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    Little Pop or will hand get blow off if I plug this in?

    Capacitors, hmm. 4" steel pipe stuck vertically into the ground. Build fire around pipe. Drop full aerosol can into pipe and stand back. Fun for all pyrotechnic personalities, and cheaper than fireworks from the posh garden centre. Wear safety specs.
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    How big should my (immersion) element be?

    I have a titanium immersion element in my water tank. It sounds as if it's on it's way out and I'm looking to replace it with another titanium one. How long should it be? Currently I'm using an 11", but I've seen 14" ones. They are both BEAB approved 2.25 BSP thread and either would fit the...
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    Blast from the Past

    Actually, you see this all the time, especially when the police butt out or are just too cowardly to help as happens sometimes. The people remain the same when the chips are down. If you watch the news enough you'll see that the people can exhibit extraordinary determination, ingenuity and...
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    Dummy CCTV Camera II

    This question develops http://www.diynot.com/diy/threads/dummy-cctv-camera.423747/ All the dummy cameras I've seen are either entirely passive, or have that annoying and totally unauthentic flashing LED on. Are there any dummy cameras that feature the ring of dim red LEDs around the lens...
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    Battery Tester

    Isn't the internal resistance of a battery (at any point in time) fixed, regardless of current? I think that the internal resistance is not your single Vd / AI, but the negative gradient of the line that your repeated measurements produce. There is a vid of this technique @
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    PIR or photocell controlled lighting?

    Well that's it isn't it? I'd pay a fortune for a realistic dog sounding piece of kit (that wasn't an actual dog). There are those fake TV machines that attempt to light up your room in order to convince intruders that some one is in. Is there an effective fake dog ? :rolleyes: Thinking...
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    PIR or photocell controlled lighting?

    Absolutely at the heart of my question. It's just that's what (all) the police seem to recommend if you read up on crime prevention strategy. A large floodlight seems expensive to run overnight, but can I play devil's advocate? Could they factor in the holistic cost of a break in? I read...
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    PIR or photocell controlled lighting?

    Hmm, a couple of points. The most important point not addressed above is where the burglars are when they are visible. I'm not sure of the answer, but with PIRs the bad guys have to be on your premises, in your yard or just outside your cat kennel. They won't know that there is lighting...
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    PIR or photocell controlled lighting?

    Thisi follows on from http://www.diynot.com/diy/threads/security-outside-lights-that-come-on-with-movement.470443/ I've struggled with this concept for a while as there seems to be conflicting advice. I would be interested in the opinions of some other people than just the police. The...
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    Any issues with outward opening doors?

    Good idea about the painting JohnD. The door thingie comes as a factory manufactured doorset, so the frame is designed for outward opening from the start...
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    Any issues with outward opening doors?

    I'm looking to beef up security and replace a rear door. Security is important and I've seen pre hung door sets that have an option to open outwards. This seems to me to be more secure as the locks cannot be forced easily in that direction. Commercial security /fire doors open the same way. A...
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    How to make a cheap microwave proximity alarm?

    I've just been somewhere where punji sticks were used frequently and effectively. Is that an option or might the council look dimly on the idea?
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    How to make a cheap microwave proximity alarm?

    I would suggest an alternate solution. Cover the moped externally with something like a stand alone PIR device connected to an alarm, or a shed alarm type thingie. Putting kit onto the moped itself will be problematic as you will have to mount it somewhere securely, and it will have to be...
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    Where exactly should you put surface contacts?

    You could get a small trained monkey though that gap...
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    Where exactly should you put surface contacts?

    Since recently dwelling on surface contacts, I came across this suggestion on a web site called Ultra Secure Direct. I had always thought that the contacts went as far as possible away from the hinge, so on the left in the above diagrams. They suggest a 1/3rd of the way from the hinge so that...
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    Magnetic Contacts - Expiry date? - False Alarms years later!

    Only if you bought it from B&Q, like most people outside of the security community do. Like this perchance:- Gets 4½ stars. Brilliant. I'd feel very comfortable having Genghis (my hamster) watched over by this.
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    Magnetic Contacts - Expiry date? - False Alarms years later!

    ... as easy, or easier, than putting a loose magnet up against the reed switch inside B&Q magnetic contacts?
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    Magnetic Contacts - Expiry date? - False Alarms years later!

    This is not the typical solution to alarming a door. But if you have the bent, electrically determining the position of an object (such as a door) is exactly what limit switches are designed for. You can get girl's and boy's versions. The girl's version goes into your microwave as a door...
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    Do EASYFIX plasterboard fixings actually work?

    Hmm. Are the things you fix thin or thick? To be honest, I've actually found my problem putting up very thin material (1mm). I'm beginning to wonder if it's difficult to drive the screw all the way in that's problematic. Most people probably put up stuff thicker than 1mm...
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    Do EASYFIX plasterboard fixings actually work?

    Guys, from your varying comments, it seems that this is not unexpected. I'll shy away from them in the future. Those new GripIt plastic ones look interesting...
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