Early Risers.

[J. S. Bach]

Night Owl from the Piedmont.

[AndyID]

5 hours ago, monkeysarefun said:

A guy at work told me of his parents own version of this. He'd organised to go round to their place to help his dad install lighting in their swimming pool, he got there to find they'd begun without him.

They'd drained the pool to just below the level the lights were to be mounted and his dad was standing in the waist deep water with a 240 volt hammer drill drilling  out the side of the pool.

Meanwhile his  mum  was standing poolside holding the power cord where the drill cord joined the extension cord. In  the event of his dad  dropping the drill or similar and suddenly lighting up so you could see his skeleton like on the cartoons or saying "OK Janice, I'm being electrocuted can you pull the plugs apart please!" she would.

 

Good grief! A good candidate for a Darwin Award 😀

If the drill was powered from a ground fault interrupter he'd probably have been OK. They cut the power very quickly as soon as the currents flowing in line and neutral are different which happens if there is any current leaking to ground through something, including a person. Very simple devices that must have prevented many accidental electrocutions.

 

BTW, everything else being equal, 240 volts is four times more lethal than 120 volts. It's the power dissipated in human cells that does the damage. A person has a certain resistance and power is the square of the voltage divided by the resistance.

 

Homes in the US have 240 volts too. They have a  two-phase feed. Each phase is 120 volts 60Hz and they are displaced by 180 degrees from each other. Most power outlets are supplied with one or other phase and a neutral connection to give a 120 supply but high-power appliances like heaters and clothes dryers are fed from both phases to produce 240 volts. It's possible to have 240 volt outlets too. I have a couple in my shed for a fan heater and a welder.

 

Even then it's quite difficult to get a 240 volt shock because the maximum potential to ground is never more than 120 volts. 120 volts is much less painful than 240 volts (do not ask me how I know).

[monkeysarefun]

2 hours ago, AndyID said:

Homes in the US have 240 volts too. They have a  two-phase feed. Each phase is 120 volts 60Hz and they are displaced by 180 degrees from each other. Most power outlets are supplied with one or other phase and a neutral connection to give a 120 supply but high-power appliances like heaters and clothes dryers are fed from both phases to produce 240 volts. It's possible to have 240 volt outlets too. I have a couple in my shed for a fan heater and a welder.

Many homes here have 3 phase to power 415 Volt airconditioning units etc.

[AndyID]

1 hour ago, monkeysarefun said:

Many homes here have 3 phase to power 415 Volt airconditioning units etc.

You can get a 3-phase feed here too but I think it's a bit spendy. (Of course there is always the cheapo version where you tap into the feeds to two of your neighbors 😀)

 

The utility companies here used to hang the transformers on the high-tension distribution poles and run a low voltage feed from there to the service entry point but now they seem to prefer ground level transformers. I think it has a lot to do with the price of copper.

[jamie92208]

2 hours ago, monkeysarefun said:

Many homes here have 3 phase to power 415 Volt airconditioning units etc.

We have 3 phase feed to the plot. It goes to the shed then therevis a switched 3 phase feed over to the house. Apparently  3 phase feeds were very common.  Known as La Force.  Our water heatervis now the only 3 phase appliance on the property.  There used to be a 3 phase supply all round the shed walls to feed woodworking machinery in the past all done in 6mm copper.  I've had a new distribution board added in the shed and the 3 phase wiring carries 240v single phase.  The original connection boxes are still on the wall and if I need a new set of sockets  i just replace the existing boxes.  

 

Anyway good moaning from the Charente.  It's D for decorations day apparently.  I'm also waiting for a call to say that Beth's new tyres have arrived.  

 

Ttfn.

 

Jamie

[Barry O]

Ey up!

 

It's a makeitupasyougoalongday  day today.

 

Apparently I do have some tasks to undertake (as yet unspecified).

 

Busy day yesterday with 3 large items which used to pull passengers up Shap  fitted with devices to allow them to replicate the sound they made. Woop! Woop!

 

I have a parcel to post and a couple of items to take to a couple of locations.

 

I also managed to wrap theChristmas presents for her indoors.

 

Better make the tea!

 

Stay safe!

 

TTFN!

Baz

 

[pH]

1 hour ago, AndyID said:

The utility companies here used to hang the transformers on the high-tension distribution poles and run a low voltage feed from there to the service entry point but now they seem to prefer ground level transformers. I think it has a lot to do with the price of copper.

The common arrangement here is both higher and lower voltage distribution lines strung on the same poles, with transformers (not on all poles) stepping the voltage down between the two sets of wires. Taps to houses are taken off the lower voltage lines.

 

Transformers hit during storms ignite quite spectacularly.

[jamie92208]

A quick update.  Just been over to let the hens out. It'sfffffreeezing.  Thecgrass was crunchy underfoot.  I don't think I'll be up a ladder stringing lights till it gets a tad warmer.

 

Jamie

[TheQ]

Mooring Awl,

3.5 hours sleep short awake, 3 hours sleep woke too early couldn't get to sleep again, due to evil Easterly hammering on the windows.

 

Ben stayed nice and warm in his bed till i went to leave, then he surfaced for a short patrol in the drizzle.

 

Out in Saudi we had +120AC on the live pin of British plugs and another phase on the Neutral pin of the plugs + earth.

They could supply me with 3 phase at home as the cables pass over my garden down to the farm. The mobile home and muddling shed are on a different phase to the house. I'll bet they want a vast amount of money though for an easy job..

 

Time to go to the lab.

 

 

[AndyID]

3 minutes ago, jamie92208 said:

A quick update.  Just been over to let the hens out. It'sfffffreeezing.

 

 

Minus 5C here 😀. The snow melted slightly then froze again. Probability of a White Christmas is high but things can change quite suddenly here.

[grandadbob]

Good morning all,

Very cloudy start and it is dry at the moment.  There is the chance of one or two sunny spells along with isolated  showers.  5°C and it may hurtle up to 7°C.

The Knee is a bit better today but The Back not so much.  Must have laid awkwardly during the night.  I think a gentle walk in the fresh air after breakfast might be beneficial.

Apart from that I await requests/instructions from Management about today's operations.  If none are forthcoming then I may visit The Shed.

Have a good one,

Bob.

 

[jjb1970]

I visited the RAF museum in Hendon yesterday and was rather disappointed. The collection is world class, but the presentation is dreadful. It used to be a wonderful museum, with a superb Battle of Britain hangar exhibit zone, then another wonderful century of flight hall before going into the bomber hall which had subdued lighting with spotlights. They scrapped the Battle of Britain Hall and replaced it with a new entrance plaza and randomized displays which seem intended to appeal to people with limited interest in aircraft though the Short Sunderland remains in that hangar. The century of flight exhibition, which was beautifully presented, has been replaced by a 1980's and onwards RAF exhibit which has some great exhibits very badly presented and feels rather lacklustre as a result. The old bomber hall remains but the lighting is not roof bright lights and it all feels very sterile, what is worse is it just seems to be randomised exhibits, stuff positioned in front of the aircraft, displayed where it's difficult to take pictures etc. And worst of all, some of it is downright shabby. There were rubbish skips under the wing of the Bf110, lots of tarpaulins over stuff in the display area and some of the most interesting exhibits were either in bits of just dropped on the floor in a way which was designed to limit interest. The final hall seemed a bit run down, though the wonderful Supermarine Southampton hull is still there. I am really hoping that they are rebuilding the bomber hall as otherwise it is a shambles, but the changes to the displays in recent years are awful and went from a wonderfully presented, themed style to, well, something else. The exception is the Grahame-White hangar of WW1 aircraft which is wonderful. It feels like a museum which has been 'improved' by a 'heritage professional' to make it more 'relevant'. The Cosford site is now a much better museum, if you can only visit one of the two sites make it Cosford. Maybe I was spoiled by visiting the Udvar-Hazy centre a few weeks ago, but 5 or 6 years ago the Hendon site was in the same class as Udvar-Hazy. Very sad.

The part of the RAF Museum at Hendon which remains truly outstanding in every way is the Grahame-White factory hangar. This displays WW1 era aircraft, the display is well laid out with good information on the exhibits and the collection is world class. Something that always amazes me is that people not only went up and fought dog fights in those things, but did it without parachutes. To call some of them flimsy would be understatement even by English standards of understatement. Despite my sense of disappointment at how the museum has evolved as a whole, this hangar, along with Lancaster S for Sugar and the Sunderland walk through mean it is still well worth the effort to visit.

[polybear]

9 hours ago, PhilJ W said:

Evening all from Estuary-Land. Ordered a couple of items on-line today, both promised delivery before Christmas, we'll wait and see. I've also put in a few internet bids on this auction.

 https://www.specialauctionservices.com/Auction-Calendar/2022/Trains-Galore?utm_campaign=564321_WoR SAS solus 3 Dec&utm_medium=email&utm_source=dotdigital&dm_i=73DL,C3FL,ZULM5,1GY09,1

Not too many though with a 20% buyers premium plus VAT.

 

Plus 4.95% + Vat for on-line commission, if my understanding is correct - meaning the fees start to become "significant".

 

1 hour ago, jamie92208 said:

We have 3 phase feed to the plot. It goes to the shed then therevis a switched 3 phase feed over to the house. Apparently  3 phase feeds were very common.  Known as La Force.  Our water heatervis now the only 3 phase appliance on the property.  There used to be a 3 phase supply all round the shed walls to feed woodworking machinery in the past all done in 6mm copper.  I've had a new distribution board added in the shed and the 3 phase wiring carries 240v single phase.  The original connection boxes are still on the wall and if I need a new set of sockets  i just replace the existing boxes.  

 

So just right for a nice 3ph. Lathe & Milling Machine then......

 

Bear here......

Not sure yet - think I may paint the coving, then fit the mdf ceiling rose + new pendant.  Postie Pat (or Patricia) is also due to collect a parcel from Bear Towers today - they'll also bring the label too, and all for n'owt (apart from the postage cost).  I like that idea - sadly I think they'll be charging for the service after Chrimbo though.

 

In other news.....

Remember Bear mentioning the guy who chased some scrotes when they tried to break into his house/garage - and he was the one who ended up doing time?  Well here it is:

 

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/dad-held-in-herts-prison-and-appeared-on-24-hours-in-police-custody-after-chasing-robbers-tells-what-it-was-like-in-jail/ar-AA14SYA6?ocid=msedgntp&cvid=51b460f3e76e4bfb99cfc60fc77360ee

 

It seems that others are pretty p1ssed with the Judge as well, as a "Go Fund Me" page has already raised £167K.  And now it seems the scrotes are trying to sue the house owner/his insurance for £1M - hopefully that won't happen cos' the Judge at their own Trial stated they were substantially to blame for their own injuries.

 

I find the following words of interest:

"A police spokesman said: “This episode is an important reminder that people must not take the law into their own hands. The best thing to do when a crime is happening is to call 999.”

 

- well if people could be sure that (a) the Police would/can do more that just dish out a crime number for an insurance claim, and (b) the case actually reaches Court AND the Judge dishes out an appropriate (= to the victim's satisfaction) then maybe they'd be a bit more inclined to do so.

Bear gone

[monkeysarefun]

52 minutes ago, jamie92208 said:

A quick update.  Just been over to let the hens out. It'sfffffreeezing.  Thecgrass was crunchy underfoot.  I don't think I'll be up a ladder stringing lights till it gets a tad warmer.

 

Jamie

Just came out of work, 35 degrees at 5pm  - that's more like it!

Edited December 5, 2022 by monkeysarefun

[PhilJ W]

Morning all from Estuary-Land. A bit chilly this morning but with a north easterly wind the house is pretty well sheltered so its not to cold in the house.

5 minutes ago, polybear said:

Plus 4.95% + Vat for on-line commission, if my understanding is correct - meaning the fees start to become "significant".

There was no mention of such a charge and the auction is on-line only. The only extra charge will be postal.

6 minutes ago, monkeysarefun said:

Just came out if work, 35 degrees at 5pm  - that's more like it!

Don't rub it in!

[monkeysarefun]

7 minutes ago, PhilJ W said:

 

Don't rub it in!

Got to make the most of it, apparently this summer will again be cooler than normal but  less wet than last year so I've got three months of mid  to high 20s to put up with. 

Edited December 5, 2022 by monkeysarefun

[Winslow Boy]

27 minutes ago, monkeysarefun said:

Got to make the most of it, apparently this summer will again be cooler than normal but  less wet than last year so I've got three months of mid  to high 20s to put up with. 

 

Oh dear we are sorry for you. Not.

[Winslow Boy]

59 minutes ago, jjb1970 said:

I visited the RAF museum in Hendon yesterday and was rather disappointed. The collection is world class, but the presentation is dreadful. It used to be a wonderful museum, with a superb Battle of Britain hangar exhibit zone, then another wonderful century of flight hall before going into the bomber hall which had subdued lighting with spotlights. They scrapped the Battle of Britain Hall and replaced it with a new entrance plaza and randomized displays which seem intended to appeal to people with limited interest in aircraft though the Short Sunderland remains in that hangar. The century of flight exhibition, which was beautifully presented, has been replaced by a 1980's and onwards RAF exhibit which has some great exhibits very badly presented and feels rather lacklustre as a result. The old bomber hall remains but the lighting is not roof bright lights and it all feels very sterile, what is worse is it just seems to be randomised exhibits, stuff positioned in front of the aircraft, displayed where it's difficult to take pictures etc. And worst of all, some of it is downright shabby. There were rubbish skips under the wing of the Bf110, lots of tarpaulins over stuff in the display area and some of the most interesting exhibits were either in bits of just dropped on the floor in a way which was designed to limit interest. The final hall seemed a bit run down, though the wonderful Supermarine Southampton hull is still there. I am really hoping that they are rebuilding the bomber hall as otherwise it is a shambles, but the changes to the displays in recent years are awful and went from a wonderfully presented, themed style to, well, something else. The exception is the Grahame-White hangar of WW1 aircraft which is wonderful. It feels like a museum which has been 'improved' by a 'heritage professional' to make it more 'relevant'. The Cosford site is now a much better museum, if you can only visit one of the two sites make it Cosford. Maybe I was spoiled by visiting the Udvar-Hazy centre a few weeks ago, but 5 or 6 years ago the Hendon site was in the same class as Udvar-Hazy. Very sad.

The part of the RAF Museum at Hendon which remains truly outstanding in every way is the Grahame-White factory hangar. This displays WW1 era aircraft, the display is well laid out with good information on the exhibits and the collection is world class. Something that always amazes me is that people not only went up and fought dog fights in those things, but did it without parachutes. To call some of them flimsy would be understatement even by English standards of understatement. Despite my sense of disappointment at how the museum has evolved as a whole, this hangar, along with Lancaster S for Sugar and the Sunderland walk through mean it is still well worth the effort to visit.

 

Don't worry we are getting rid of all our museums as they are sexist, colononist, and something else that I can't remember at this moment in time but do know its got isum at the end of it. Trouble is there's such an awful lot of them and only so many right on, screaming mobs. But I'm confident the'll get there in the end.

[PupCam]

1 hour ago, jjb1970 said:

I visited the RAF museum in Hendon yesterday and was rather disappointed. The collection is world class, but the presentation is dreadful. It used to be a wonderful museum, with a superb Battle of Britain hangar exhibit zone, then another wonderful century of flight hall before going into the bomber hall which had subdued lighting with spotlights. They scrapped the Battle of Britain Hall and replaced it with a new entrance plaza and randomized displays which seem intended to appeal to people with limited interest in aircraft though the Short Sunderland remains in that hangar. The century of flight exhibition, which was beautifully presented, has been replaced by a 1980's and onwards RAF exhibit which has some great exhibits very badly presented and feels rather lacklustre as a result. The old bomber hall remains but the lighting is not roof bright lights and it all feels very sterile, what is worse is it just seems to be randomised exhibits, stuff positioned in front of the aircraft, displayed where it's difficult to take pictures etc. And worst of all, some of it is downright shabby. There were rubbish skips under the wing of the Bf110, lots of tarpaulins over stuff in the display area and some of the most interesting exhibits were either in bits of just dropped on the floor in a way which was designed to limit interest. The final hall seemed a bit run down, though the wonderful Supermarine Southampton hull is still there. I am really hoping that they are rebuilding the bomber hall as otherwise it is a shambles, but the changes to the displays in recent years are awful and went from a wonderfully presented, themed style to, well, something else. The exception is the Grahame-White hangar of WW1 aircraft which is wonderful. It feels like a museum which has been 'improved' by a 'heritage professional' to make it more 'relevant'. The Cosford site is now a much better museum, if you can only visit one of the two sites make it Cosford. Maybe I was spoiled by visiting the Udvar-Hazy centre a few weeks ago, but 5 or 6 years ago the Hendon site was in the same class as Udvar-Hazy. Very sad.

The part of the RAF Museum at Hendon which remains truly outstanding in every way is the Grahame-White factory hangar. This displays WW1 era aircraft, the display is well laid out with good information on the exhibits and the collection is world class. Something that always amazes me is that people not only went up and fought dog fights in those things, but did it without parachutes. To call some of them flimsy would be understatement even by English standards of understatement. Despite my sense of disappointment at how the museum has evolved as a whole, this hangar, along with Lancaster S for Sugar and the Sunderland walk through mean it is still well worth the effort to visit.

 

1 hour ago, polybear said:

 

Plus 4.95% + Vat for on-line commission, if my understanding is correct - meaning the fees start to become "significant".

 

 

So just right for a nice 3ph. Lathe & Milling Machine then......

 

Bear here......

Not sure yet - think I may paint the coving, then fit the mdf ceiling rose + new pendant.  Postie Pat (or Patricia) is also due to collect a parcel from Bear Towers today - they'll also bring the label too, and all for n'owt (apart from the postage cost).  I like that idea - sadly I think they'll be charging for the service after Chrimbo though.

 

In other news.....

Remember Bear mentioning the guy who chased some scrotes when they tried to break into his house/garage - and he was the one who ended up doing time?  Well here it is:

 

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/dad-held-in-herts-prison-and-appeared-on-24-hours-in-police-custody-after-chasing-robbers-tells-what-it-was-like-in-jail/ar-AA14SYA6?ocid=msedgntp&cvid=51b460f3e76e4bfb99cfc60fc77360ee

 

It seems that others are pretty p1ssed with the Judge as well, as a "Go Fund Me" page has already raised £167K.  And now it seems the scrotes are trying to sue the house owner/his insurance for £1M - hopefully that won't happen cos' the Judge at their own Trial stated they were substantially to blame for their own injuries.

 

I find the following words of interest:

"A police spokesman said: “This episode is an important reminder that people must not take the law into their own hands. The best thing to do when a crime is happening is to call 999.”

 

- well if people could be sure that (a) the Police would/can do more that just dish out a crime number for an insurance claim, and (b) the case actually reaches Court AND the Judge dishes out an appropriate (= to the victim's satisfaction) then maybe they'd be a bit more inclined to do so.

Bear gone

Two nails hit very squarely on their respective heads!

 

Morning all!

 

You find Puppers sitting in the hospital waiting for a routine scan.    Back later …..

 

TTFNQ

 

 

[New Haven Neil]

Morning, bloomin cold, 5c but bright, wind has razor blades in it.

 

Museums - oh yeah, went to the NRM a few years ago - ruined.  Displays removed and a cafe in its place, in the roundhouse FFS, and 'interpretive' rubbish that mostly didn't work and was only fine for a 5 year old when it did.  Jodrell Donk Bank was much the same, so disappointed.  The only good bit was when he modified it into a ray gun to zap Captain Cynical.

 

[BSW01]

Good morning everyone 

 

A dull but dry day here in England’s northwest corner. I would normally be completing the Sainsbury’s Grand Prix this morning, but instead, I’ve decided to make the most of a dry day and change the waste pipework under the kitchen sink. I’m hoping it will only take a couple of hours (if that) as I’ve already cut the short lengths of pipework ready for assembly, I just need to empty the cupboard first and I’m also going to remove the carousel to make access much easier. 

 

Best get cracking then, back later. 

 

Brian

[southern42]

 

' morning all from red dragon land.

Cloudy with patches of blue sky disappearing. Temp.  4.6C.

 

Of the got-to-be-done jobs, the seasonal greetings cards are top of the list starting with the got-to-be-posted ones so, a start on them will begin this afternoon, after the odd jobs and a toot-on-the-flute. (Priorities!) I am also trying to find some mojo (a bit of a boost or, more likely, a big shove) to get my muddling job finished. I will need the workspace (end of dining table) ...er...quite...Sooooon....methinks.  🤶

 

Some of the editing tools seem to have disappeared from the menubar, today. Have the weekend gremlins been up to something, I wonder?

 

Time to get on.

Keep safe. Be good. Give yourself a boost.

Polly

 

[jamie92208]

5 hours ago, polybear said:

So just right for a nice 3ph. Lathe & Milling Machine then......

 

 

Of course, if someone wants to send me one to store rent free of course it would need to be connected up for routine testing.

 

Jamie

Edited December 5, 2022 by jamie92208

[iL Dottore]

2 hours ago, Winslow Boy said:

 

Don't worry we are getting rid of all our museums as they are sexist, colononist, and something else that I can't remember at this moment in time but do know its got isum at the end of it. Trouble is there's such an awful lot of them and only so many right on, screaming mobs. But I'm confident the'll get there in the end.

You forgot "racist" and "able-ist"

 

There's probably a "species-ist" in there somewhere.

[iL Dottore]

1 hour ago, New Haven Neil said:

Morning, bloomin cold, 5c but bright, wind has razor blades in it.

 

Museums - oh yeah, went to the NRM a few years ago - ruined.  Displays removed and a cafe in its place, in the roundhouse FFS, and 'interpretive' rubbish that mostly didn't work and was only fine for a 5 year old when it did.  Jodrell Donk Bank was much the same, so disappointed.  The only good bit was when he modified it into a ray gun to zap Captain Cynical.

 

 

He missed.

 

Captain Cynical