Recent content by Calmore

Checked and the first service sticker is 2005, so it is indeed getting on a bit. Why would a combustion setting change? I don't remember the fault chart listing combustion as an issue. Is it a common problem on these boilers?

Hi, I'm not sure it's quite that old. It's a Riva M90 24S which I think dates from just before condensing combis came in. I think the serial number features the date so I can check. It has been semi regularly serviced; average every two or three years at a guess. Radiators have been flushed...

We have a Biasi 24S boiler. Central heating works. Hot water works. Try and draw hot water when the central heating is running and it often cuts out. (Lamp in the front flashes at double speed; power cycle the boiler and it works OK until next time) Any thoughts? I have been though the fault...

Actually, just checked and the holes in the back of the MK sockets are not quite big enough. I'm suspicious of the nylon terminal blocks as they are unmarked and I was under the impression these things should be stamped as complying to a certain British Standard?

The Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) for products normally give a good clue as to what chemicals are present in a product. You can then look these up on Wikipedia and see what the properties are. Useful for comparing branded and no-name products too.. MSDS's can usually be found on the...

Personally, I do both. If you glue just the pipe you run the risk of the glue being wiped off the pipe by the lip of the joint and not reaching the bottom of the joint. I also twist the pipe when pushing it in to ensure the glue is spread all the way around the joint. As muggles says, use the...

OK, I have purchased some MK double sockets and to be honest the terminal holes don't look overly big (But I haven't tried them yet). *If* I need to put terminal blocks in there, as Sparkwright suggests, what would people recommend? Personally, I don't like the nylon "chocolate block" type of...

If the water company get stroppy, threaten to sue them for supplying you with water contaminated with lead all these years! :)

The company putting the item on the market must be able to show compliance, either with a test report or a technical construction file (TCF) signed off by a recognised test house. There is no other way to prove compliance in a court of law.

Check your graphics drivers are up to date and are the manufacturer recommended ones. I have an HP lappy that overheats if I don't use the official HP graphics driver.

Modern HDD's will be fine whichever way they are mounted. Anti vibration mounts are a good idea and it's important to make sure the HDD is well ventilated. Damage can occur if the HDD is moved while powered up due to the gyroscopic effect of the platters and motor; sharp shocks could cause the...

Go to a store and check them out in the flesh. Some look great on paper but are poorly made. Physical ruggedness is important for a lappy.

The OP says: "The timer on the immersion heater...has become faulty. I need to do a like for like replacement. 10 minute job" It's a "like for like" replacement of a time switch. It might even be one of those time switches that comes on a pre-wired base into which the timer simply plugs in.

It would essentially be a "like for like" replacement and thus would be "maintenance". Personally, I would just go ahead and do it, if you are confident in your abilities.

I know of UK manufacturers of electronic goods that'd apply CE stickers with no form of approval whatsoever. You can buy the stickers from places like RS.