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Hi all, I have this Philips XGC 001 18w SOX bulkhead. Unfortunately, it trips the RCD as soon as power is applied. If I remove the CPC from the bulkhead it operates just fine. I presume the ballast is leaking current to the chassis? Does anyone know if this can be fixed? I would be happy to...

Just raising a thread to have a little rant, and maybe others can throw their hats in. Had a couple of Knightsbridge fluorescent fittings in a shed a few years ago and they all had to be binned due to the electronic control gear dying, just out of warranty. I swore never to buy another...

Hi again, After my blockage woes in the other thread this week (thanks again to those of you that contributed), I'd like to replace the flexi pan connector with rigid. The current McAlpine flexi connector connects to the pan on one end and is just pushed into the ground waste on the other end...

Hi all, We've recently moved into a house that we've been renovating since the start of the year. I've done a lot of work myself including fitting out the downstairs cloakroom with a new basin, toilet, cistern etc. Everything has been running great until middle of the week when the downstairs...

Okay, the question in the title will be extremely obvious to many, and I understand that it's to provide a 'back up in the event of a power cut'. However, in the event of a power cut, does the bell box siren and strobe not run from the 12v backup battery connected inside the panel in the house...

Hi all, I have just installed a new Wren kitchen as one of the final parts of a full house renovation. I've not done anything like this before so it's very much been a case of learning as I go. When installed in the carcass the electric single oven sits far too low down for comfort and...

Hi all, First off, I'm not after a lesson on the obsolescence of fluorescents. I know all that, this is largely just a curiosity question. I have a quite old 8ft T12 fluorescent fitting that has a 'quickstart' ballast designed for 85w tubes. I have one 100w tube which only very occasionally...

Hi all, We are currently renovating a mid 60's semi detached. The plasterer is just about to finish up as we have had the entire house replastered top to bottom so we are preparing to go through and apply a mist coat before fully painting. However, there is nice parquet downstairs throughout...

Hi all, I need to move a domestic house alarm controller from the back of a fitted wardrobe in a bedroom up into the attic. There are several runs of alarm cable going to each of the PIRs that are tacked to the inside of the wardrobe - they will need cutting and extending into the attic. It is...

Hi all, Can anyone identify what type of brick or block this is at the front of a property we have just purchased? Would it be safe to use pressure washer on it to clean it? Many thanks in advance.

Hi all, Just after gathering some thoughts and opinions here, as I'm not sure what's best going forward... Soon to be moving into a 1965 semi detached which needs a full refurbishment top to bottom (previous owner an elderly widow who hadn't spend any money on the property in 30 years). We...

Hi all, I have quite a bit of electrical kit at home that I would be gutted to lose in the event of a mains surge - a high end gaming PC, a server and some old games consoles from my childhood that I would be devastated to lose. I have a couple of plug in surge protectors like this but I have...

Evening all, I'll start with a little back story which is an optional read: We moved into this new build Persimmon house in 2016 and have never been happy with the heating setup on the ground floor. It has a Vaillant combi boiler and a Danfoss TP5000 Si room thermostat. The thermostat for the...

Hi all, First off, I am just a DIYer who only ever does basic work like swapping switches, sockets and light fittings etc. Not an electrician and am unlikely to train as one (although I came close to doing an apprenticeship when I left school, but I ended up moving into IT instead). My question...

Hi all, This query is regarding a flat garage roof which is attached to my mother and fathers house. The roof was completely pulled off and redone many years ago - possibly as long ago as 1997, certainly the late 90's. It is completely sound and has never leaked and still doesn't. However, I...

Afternoon all, When I popped out to my shed a couple nights ago I switched the light on, which is a fluorescent single lamp batten, and I heard a pop sound but it failed to come on. The MCB hasn't tripped and there is power to the fitting as checked with multimeter. All the connections on the...

Good evening all, We bought a new build, Persimmon-built home in 2016 and moved in Christmas of that year. We specified an external light to the front and rear of the property before completion, on the thinking that it would be less messy to have the cables run at time of build rather than...

I work in a high school built originally in the late 60's and then added to and updated over the years but still standing largely in its original form today. I've found myself admiring some of the old electrical gear that is still there and still in daily operation. Overlooked by almost...

Hi all, My elderly grandmother had a complete new central heating system installed two years ago to replace a (very) old Servowarm system that was on its knees. As part of this, she had to have a new boiler and complete new pipework and new radiators throughout the entire house so it is a...

Hi all, Last summer I replaced the flat garage roof on my mid-60s detached garage as the old one had well and truly had it. It seemed to be chipboard with a corrugated tin and was leaking all over and the chipboard was breaking up into tiny pieces. I decided to go with an EPDM kit, liking the...