Search found 2869 matches

by ericmark
Sun Nov 17, 2024 5:36 pm
Forum: Electrics Forum
Topic: Replacing a wall-switch with a smart switch
Replies: 4
Views: 80

Re: Replacing a wall-switch with a smart switch

I have two smart switches which do not need a neutral, the Energenie (MiHome) you can get a master and slave, so can have two-way switching, However of the five fitted, only two still working. And minium watts is 5 watt. The TP-Link (Tapo) uses a battery, and you can get a remote wireless button. An...
by ericmark
Mon Oct 28, 2024 11:36 pm
Forum: Plumbing Forum
Topic: Honeywell ST9400C 7 Day Programmer
Replies: 3
Views: 154

Re: Honeywell ST9400C 7 Day Programmer

I do not remember any problem setting the programmer, I know modern units you can set the time you want the room to be warm by, but the ST9400C is a rather old unit, which one would not fit today. Today rather than on/off we set different temperatures for different times of the day, this was basic b...
by ericmark
Wed Oct 23, 2024 5:07 pm
Forum: Electrics Forum
Topic: 1st fix earth bonding query
Replies: 1
Views: 92

Re: 1st fix earth bonding query

All changed in 2008 with the 17th edition BS 7671:2008, The requirement for earth bonding was relaxed as long as you have RCD protection. The incoming services depend on material, clearly no need to bond a plastic water pipe, or gas. However, where and how to bond metallic pipes has to consider unde...
by ericmark
Tue Oct 15, 2024 7:05 pm
Forum: Electrics Forum
Topic: Waterproof switch beside hot tub
Replies: 3
Views: 172

Re: Waterproof switch beside hot tub

If the tub is double insulated then yes, no earth required, but it means you can't use anything near the tub which is not also double insulated.
by ericmark
Mon Oct 14, 2024 3:07 pm
Forum: Electrics Forum
Topic: Waterproof switch beside hot tub
Replies: 3
Views: 172

Re: Waterproof switch beside hot tub

The main problem is the equal potential zone. In the house earth bonding means everything is one zone, Outside the earth on the house supply may not be the same voltage as true earth, So there are methods used to ensure all exposed metal work is the same voltage. The best method is to rely on earth ...
by ericmark
Thu Sep 26, 2024 10:15 am
Forum: Central Heating and Air conditioning and Ventilation Forum
Topic: Old house air vents
Replies: 2
Views: 198

Re: Old house air vents

If anything we need vents now more than ever, we fit double glazing which removes the dehumidifying effect of the windows, however we clearly do not want drafts, and so it depends on the location, this house we are sheltered from high winds, but start point is look at humidity in the home, today in ...
by ericmark
Mon Sep 16, 2024 12:40 pm
Forum: Electrics Forum
Topic: Advice on Repairing a Broken Lamp
Replies: 6
Views: 224

Re: Advice on Repairing a Broken Lamp

There are bulb holders designed to convert a bottle into a lamp, and if one had the right die one may be able to cut a new thread, but cost of dies and stock to hold it, is likely more than a new lamp.
by ericmark
Thu Sep 05, 2024 12:28 am
Forum: Central Heating and Air conditioning and Ventilation Forum
Topic: Summer use of immersion heater, or boiler, results don't match expected.
Replies: 0
Views: 163

Summer use of immersion heater, or boiler, results don't match expected.

My new immersion heater control shows power used today, yesterday or last 7 days, and it shows just under 4 kWh, in the past always used the oil boiler, as told oil cheaper than electric, it did not keep the water as warm as the immersion heater, but did heat more of the cylinder, so the 20 kW boile...
by ericmark
Tue Aug 13, 2024 11:52 am
Forum: Plumbing Forum
Topic: Central heating upgrade
Replies: 2
Views: 249

Re: Central heating upgrade

I would agree with the advice given, but would also add in my own house rare for all radiators to be working together, all my radiators have a TRV fitted, and most with electronic heads, the system I will admit does not work A1 with my oil fired boiler, as it does not modulate like gas boilers do. H...
by ericmark
Sat Aug 03, 2024 9:43 am
Forum: Appliances in the Home Forum
Topic: Washing machine blows fuse in operation or after cycle ends
Replies: 6
Views: 343

Re: Washing machine blows fuse in operation or after cycle ends

The element in most domestic appliances is switched on with the line only, so even when not on, it can still cause a neutral to earth fault. With a mineral insulated heating element, the heat can move the moisture, so it can appear as if some random fault. I have in the past, when I had no test gear...
by ericmark
Tue Jul 30, 2024 5:27 am
Forum: Appliances in the Home Forum
Topic: Washing machine blows fuse in operation or after cycle ends
Replies: 6
Views: 343

Re: Washing machine blows fuse in operation or after cycle ends

An RCD monitors the in and out current and assumes if they don't match, the current is going to earth, There is always some loss, as we use AC, so there is some inductive and capacitive linking so typically we use a 30 mA RCD. We should when installing monitor the background leakage which should not...
by ericmark
Sat Jul 27, 2024 10:07 am
Forum: Central Heating and Air conditioning and Ventilation Forum
Topic: Anyone made the switch from gas to heat pumps?
Replies: 1
Views: 278

Re: Anyone made the switch from gas to heat pumps?

Living with no mains gas, I have looked into a heat pump, the first question has to be, if the power fails, how do you heat the house? As it stands, if I loose grid power, I have two ways to heat the house, one is an open fire, that is non preferred as it means burning all my BBQ supplies, and empty...
by ericmark
Mon Jul 15, 2024 8:33 am
Forum: Electrics Forum
Topic: 3 Gang Light Switch upgrade help
Replies: 2
Views: 361

Re: 3 Gang Light Switch upgrade help

Looking at your switch, there is one supply to all three switches, with link wires, so you can use a smart switch that uses a single supply, however the smart switches I have used seem to be limited to two gang not three gang. There are two ways to get a smart switch to work without a neutral, one i...
by ericmark
Tue Jun 18, 2024 8:03 am
Forum: Central Heating and Air conditioning and Ventilation Forum
Topic: Is this an air conditioning unit?
Replies: 1
Views: 445

Re: Is this an air conditioning unit?

It looks like a heat pump, however as to if it warms or cools the home or both impossible to tell. This is the problem with heat pumps, the cold bit gathers condensate, so needs a method to remove it, often just let it drip on the road below, which is a danger with legionaries. However, it could als...
by ericmark
Tue May 07, 2024 10:39 am
Forum: Electrics Forum
Topic: Earth bonding a double insulated device?
Replies: 4
Views: 450

Re: Earth bonding a double insulated device?

The regulations refer to a tool or key, and if it needs a tool or key to change the bulb, then the person using the tool or key should isolate first, this means turn off all live feeds, which include both line and neutral, so the light switch only switches line so does not isolate. Yes I know that s...
It is currently Mon Dec 09, 2024 7:15 pm