As September nears, the time to install a new Evaporative Cooler controller slips back to next spring. Sales peter out, and that’s good, I’ve got other things to focus on. Right now that’s the firmware. There have been, I am sorry (but not surprised) to say, a few bugs along the way this year. Right now I’m preparing what will hopefully be the final release for 2025, polishing and testing like crazy. This is the most fun part of the design, when you can take the time to make everything just so.
A few of our customers have been amazingly patient with bugs they came across. They seem to understand that it’s a mountain we’ve been scaling. So far it’s been nothing but pleasure helping people solve their problems, and it’s led to some nice design improvements. I especially appreciate those who allowed me into their homes so that I could see firsthand what they were dealing with.
When I began working with TLC Plumbing a couple of years ago, their manager said I couldn’t have direct contact with customers. I made the mistake of agreeing to that condition. Things didn’t work out very well. I won’t repeat that mistake.
Thank you to all who ordered controllers after reading about this effort in the Albuquerque Journal. I will remain grateful for the publicity and purchases, just as I remain grateful to Frank Reinow and the staff and students at New Mexico Tech for getting me started with all this.
For now I’m primarily focusing on firmware. Tweaking, polishing, and exercising it to its limits. This thing needs to be rock solid. Nobody wants to have to worry about their cooler. It should just work, and how to work it should be easy and obvious for everyone.