Recent content by OtleySpark

We had the same problem for years (here and previous homes) with candle shaped bulbs, they rarely gave us 3 months use before dying. At least a year ago replaced them all with cfl-type replacements and they are still going (tempting fate).

I'd like to 2nd what Johnmelad said!

How are we supposed to know what we are allowed to ask - do you have a list of allowable questions and who put you in charge anyway? And isn't asking advice from others a good way of getting this knowledge? But perhaps you were born with ALL this knowledge so you never needed to ask anyone...

ban-all-sheds I really think your attitude sucks. The person is asking how to do something. What's wrong with that? It's the whole purpose of the forum isn't it? It's people like you who put off people asking anything at all.

I'd appreciate that, thanks.

It all depends on what you call a waste of money. You could 'waste' even more on a holiday that's over in a week or two - this waste lasts for years ;-) Now if the question was: 'Is it worth it?' I would say yes. There's several benefits: Enjoy designing, building it. Over its life it...

I was asking for possible technical solutions - not a discussion on the pros and cons of having a PV installation.

ericmark - it's an off-grid system (at the moment just running a freezer and lights, computer in my shed/office) so no mains issues.

I've got myself a solar pv installation; I have a charger/controller feeding 2 100ahr batteries. Also a 1500w inverter. I started off with a single 250w panel (to get familiar with it all) and replaced it with 6 x 170w panels (arranged as 2 strings of three). The 6 170 panels have been...

An update and another question. The 6 170 panels have been installed for 4 months now and all seems to be well. Except I have the original 250w panel sat in the shed doing nothing. Given the problems of mixing different panels already stated is there some way round this? The 250w panel has...

I have installed a Wylex 100A DP Mains Switch and a split load CU (3+5+5). When it comes to filling in the EIC the form is expecting a single Mains Switch. Do I only put in the Wylex details or all 3 of the CU split load switches? Your advice would be much appreciated.

OK I have found out I don't need a Schedule of Testing - just having a last minute panic as my assessment is tomorrow :oops:

Sorry if this has been covered before. About to have my first work assessed by NICEIC. I've added an additional socket to a ring main in someone's living room. I'm assuming its a Minor Work? Do I need to attach a schedule of testing for the ring main or is it sufficient to just fill in the...

A friend on the same Domestic Installer course that I have just finished (with OLCI) has just signed up with the NICEIC scheme. He's got to provide two pieces of work to be inspected and he's going to do his own CU and another extra socket in a bedroom for a friend. He's contacted the local...

Despite 'new discoveries' of fossil fuel sources, they are finite and WILL run out. Then what? If we can make fossil fuels go further by taking some of the demand up using wind, solar, whatever, that surely has to make the most long term sense. The obsession about price/profit is nuts in the...