Two kinds of work
I take on a small number of projects at a time. I work in English, and Spanish is welcome in writing.
Smoother property operations
For property managers and owners. Fewer surprises, fewer trips, and owners who stay informed without you chasing them.
- Water, power and propane you can check from your phone
- A heads-up before a guest notices anything
- Owner reports, maintenance requests and storm prep that run on schedule
- Built around the software and WhatsApp habits you already have
Product design for hire
For companies with a product idea, or hardware that's stuck. I design it; you own it, build it and sell it.
- Electronics and PCB design
- Firmware for ESP32 and small Linux boards
- Custom software and dashboards, websites and webstores, AI integration
- Enclosures, mounts and 3D-printed parts
On the workbench
Projects I'm designing now, with an honest note on where each one stands.
Cistern level monitor
In developmentUltrasonic level sensing on an ESP32, with its own web page instead of a proprietary app. Battery models charge from USB-C or solar, and a cellular version reports by text message for homes without Wi-Fi. Installs through the cistern lid with a paper drilling template.
Touchscreen climate control for a 1995 Jeep Cherokee
Boards in fabricationReplaces the factory HVAC panel with a touchscreen that drives the original vacuum valves and a new blend-door actuator. When the HDMI bridge board I needed couldn't be bought, I designed my own ESP32-P4 core board with the bridge built in.
Reviving an undocumented display
Protocol recoveredA 480×800 touch panel salvaged from a 2014 crypto miner, with no datasheet. I recovered its timing and full initialization sequence from the original device's firmware so the panel can be reused on an ESP32-S3.
Per-circuit power monitor
In designClamp sensors on every breaker across five panels, reporting to a web page, to show what each circuit uses in a home that runs on solar and batteries.
Propane shutoff remote
In designA wall-mounted touchscreen that sleeps until touched: on for 15 minutes, on for 30, or off. The valve closes itself when the timer runs out, and the screen color shows the remote's battery level.
About
I'm Dave Covert. I studied computer science at Texas A&M (’91), came within a few credits of a second degree in electrical engineering, worked at Microsoft in the ’90s, and have spent about twenty years writing software professionally.
I’ve also always built and fixed machines. The first engine I rebuilt was a Jaguar V-12, and most recently I designed and built a 4′ × 8′ CNC router. Today I live on Roatán with my wife of 44 years and our 7 dogs, run my house on a solar storage system I designed and installed myself, and design the tools I wish I could have bought. Maybe I can build something for you?
Tell me what you're working on
Email or WhatsApp is the best way to reach me. Write in English or Spanish, and tell me a little about your properties or your product.