The future isn't coming — it's already here.
I'm a blue-collar maintenance technician with 28 years in industrial automation. I started as an industrial controls electrician in '96, and today I troubleshoot PLCs, program robots, and fix CNC machines on a fast-paced automotive production floor.
But what I love most about my job isn't the machines. It's helping people.
I created The Wired Watchman to serve my fellow tradespeople — sharing tips, reviewing tools (software AND hardware), and teaching the things trade schools don't always cover.
But I have a deeper mission:
Empowering tradespeople to leverage artificial intelligence.
I believe AI is a gift. It simplifies the day-to-day frustrations and the long-term ones. It's like having your own private engineering team working alongside you at all times — whether you're troubleshooting a fault, making videos, or building custom tools.
We don't have to wait for someone else to change the future. We can do it ourselves. Today.
I'm a maker. When a tool doesn't exist or isn't available, I build it myself — software, hardware, or a mixture of both.
| Project | What It Does |
|---|---|
| Steering Harness Tester | DIY 19-circuit continuity tester for automotive wiring harnesses using Raspberry Pi Pico W with external ADCs and OLED display |
| Pass-Down App | Desktop app that automates maintenance shift reports with history search, password protection by shift, and one-click email generation — built by a technician, for technicians |
| Maintenance Cart Inventory System | HTML-based inventory management system with real-time status tracking, shift tabs, and hidden Easter egg games |
| Multicraft Assessment Tool | AI-powered technician hiring assessment covering electrical, mechanical, PLC, and psychological evaluation for team fit |
| Electronic Sticky Note Display | Scrolling LED reminder system using Pi Pico with voice-to-text integration and timed alerts |
| Local AI RAG System | Ollama + AnythingLLM deployment with document indexing for searchable work manuals and technical documentation |
| Battery Tab Spot Welder | DIY transformer-based spot welder design for battery pack assembly |
| E-Paper Display Programs | Custom MicroPython programs for OLED/e-paper displays with animated text sequences |
| LCD Pixel Converter | HTML tool for converting PNG images to C arrays for Arduino/ESP32 displays |
| LLM-to-Hardware Control (In Progress) | Experimenting with function calling and tool use — using natural language to trigger physical hardware actions for both home automation and industrial applications |
On the Production Floor:
- PLCs: Omron, Mitsubishi (Q series, FX3s), Allen-Bradley
- HMIs: Omron GT, GT1000-2000, Keyence
- Robotics: Fanuc, Denso, Yaskawa, Panasonic, Universal Robots
- Vision Systems: Keyence, Cognex, Omron
- CNC Machines: Mazak HCN4000, Okuma, Orkos, Fanuc controls, 15+ brands
- Motion Control: IAI cylinders, SMC actuators
- Networks: CC-Link, hardwired NPN/PNP cells
Building Solutions:
- Raspberry Pi Pico W / Arduino / ESP32
- Python, MicroPython, C++
- HTML/CSS/JavaScript for custom tools
- Local AI deployment (Ollama, RAG systems, AnythingLLM)
- External ADCs (MCP3208, ADS1115) for precision measurement
Not just technical skills — but the things that make you valuable:
- ⚡ Electrical safety and best practices
- 🛠️ Tool reviews (honest, real-world testing)
- 🤖 AI tools for industrial maintenance
- 🧠 How to treat people, the attitude you bring, humility that brightens your environment
| Platform | Link |
|---|---|
| 🌐 Website | thewiredwatchman.com |
| 📺 YouTube | @TheWiredWatchman |
| 🎵 TikTok | @wiredwatchman |
| 🐦 X (Twitter) | @wiredwatchman |
| josephoverberg | |
| 🐙 GitHub | TheWiredWatchman |
| joseph@thewiredwatchman.com |
My goal isn't fame. It's not fortune.
I just want to make enough to keep doing this — to keep serving my fellow tradespeople. Nothing more. Nothing less.
I'm a servant. A teacher. A maker. Some might call that a factotum — a jack of all trades who gets things done.
That's who/what I am.
Work smarter every day — not harder.
I'm Joseph, The Wired Watchman. Tips and reviews by Technicians, for Technicians.