Author Topic: Ask - R(ob)AWK replies (Read 1050846 times)

Elmo! · « **Reply #15240 on:** July 19, 2020, 09:33:53 pm »

Just send a quote for consultancy fees for doing what he wants.

reddebs · « **Reply #15241 on:** July 19, 2020, 10:16:27 pm »

Quote from: Just Elmo? on July 19, 2020, 09:33:53 pm

Just send a quote for consultancy fees for doing what he wants.

Is exactly right.

Reply with an invoice for the training that is ridiculously high with a footnote about hiring the right people with the right skills being more cost effective.

Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk

Lynx the saucy mynx · « **Reply #15242 on:** July 19, 2020, 11:18:46 pm »

I bought a resin European cup full size last year. But marks and smudges are appearing where I hold it from.

Does anyone know how to maintain them? I have asked around shops about refurbishing but no luck. Would it be best selling it before it gets worse over time? Ideally I'd like to keep and maintain/refurbish here and there.

Anyone else have the same problem?

The Bournemouth Red · « **Reply #15243 on:** July 20, 2020, 06:35:01 am »

Probably a (very) stupid question.

My mum reckons if you leave a charger plugged into the mains, but not plugged into your phone, laptop etc, it uses electricity.

I can't see how, if there is nowhere for the electricity to go, this can be true. There may be some fractional waste with power going in to the charger, but it wouldn't be a continuous waste, surely?

The air isn't full of electric charge spouted out by unused phone chargers or else our hair would stand on end and balloons would constantly stick to walls.

So… Howard Philips · « **Reply #15244 on:** July 20, 2020, 08:25:43 am »

Quote from: The Bournemouth Red on July 20, 2020, 06:35:01 am

Probably a (very) stupid question.

My mum reckons if you leave a charger plugged into the mains, but not plugged into your phone, laptop etc, it uses electricity.

I can't see how, if there is nowhere for the electricity to go, this can be true. There may be some fractional waste with power going in to the charger, but it wouldn't be a continuous waste, surely?

The air isn't full of electric charge spouted out by unused phone chargers or else our hair would stand on end and balloons would constantly stick to walls.

Not sure about excess electric use but there is plenty of evidence of cheap/counterfeit phone chargers bursting in flames. So switch off.

Not saying your mum's is cheap etc. by the way.

The Gulleysucker · « **Reply #15245 on:** July 20, 2020, 08:57:29 am »

Quote from: The Bournemouth Red on July 20, 2020, 06:35:01 am

It's complicated.

Many household electrical goods will draw current when in standby mode and even in the case of PSU's & chargers, when in no load ie there is no device connected or the device is fully charged.

The concept is known as Electricity Vampires.

Berkeley Labs produced a table a few years ago giving a breakdown of such things typically found in a home.

https://standby.lbl.gov/data/summary-table/

In the case of PSU/Chargers, there have been two distinct categories over the years.

The older and far more bulky chargers or Linear PSU's employ a transformer design and generally the greater the output power requirements, the larger the transformer and the box to house it, let alone weight and increased cost etc. These can suck quite a lot if left connected even with no load on the output present and their efficiency is not too good, ie a 300watt output will require perhaps as much as 500watts of input power.

These have largely been superceded by Switch Mode PSU's which use an entirely different mechanism to convert typical AC mains down to consumer device level DC. (Warning. The link does contain a bit of technical spoddery)

The attraction is they are much easier to produce, use less copper as the few transformers/chokes inside are very small, and they can be very compact in relation to the output power they can deliver and their efficiency is far greater.

They have gone under many iterations in design and sophistication over the years, the early ones were notorious for producing all kinds electrical interference and being unreliable when no load was connected, ie they would blow up quite easily, but these days, provided they are built and tested to appropriate EU or US standards, they are very good.

Nevertheless, even with no load connected to them, they still draw a current when plugged in although the newer Apple chargers are meant to reduce even this significantly, but at a cost in component complexity and thus price to the consumer.

On their own these days, the amount of power modern Switched Mode PSU's consume is likely insignificant to a typical household bill, but multiply it by the number of say mobile chargers left plugged in throughout the UK (or World) then it starts to become significant, especially if you are trying to plan future National Electricity generation needs.

So I would agree with your Mum in that it's likely still good practice, and ethically correct, to unplug such things when nothing is connected to them, or if you have several, have them all plugged into a power strip that can then be turned off at the wall socket.

The Bournemouth Red · « **Reply #15246 on:** July 20, 2020, 09:11:53 am »

Quote from: The Gulleysucker on July 20, 2020, 08:57:29 am

It's complicated.

Many household electrical goods will draw current when in standby mode and even in the case of PSU's & chargers, when in no load ie there is no device connected or the device is fully charged.

The concept is known as Electricity Vampires.

Berkeley Labs produced a table a few years ago giving a breakdown of such things typically found in a home.

https://standby.lbl.gov/data/summary-table/

In the case of PSU/Chargers, there have been two distinct categories over the years.

The older and far more bulky chargers or Linear PSU's employ a transformer design and generally the greater the output power requirements, the larger the transformer and the box to house it, let alone weight and increased cost etc. These can suck quite a lot if left connected even with no load on the output present and their efficiency is not too good, ie a 300watt output will require perhaps as much as 500watts of input power.

These have largely been superceded by Switch Mode PSU's which use an entirely different mechanism to convert typical AC mains down to consumer device level DC. (Warning. The link does contain a bit of technical spoddery)

The attraction is they are much easier to produce, use less copper as the few transformers/chokes inside are very small, and they can be very compact in relation to the output power they can deliver and their efficiency is far greater.

They have gone under many iterations in design and sophistication over the years, the early ones were notorious for producing all kinds electrical interference and being unreliable when no load was connected, ie they would blow up quite easily, but these days, provided they are built and tested to appropriate EU or US standards, they are very good.

Nevertheless, even with no load connected to them, they still draw a current when plugged in although the newer Apple chargers are meant to reduce even this significantly, but at a cost in component complexity and thus price to the consumer.

On their own these days, the amount of power modern Switched Mode PSU's consume is likely insignificant to a typical household bill, but multiply it by the number of say mobile chargers left plugged in throughout the UK (or World) then it starts to become significant, especially if you are trying to plan future National Electricity generation needs.

So I would agree with your Mum in that it's likely still good practice, and ethically correct, to unplug such things when nothing is connected to them, or if you have several, have them all plugged into a power strip that can then be turned off at the wall socket.

Cheers, guys, I was following this all the way until you said I have to agree with my mum

I'm surprised, but a clear description of how this works, thanks again.

The Bournemouth Red · « **Reply #15247 on:** July 26, 2020, 01:43:44 pm »

Got another electric related question.

I wear hearing aids and they beep when the batteries need changing. It's always the right ear that beeps first.

I always change both batteries at the same time, so they start on a level playing field. Could it be because my hearing is worse in the right ear?

CraigDS · « **Reply #15248 on:** July 26, 2020, 01:45:08 pm »

Quote from: The Bournemouth Red on July 26, 2020, 01:43:44 pm

Got another electric related question.

I wear hearing aids and they beep when the batteries need changing. It's always the right ear that beeps first.

I always change both batteries at the same time, so they start on a level playing field. Could it be because my hearing is worse in the right ear?

I’d imagine it’s more a case of the battery not charging to full capacity (it degrades over time) or it doesn’t hold it’s charge as well.

The Bournemouth Red · « **Reply #15249 on:** July 26, 2020, 02:51:35 pm »

Quote from: Craig 🤔 on July 26, 2020, 01:45:08 pm

I’d imagine it’s more a case of the battery not charging to full capacity (it degrades over time) or it doesn’t hold it’s charge as well.

They're just replaceable, rather than rechargeable, batteries. To me, they should last the same?

The Gulleysucker · « **Reply #15250 on:** July 26, 2020, 06:13:44 pm »

Quote from: The Bournemouth Red on July 26, 2020, 02:51:35 pm

They're just replaceable, rather than rechargeable, batteries. To me, they should last the same?

You would assume that both hearing aids have identical circuits within them and that the battery life would therefore be absolutely identical for both.

However, tiny differences in component behaviour at these sort of low voltage and current use, LR44 batteries are rated at around 105mAh at 1.5v, may possibly be having an effect when measured over say a three month continuous drain period.

Put simply, if one consumes just slightly more current over that sort of time period, possibly as little as just an extra 1mAh, it will stop working first and maybe by a few days.

If you have a look here, http://www.fliptronics.com/tip0006.html, it has a good breakdown of typical LR44 battery performance when used in Digital calipers (the circuits in many of the cheaper Chinese ones don't actually actually turn off, just the display, which is seriously annoying as it means they eat through batteries) but it gives a general idea of possible battery life over such periods of time.

Hearing aids are also consumer level devices, not scientific or laboratory measurement ones, so the component selection may well not be specified as fine tolerance, ie they have a broader range of operating tolerances of say 10% rather than 1% and probably less rigorous or even no calibration, just a regular random sample test off the producion line to ensure they are working within possibly a relatively broad range of characteristics.

CHOPPER · « **Reply #15251 on:** July 26, 2020, 08:39:11 pm »

If it has a light on indicating a stand-by mode, then, however small, there is energy being drawn, as their has to be circuitry and energy to illuminate said light thingy.

If you're that worried, tell ye ma to take the batteries out of her TV remote or........ other battery devices that may, be in a ready for use status. Maaatron.

For the hearing aid, the threshold for detection is slightly out, or, by design they know your hearing is better in one than the other, so they set indicator(if possible) slightly higher/lower.

The Bournemouth Red · « **Reply #15252 on:** July 26, 2020, 08:54:58 pm »

^^^ Thanks, gents, I'm guessing it is a slight variance in the setting of the units (they are the over-the-ear variety with the little watch type batteries).

My right ear hearing is worse, so I would assume it has been set to a higher level, I just didn't realise that would use more battery power, I thought the battery life was based on time used, not what it's used for.

Elmo! · « **Reply #15253 on:** July 27, 2020, 12:01:19 pm »

Are there any rules on when a company is allowed to pass your details to a debt collector, or sell the debt to them?

Do they have to have made an attempt to collect the debt or make contact with the customer a certain amount of times first?

My old energy supplier didn't take my final payment from my account, didn't let me know or make any attempt to contact me and then 18 months later I start getting letters and phone calls about a debt with them.

When I found out, I immediately paid the outstanding balance direct to the energy supplier but still getting calls from the debt collector. I refuse to speak to them out of principle, and have spoken to the energy supplier who said they will contact the debt collectors and tell them it has been paid but still the same a few weeks later.

I'm wondering if I have grounds for an official complaint to Ofgem.

So… Howard Philips · « **Reply #15254 on:** July 27, 2020, 12:54:46 pm »

Quote from: Just Elmo? on July 27, 2020, 12:01:19 pm

Are there any rules on when a company is allowed to pass your details to a debt collector, or sell the debt to them?

Do they have to have made an attempt to collect the debt or make contact with the customer a certain amount of times first?

My old energy supplier didn't take my final payment from my account, didn't let me know or make any attempt to contact me and then 18 months later I start getting letters and phone calls about a debt with them.

When I found out, I immediately paid the outstanding balance direct to the energy supplier but still getting calls from the debt collector. I refuse to speak to them out of principle, and have spoken to the energy supplier who said they will contact the debt collectors and tell them it has been paid but still the same a few weeks later.

I'm wondering if I have grounds for an official complaint to Ofgem.

It may be the debt collection agency at fault rather than the energy supplier.

The Financial Conduct Authority has information about the regulation of agencies which may help.

Elmo! · « **Reply #15255 on:** July 27, 2020, 06:01:37 pm »

Quote from: So... Howard Phillips on July 27, 2020, 12:54:46 pm

It may be the debt collection agency at fault rather than the energy supplier.

The Financial Conduct Authority has information about the regulation of agencies which may help.

Could be, I'm mainly just wondering if there are rules on when you are allowed to get debt collectors involved.

reddebs · « **Reply #15256 on:** July 27, 2020, 06:13:40 pm »

Quote from: Just Elmo? on July 27, 2020, 06:01:37 pm

Could be, I'm mainly just wondering if there are rules on when you are allowed to get debt collectors involved.

If you've spoken to the supplier, paid the debt and been told that would be the end of it, youre well within your rights to put an Ofgem complaint in.

Regardless of who was at fault for the debt being passed to debt collection they should still recall it once its been settled so the energy supplier has not delivered what they promised.

I do have some experience as I worked in the debt department at British Gas a few years ago.

Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk

Ghost Town · « **Reply #15257 on:** July 28, 2020, 03:10:21 am »

Quote from: The Gulleysucker on July 26, 2020, 06:13:44 pm

If you have a look here, http://www.fliptronics.com/tip0006.html, it has a good breakdown of typical LR44 battery performance when used in Digital calipers (the circuits in many of the cheaper Chinese ones don't actually actually turn off, just the display, which is seriously annoying as it means they eat through batteries) but it gives a general idea of possible battery life over such periods of time.

This solves a long standing mystery for me. How I could never get the batteries in one of those buggers to last any decent length of time despite only occasional use. Went back to manual calipers in the end.

The Gulleysucker · « **Reply #15258 on:** July 28, 2020, 06:05:38 am »

Quote from: Ghost Town on July 28, 2020, 03:10:21 am

This solves a long standing mystery for me. How I could never get the batteries in one of those buggers to last any decent length of time despite only occasional use. Went back to manual calipers in the end.

It's seriously annoying.

I had an old Mitutoyo, cost an arm and a leg around 30 years ago and still working perfectly though the display is tiny by more modern standards, but a few years ago I thought I'd buy one of the new cheap Chinese things as a backup and something handy to do 'near enough' measurements and that I needn't worry too much about leaving lying around down in my workshop.

While it was constructed cheaply, very, and of mostly non solvent resistant plastic for the body instead of non magnetic stainless steel and cutting fluid impervious materials like the Mitu's, it was accurate enough for my sort of use but unfortunately I found it went through batteries like a George Best got through booze and became annoyingly unpredictable as to if it would actually spring into life whenever I went to turn it on and use it.

I browsed around and found that this was a common fault and largely all down to that reason up above.

There are fixes but they involve intrusive poking around and inserting a switch, a bit of a bodge judging by some photos I saw, so I found it easier to simply take the battery out when not in use.

I ended up buying a much newer Mitutoyo off Ebay which has now become my number one goto though probably like yourself, I'm still quite fond of my old no batteries required verniers largely since I was brought up using them back in the 60's at school when doing Physics and remain comfortable reading them, and I even sometimes still resort to my now rather old but cosseted Moore & Wright micrometers even though they haven't been officially calibrated in years. I do occasionally give them all a check out with some guages and they still seem fine for the enthusiastic amateur stuff I tend to do though which never requires the very fine precision they are well capable of measuring.

CraigDS · « **Reply #15259 on:** August 1, 2020, 02:01:49 pm »

Anyone know any Mini breakers?

Fuel cover (the exterior metal flappy bit, not the whole unit) has decided to randomly fall off my gf’s car somewhere. Trying to find a replacement online in British racing green but struggling to find one for a 2017 (F56) model

rob1966 · « **Reply #15260 on:** August 1, 2020, 02:37:13 pm »

Quote from: Craig 🤔 on August 1, 2020, 02:01:49 pm

Anyone know any Mini breakers?

Fuel cover (the exterior metal flappy bit, not the whole unit) has decided to randomly fall off my gf’s car somewhere. Trying to find a replacement online in British racing green but struggling to find one for a 2017 (F56) model

Is the cover exclusive to the F56, or will R56 parts fit? Theres a few R56 ones on ebay

These do Mini spares but don't know if they do used https://www.bestpartstore.co.uk/mini-mini/mini-f56/100572

CraigDS · « **Reply #15261 on:** August 1, 2020, 02:40:19 pm »

Quote from: rob19:6 "And yeah doth the Lord liketh trucking." on August 1, 2020, 02:37:13 pm

Is the cover exclusive to the F56, or will R56 parts fit? Theres a few R56 ones on ebay

These do Mini spares but don't know if they do used https://www.bestpartstore.co.uk/mini-mini/mini-f56/100572

I’m not sure if they do, have asked on a Mini forum as found those R56 ones too. They look pretty similar.

Will take a look on there mate.

rob1966 · « **Reply #15262 on:** August 1, 2020, 02:42:41 pm »

Quote from: Craig 🤔 on August 1, 2020, 02:40:19 pm

I’m not sure if they do, have asked on a Mini forum as found those R56 ones too. They look pretty similar.

Will take a look on there mate.

Here you go, Mini parts catalogue with part numbers

http://www.bmw-etk.info/parts-catalog/flt/AS/Mini/VT/P

Elmo! · « **Reply #15263 on:** August 1, 2020, 02:52:04 pm »

Quote from: Craig 🤔 on August 1, 2020, 02:01:49 pm

Anyone know any Mini breakers?

Fuel cover (the exterior metal flappy bit, not the whole unit) has decided to randomly fall off my gf’s car somewhere. Trying to find a replacement online in British racing green but struggling to find one for a 2017 (F56) model

Other end of the country from you and not specifically Minis but they courier parts and I have used them before. There are a LOT of Mini drivers in Aberdeenshire so might be a shout.

http://www.overtongarage.co.uk/

CraigDS · « **Reply #15264 on:** August 1, 2020, 02:57:35 pm »

Quote from: Just Elmo? on August 1, 2020, 02:52:04 pm

Other end of the country from you and not specifically Minis but they courier parts and I have used them before. There are a LOT of Mini drivers in Aberdeenshire so might be a shout.

http://www.overtongarage.co.uk/

Ta, have emailed them.

gary75 · « **Reply #15265 on:** August 8, 2020, 09:26:08 am »

Don't suppose anyone knows any alternative car insurance companies?
The comparison sites don't offer .much, I used to use a company called elephant, they weren't on the compare sires and were fairly cheap.
Can't use them anymore so any recommendations would be helpful.
Cheers

rob1966 · « **Reply #15266 on:** August 9, 2020, 01:35:49 pm »

I insure both my car and motorbikes through adrian flux, cheaper than what I found on compare websites and better cover than they offer

https://www.adrianflux.co.uk/car-insurance/

gary75 · « **Reply #15267 on:** August 9, 2020, 07:13:20 pm »

Thanks Rob, they are going to email me a quote.

So many companies these days are underwritten by the same finance broker, its difficult to get good deal.

Trada · « **Reply #15268 on:** August 16, 2020, 05:34:22 pm »

Has Liverpool really got rats the size of rabbits? as reported in today New york post this is the picture they used I have a feeling it maybe fake.

New York Post
@nypost

Rabbit-sized rats terrify Liverpool residents: 'They've taken over'

https://nypost.com/2020/08/15/giant-rats-terrify-liverpool-residents-theyve-taken-over/?utm_source=NYPTwitter&utm_medium=SocialFlow&utm_campaign=SocialFlow

CraigDS · « **Reply #15269 on:** August 16, 2020, 05:35:43 pm »

Yes. We also have rabbits the size of Godzilla. The pic is accurate.

rob1966 · « **Reply #15270 on:** August 18, 2020, 06:27:08 pm »

Quote from: Trada on August 16, 2020, 05:34:22 pm

Has Liverpool really got rats the size of rabbits? as reported in today New york post this is the picture they used I have a feeling it maybe fake.

New York Post
@nypost

Rabbit-sized rats terrify Liverpool residents: 'They've taken over'

https://nypost.com/2020/08/15/giant-rats-terrify-liverpool-residents-theyve-taken-over/?utm_source=NYPTwitter&utm_medium=SocialFlow&utm_campaign=SocialFlow

Yes. Mate of mine used to work in a converted warehouse on Sefton Street opposite Coburg dock in the mid 80's. He used to tell me horror stories about the Wharf rats that used to come in to their canteen, these fuckers grow to about a foot and a half in length, same size as a domestic cat.

I bet any ex dockers on here would be able to tell a few tales.

Damo58 · « **Reply #15271 on:** August 19, 2020, 11:01:17 am »

Quote from: rob19:6 "And yeah doth the Lord liketh trucking." on August 18, 2020, 06:27:08 pm

Yes. Mate of mine used to work in a converted warehouse on Sefton Street opposite Coburg dock in the mid 80's. He used to tell me horror stories about the Wharf rats that used to come in to their canteen, these fuckers grow to about a foot and a half in length, same size as a domestic cat.

I bet any ex dockers on here would be able to tell a few tales.

I was sitting at the lights coming out the dock end of the tunnel coming into town and something caught the corner of my eye running up the little path inside the tunnel and it was a rat the size of a cat. Looked in my rear view a we were just a row of cars all looking horrified at this monster running past us.

Big Red Richie · « **Reply #15272 on:** August 19, 2020, 11:49:58 am »

Being a resident of Liverpool, I've seen the odd rat or two, that said, never seen anything anywhere near that size.

Oh. I'm sure they exist. As I'm sure they do in every City or built up area, where there's a regular food supply.

Seems like a really strange story from somewhere half way around the world. Just odd.

Damo58. When was that?

Damo58 · « **Reply #15273 on:** August 19, 2020, 12:57:45 pm »

Quote from: Big Red Richie on August 19, 2020, 11:49:58 am

Being a resident of Liverpool, I've seen the odd rat or two, that said, never seen anything anywhere near that size.

Oh. I'm sure they exist. As I'm sure they do in every City or built up area, where there's a regular food supply.

Seems like a really strange story from somewhere half way around the world. Just odd.

Damo58. When was that?

Would have been a couple of years ago now. Haven't seen anything like it since - it was really shocking.

rob1966 · « **Reply #15274 on:** August 19, 2020, 02:29:06 pm »

Quote from: Big Red Richie on August 19, 2020, 11:49:58 am

Being a resident of Liverpool, I've seen the odd rat or two, that said, never seen anything anywhere near that size.

Oh. I'm sure they exist. As I'm sure they do in every City or built up area, where there's a regular food supply.

Seems like a really strange story from somewhere half way around the world. Just odd.

Damo58. When was that?

My ma grew up in Everton and she told me about this huge rat in the cellar, it was so big the cat was scared of it.

redbyrdz · « **Reply #15275 on:** August 19, 2020, 09:29:26 pm »

Adult rats around here are about the size of a young rabbit. Think that is pretty normal.

Elmo! · « **Reply #15276 on:** August 20, 2020, 07:28:43 pm »

My car insurance renewed at the end of June, and I phoned them up to negotiate as their renewal price was a rip off. I was (very!) happy with the price they then offered - way better than any on comparison sites - so I said go ahead. They confirmed my card details from the previous year were still valid and said the payment went through. I recevied the renewal docs and left it at that.

I have just noticed that my card has never been charged. I've logged into my account with the insurer and it says everything is fine.

Should I say something? Is my insurance valid?

reddebs · « **Reply #15277 on:** August 20, 2020, 10:27:31 pm »

When we had our bathroom done 10+ years ago we got one of those valve things with 3 controls that goes on the wall.

One turns on the shower, one the bath and one controls the temperature.

We need to replace it or repare it if possible as the temperature bit has seized up so we have to hope for the best that the water isn't too hot for a shower.

I've just been online to price them up but I'm having trouble finding them. There's loads that look the same but none that does shower and bath.

Suggestions please.

Is it possible to repair it or am I just being dim and not looking at the right things that I can't find any?

reddebs · « **Reply #15278 on:** August 20, 2020, 10:29:03 pm »

Quote from: Just Elmo? on August 20, 2020, 07:28:43 pm

Should I say something? Is my insurance valid?

I'd speak to them as it's definitely invalid if you haven't paid, regardless of it being their fault.

Big Red Richie · « **Reply #15279 on:** August 21, 2020, 12:09:36 am »

Quote from: reddebs on August 20, 2020, 10:27:31 pm

When we had our bathroom done 10+ years ago we got one of those valve things with 3 controls that goes on the wall.

One turns on the shower, one the bath and one controls the temperature.

We need to replace it or repare it if possible as the temperature bit has seized up so we have to hope for the best that the water isn't too hot for a shower.

I've just been online to price them up but I'm having trouble finding them. There's loads that look the same but none that does shower and bath.

Suggestions please.

Is it possible to repair it or am I just being dim and not looking at the right things that I can't find any?

Who's the manufacturer?

find a local plumber/engineer who specialises in showers.(mixer variety). It sounds like a simple fault (a wax capsule or something) to repair/replace.

Go through the manufacturer and ask them if there is a service engineer local to you.