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I have a panasonic DMR-PWT530 that has become progressively unstable on the HDMI output, i.e. temporary loss of picture. So today it drove me nuts and I replaced it with a spare recorder so the TV picture (same cables used) is now always on which confirmed to me it was not the TV but the...

A neighbour of mine wants to convert their attached garage to an office but at the same time leave it so it could go back to a garage some time. Would I be right in thinking no building control will be required or planning ? There is no connecting doorway between the garage and the house and...

Some time ago I posted a picture showing the contractors first roofing attempt (the lower image) with plain tiles that actually had a backfall, I though you may be interested in what some seem to get away with as the final product had tiles with maybe a couple of degrees of fall as the roof...

I have a panasonic TV, Home Theatre and PVR. To have the Home Theatre play all sound I have set up the equipment to use ARC - All gear is connected by HDMI cables and at this point ACR works PVR connected direct to TV Home Theatre connected direct to TV. Next I add to the Home Theatre an auto...

Hi, I have an old epson printer (RX585) that failed to power up, just a single blink of the LED when trying. So I took it to bits to get to the power supply unit and checked for output and it gave the 42V DC it should have. No sign of bulging caps or overheated components so put it back...

I am sure anyone doing plumbing has from time to time come across a situation where an unusual tool comes in handy, so thought it might be interesting to find out what you found useful. Here is one from me: I found a landrover hubnut box spanner (£5 on ebay) fitted a 1 1/4" waste backnut...

This post is for only those who actually know what a primatic cylinder is! I have come across one (finally!) It is nicely located within a metre of the boiler having 1" (28mm) gravity flow and returns to one side of the old boiler. (The pumped 22mm heating circuit on the other side of the...

I am not at all familiar with LED downlighters so I need to get some practical insight into their performance. I am doing some work for some-one who is buying their own bits and pieces and I advised the bathroom ceiling where she wants the fittings falls into Zone 2 so an IP of X4 or X5 will...

I am just about to do a network around my home, the current one I have uses a few Cat5e cables the IT dept at work kindly let me have. I will intergrate them again into my network, because they seem so solid. I recently bought one 50m length with plugs on the end, cut it and found it was...

I have a set top box for freeview which has apparently died. Essentially no power. All fuses are OK (plug and internal fuse). So the next thing I did was to inspect the components for physical sign of failure. All capacitors look fine with absolutely no sign of swelling. The only thing I could...

I am rearranging my gear and decided to stick the PC case out of the way, I rarely use the DVD drive but it is accessable if I need to. So I have set up a panel with a couple of USB ports, Mic and Headphone Sockets. All good so far as these are simple extension leads. What I fancy doing next...

Having just fixed my dead VCR/DVD combo by replacing the two power capacitors, my wife has a PC that has started to switch off (not a proper shut down) as soon as some demand is called for, like when windows loads. Having spent some time swapping power supplies, checking RAM, Virus scans...

The image below is my panasonic DMR-E75V main power board. You can even see two suspect capacitors that are swollen. To replace them I need to extract the board but I don't know how to disconnect the two links (to other boards) on the right edge. They are in the form of wire bridges. Any...

Observing a friend house being rewired I noticed something that makes me raise the subject question. The cable in question os part of the central heating control wiring. The wiring centre will be fed from a Fused Connection Unit with a fuse of the correct rating for the cables/flex's on the...

Hi, Has anyone successfuuly replaced a rotten post by removing the rotten bit from the concrete base and driving in a new post? I am aware of other methods but just wondered if anyone has ever tried what I am asking. Posts in question are 75mm square and I have reason to believe the...

Has anyone here used a drill mixer for mortar ? I mean the high torque low reving type often used by plasterers. I can't help but think that mortar may be too heavy going for them. In addition even at low revs it may not be suitable. Using a cement mixer is all well and good, and they are...

Here's one for the professional plumbers. There are various makes of rad valves on the market, some unbranded, but I would guess some are better than others. Is there a brand that stands out as being really good in terms of reliable head works that don't weep etc. I mean simple lockshield...

A builder recently did a new extension a few doors down - He did an example of how not to make a neat extended roof! Even reseating the ridge on the original he didn't bother to cut a full tile down. The orginal roof had a sprocketted eaves but the new roof pitch went straight from ridge to...

A question for the Roofing Contractors here. I am very much aware of the vast array of Flat roofing materials available these days but not really up to speed on what may be the right choice. The project a neighbour wants me to help with is re-roofing a flat roofed attached garage - A straight...

For those of you proposing to use a Builder please be aware there are some standard forms of contract issued by the JCT specifically aimed at Home Owners. Links as below for further information http://www.jctltd.co.uk/stylesheet.asp?file=22072005151407...