operations, plus losses of biodiversity.

The complexity of e-waste, though, makes it expensive to process. As the chart above shows, even an ambitious scenario of a formal e-waste collection rate in 2030 is 44 percent. “There is no business case for companies to just collect e-waste and to make a profit out of this in a sustainable manner,” says Baldé. “They can only survive if there is legislation in place which is also compensating them.”

The report notes that 81 countries have e-waste policies on the books, and of those, 67 have provisions regarding extended producer responsibility, or EPR. This involves fees paid by manufacturers of EEE that would go toward e-waste management.

Of course, people could also stop throwing so many devices away in the first place, something right-to-repair advocates have spent years fighting for. Batteries, for instance, lose capacity after a certain number of charge cycles. If a phone can’t hold a charge all day anymore, customers should be able to swap in a new battery. “Manufacturers shouldn't be able to put artificial limitations on that ability,” says Elizabeth Chamberlain, director of sustainability at iFixit, which provides repair guides and tools. That includes limiting access to parts and documentation. “Repair is a harm-reduction strategy. It's not the be-all-end-all solution, but it's one of many things we need to do as a global society to slow down the rate at which we're demanding things of the planet.”

At the core of the e-waste crisis is the demand: A growing human population needs phones to communicate and fridges to keep food safe and heat pumps to stay comfortable indoors. So first and foremost we need high-quality products that don’t immediately break down, but also the right to repair when they do. And what absolutely can’t be fixed needs to move through a safe, robust e-waste recycling system. “We are consuming so much,” says Baldé, “we cannot really recycle our way out of the problem.”

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hapan-in-exile · 11 months ago

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Volume 3 - Post #10: Good old-fashioned shootout

Another installment in this ongoing serialized fanfic

Genre: Mandalorian x Fem! Reader

Total word count: 2.6K (of 45K total in Volume 3)

Rating: Explicit - smut, language, +18 *NSFW*

__________________________________________

X. Unlike the exclusive mooring of Vos’s yacht with HK sentinels, security lights, cameras, and sensors everywhere, the hangar bays in this section of Daiyu Spaceport, where Gwellis Bagnoro’s ship is located, are unnervingly deserted. And you definitely get the impression people are being paid to make themselves scarce. There is no legitimate reason why the corridors need to be this dark.

You’re glad for the silence, but it feels almost too quiet after the noise and chaos of the city streets.

You arrive at the hangar expecting to see the Onodone waiting for you, but there’s no one in sight. In fact, it’s eerily still without the usual maintenance crew droids.

The grim surroundings did not prepare you for the caliber of this forger’s ride. Apparently, Gwellis Bagnoro can find enough suckers like you to pay his outrageous prices because his corvette is in pristine condition. No mismatched parts for this ship.

Poor Nito usually salvaged everything needed to sustain the Razor Crest through its continual state of repair.

With containers stacked high on either side of the ship, you’d think the Onodone would need help loading all this cargo. They create a sort of labyrinth around the hangar bay. How did he expect to fit this inside a gunship?

Something feels off.

Maybe he’s just waiting for you on board? Even as the thought occurs to you, your boot catches on something soft yet solid, and you stumble forward.

Looking down to see what you’ve tripped over in the dim haze of the hangar’s overhead lights, you see a station agent crumpled on the flight deck with a knife stuck in his gut.

“Mando!” you shout.

But it’s too late. You hear a ting of blaster fire right before the fueling tank next to the ship explodes, knocking you off your feet and showering the hangar in flaming debris. You get slammed hard into the side of a cargo container from the force of the blast. Your ears are ringing, your vision is blurring at the edges, but you can still see the onslaught of blaster fire breaking out around you.

Looking over your shoulder, you see the Mandalorian, who’d managed to stay on his feet. He’s crouched, taking cover behind a diagnostic panel directly in your line of sight, loading his rifle from the bandolier across his chest.

“Is this Vos?”

“They’re Guild,” he calls out in response.

“The Crest?!”

You’re terrified about what might be waiting for you back at the ship. Mando’s precaution of leaving it docked on a nearby moon didn’t seem so paranoid after all.

“If they knew where it was, they wouldn’t be waiting for us here.”

He’s got the rifle up, adjusting the scope.

“Thermal imaging, you said?”

“What?!”

“In the visor?” he stills the muscles in his shoulders, taking aim. “You said your visor has—”

“Yes,” instantly recognizing what he’s planning. “And night vision. I can adjust the settings.”

“It impact your aim? Still good?”

“Fuck, yes. I have a laser sight,” you’re already screwing the barrel attachment onto one of the Westars.

Mando nods his approval.

With one shot, he takes out the electrical in the hangar bay so it all shuts down. The lights go out, the doors fall closed, and the docking clamps thud onto the deck. Through your visor, you can see they’ve got the high ground, hoping to pin you in place until their crew on the deck can flush you out.

If they were hunting the Child, they wouldn’t shoot to kill. They needed you alive for questioning.

Well, one of you, at least.

The Mandalorian crouches around the diagnostic panel to take aim at one of the snipers firing down on you from the catwalk overhead. You’re able to hit another gunman positioned above the cockpit. But there’s at least three more of them—two of whom are situated on top of the corvette.

Should you scale the cargo containers to get a better shot and risk exposing yourself?

“I’m going to—” you call out before you see the Gand bounty hunter launch himself over a stack of containers to bear down on the Mandalorian with a raised halberd.

Mando’s able to block it with his rifle, but his opponent continues swinging relentlessly. He catches another blow with his vambrace and kicks the legs out from under his attacker.

But the other hunters have flanked him. And there’s more blaster fire coming at him from above.

You can’t remain here, paralyzed with indecision, so you take a deep breath, sink low, and slip out from behind the container in a lunge, blaster held out in front of you.

The gods are kind. Several more hunters charge towards Mando, their backs unguarded as they pass your position. You quickly take them down before they can reach him, still grappling with his other attacker.

Unable to get off another clear shot, you begin climbing the cargo containers. It’s fucking terrifying how readily your brain reverts to autopilot—letting the adrenaline push you forward despite the threat of exposing yourself to sniper fire. You try to retain as much cover as you can, scrambling around the ship’s intake vents.

Then, you hear the ping-ping-ping of blaster bolts hitting the Beskar armor and forsake all caution, climbing with whatever handhold you can find, fingernails cracked and bleeding.

There’s a gap between the wing where you can see an opening up to one of the bounty hunters splayed across the exhaust turbine. But you’ll have to step into it to fire. If they look down at you, they’ll have a straight shot, same as you.

Your heart is pounding against your eardrums, but you have to drown out the panic and concentrate.

All you can do is prepare your grip, make sure you’re ready on the trigger, and pray they can’t see your movement in the darkness.

With your first shot, you merely clip the sniper's helmet. Shit! You can't see their body armor with thermal imaging. And you've revealed your position.

They respond by shooting wildly, a spray of bolts that erupts in every direction. Your second shot gets them in the chest, but not before their own blaster fire takes out another sniper posted on top of the ship’s sensor array.

Which meant there was only one shooter left.

You look around to check on Mando. He’s dispatched the rest of his attackers in a pile of bodies strewn across the flight deck.

That’s when a sharp, lancing pain burns across your scalp. Your hand claps over the side of your head, just above your ear, and you groan as raw, wet tissue squelches under your fingers.

That’s how close you came to dying today. You can heal from almost any wound, but not if your brain is splattered across the hangar bay.

Hot blood starts to trickle over your cheek and down your neck. You’ve gotta nail this fucker before you get too dizzy to see straight.

At the moment, you don’t feel dizzy at all. On the contrary, the pain brought everything into crisp focus.

You launch yourself off the ship and start running in sporadic bursts and turns as soon as you collide with the ground. Serpentine! You can almost hear your drill sergeant yelling it at you.

The last shooter is hiding somewhere on the other side of the hangar. You can’t be sure—but you think they’re embedded in a tangle of suspended cables and tubing. No way to climb up there without getting gunned down.

Here goes nothing.

You shoot at the ballasts holding the whole mess together, and a section of the braided cables collapses to the floor. To the credit of this bounty hunter’s strength and determination, they continue firing at you while dangling from a metal coil one-handed.

But you’ve got the advantage. All you have to do is wait for your shot from behind the safety of a cargo container. You line up the little red dot, and—there’s a nasty thud when their limp body falls to the deck.

Behind you, Mando’s whipcord fires, and hand over fist, he drags a sobbing Trandoshan hunter into his waiting blade.

“You take care of the others?” he says, wiping the knife on his boot.

“Yeah. We’ll be long gone before they regain consciousness,” you reply, clicking the safety back on and holstering your blasters.

He tilts his helmet from side to side, and an irritated sigh erupts from the modulator.

“Do no harm? I feel like you, of all people, Mando, should support the sanctity of my oath.”

“There’s a time and a place—Thulani!”

He cries out in horror when his headlamp falls over the gash sliced across the side of your head. Which stung like hell.

“Is it bad?”

“I—” his voice chokes in his throat, reaching for your chin. “I can see your skull.”

And immediately, you vomit up all five glasses of Spice liquor onto his boots.

Fortunately, he’s pretty tough—a hardcore Mandalorian, right?—and despite how disgusting you must look with sick clinging to your lips, he catches you in his arms when you stagger forward.

“Tell me what to do.”

The sound of his voice is so soothing—deep and strong. His muscular arms cradle you, one wrapped around your shoulders while the other surrounds your waist. Solid as iron but gentle, holding you tightly against his chest.

“This feels pretty good,” you sigh. “I think the adrenaline crash is just—hitting me hard. Will you, um, hold me like this until I finish healing?”

“Whatever you need. Anything.”

“I’m sorry I got vomit on you.” Ugh, so embarrassing. He would probably not be in the mood to fuck you after this. “It hasn’t even been a whole day, and I’ve already ruined the mystique.”

“Fuck the mystique. You’re alive. That’s what matters.”

You shift in his arms to find a perfect little nook for yourself. “I’m definitely seeing the advantage of a helmet now.”

He lets out a soft chuckle, “I’ve got some expertise in that area if you’re in the market.”

“Could—could you tell me how it’s going with the—”

“The gigantic gash in your scalp?” Mando scoffs, delicately tugging the visor from your face to get a better look. “I can’t see the bone anymore, but…there’s some burnt flesh...hanging…open.”

“Am I at least earning some warrior cred with this?”

“I told you you didn’t have anything to prove to me,” he says earnestly. “There’s got to be something I can do?”

“Just hold me.”

His arms tighten around you, and it feels like the only safety you have ever known.

“It’s gonna look like I’m gone for a minute,” you whisper. “But I promise I’ll still be here with you. Okay?”

He nods.

You let your head rest against his neck, then close your eyes, take a deep breath, and call upon that feeling of surety. When the "you" that was you disappeared and was subsumed by the infinite. That pulse of power surging through every fiber of your being.

Don’t let yourself get distracted by the throbbing shock of the wound as it seals shut. Or the searing heat as the tissue reconnects. Or just how thick Mando's biceps are...

All those tiny nerve endings that had to be repaired. You can’t make the hair regrow, but vanity is the least of your worries at the moment.

Okay. Yes. There. That should do it.

Now, what you really need is a fuck ton of electrolytes.

“You can let me go,” you open your eyes and smile up at the Mandalorian through your visor.

“No,” he says, pulling you closer.

“Mando, we can’t flee the scene glued together.”

“Don’t care,” he murmurs from somewhere in your thicket of blood smattered, vomit crusted hair. Aww, is the Mandalorian going soft on you?

Suddenly, the whoosh of the corvette’s boarding ramp echoes throughout the hangar, causing you both to turn and draw.

“Don’t shoot!” the Onodone inches his way down the ramp with his hands extended, the vocodor swinging from his neck. “They got here right before you did. There was nothing I could do!”

“That’s as may be,” you march up the ramp with your blaster not exactly aimed at Gwellis, though not precisely lowered either. “But I tell you what. I’m willing to let you make it up to me.”

--------------------

“I didn’t expect you’d be such a tough negotiator.”

“After he sold us out? Like hell, I was going to pay fifty-thousand fucking credits.”

“Alright, but making him hold the mirror while you stuck that needle in your eye? That’s cold-blooded.”

Without the reflective tissue, your eyes no longer glow with a violet sheen. To all the galaxy, you would appear to be an unremarkable human woman.

But Mando had been right. As you removed the guanine from your cells, it felt like stripping away your identity piece by piece. The last remaining connection to your homeworld.

The Mandalorian might have chosen to forsake that little boy, the man he would have been—but you found you couldn’t. So you’d left some tissue under the lenses in the hopes that you might be able to coax it back to regrowth. If anyone asked, you could claim the faint remaining glimmers resulted from some kind of chemical exposure.

Would Mando think you’re a fool for holding on to the past? How had he—

But he hadn’t let go of the past either.

You wouldn’t be able to see those memories if he’d really let go of who and what he was before, like he claimed. And while it might not be conscious, intentional resistance to his Creed, it proved that oaths and tenets can’t change what’s in your heart.

“Whatever,” you jeer. “He can go cry into his money.”

“We don’t know it was Gwellis,” the Mandalorian shook his head. “It could have been any one of Vos’s henchmen. Someone who recognized me at the club. Or Bril, for that matter.”

“I like Bril!” You raise an eyebrow at him. “You need more people in your life who aren't afraid to make a joke at your expense.”

His helmet turns to look at you, and you can just sense his indignation.

“If you’re rolling your eyes at me, Mando, I can’t see,” you smirk. “Besides, you had the entire populace of Daiyu City buzzing the moment you set foot planetside. You knew we would catch heat before we even made it to the club.”

And nothing has changed. Making your way back through the concourse, his gleaming armor draws the same stares and excited whispers. “Gwellis is right. Subterfuge is not ‘the Way’ of a Mandalorian. I’m beginning to think you welcome everything ending in a shootout.”

“It’s a lot more straightforward than spending the next two weeks pretending to be...” he grabs the newly made ID from your hands. “Kasya Hawat?”

“Something tells me Mandalorians don’t engage in a lot of intelligence gathering either.” You pull off the wig you wore for the ID photos and toss it in a nearby bin.

“That’s why I pay informants.”

“Touché,” you concede. “It’ll be worth it, though. We need someone on the inside, and we don’t know Ubaa Dir’s people. That could change. But for now, my circle of trust doesn’t extend past Team Razor Crest.”

This last part, you say more to yourself than the bounty hunter. You’re not exactly thrilled about the prospect of working as an exploited minion for the Tagge Corporation, living in some squatter’s settlement attached to a refinery in the middle of nowhere.

“Worth pulling out those gems embedded in your teeth?” he asks wryly.

“I’m thinking Kasya’s backstory includes working in a Zeltron pleasure house during her prodigal wanderings.” You wink at him, “I might even be able to keep the moondust hair.”

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Keep reading - Post 11: Well, Hell's Bells

Back to Volume 3 - all posts

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stierhai · 3 months ago

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Yaobikuni Holds Her Breath

Characters: Kanata, Chiaki, Madara, Tetora

Endless Vide/Mech pilot AU.

Cross-posted to ao3 and dreamwidth.

Kanata finds himself at the edge of the water again, dim light and the lullabye hum of machines his companions. He breathes. Frost eddies in the air in the shape of his exhale, whilst the water agitates below. Sits. Slips one leg, then the other into the tank and remains there with his legs dangling beneath him, the water tracing ripples anew in the wake of his movements. "Splish. Splash." The dark shapes beneath say nothing back.

Two planets and 617,000 kilometers ago a live battle had meant stagelights, song, and dance.

Now, Europa's cold surface sings violence with the live broadcast activation, war machines revving. Tetora's voice crackles over the comms, "The Black Flame is the mark of effort! Ryuusei Black, Nagumo Tetora!" Black Flame towers to its full mechanical height over the ice-crust and snow.

"The Red Flame is the mark of justice! Ryuusei Red, Morisawa Chiaki!" Across the battlefield, Hero Protagony poses. In the privacy of his cockpit, Tetora rolls his eyes to the sound of Chiaki's laughter. Time was, he'd stopped resenting the sentai poses as lame. With the added bulk of the mech, massive cables pulling the metal frame into place to imitate its pilot and stunt combat swapped for the real thing, his opinion reverted.

He still takes a combat stance of his own, though.

The music starts in, an old-world recording of Ryuuseitai. Singing is optional, but Tetora still mouths the words to his parts. Colors Arise! Now, I’ll raise up a blinding beam of light— and with the flick of a switch, Black Flame is covered in its namesake, radiating heat as he launches forward to slam into the Protagony at speed.

Chiaki has a shield waiting to meet him and Tetora grins. Way to go, Morisawa-senpai. They've choreographed it well— perfectly timed to satisfy the audience and to let them go home in one piece. No fatalities, no major repairs. Unlike certain other earlier incidents— berserking, people pulled from cockpits unplanned, and censored broadcast after censored broadcast. Ryuuseitai was given Europa because they could be counted to keep the image clean, and know how to keep to choreography. Sparks fly out, firework-bright against the void sky for a moment before momentum wins against the minimal gravity and Black Flame propels them both forward. Snow explodes outward and evaporates in the same moment, steam all about them and he swaps his visuals to infrared in the mist that wreathes them now.

He pauses for it to clear, before comes Chiaki's return volley. When the combat can't be seen, there's no point.

No return volley arrives.

Seconds tick past. He loses his place in where he should be in their predetermined routine. Thirty seconds gone now and in the mist heat signals multiply while Hero Protagony's bulk has dissipated to nothing. Tetora blinks hard, but the readings don't change. His screen tells him he's alone in a sea of angry blips. His heart speeds, he whirls around, and the sensors berserk. The guitars in Colors Arise continue to scream electric chords at him— the stage now real as the one then. His every nerve shouts, forget the plan, go on the defense, go on the attack, do something—

Ice fissures beneath his feet. Creaks and hollow thuds build to a shattering eruption, and the glacial shelf falls away. The abyss swallows him whole. Red dyes his monitors completely, as Black Flame is no longer surrounded but inundated. Panic chokes him and he yanks at the controls. Unlike Kanata's Meteor Abyss, Black Flame wasn't designed for undersea combat; he can feel icy liquid seeping in past the rubber soles of his boots. Up to the ankles. Knees, thighs, his chest all underwater, the deluge coming fast.

His hands are off the controls now, but he doesn't use them to struggle with his bindings— mech fighting jolts the cockpit too much for the pilot to be safe in any other position than firmly strapped in. He peers down into the wavering image of his own numb hands moving beneath the water, LCD panels blurred and are rendered unreadable and unreliable by refraction but still he can see the red warning signs of something in there with him.

There's nothing else for it.

Water up to his nose now, tilting his head back to take the last few breaths he can, he kicks hard from his seat to shatter the casing on the emergency self-destruct. So much for no damage to the mechs. But without hesitation, he slams his closed fist on the button, despite the shards he's unleashed in the watery cockpit. His head goes under entirely. He can only feel his stung numb useless limbs in abstract and he shuts his eyes against the glass floating in there with him.

The countdown starts, slow seconds and blaring warnings that sound like the reality of an alarm echoing through a dream as Tetora begins to drown.

He doesn't know how long he's suspended there, in the unreality of his breath held until his throat spasms, saltwater with a sulfuric edge flooding in. His body is heavy with water weight, his mind light-headed from lack of air. He waits for— there! That jolt! The cockpit shifting sideways, ejection launch ready, pistons work and reliable hydrolics jostle the cockpit and then it tears free.

He is thrown from Black Flame. Water leaks from everywhere and the cockpit's pod crashes loud with impact, bounces, and goes skittering across the ice. Cuts open and leak. Tetora's eyes open, wearily, but he views the world through the black haze of oncoming unconsciousness. He coughs weakly, water seeping from his mouth.

Black Flame stands tall and still before him, high and dry and fully-functioning, lights and sounds blaring out an emergency. Get back. Evacuate.

It doesn't make any sense.

Less sense still, Shinkai-taichou's presence. He kneels down to put his damp hands on his cheeks, thumbs gently working open Tetora's mouth. His eyes water and Kanata's wavering shiloette abandons delicacy to shove in the rest of his fingers, like to force Tetora to disgorge all his chest took in. That isn't what he does, though. Instead, his other hand drives his jaw shut over the digits, grinding teeth into skin until it breaks and blood seeps a raw iron taste into Tetora's mouth.

"Swallow, Tetora…" Shinkai-taichou's voice floats down to him, as if from a great distance. And, more by instinct than of his own volition, he does. Only then does Kanata release.

As his vision finally gives in to darkness completely, the last thing he sees is Kanata swinging himself into the empty space where the cockpit had been. Impossibly, Black Flame's steel frame shuts itself around him with a spray of wet gore and rises.

—

Chiaki keeps both his hands anchored tight to Nagumo's in the hospital room. Kanata, damp, drips in the second seat beside him.

Another sudden mechanical failure, the flashing suicide lights on Black Flame as it threw its pilot out on the ice without warning— Nagumo wasn't the first to have it happen. Not by far. And now, he lay as another body in a another bed with a nasal canula and oxygen pumped into lungs flooded with mystery fluid from drowning in a bone-dry cockpit.

Kanata had finished out the battle, swapping in and calming the mech as medical crews pulled Nagumo in from the sub-zero wastes. Black Flame was ensconced in its hangar bay, diagnostic crews looking for what caused its fraudulent signals. He wants to trust the ES doctors, he really does. He'd grown up in a hospital bed, his fate in their hands and they'd carried him through. He'd decides to believe in them, even knowing this isn't the first time. There were others that had made it before. Takamine had been fine too, after his incident. He had left though, Shinobu travelling with him as support whilst he gets used to his new posting training the understudies— until he decides if he wants a replacement or to come back.

Anyway, Nagumo will be waking up soon. Experience says so, Tetora's tougher than he gives himself credit for. And as Chiaki isn't scheduled to beat up his mech on camera, he's staying here and waiting until he does. He takes in a deep breath and laughs loud enough to not hear the beeps of Nagumo's heart-rate over the sound of his own voice.

"Fuhaha! Chin up, Kanata! Imagine Nagumo's face, seeing his hero looking so blue!"

Beside him, Kanata's brow furrows in confusion as he slowly metes out a reply, "But… I am. I am Ryuusei Blue?" He doesn't sound sure.

"Yeah!" He reassures him. Kanata hasn't appeared in battle in a while, but that doesn't change his position in the unit! "But we're not on stage right now."

"Hmm. . ." Kanata considers it. "If we're not 「on-stage」then . . . I'm not a hero."

Chiaki refutes him, "You don't need to be so humble! When Nagumo's up, I'm sure he'll agree and praise you as the coolest, most reliable hero there ever was!"

"I do like 「praise.」

"Right! So accept it!"

"But… . . . Why am I being 「praised?」 His wide eyes look at Chiaki, searching.

Unease begins to filter in. Whatever got Tetora might have gotten Kanata too. Maybe he should refer him to the doctors as well? But that's a thing to worry about later. In the moment, he answers, "Since you took over his fight, the medical crews were able to see him right away! You saved him, just as much as the doctors did! And his Live ranking won't even drop, since you put on a wonderful show. A clean battle with cool flourishes and with no dirty work. You were a perfect, reliable hero!"

"Oh. I did?" He looks pleased. "Thank you, Chiaki. I'm 「happy」. To be Tetora's hero."

"You're a hero's hero! When he wakes up, he'll tell you himself."

"When will he wake up?" Kanata looks about, like he's expecting a second Tetora other than the one dead asleep on the bed to pop up and thank him. "I 「want」 to see Tetora."

Chiaki has no immediate answer. The pause lasts just long enough to be awkward, before he lets go of Tetora's hands to take Kanata's and guide them to take his place holding Tetora's. Finally, Kanata seems to recognize who is in the hospital bed. Kanata gives a watery smile and leans to rest his head on Chiaki's shoulder, and Chiaki scoots in closer. All their hands clasped together, they settle in to wait.

—

Madara leans over the rail in the mech bay. Down below, he can see Tetora's boots and not much else of him as he works on Black Flame's electric insides, denuded of its armor. The mechanic's bag beside him spills over, wrenches and calipers, laid on bare metal across from wet towels with soft pink stains. Absorbed in his work, he doesn't notice Madara's heavy footfalls on the catwalk above.

"Heeeeey!" He calls down. "It's Tetora-san! ☆ You're up and at 'em!"

Tetora emerges with a smooth slide of the wheels. "Ossu~." He gives a casual salute with oil streaking his gloves, a sodden towel still in his grasp. "What's up, Mikejima-senpai? Do you need something for Zarathustra?" He sits up to wring the towel out into a bucket murky with dark liquid, and tosses it aside with the others. "Gotcha! I'm pretty much done with diagnostics. Until the cockpit gets put back, not a lot left to do. I'll go carry this all over!"

Madara descends the stairs as Tetora shoves tools back into place and hefts them. He hadn't needed them, but it's as good an opportunity to get Tetora alone and away from cameras as any. "Aren't you a good boy, Tetora-saaaan? Sure, come on, Zarathustra is this way!"

He leads him over and as Tetora makes to set the toolbox down, Madara yanks him by the wrist into his own mech and seals up the entrance behind them as the tools spill over the catwalk with a clatter. Whoops. ☆

"Hey! What's the big idea?" Tetora protests, wincing as he tugs his arm free.

Madara lets him go but takes his place, blocking the door release latch. "Haha! Now, now that no one is around— you're a good kid! You don't want to worry your seniors, riiiight? Okay! Let it all out, vent all your frustrations at Mama! Fuhahaha!"

Tetora, cornered, looks more exasperated than scared. "So you're where Morisawa-senpai got that laugh. He told me what he used to be like, but s'hard to believe he'd come up with that over-the-top problem personality all on his own," He shakes his head, "Even if he's tryin' to imitate his beloved tokusatsu heroes. It's 'cuz of yours."

Madara shrugs, expansive. "Right! Incisive! Here's the problem, ab origine. But that means he's only seeing my surface." He grins, showing his teeth, "Really, I'm a scaaaaaary guy who is willing to do whatever it takes to keep the people I love safe." He looms now over Tetora, taking full advantage of his height, his broad physique. "So you understand me, right, Tetora-san? You, who has also chosen to walk the path of a villain, because he can't become a hero!"

With folded arms Tetora says, "You can just cut to the chase."

"What happened with Kanata-san?"

Their eyes meet. For a long time they stare each other down, but Tetora averts his gaze first. "I dunno, Mikejima-senpai. I blacked out."

Madara scrutinises Tetora, same as he scrutinises his own memories. Stacks of reports, highlighting the myths of their homeland and the bad things that have occurred since Europa became the homeland— papers that were more highlighter yellow than not. Kanata, made his leader again. Kanata there just in time to save Tetora, Kanata there at the hospital wing, Kanata pouting and avoiding answering him. Kanata asking questions he ought to know the answers to. It's discomfittingly like viewing the world through crossed eyes, double images that overlay when he focuses: the Kanata when they were children at the Shinkai compound, the Kanata walks on his own, his human legs firm on solid ground.

Tetora's hands have blood in the cuticles and under the nail beds, the ES uniform boots have left a trail of dilute red in the patterns of his treads behind him. Tetora's downcast gaze sees the same thing, and Madara decides it's frustration that he sees in the cast of his jaw.

"Haha! Is that so!" He puts a hand on Tetora's shoulder and squeezes, a gesture that's meant for comfort but he never has been good at controlling his own strength. "Tell me if you remember anything, Tetora-san!" And he slaps Tetora companionably on the back, and leaves Zarathustra's cockpit, closing it up behind him.

Tetora registers he's being shut in a moment too late and Madara only hears the edge of his voice calling after him, protesting, as he goes without so much as a glance back.

—

In the guts of Midori's old mech, Tetora inhales deep. With his eyes closed, his brain narrows down the scent to sea salt, lingering. His nostrils flare confirming it's only air, even as his brain insists on calling back to what it was like to drown.

Eugh.

He opens his eyes. The torch beam cuts a circle in the dark. Where it lands, it could be rust flaking at the edges of the valves. Only one way to be sure and he had his tetanus shot kind of recently. He hoists himself up, face lifted close, and licks.

It's the same stuff he tasted before, when Kanata bled in his mouth. So now he's left with a hard dilemma: what gives? He saw Kanata crushed in his mech, he's found Kanata's blood in Midori's, he talked to Kanata literally yesterday about dripping all over the breakfast table and getting the rice soggy. He'd check other mechs from older incidents, but he needs to lift a card for higher clearance. If he's still hallucinating, does he go back to the ES doctors that keep finding everyone "fine" after everything? Mikejima-senpai didn't react to him scrubbing blood out of his mech but Mikejima-senpai wouldn't. Maybe he should get that bucket back and see if Chiaki screams. He's weak to spooky stuff so even if there's some grand conspiracy, Morisawa-senpai would give it up right away

He lowers himself down from the bar he hangs from, clambering back out of Midori's mech, Mascot, landing with a soft thud. In the hangar now, he hears he's not alone.

Shinkai-taichou's voice echoes off the steel walls, magnified to distortion. Tetora looks down through the beams to see him standing there nude, pale, and a puddle of water at his feet. Hustling, Tetora takes the stairs at a run, two steps at a time.

"Shinkai-taichou!" He calls down. "Shinkai-tai...chou...?"

His steps hesitate when Kanata turns to him, and there's zero recognition in his eyes. He's been singing, but there's no words. It's like whale-song, indescribably sad. Condensation has formed on the silicate faux-glass roof above him and a steady drizzle falls on him alone.

Before he can take another step forward a doctor appears and Tetora stows himself behind a concrete pillar before he can be seen. The doctor hustles him off and Tetora watches them go, a dripping trail left in their wake.

Okay, he's got to talk to Morisawa-senpai. Whatever is up, those ES doctors know. They cannot trust them.

—

Chiaki pounds on the door to Kanata's quarters— always kept locked. A fine discovery! It's good that Kanata has figured out privacy, and discovered he enjoys some time to himself!

It is making inviting him to the beach more difficult than he had figured on, though.

Chiaki calls out, "Kaaaanaataaa! Beach day! Come on, we're going out! Beach day time!" The big inflated beach ball sitting in the hallway behind him will make the point just as much as his voice, if Kanata looks through the viewport.

". . .Europa beaches are 「cold」." Kanata's green eyes appear through a slit and Chiaki internally celebrates.

"Hahaha! Where was this attitude when I tried to get you out of the school fountain, way back when?"

"The 「fountain」 had water. Europa is all 「ice」."

"Not this one! Pinky promise! Heroes never lie!"

The door opens a crack and behind it Kanata is visibly pouting in his darkened quarters, backlit by a dim stack of aquarium tanks behind him. Still, he's opened the door, and that's what counts! "Where…? Show me."

"Okay! Close your eyes!" Chiaki puts his hands over Kanata's, which Kanata doesn't seem amused by.

"Chiaki . . ." Kanata warns, hands reaching up to remove Chiaki's.

Chiaki rebukes, "Don't look! A hero has no fear of the unknown!"

Kanata sticks his tongue out, but keeps his eyes closed as he pulls Chiaki's hands away fully. Chiaki grins at his sightless face, and puts his hands on his shoulders to steer him down the hall, leaving the door to slide shut behind them, auto-locking. They traverse until Chiaki stops at a VR training room and yanks the door open. He gives a gentle shove to push Kanata into the room, and Kanata's eyes open in surprise as his bare feet sink into warm soft sand.

Inside, Chiaki has used his clearence to wreck the training room perfectly. Speakers sound seagull cries, and water tank footage plays on one wall, ocean dunes displayed on others and clear blue earth skies above. Sand bags meant for weight have been spilled to make their own beach, stacked high enough to prevent the mini-lake he's flooded on the far-side of the room from spilling into the hallway beyond them.

Kanata, wondering, trails into the room and Chiaki unbuckles and kicks off his boots in nearly the same motion, and begins to run. He grabs Kanata's wrist as he goes, and takes him with him to the water's edge. Kanata has replaced shock with giddiness and goes running with him, keeping pace as they jump into the shallows. Their faces mirror each other's, grins wide.

Chiaki turns to face the wall of simulated water, and shouts, "Moooom! We're home! Your precious boys came home, back to your big blue arms!"

Next to him, Kanata echoes, "We're home~".

The only waves are the ones they create sloshing about. But they create plenty, Kanata immediately submerging himself to the waist, down on his knees in the water and Chiaki remembers now to run back for the beach ball. He serves it up and starts a ruleless game, the two of them declaring how it is they're winning now, calling out move names as they serve and catch. The sky-blue earth sky fades to twillight orange and even Chiaki is left a bit winded from their play, exertion more a glow than an ache. The awkward tension he's felt with Kanata recently has dissipated in the water entirely.

Now, if ever, is the time to ask.

Chiaki leans back on his elbows on the shore, and does. "Do you know what happened with Tetora?"

Kanata doesn't show any bewilderment. He turns to look at Chiaki, and his mouth twists out of a smile. His expression is now all resistance.

"In the footage, there was something weird. You piloted it, right? But the cockpit was already gone," Chiaki elaborates.

"…"

"Tetora didn't just eject himself, Black Flame's not built to throw him to freeze on the ice. All the piloting mechanisms, the cockpit all come out too! How did you do that? You were there in the footage, it wasn't remote piloting."

Silence stretches between them and Chiaki can't do anything but keep going.

"And Tetora threw up water after, even though he never got submerged. Like it came from inside!"

Kanata finally responds. "Chiaki. . . No. Don't ask." He stonewalls.

"So you do know!" Chiaki rises, ready to begin a speech. Surely, if Kanata shares his burden, then the two of them can tackle it together. They're stronger together. The five of them were Ryuuseitai— he'll tell their juniors, and it will all work out!

Out of the corner of his eye, he sees a human shape in the water tank footage. He twists to see it, to make sure no one's fallen into the reservoir— a hero's words are important, but their deeds more so! But as he sees the shape fully, he recognizes it.

Kanata.

Chiaki's mouth hangs open and he starts to ask a new question, turning to look at the Kanata at his side but in Kanata's eyes is determination as he puts a palm against Chiaki's mouth to stop him from finishing even the shape of his name. Shaking his head, voice slow and soft as ever, Kanata tells him, "I. . . don't want you to get 「replaced」 too." Chiaki realises now that he hears not just agitation in his voice, that's concern. Kanata's eyes fix above the entrance, where an ubiquitous security camera sits placidly recording everything.

He's watching the wrong place.

A moment later, the door beneath it swings open, and another Kanata stands in the doorway.

Oh, Chiaki realises. This is a nightmare.

—

"Morisawa-senpai! It's the ES doctors!"

"Wait— ES is being infiltrated by evil scientists?" Chiaki's voice edges into excitement at Tetora's announcement. "Are you sure? We have to let Tenshouin know right away!"

"No. It's not going to be news to him." Exasperation. "We are the evil orgainzation. Again."

". . . In the past, Tenshouin has definitely used us for selfish gain. But he always acts for gain— he's always been the lesser between two greater evils. Like Crimpro! You remember Crimpro! If we're pawns, he's got an opponent, or at least a goal! Until we know, we can't move against him."

"Stop defending ES."

Chiaki does not stop. "You haven't been compromised? I had a nightmare, too. If we are being studied, or experimented on, or there's brainwashing, it could be a quarentine measure from—"

"We're fine! We're all fine. You remember what Takamine-kun said, right? Before he left."

Chiaki's voice fades. He does.

"Yeah. Kanata got him out of Mascot. And never got out after. S'what all the claims have in common— he saves us, then doesn't save himself."

Chiaki finishes then, understanding. "—It wasn't a nightmare!" A beat, rearranging the pieces in his head. "Tenshouin wants idols everywhere." Softer, now. "Even here. Even if here comes at a cost."

Madara clicks stop on the tape Tetora had passed him, ejecting it. He watches Kanata's face and no surprise shows, just a knowing unhappiness.

They've figured it out.

In the story they grew up on, the myth their religion fed them with every meal, the Shinkai blood and flesh had been panacea. A curse had come from the far flung heavens and crashed into earth, bad things that flowed into the land and into people's blood. Bad will and bad health had followed, until the people had given a distant ancestor to the sea and then torn him apart with their teeth and took him into their bellies. An ancestor's song had soothed a cursed people.

Now, they lived on an ocean in the far flung heavens. Kanata's blood painted the mechs, his voice rang in the all hanger bays, as they lived shut up in a metal colony, far below Europa's waters. Of all the places they could have settled, it was here. An otherworldly ocean, the place most likely in the world to sustain life— a world that might have sustained the same things that made it to Shinkai land, after the meteor. Of course, it wasn't even coincidence. Eichi wasn't a believer, but he was supremely practical. He must have seen exactly what Madara had, in the reports of the Europa pilots behavior. He'd seen bad things, and if he hadn't, Keito had.

Kanata doesn't deny it, his jaw set defiantly.

A God after all.

Madara stares him down. Then, his shoulders slump. He confesses, "I wanted you to get to live as a person."

Kanata looks down, sorrowing. He knew and so he had hidden it. Madara has finally been allowed into his ever-locked room; all secrets between them vanished away. Madara approaches, to hear his voice better, over the hum of the oxygenating and purification machines. He takes his seat at Kanata's side, and Kanata leans against him. Their two sets of legs dangle into the water below. Their gazes settle below the gentle ripples, where drift the dark shapes of Kanata's own body, repeated and cloned. A fate Kanata had taken on all his own.

After a long beat, Kanata starts, "I know. . ." He looks up once more, meeting his eyes. His voice has rare steel in it, a martyr's determination. "But. . . I 「want」 you to live."

—

It is hard, being leader. It is hard, keeping secrets.

It's been hard since that rotten emperor had come to him, three of his bodies explaining in turn the world he'd remade in the shape of his dream of eternity. Mass-produced idols, he said, rows of bodies floating behind him.

"Welcome to the club," Eichi had purred to Kanata, before giving a breathless little laugh. Kanata had shoved him back but the other two Eichi hadn't even deigned to stop him, relaxing against each other, enjoying the show. Eichi, back up against the tank, had barred his blunt teeth, and made his offer:

He'd thrown plenty of bodies to Europa before Ryuuseitai. Europa had a curse that ate through minds and hearts, and now thanks to his Majesty the Emperor's schemes, they'd be familiar hearts and minds. A Tetora, taking his frenzied teeth to his own wrists. A Chiaki, laughing alone to phantoms. Break one, send another. A fact, and a threat-- no, Kanata couldn't tell anyone.

So Kanata had made his choice. New Captain, now and forever. His awful, lonely choice.

And now, Madara at his side, he'd keep making it. He'll paint every mech's insides with his own iron, talismanic, until Europa is 「safe」.

Madara is good at plans. Madara is good at schemes.

And what is an emperor to a God?

#ensemble stars #fanfic #shinkai kanata #morisawa chiaki #mikejima madara #nagumo tetora

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storms-path · 1 year ago

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FFXIV Write 2023 Day 3 - Core (Free Day)

[AP at 50%. Recommend use of repair kit.]

“I know, damn you!” spat the pilot, frantically yanking on the controls to bring her colossal machine to a screeching halt. She ignored the warning alarms blaring from all sides, snarling and trying to locate the source of her woes. Three days she’d been out in the snow fields, three days she’d been waiting. Then her prey had the audacity of sneaking up on her instead.

There. The distant glint shining through the kicked up snow. The machine’s coating was pure white, perfectly camouflaged against the world of winter around them. Clever. But now the advantage of surprise was levelled. Now the hunt became a true scrap. Arashi’s face tugged into a vicious smile as she engaged the boost, furious flames propelling her at breakneck speeds towards her target.

[Targeting sensors online. Engaging.]

Faster than thought the signal was sent to launch the missile pods, servos whirring and machinery compensating as the silos of death opened and released their package from the shoulder pods. It was unlikely any of them would reach their target. But that wasn’t their point. Sure enough, the enemy was dashing out into the open to avoid the salvo. Opening themselves up as expected. They weren’t expecting the twin roar of shotgun blast to tear into their armour. Sparks flew and flames erupted as the enemy machine’s fragile armour was ruptured.

[Enemy AC identified. AC name: Steel Lily. Codesign: Death Blossom.]

The enemy pilot was quick, Arashi would give them that. Them and their mech both, as it burst into motion and closed the gap with brutal efficiency. Before Arashi could react the enemy had their blade armed and ready, slamming it into her mech’s shoulder with a crack of electricty and a screech of tearing steel. More warning sirens blared in the cockpit, alarmingly loud and deeply distracting. With a hiss of frustration Arashi slammed another button, finally releasing the healing pulse that would restore the damage done. Another blast from her shotgun made the enemy pilot pay for their boldness. The other mech sprang back, sparking and smoking from the fresh damage done. An electric fizz ran through it as the enemy pilot used their repair kit in turn. A stalemate.

“What, no words after all this time? I’m hurt.”The words crackled through a too-old speaker. A once-familiar voice made cold by time and circumstances. A final trick to let Arashi’s guard down. It would have worked once. Had Arashi been a younger pilot. Had she not known the extent of the enemy pilot’s wiles.

“None for you, sister.” The words were a final admission of failure and a resolute goodbye to a past that no longer mattered. Then the two mechs closed the distance once more and lingering regrets gave way to steel and sparks. As it always had to be.

#ff14 #ffxiv #final fantasy xiv #final fantasy 14 #ffxivwrite #ffxivwrite2023 #arashi washi #sanda washi #alternate universe time #yes i did fall into the armored core hole how could you tell #arashi's ac would probably be called shinryu now that i think about it #with a callsign of storm (obviously (she thinks she's so clever))

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firelordseb · 1 year ago

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Writing Post 6/2/23

Hi! I'm an aspiring writer and will try and update this blog as much as I can whenever I write. Enjoy this little fiction piece that I wrote to just get the juices flowing, and let me know what you think about it! I'm looking forward to continue to post here, and to maybe make new friends too :D

"Shrapnel flew around me in a flurry, blinding my immediate vision, and distorting my senses beyond repair. I couldn’t hear my companions shouting to retreat, or smell the rancid scent of iron blood in the air, mixed with the dirty chemicals of the planet. Shakily, I cling on to the side of the highway, hoping to become as small as the ants beneath me. Half of my body is beyond disrepair, stained with crimson blood and dark oils that made me feel slick on the dusty road.

I continued to shake, unsure if it was my body’s final woes or the sudden appearance of tanks rolling in from the capitol building. The tanks blended in perfectly with the surroundings, as if they were molded from the earth that they now tread across. All around the bodies of the tanks were patches of tumbleweed and dead grass, with splatters of dark, black mud to match the treads. On top of the tank bodies was a typical cannon along with a sentry gun, although it had a catapult-like mechanism on its backend. These commenced firing once the tanks came to a halt, launching flaming balls of terrain into the now-retreating army. The fireballs smashed into torsos, ripping apart bodies as soon as they hit them, and further scattering the troops.

By the 3rd volley of fireballs, I finally jerked into a more conscious state. My sensors were almost fully online (about 68%) and I could get a more accurate reading of the battlefield. My army was non-existent, any remnants of the soldiers dragging themselves away from a crater only to be smashed by another that landed a few feet away. It was a rainbow of fire, and one I needed to get away from before I was at the end of it. I hadn’t been spotted from behind the pillar I was laying at, but couldn’t reposition since I was now behind the array of tanks. Sneaking was out of the question, there was no way I could bypass these tanks in my injured state. I only had my plasma pistol on me, which was nothing compared to the tank’s shields...."

#writing

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ramautomations123 · 23 hours ago

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Optimize Equipment Performance with Condition Monitoring

Condition monitoring is the key to maximizing machinery efficiency and minimizing downtime. By tracking essential parameters like vibration, temperature, and pressure, you can detect and fix issues before they escalate.

Why Condition Monitoring Matters:

Prevent Breakdowns: Spot problems early and avoid costly failures.

Save Money: Reduce repair costs with proactive maintenance.

Boost Productivity: Ensure uninterrupted operations with reliable equipment.

Enhance Safety: Protect your team with well-maintained machines.

Get Started with Condition Monitoring:

Focus on critical equipment.

Use tools like vibration sensors and pressure transmitters.

Schedule regular checks to ensure peak performance.

At Ram Automations, we offer top-notch solutions for condition monitoring:

Danfoss MBS 5100 Pressure Transmitters

Honeywell R4343 E1048 Flame Detectors

Vibration and Temperature Sensors

Invest in your equipment’s health today! Visit Ram Automations for reliable products and expert support.

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jamskills · 6 days ago

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Signs You Need Furnace Repair Before Cold Weather Hits

As the crisp autumn air sets in and the chill of winter approaches, the last thing you want is for your furnace to fail when you need it most. Furnace breakdowns can be inconvenient and costly, especially during the coldest months of the year. To avoid unexpected repairs and ensure your home stays warm and cosy, it’s essential to recognise the signs that your furnace may need attention before the cold weather hits. This blog post will explore the key warning signs that indicate you need Furnace Repair in Brockton, MA.

1. Your Furnace Is Not Producing Heat

One of the most obvious signs that your furnace needs repair is if it stops producing heat. If you find that your home isn’t warming up or the air coming from your vents is cold, it’s time to call for Furnace Repair in Brockton, MA. Various factors, including a malfunctioning thermostat, a faulty pilot light, or a broken blower motor, could be causing this issue. A technician can diagnose the root cause and get your furnace up and running again.

2. Strange Noises Coming from the Furnace

Furnaces are designed to run quietly, but if you’re hearing strange noises such as banging, rattling, or squealing, it’s a sign that something is wrong. These sounds could indicate a loose or broken part, such as a damaged belt, or even something more serious, like a malfunctioning fan motor. If these noises persist, it’s important to schedule Furnace Repair in Brockton, MA before the problem escalates.

What you might hear:

Banging or popping: This could mean a dirty burner or ignition problem.

Rattling: Indicates loose components or ductwork.

Squealing or whistling: This is likely a worn-out belt or fan issue.

3. The Furnace Is Blowing Cold Air

Another clear indication that your furnace might need repair is if it’s blowing cold air instead of warm air. If the furnace seems to run fine but intermittently produces cold air, there could be an issue with the thermostat, or the pilot light might have gone out. Sometimes, a clogged filter or a malfunctioning gas valve may also be to blame. Furnace Repair Brockton, MA professionals can inspect and repair or replace these components.

4. The Furnace Cycles Too Frequently

Frequent furnace cycling, also known as short cycling, indicates a problem with temperature control, potentially due to a dirty air filter, overworked thermostat, or faulty flame sensor. This can cause increased energy bills.

5. A Sudden Increase in Energy Bills

Unexpected energy bill spikes may indicate inefficient furnace operation, possibly due to clogged filters, old furnaces, or malfunctioning components. Seek professional Furnace Repair in Brockton MA, to inspect and improve efficiency.

6. Yellow or Flickering Pilot Light

A healthy furnace will have a blue pilot light, but if it turns yellow or flickers, it could indicate a problem with the combustion process. A yellow light often points to a carbon monoxide issue, which can be dangerous. If you notice this change in the pilot light’s colour, don’t wait—contact a professional for immediate Furnace Repair in Brockton MA. The technician will check for leaks and ensure your furnace is safe.

7. Foul Odors from the Furnace

Odorous smells from your furnace may indicate gas leaks or other serious issues requiring immediate attention. Other potential causes include mould, dust, or blocked vents.

Conclusion

Recognising the signs that your furnace needs repair is essential to avoiding unexpected breakdowns and costly repairs. Whether it's a lack of heat, strange noises, or frequent cycling, early detection and maintenance can help keep your furnace running smoothly all winter. If you notice any of the symptoms mentioned above, don’t hesitate to call a professional for Furnace Repair in Brockton MA, to ensure your home stays warm and safe during the colder months.

By maintaining your furnace, you’ll extend its lifespan and improve its efficiency, saving you money on energy bills. So, before the winter chill sets in, schedule a furnace inspection to avoid any surprises when you need heat the most.

#Furnace Repair Brockton MA

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hvacbarrie-blog · 1 month ago

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Seasonal Furnace Maintenance: Preventative Measures to Avoid Costly Repairs

As winter approaches, ensuring your furnace operates efficiently is crucial for keeping your home warm and cozy. Regular furnace maintenance can prevent costly repairs, extend the lifespan of your unit, and improve energy efficiency. This article outlines essential seasonal maintenance tasks and preventative measures that homeowners can take to ensure their furnace runs smoothly throughout the cold months.

The Importance of Seasonal Maintenance

Regular maintenance of your furnace is vital for several reasons:

Preventing Breakdowns: Just like any appliance, furnaces can break down without warning. Seasonal maintenance helps identify and address potential issues before they become major problems.

Improving Efficiency: A well-maintained furnace operates more efficiently, reducing energy consumption and lowering heating bills.

Extending Lifespan: Regular check-ups can prolong the lifespan of your furnace, saving you money on premature replacements.

Enhancing Safety: A neglected furnace can pose safety hazards, such as gas leaks or carbon monoxide buildup. Regular maintenance ensures your system operates safely.

Seasonal Furnace Maintenance Checklist

1. Change or Clean Air Filters

Dirty air filters restrict airflow, forcing your furnace to work harder and consume more energy. Replace or clean your air filter every 1-3 months during the heating season. Opt for high-efficiency filters to enhance indoor air quality and system performance.

2. Inspect the Thermostat

Ensure your thermostat is functioning correctly and accurately reflects the temperature in your home. If you have an older thermostat, consider upgrading to a programmable or smart thermostat for better control over your heating schedule.

3. Check the Ductwork

Inspect your ductwork for leaks, gaps, or blockages. Proper sealing and insulation of ducts can prevent heat loss and improve overall efficiency. If you notice any issues, consult a professional to perform duct sealing or cleaning.

4. Clean the Furnace and Surrounding Area

Dust and debris can accumulate around your furnace, impacting its performance. Clean the furnace exterior and the surrounding area to ensure adequate airflow. Keep combustible materials away from the furnace to reduce fire hazards.

5. Inspect the Blower Motor and Fan

The blower motor circulates heated air throughout your home. Ensure it is clean and functioning properly. Listen for unusual noises during operation, which may indicate wear and tear. Lubricate any moving parts as needed to reduce friction and wear.

6. Test Safety Controls and Components

Check safety controls such as the limit switch and flame sensor to ensure they are functioning correctly. A malfunctioning safety feature can lead to dangerous situations. If you’re unsure how to test these components, contact a professional technician.

7. Schedule a Professional Tune-Up

While many maintenance tasks can be performed by homeowners, a professional tune-up is essential for thorough inspection and servicing. A qualified technician can:

Inspect and clean critical components

Check gas lines and connections

Adjust the burner for optimal combustion

Test the efficiency and output of the furnace

8. Inspect the Exhaust System

Check the flue and vent pipes for any signs of blockage or corrosion. Proper ventilation is crucial for safe operation, as it prevents carbon monoxide buildup. Ensure that the exhaust system is clear and in good condition.

Additional Preventative Measures

Consider a Maintenance Plan: Many HVAC companies offer maintenance plans that include seasonal inspections and priority service. This can save you money on repairs and ensure your system is regularly serviced.

Monitor Performance: Keep an eye on your furnace's performance throughout the heating season. If you notice inconsistent temperatures or unusual sounds, contact a professional for assistance.

Know When to Replace: If your furnace is over 15-20 years old, it may be time to consider replacement. Newer models are typically more energy-efficient and can save you money in the long run.

Conclusion

Seasonal furnace replacement is essential for ensuring your heating system operates efficiently and safely throughout the winter months. By following this checklist and implementing preventative measures, you can avoid costly repairs and enjoy a warm, comfortable home. Don’t wait until the first cold snap to address your furnace—schedule your maintenance today to ensure peace of mind all season long.

#furnace maintenance #furnace replacement

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computeritdisposal · 2 months ago

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The Future of E-Waste: What Will Happen to Our Gadgets in 2030?

Electronic waste, or e-waste, has become a significant environmental issue as the pace of technological innovation continues to accelerate. Each year, millions of tons of old electronics are discarded, many of which contain hazardous materials that pose risks to both human health and the environment. By 2030, the world’s e-waste problem is projected to grow even more severe unless there are significant changes in how we manage electronic devices throughout their lifecycle. This article explores the future of e-waste in 2030, analysing trends, challenges, and potential solutions for a more sustainable future.

The Growing E-Waste Crisis: A Look Ahead

In 2023, global e-waste generation was around 50 million metric tons annually. However, by 2030, this figure is expected to rise to over 75 million metric tons, driven by rapid technological advancements, shorter device lifespans, and the increasing popularity of Internet of Things (IoT) devices. As more gadgets—from smartphones and laptops to smart home appliances—become obsolete, the challenge of managing e-waste will intensify. The expansion of 5G networks, autonomous vehicles, and AI-powered devices will also contribute to the surge in discarded electronics.

Key Drivers of E-Waste in 2030:

Technological Obsolescence: Devices will continue to evolve rapidly, with new models replacing older ones at an accelerated pace. Consumers upgrading to the latest technology will increase the volume of discarded electronics.

IoT Proliferation: The rise of connected devices, sensors, and smart systems will lead to the discarding of even more gadgets. With billions of IoT devices in homes, industries, and cities, managing these small, often non-recyclable electronics will become increasingly difficult.

Planned Obsolescence: Many tech companies still design products with planned obsolescence in mind—making it harder for devices to be repaired or upgraded. Unless addressed through regulation or shifts in consumer demand, this practice will continue to drive e-waste.

E-Waste in 2030: The Environmental and Health Risks

E-waste contains a variety of hazardous substances, including heavy metals like lead, mercury, and cadmium, as well as toxic chemicals like flame retardants. When improperly disposed of in landfills or through informal recycling operations, these materials can leach into soil, water, and air, contaminating ecosystems and posing health risks to humans. In many parts of the world, e-waste is exported to developing countries where unregulated recycling exposes workers and communities to harmful substances.

By 2030, the environmental and health risks of e-waste will only increase unless global recycling infrastructure improves significantly. Developing nations, in particular, will bear the brunt of improper e-waste disposal, leading to air and water pollution, soil degradation, and higher incidences of health problems like cancer and respiratory diseases.

E-Waste and Climate Change

Beyond health and environmental risks, e-waste also contributes to climate change. Manufacturing electronic devices requires vast amounts of energy, often derived from fossil fuels, contributing to carbon emissions. Additionally, the improper disposal of e-waste in landfills can lead to the release of greenhouse gases. In 2030, without substantial shifts in how we recycle and manage gadgets, the carbon footprint of e-waste will grow, exacerbating climate-related challenges.

The Future of E-Waste Management: Trends and Solutions for 2030

1. Circular Economy and Product Design

One of the most promising solutions for reducing e-waste is the shift towards a circular economy—a system that designs out waste and keeps resources in use for as long as possible. By 2030, we may see a larger-scale adoption of circular principles in product design, where gadgets are built to be repaired, refurbished, or upgraded rather than discarded. Leading tech companies are already experimenting with modular designs that allow users to swap out components like batteries, screens, or memory.

Tech companies could also focus on eco-design, where devices are made from sustainable materials, are energy efficient, and are easier to recycle. Governments and regulatory bodies may impose stricter laws on companies, ensuring that they take responsibility for the entire lifecycle of their products, encouraging design-for-disassembly, repairability, and material recovery.

2. Advanced Recycling Technologies

One of the current challenges with e-waste is the inefficiency of recycling processes. Most traditional recycling methods recover only a small portion of valuable materials from electronic devices. However, by 2030, advancements in recycling technologies, such as robotic disassembly, chemical recycling, and urban mining, could make material recovery from e-waste more efficient and cost-effective.

Robotic Disassembly: Automated systems can dismantle gadgets faster and more precisely, separating out reusable components and materials.

Chemical Recycling: Innovations in chemical recycling processes will allow for the extraction of rare earth metals and other valuable materials from e-waste, which are typically hard to recover through mechanical means.

Urban Mining: This emerging concept focuses on extracting precious metals like gold, silver, and platinum from discarded electronics within urban environments, reducing the need for environmentally destructive traditional mining practices.

3. EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility) Programs

By 2030, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) programs could be globally widespread. Under EPR schemes, manufacturers are responsible for the entire lifecycle of their products, including their end-of-life disposal. This could involve collecting old electronics from consumers for recycling or refurbishing, as well as ensuring that products are designed for easy recycling.

Governments in developed nations are already implementing EPR policies, and by 2030, they could become a global standard. This could lead to a decrease in illegal e-waste exports and the rise of formal recycling channels that better manage the collection, dismantling, and recycling of old electronics.

4. Digital Solutions: Blockchain and IoT Tracking

In the future, digital tools like blockchain and IoT could play a crucial role in improving the traceability of e-waste and ensuring that devices are recycled responsibly. Blockchain could provide transparency in the e-waste recycling chain by allowing consumers, companies, and governments to track each device’s lifecycle from production to disposal. IoT sensors embedded in devices could also provide real-time data on a product's condition, alerting users when a gadget reaches the end of its life and guiding them toward appropriate recycling methods.

5. Consumer Awareness and Behavior

Ultimately, solving the e-waste crisis will require a shift in consumer behavior. By 2030, educational campaigns and stronger social movements could increase consumer awareness about the environmental and health impacts of e-waste, encouraging more responsible consumption habits. Governments may also introduce incentives for consumers to recycle or trade in old electronics for newer, more eco-friendly models, as well as penalties for improper disposal.

6. The Role of Governments and International Cooperation

Governments will play a critical role in shaping the future of e-waste. By 2030, stricter regulations and policies aimed at reducing e-waste generation, encouraging sustainable product design, and promoting recycling will likely be in place. Moreover, international cooperation will be essential to address the cross-border nature of the e-waste trade. Global treaties and agreements, like the Basel Convention, could see expanded scope and enforcement, reducing the illegal shipment of e-waste to developing nations and ensuring that e-waste is processed under safe and environmentally friendly conditions.

Conclusion: The Future of Our Gadgets in 2030

By 2030, the e-waste crisis will likely continue to pose significant environmental and health risks unless proactive measures are taken. While the increasing volume of discarded electronics will be a challenge, there is hope in the form of innovative recycling technologies, circular product design, digital tracking systems, and stronger regulatory frameworks. The path forward will require collaboration between governments, tech companies, and consumers to create a more sustainable ecosystem for electronic devices.

Ultimately, a combination of technological innovation, policy changes, and shifts in consumer behavior will be essential to address the growing e-waste problem. With the right strategies in place, we can ensure that by 2030, our gadgets are not just more advanced but also more environmentally friendly.

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commercialkitchenparts · 3 months ago

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How to Repair Pitco Relay Boards for Commercial Fryers

An efficient fryer operation is essential for food quality and productivity in a busy commercial kitchen. The Pitco Relay Board, necessary for ignition, flame supervision, and temperature regulation, is vital for maintaining fryer performance. Issues with this component can cause significant downtime. This guide will help you repair Pitco Relay Boards for commercial fryers, minimizing disruptions and ensuring consistent kitchen productivity.

Understanding the Pitco Relay Board

The Pitco Relay Board is an integral component of the electronic ignition control system in Pitco's commercial fryers, griddles, and ranges. This specialized board plays a crucial role in managing several key functions that are essential for the efficient and safe operation of commercial cooking equipment.

Ignition Control: Sends precise signals to reliably fire the fryer’s burners every time the fryer is turned on.

Flame Supervision: Monitors and maintains the flame in a manner that keeps it lit, and makes adjustments to take care of errant situations that could lead to harm.

Temperature Regulation: It interfaces with sensors to regulate and maintain accurate cooking temperatures so that cooking results will be consistent and high food quality.

Preparing Pitco Relay Boards for Repair

Before you begin any repairs:

Disconnect Power: If you use an electric fryer, disconnect it from the power source or unplug it so that you don’t risk electrical shock.

Use PPE: Protect yourself as you repair it wear gloves and safety glasses.

Tools and Equipment Needed

To effectively repair the Pitco Relay Board, gather the following tools:

Multimeter: For testing electrical circuits.

Screwdrivers: For removing and replacing components.

Replacement Parts: Including relays, fuses, and other necessary components.

Repair Kit (Optional): For more extensive repairs.

Step-by-Step Pitco Relay Boards Repair Guide

Step1: Diagnosing the Problem

Check Electrical Continuity: Test electrical circuits for continuity using a multimeter. Check open or short circuits and measure voltage and resistance.

Identify Symptoms: Check if the symptoms you’ve observed include ignition failures or temperature inconsistencies, and should help you locate the problem.

Step2: Disassembling the Fryer

Turn Off and Unplug: Make sure the fryer is completely powered off before starting.

Open the Fryer Cabinet: Remove screws or fasteners to access the relay board. Refer to the fryer’s manual for specific instructions on disassembly.

Step:3. Inspecting the Relay Board

Visual Inspection:

Check for Physical Damage: Burnt or melted components, loose connections, corrosion, or damaged traces on the circuit board. Often, identifying these issues can tell you why the problem is happening.

2. Testing the Coil:

Measure Resistance: Use a multimeter to check the coil’s resistance. It should fall within the specified range. High or low resistance may indicate a faulty coil requiring replacement.

3. Checking the Contacts:

Verify Contact Operation: Use a multimeter in continuity mode to check the relay contacts. They should be closed when the relay is not energized and open when energized. If they do not change states as expected, they may need cleaning or replacement.

4. Coil Voltage Verification:

Check Voltage Supply: Ensure the coil receives the correct voltage when energized. Incorrect voltage could indicate a faulty power supply or control signal issue. Trace the circuit to identify and correct the problem.

Step4: Replacing Faulty Components

Remove Defective Parts: Carefully extract any faulty relays, fuses, or other components. Note their specifications for accurate replacement.

Install New Components: Replace defective parts with new, compatible ones. Ensure all components are properly aligned and securely connected.

Step5: Reassembling and Testing

Reassemble the Fryer: Reattach the access panel and secure it with screws or fasteners. Make sure all components and panels are properly aligned.

Reconnect Power and Test: Plug in the fryer and power it on. Test all functions, including ignition, flame supervision, and temperature regulation, to ensure the repair has resolved the issue and that the fryer is operating correctly.

Pitco Relay Boards Preventative Maintenance Tips

To ensure the longevity and optimal performance of the Pitco Relay Board, follow these preventative maintenance tips:

Routine Inspections: Regularly inspect the relay board to catch potential issues early and prevent larger problems.

Cleaning and Care: Clean the board with compressed air or a soft brush, avoiding harsh chemicals. Consider using a conformal coating for added protection.

Signs of Wear and Tear: Watch for unusual noises or inconsistent performance and address these signs promptly.

Repairing Pitco Relay Boards for commercial fryers is essential for maintaining efficiency and safety in your kitchen. Following the steps outlined in this guide, can effectively address common issues and keep your fryer in optimal condition. Regular maintenance and timely repairs will help minimize downtime and ensure consistent food quality. If you encounter complex issues or are unsure about any part of the repair process, seeking professional assistance is recommended.

#Pitco #PitcoParts #RelayBoards #partsfe #restaurantequipmentparts #kitchenequipmentparts

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