In 2007, he decided to automate his home himself, and since then he has changed the domotic protocol three times. He shows me how he opens the door to an Amazon delivery person using his mobile phone so they can leave a package, all of this being controlled from a camera located in his door’s peephole.
He is involved in umpteen forums; not only on domotics, but also on electricity self-consumption and technology in general. When the questions he is asked start to build up, he organises a chat over zoom and he helps to solve the difficulties that users have via streaming, with some people having connected from Australia and the United States.
A motorbike-lover, he arrives to pick me up on a BMW R1250RS, dressed as if we were going to a racing track; a circuit that ends up as a trip to see the walls of Badajoz and its unique Mozarabic square.
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How long have you had a motorbike?
I started off as a teenager. Over three summers, from the ages of 14 to 16, I picked tomatoes to save up and buy my first moped. My father repeatedly pointed out “when you have the money to buy it, you will have the brains to ride it.” Years later, I understood that he was right.
How many motorbikes have you had?
Seven, and twice I have had two at the same time. I bought the first truly big one when I was 26. My motorbikes fit in with my different life circumstances: depending on the age you buy a bike that is sportier, or for travelling, or like the one I have now, which is more versatile and can be used, more or less, for everything.
Why motorbikes and not cars?
I don’t get the same adrenaline rush when I’m driving a car; I only get it from riding a bike. It gives you a freedom that is difficult to define and you are closer to your surroundings than in a car.
What has your top speed been?
On a straight at the Estoril racing circuit at 320 km/h, something that can only be done safely on a circuit. On the open road, you have to ride very carefully, respecting the rules.
What does the word ‘Reming’ on your helmet mean?
It is my nickname. I was given it at secondary school. At the age of fifteen, I liked to dress and comb my hair like Pierce Brosnan in the series ‘Remington Steele’, which we watched as teenagers at the time.
Have you fallen off much?
I am lucky. I have only had one important fall with the Suzuki Hayabusa 1300 on a circuit. I skidded, but as I wasn’t going very fast, nothing happened, as we wear very protective clothing.
Tell me what routes you have done
Hundreds of short ones around Spain, as I usually go out with my friends on Saturdays. Abroad, I have travelled the American Route 66 from Flagstaff to Santa Monica (Los Angeles), and in Europe, I have travelled around virtually all of Italy. I crossed the Alps, the Côte d’Azur, and the French Pyrenees and then I came home again.
I don’t understand why you buy a Tesla and then assemble and disassemble it thousands of times. Isn’t its standard technology enough for you?
I have a Tesla due to my complete environmental conviction, but then my passion for adding ‘after market’ accessories comes into play, such as the automatic opening boot, smooth door closures and anything else that might come to my mind.
How can you set up the solar panel installation in your house if you have no idea how to do it?
By reading and learning. YouTube also teaches you everything. I contacted a Chinese company from which I bought the solar cells with lithium, iron and phosphate technology; then I bought the BMS from an Australian company and finally I contacted an engineering company from Navarra to obtain the inverter. The curious point is that this company has carried out tests to optimise its system using my house’s installation and my experience to improve their software. I have 31 panels that allow me to charge my electric car; as well as 36 kWh in batteries in order to be completely independent, energy-wise.
I believe another company was also interested in the inverter and charger for your Tesla. It seems that you have a branch of Silicon Valley in Badajoz.
(Laughter) It’s not such a big deal. Yes, I have helped Orbis implement their electric car charger and their communication with the inverter, providing some improvement options for their control software. I do it all in my free time as a hobby because my job is my job. I only help people with my knowledge, but not with the labour.
At the ‘5 al día’ Assembly you left us speechless when we found out that you had written a book on aquariums.
Yes, indeed, it was the result of a research process to set my aquarium up. I like fish and I have snorkelled in different places around the world, so one day I decided to buy an aquarium. I wanted it to be a marine, warm water environment to be able to have all these fish and corals that I had seen on my travels. I was told it wasn’t possible unless I were to spend half an hour every day looking after it. This is impossible because I am very busy and I travel a great deal. I started to investigate and I discovered a new technology, advanced oxidation for ammonium and organic matter. In this process I reached out to a Valencian company that made titanium dioxide reactors, which are used in Valencia’s Oceanographic Centre. I contacted them and applied it to my aquarium. Now, I can go away for a month and my fish have food guaranteed, the water in perfect conditions and my 550 litre aquarium stays clean.
You are also the author of Afruex’s ERP system which, by the way, has celebrated its 30th anniversary this year
Yes, I realised that it was completely necessary and I got to work. I worked on it for over 9 months, learning programming under the FileMaker platform. Now, we are fully digitalised.
