Nomadic Electronics

[Lowkus]

Are public libraries in your area amenable to someone bringing in an electronics project and test gear to work on it there?

[Terry Bites]

God no!

[Kerlin]

I am guessing what you mean is, are public libraries open to the Maker Culture?

I think that would be a very good way for an underused library to provide some worth to the public that funds it.
As an experiment they could modify one of the meeting rooms that most of them have now.
In my area they probably don't need it as they are crowded with overseas students, while locals attend sports / barbecue and booze sessions.

[james_s]

I certainly have never heard of someone doing that, and I think it would raise a lot of eyebrows and generally be frowned upon, especially if you made noise or smells, soldering would be a definite no-no. A breadboard or an Arduino or something plugged into a laptop, I doubt anyone would notice or mind. The last time I was in a library (pre-Covid) it was busy with students studying.

[Renate]

Some libraries have study rooms that you can book.
I don't think that dragging in big equipment would go over well but a protoboard or so would probably be no problem.

Is the biggest hurdle getting power?
Summertime, a camping place, a picnic table and power would do.

I'm nomadic too. Here I am fixing a Dell monitor for a friend.

[Lowkus]

I was toying with the idea of living on a sailboat and working on electronics projects in the saloon, but it would be nice to occasionally work on the project in an air-conditioned library that's not rocking and rolling.

[Renate]

I was toying with the idea of living on a sailboat and working on electronics projects in the saloon...

I'm in a 20 footer (with 6 tires).
For me, computer screens that stow flat, mostly USB instruments and well organized totes of parts and devices works for me.

[wizard69]

I don't think there is one answer that fits all here.   As others have noted you are not going to be able solder in most libraries.   I say 'most' because I have heard of libraries opening maker spaces.   I don't know of any locally that have such spaces though.

Otherwise I suspect that it would come down to how much space you take up and if any noise is generated.   There may also be rooms to rent or schedule at your local library.

I was toying with the idea of living on a sailboat and working on electronics projects in the saloon, but it would be nice to occasionally work on the project in an air-conditioned library that's not rocking and rolling.

[Capernicus]

why the nomadism?
Are u evading the authorities?   

[Lowkus]

Just a bit bored with living in gloomy, overcrowded, overpriced Seattle.  A sailboat probably isn't practical though, some of my ideas require a 3d printer and that could be a real mess on a sailboat.

[Capernicus]

A nondescript white mini van would be cool to live in, theyd never find you.  Just got to handle the hardware, get the electrics done, whatever you know yourself you dont have to pay for.   

[james_s]

Just a bit bored with living in gloomy, overcrowded, overpriced Seattle.  A sailboat probably isn't practical though, some of my ideas require a 3d printer and that could be a real mess on a sailboat.

My dad lived on a 42 foot sailboat for almost a decade, his brother, wife and their cat lived on a 36 footer for around the same amount of time, it can be done. Takes some lifestyle changes though, space is very much at a premium and no matter how big the boat is you'll wish it was another foot or two. It's also an expensive hobby, however if you live on the thing and can do a lot of the work yourself, it can be pretty economical housing. A big bonus is you can untie and take your house all over, Puget Sound is a fantastic area for sailing, there are all sorts of interesting places to go. A significant downside is your house can sink, and my dad did have a close call last year when a fitting that was part of the diesel engine exhaust plumbing broke and he had taken on several inches of water by the time he looked down into the cabin and realized what was happening. Good proactive maintenance, good seamanship and having a solid understanding of your boat's systems goes a long way toward preventing a disaster though.

You could look into finding a friend near your home port and keep a 3D printer at their place. Maybe you'll find someone who is interested in shared ownership of one, or offer to take them sailing occasionally in exchange for providing a home for your printer.

[fourfathom]

Probably *the* original TechNomad is Steve Roberts.  He's a good friend of mine and lives on his boat here in Friday Harbor.  He has tricked out his boats / bicycles / etc. far beyond what any reasonable person would tolerate:

https://microship.com/