A little known fact is that the banks that issue credit cards usually have an inflated foreign exchange rate. For many cards, like the Canadian Tire Options card, for example, that rate is 2.5% on top of the MasterCard exchange rate. So for us Canadians who do a lot of cross-border shopping, or shopping online in US dollars, that can add up.
Can you avoid it? Yes! There are a few cards I know of, available to Canadians, that do not have foreign exchange fees and no annual fee:
Are the beeps from your treadmill annoying? Want to run while the kids are in bed? Watch this video to see how to quiet your treadmill.
I'll show you four (well, technically five) different ways to do it:
1. Muffle the sound, if you just find it too loud.
2. Disable the sound entirely
3. Add a switch to turn the sound on and off
4. Add a volume knob
The 5th option, which is what I do in the video, combines 3 and 4. Options 1 and 2 require no special tools, but doing option 2 without a soldering iron is not recommended.
Watch the video to see how I do it:
Here are wiring diagrams for the other options, with links to where you can buy what you need:
Switch
Here is a push on / push off (aka self-locking) switch: eBay
Volume knob
You'll need a 20kΩ potentiometer (labelled as B20K), which you can buy here: eBay
Volume knob with switch
For this you'll need a 10kΩ (or more) potentiometer with combined switch: eBay
In this video I'll show you how to make a leather band for the RoadID Elite to replace the silicone band that comes with it. I use these bracelets for my kids, and I've found that the silicone bands break after a while. I've gone through 4-5 bands now and I don't want to replace them anymore.
As promised, here is my follow-up video where I show you how to install new TPMS sensors in a tire that is already mounted on a rim. Do this if you are replacing an existing TPMS sensor, or if you are adding a sensor where you had a regular rubber valve before.
Here I show you how you can buy TPMS sensors on the cheap and clone your existing ones to avoid having to visit your dealer to reprogram your vehicle. Use this if you are replacing a broken TPMS sensor, or if you want to install new ones, especially in winter tires, for example.
I'm doing this for my 2009 Honda Odyssey EX-L, but the principles apply to any supported vehicle.
Since I posted this video, Autel has released a new sensor that works on both 315MHz and 433MHz called the "1-Sensor", so you don't need to worry about which frequency your vehicle works on.
To figure out if these sensors will work with your vehicle, go to this page, click on "Downloads" and download the document called "TS508_V6.19_FunctionList_" that ends with the two-letter code for the global market you are in ("US" for North America): https://www.maxitpms.com/tpmscms/product2/794.jhtml
That spreadsheet will also tell you whether your vehicle automatically learns new TPMS sensors. If it says "A", then you do not need programmable sensors at all. Just buy any compatible sensor that works on the right frequency for your vehicle.
You can order the programmable MX sensors online:eBay (shipped from China)Amazon.com (shipped from US)
And the programmer:
Autel MaxiTPMS PAD (eBay - from China)
Note: All links are affiliate links, meaning that when you use these links, eBay will give me a percentage of anything you spend, at no cost to you. This helps me justify to my wife spending time on these videos. Thank you! :)
Here's a video about why I started wet shaving. It does give you a better shave, but the main reason I made the switch is for the cost. Here I explain how I got started wet shaving, and what you will need to get started. I won't give you a ton of options, since that can get confusing. I'll just tell you what I bought. If you do the same, it's a great starting point.
The short story is: It'll cost you about $50 US to get started, and the only ongoing costs are soap and blades, which are super cheap.
Here are the links to everything I talked about in the video:
