What Are You Building Today?
NETWORKING & SMART HOME
Router guides, Wi-Fi optimization, Ethernet cabling, smart home guides, camera setups, and network troubleshooting
COMPUTER & SOFTWARE
Windows guides, RAM/memory fixes, storage management, backups, and media conversion tools
DIY SOLAR & ENERGY
Plug-in solar guides, microinverter setups, energy monitoring and Battery Storage
The Ultimate Smart Shed Build Series
You can click here to binge the full Smart Shed Build Series and read or watch the entire process unfold
ELECTRICS & WIRING
Changing sockets, UK domestic wiring guides, DIN rail blocks, and wire crimping
TOOLS & GADGETS
Tool reviews, battery monitors, cable testers, USB meters, and general home maintenance tips
BUILT BY PETE INDEX
The complete list of articles and guides that you can find here on Built By Pete
Latest From The Blog
- Unlock Your Asus Router’s Full Potential with Asuswrt Merlin Firmware
What Is Router Firmware? Think of your home Wi-Fi router not as a basic plug-and-play box, but as a compact, specialised microcomputer running its own embedded operating system known as firmware. This internal software manages essential networking tasks, from assigning local IP addresses and directing… - The FASTEST Way to Reduce Windows CPU Temperature (Quick Fix!)
If you are looking for a quick and easy way to reduce windows cpu temperature, you’re not alone. If your PC fans are screaming every time you fire up a game, render a video, or just have a few too many browser tabs open. High… - I Tested Plug-In Solar: Does It Actually Work?
In my recent breakdowns of the UK plug-in solar landscape—which you can catch up on in my guide covering UK plug-in solar rules—we talked through the safety side of things and the path-of-least-resistance physics of how these little systems feed your home ring main. Now… - Building a Smart Home Infrastructure Guide: The Connected Home Blueprint
Welcome to my smart home infrastructure guide. Modern DIY home improvement isn’t just about carpentry and wiring; it’s about creating a living space that works for you. Whether you are running power to a shed, optimizing your Wi-Fi for high-bandwidth devices, or tracking your carbon… - The Path of Least Resistance: How Plug-In Solar Works to Power Your HomeIntroduction: Decoding the Plug-In Solar Flow How plug-in solar works is a question I get asked a lot. Plug-in solar systems (often called balcony power plants or plug-and-play solar) have exploded in popularity. Homeowners love the simplicity: you mount a panel, plug it into a…
- How to Choose the Best Solar Panels for the EcoFlow STREAM Microinverter (And Why You SHOULD Oversize)
If you’re setting up a DIY plug-in balcony solar system using the EcoFlow STREAM microinverter, picking the best solar panels can feel like navigating a minefield. Choose the wrong panel and you risk blowing past the microinverter’s hard electrical limits or severely crippling your daily…
The Gear I Use Here On Built By Pete
Take a peek at my up-to-date list of the physical tools, networking gear, smart home tech, and studio equipment I actually rely on to build, break, and document everything here on builtbypete.net and over on YouTube.