Month: January 2020

Wednesday (22-January-2020) — New Jersey

Passive Computer Processor Cooler: Synology DS3617xs.

Four years ago I posted an image of the large passive cooler in a Synology DS-3615xs NAS (network attached storage) system. 08-December-2015 The time has come where I need to increase my data storage capacity, but at the same time want to decrease the amount of energy required to maintain the storage. I’ve opted to upgrade to the Synology DS-3617xs NAS with 16TB Seagate EXOS hard drives. Once I get the data transferred, I will be able to retire two DS-3615xs NAS systems and four DX-1215 expansion systems. This should reduce my daily electric energy consumption for the servers from ~24 kWh/day to ~7 kWh/day (corresponding to ~ $1,000/year). I will be able to monitor and confirm this using my Sense home energy monitor.

The Synology DS-3617xs came with 16GB of installed RAM. In order to create a single volume > 100 TB I needed to add additional memory. Installation of additional memory is now accomplished from the side of the DS-3617xs, which is a lot easier. I also installed a dual 10GB RJ-45 network card to be used for the heartbeat connection for running two of the DS-3617xs NAS systems in the High-Availability server mode. With the DS-3617xs you do not need to remove the difficult to disconnect power supply cables to access the interior of the server. The large passive processor cooler looks similar.

Synology DS-3617xs memory upgrade. Image taken with a Fuji X-T3 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens (DAVID J MATHRE)
Synology DS-3617xs memory upgrade. Image taken with a Fuji X-T3 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens (DAVID J MATHRE)
Synology DS-3617xs Passive Processor Cooler. Image taken with a Fuji X-T3 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens (DAVID J MATHRE)
Synology DS-3617xs Passive Processor Cooler. Image taken with a Fuji X-T3 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens (DAVID J MATHRE)
Synology DS-3617xs Dual 10GB RJ54 network card. Image taken with a Fuji X-T3 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens (DAVID J MATHRE)
Synology DS-3617xs Dual 10GB RJ54 network card. Image taken with a Fuji X-T3 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens (DAVID J MATHRE)

Daily Electric Energy Used (92.5 kWh) from Sense Home Energy Monitor and Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (39.5 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. Sunny Day. A deficit of 53 kWh.

Current Weather Conditions


powered by Ambient Weather

Wednesday (22-January-2020) — New Jersey

Backyard Wintertime Nature in New Jersey.

In addition to the regulars (Dark-eyed Junco, Mourning Dove, Blue Jay, and Northern Cardinal) at my bird feeder this morning, a flock of aggressive European Starlings arrived. They left when some American Black Crows landed in my backyard.


Click on the above image to access my PhotoShelter gallery with the individual images in the following slide show.


Daily Electric Energy Used (92.5 kWh) from Sense Home Energy Monitor and Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (39.5 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. Sunny Day. A deficit of 53 kWh.

Current Weather Conditions


powered by Ambient Weather

One-Year Ago (22-January-2019) — New Jersey

Backyard Wintertime Nature in New Jersey.

A Blue Jay and Tufted Titmouse.

alt_title. (David J Mathre)
Blue Jay. Image taken with a Nikon D850 camera and 500 mm f/4 VR telephoto lens (ISO 90, 500 mm, f/4, 1/500 sec).
alt_title. (David J Mathre)
Tufted Titmouse. Image taken with a Nikon D850 camera and 500 mm f/4 VR telephoto lens (ISO 90, 500 mm, f/4, 1/500 sec).

Tuesday (21-January-2020) — New Jersey

Backyard Wintertime Nature in New Jersey.

Regulars at my bird feeder this morning. Blue Jay and Red-bellied Woodpecker


Click on the above image to access my PhotoShelter gallery with the individual images in the following slide show.


Daily Electric Energy Used (95.3 kWh) from Sense and Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (40.4 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. Sunny Day. A deficit of 54.9 kWh.

Current Weather Conditions

powered by Ambient Weather

Tuesday (21-January-2020) — New Jersey

Wintertime Indoor Hydroponic Gardening.

The Zucchini plant produces large (edible) yellow flowers. They appear to open in the morning, and then close at night. And I think that they only open for one day. I took an image of one using a Leica TL2 camera and 35 mm lens f/1.4 lens (ISO 320, 35 mm, f/8, 1/50 sec). The second version is a focus stacked image taken with a Fuji X-T3 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens (ISO 160, 80 mm, f/8, 1/60 sec). Composite of 50 images processed with Capture One Pro and Helicon Focus (method B)

Male Zucchini Flower. Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 320, 35 mm, f/8, 1/50 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Male Zucchini Flower. Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 320, 35 mm, f/8, 1/50 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Male Zucchini Flower. Focus stacked image taken with a Fuji X-T3 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens (ISO 160, 80 mm, f/8, 1/60 sec). Composite of 50 images processed with Capture One Pro and Helicon Focus (method B) (DAVID J MATHRE)
Male Zucchini Flower. Focus stacked image taken with a Fuji X-T3 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens (ISO 160, 80 mm, f/8, 1/60 sec). Composite of 50 images processed with Capture One Pro and Helicon Focus (method B) (DAVID J MATHRE)

Daily Electric Energy Used (95.3 kWh) from Sense and Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (40.4 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. Sunny Day. A deficit of 54.9 kWh.

Current Weather Conditions

powered by Ambient Weather