3Zebras: Tech News, Smart Home Guides and Digital How-To Tutorials

short throw projector on a coffee table casting a large image onto a living room wall from about one metre away

Short Throw Projectors: The Distance Maths and Where They Beat Standard

Work out how far a short throw projector sits from the wall with one formula, compare four published throw ratios, and see the drawbacks each spec sheet buries.

mini projector on a coffee table projecting a bright landscape onto a living room wall

Mini Projectors: Real Lumens vs Marketing Lumens

Judge a mini projector by ISO 21118 or ANSI lumens, not LED lumens or lux. See what Epson forced sellers to correct and four compact models with real ratings.

above ground pool vacuum robot cleaning the vinyl floor of a round frame pool

Above Ground Pool Robots: Wall Climbing Limits and Liner Safety

Pick an above ground pool vacuum robot by its spec sheet: floor-only ratings, the Easy Set wall exclusion, liner chemistry limits and the Health Canada recall.

pool vacuum robot on the tiled floor of an in-ground pool with its floating cable

Robotic Pool Cleaners: Waterline Coverage and Cable Tangle

A pool vacuum robot only scrubs the waterline if the spec sheet says so. Compare Dolphin and Aiper coverage, swivel cable length, suction and runtime.

commercial grade dehumidifier - Commercial Dehumidifiers: Pints Per Day and Duty Cycle

Commercial Dehumidifiers: Pints Per Day and Duty Cycle

A commercial grade dehumidifier carries two pint ratings, AHAM and saturation. Compare real specs, the temperature floor and the circuit draw before you buy.

battery operated heater - Battery Operated Heaters: Why Most Do Not Work as Advertised

Battery Operated Heaters: Why Most Do Not Work as Advertised

A battery operated heater cannot warm a room, and the watt-hour math shows why. Compare real power station run times and what actually works off-grid.