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I'd have to agree with everything you say, however we are in the "Spot Fad" era of lighting. :roll: Hopefully this will pass and commonsense will once more prevail. If people insist on 'spots' (floods, actually) then LV halogen are at least a reasonably sensible choice. Though I'd always...

Used to be in the business of fixing projectors (similar load but ceiling-mounted) and the best approach was to use a ply or MDF spreader-board. If this spans two joists or uprights then you have a strong fixing. For a wallmount, if the spreader cannot span two uprights then one good line...

Measuring current is easy enough if you understand the procedure. But, if you don't understand what you're doing (and it's patently clear you don't!) there are three options open to you: 1. LEARN how to do it properly. Means reading books, head hurting, loads of coffee, midnight oil, etc. :(...

If bulbs are popping, have you checked for an excessive supply voltage? Even a few percent overvoltage will drastically reduce lamp life. IMLI these specialist SES or 'candle' bulbs in very small luminaires are prone to overheating and random popping. I think if they want to use this type of...

OK, I'm finally convinced that the IEEE have been smoking something. Something which doesn't conform to the intoxicating substances regs, too. :roll: A CU in the open, exposed, at a height where kids can fool around with it, furniture can bash into it, and malicious people can trip the...

Meet my housekeeper, who lives under the roof-lip of the caravan, and does a sterling job of keeping the place fly-free.

When buying any DIY materials I find it's always best to buy 'Trade' products rather than 'DIY Specials.' Think about it, tradesmen have been doing these things for a while, and if the product didn't work for them.. :wink:

A friend's house is split-level, with a door leading to attic space above the lower level. His new 'other half' one day decided to find out what was behind that mysterious door that no-one ever opened.. and arrived on the living-room sofa amid a shower of plaster dust, to the amazement of...

Have to say I'm not a fan of SABs as they inevitably lead to scenarios like this. A better arrangement is a second concealed sounder on another part of the building, which will activate if the visible one is tampered with. This also gives you some protection against foam-injection, whereas...

Might add that modern thinking is that joists should be drilled instead of notched. Doesn't weaken the joist as much, and less risk of nailing-through a cable. Wouldn't matter for alarm cables but for any new power, drill holes well away from surface.

Thanks. The thought crossed my mind that if the rock chips could be concreted into a solid mass, that would greatly increase their effectiveness as sound insulation! I wouldn't contemplate trying that without expert professional advice though, for obvious reasons. Anyway, a few ideas to...

One of the issues with many shop-bought emergency lamps -especially the halogen ones- is uselessly short running times on the internal battery, and excessive drain on the car battery. A fluorescent powered by an HF invertor gives by far the most light output for power input, important when...

Wake on Lan will only work if the computer is in standby. It will not switch the computer on from cold. The majority of UPS's are designed to stay powered-down once the battery is exhausted, requiring human intervention to restart - this is a sensible policy, as the mains might fluctuate...

Upstairs flat of two-story 80's building. Have problem with neigbours below who complain of excessive noise from creaking floorboards and other sources above. Boards are indeed somewhat creaky, but no more than those of some new houses I've been in. I've done some fairly extensive work on...

True, though very few 'dry' shocks are fatal, most electrocutions occur in wet conditions, garden tools being a favourite. 'Dry' shock injuries are mostly burns, or impact/fall injury due to muscle spasm. The other factor (which cannot be protected against) is that in a domestic environment...

Just my ten cents worth, but I've always had a healthy dislike of metal fittings. By earthing the hand of the person inserting a plug, metal faceplates greatly increase the severity of any shock received. If there is anything wrong with the plug, the hand is wet, or maybe it's just an...