Favorite places: 2021.11 Black Butte BuckHorn RV California

Thursday the sun had a flare, and a Solar Mass Ejection in the southern part, and directly in line for Earth. Friday, I heard about it on the Internet. Turned over to the news channels, and there was no mention of it. Evidently, the average population is not interested. But I am.

Thursday, coincidently, I was working on the roof of my RV, working on a Solar listening device. What a coincidence! I was not listening for the flare at 07:30. There is no predicting when flares will occur. In any case, I did not hear it. And at 7:30, the sun is not directly overhead anyway. I would need the RV to be east of Cuba somewhere.

This device is a sensor, and to my knowledge, no one else has such a device. The sensor is composed of 9 solar cells at 5 volts each. These cells have a VOC, Voltage Open Circuit, of about 50 volts. The higher the voltage the better. Well, not too high. The electronics can not handle it and will be damaged. This sensor "hears" the sun. Originally, I wanted to hear shooting stars and the moon, but I do not think it is going to happen. Less than 1% of the sun's energy varies, and can be seen on a scope, or heard in a speaker. I have heard winged insects flying. And quite far away. Hundreds of feet away. I have heard ripples on this lake, Black Butte, produce "singing" sounds from the glistening waves. I have heard different layers of the atmosphere produce slowly changing sounds in the background noise levels. I have heard alternating whine from car headlights and car taillights.

This is the reason that I am going to Black Butte, or BuckHorn RV Campground to be specific. The flare is over. The flare was Thursday, but CME is to arrive Saturday. I will be there. I do not know if I can hear a CME. Perhaps only a fluttering noise. And that is even if it can be seen this low in latitude. Canada will see it for sure. The sky will have curtains of blue and green rain down.




The nine cells are behind a plastic face and are held in place with adhesive caulk. None of the white caulk covers the active part of a cell, and it looks worse than it is. The plastic face is placed on top of a box that houses, not only the cells, but also the electronics. This is my latest design, and unfortunately, has the electronics placed on the roof. On the roof, the contents of the box get very hot. The electrolytics will not survive more than a few years. But for now, I want the improved Signal to Noise Ratio, SNR.


Here is an oscilloscope trace of the output of the sensor. The sensor on the roof is more of a PreAmp, and the actual Audio Amp is down below in the trailer, where it is cooler.



The schematic contains three parts:

The three LEDs automatically pull the 50 volt DC down to the MPP, Maximum Power Point knee.
The AC signal goes into the first Op Amp, forming the Pre Amp, and that sends the signal down stairs to the Audio Amp.
The Op Amp on the Top Right forms the AGC, Automatic Gain Control.



Gas milage out to Black Butte, pulling the trailer, depends on wind resistance. And wind resistance depends only on speed. For example,
at 35 MPH, I get about 15 MPG. The best possible MPG, even at slower speeds.
At 40 MPH, I get 13.5 MPG. 8th gear is possible.
At 50 MPH, I get about 12.8 MPG. 7th gear.
At 60 MPH, I get about 12 MPG. This is just above California legal speed limit.
At 70 MPH, I get about 10 MPG.
Above 70 MPH, I get about 6 MPG.

These are not instantaneous values. These are averaged over about 10 miles. Anyway, during the trip, milages were running about right.


I think it has been about two years sense I have been here. Only two RVs here in this section. And one was a van. There is a breeze, and if there are any limbs of trees around, and there plenty, the solar sensor will pick wind noise. The sensor roars with every breeze. The noise is masking out anything that I might be looking for. And I do not even know what I am looking for.


I removed the sensor, and pointed it at the lake. I can not hear the ripples, which I have heard before. I have heard several buzzy bugs, although I have not seen any with my eyes. I saw three ducks flying out over the lake, one flying directly in front of the sun. There was a very loud "thud" sound in the RV. It was so loud that I heard it from outside the trailer. There was no question of what caused that one.


Out of necessity, I found a new way to cook eggs.

Normally, I would oil this non stick ceramic pan. Love this pan. But today, I have no oil. Also, sense this is a fun trip, I refuse to have any dirty dishes. Normally, I dirty up a dish by stirring the eggs before pouring into the pan. Not today. Today, I poured in a little buttermilk and the eggs directly into the pan. Gently stirred in the pan itself, of course with a safe nylon spatula. Chopped an intire red onion, and sprinkled onto the top of the raw eggs. Added salt and pepper unto the top also, and pressed down without stirring. Wow! Now I was able to turn over the intire form of an egg pancake easily. It flipped over so easily without sticking. Who needs to oil the pan? Now, the onion side is down, and could burn or at least brown. Turned down the fire, and cooked this side only 30 seconds.

Tasted good, as the sun was just barely starting to come up. I was keen to keep a close eye on this time. My Clock verbally announced that it was Sun Up Time. And I was ready. I had the volume turned up all the way. The noise floor was a soft white noise, just barely audible. Slowly, as the North sky lightened more, the sun noise started to rise out of the white noise. The sun sounds totally different than background white noise. It contains lower frequencies and sounds more like a rumble. As the sun dominated and washed away the white noise, I could not help but wonder if that White Noise was my Northern Lights. At no time could I actually see the green and blue. So how could my sensor hear it? But maybe...


Looks like rain. I could spend a day or two more out here at Black Butte. But no, the Mass Ejection is over.

I am at the dump now. The last thing to do before leaving.

I am disappointed. No pretty greens and blues in the sky.

But how can I be disappointed in the sun? We could not live without the bright sun overhead. No, I am grateful every morning, for every sunrise and every drop of rain. There are still greens and blues somewhere in the world.