Recent content by Colin Brenton

Has the heating only stopped working when the smart meter went in? or before? afterwards?

Yes, 28.2E no longer carries BBC SD channels, as of early last year... https://www.freesat.co.uk/help/4k-tv-box/service-updates/january-2024-hd-satellite-upgrade-for-bbc-channels

Fire up the MFT, and do some testing, at home to begin with. Post the resulting numbers here for a bit more context of how to interpret them. Offer to fix small faults and do additions and repairs etc for family (but don't look too keen, or you may never have a free weekend again...) Open the...

Can you post a picture of the board, showing the devices in question? I'm surprised that there would be two SPDs in the one consumer unit, that seems odd. To answer your other question, yes, definitely avoid the cheap Ebay fakes, but you would need to switch the main switch off before fitting...

They are to benefit the supplier, not the customer (hence why the suppliers are so aggressively pushing them, despite a high percentage of them not working properly / at all). So no thanks. Just my take on it, have a read and see what you think.

I'd start with changing the complete fitting. What you're looking for from Screwfix (or whoever) is a "batten holder". Something along these lines will do the job... https://www.screwfix.com/p/crabtree-capital-straight-long-batten-lamp-holder-light-fitting-b22-3-5-/51084 If the breakers...

Not sure if it was answered yet, but the 'adjustment' on the back of the switch is to set how bright the light will be at the minimum setting of the dimmer switch. I found it useful to adjust it to get the best performance (as in, the least flicker!) when dimming some (allegedly dim-able...)...

Where does the output cable from the switch now end up? That might need to be removed if it's no longer used?

Yes, swapping the two core and earth to three core and earth would give you a neutral at the switch, no problem. Often easier said than done, though. Depends on the construction of the house. Don't ask me know I learnt that... :D

1000 Watts / 230 Volts = 4.34 Amps. Normally, lighting is on a 6 Amp rated breaker, so you 'could' do as you suggest... But it would depend how much other load there will be on that circuit. It doesn't sound ideal, and would be best avoided in my opinion, not least, as the more lights there...

Unplug the white adapter from the mains, undo the screws, and take the front off. I suspect that the pins of the two pin plugs you are using may have stretched the socket contacts out of true. Nipping them up with needle nosed pliers, so the plug is a snug fit, should fix it. Hope this helps.

Interesting thread, I certainly recall being taught 'how to wire a plug' while at secondary school, in around 1997 or 1998. If I recall correctly, most things my parents bought in the early to mid 90's didn't have plugs on them.

Re; the above post, yes that is absolutely fine.

I wouldn't over complicate this, it can be fixed in an hour or two for a few pounds; 1. Shut off the power (sorry, but it has to be mentioned) 2. Any fitting (socket, switch, light fitting etc) that has an earth terminal on it, take all the earth wires to it. 3. If the back box also has an...

100% agree. They are for the benefit of the supplier, certainly not the customer. But they ARE the reason the standing charges are so high for everyone else!