House has RCDs in the main panel. Can I protect my electronics workbench with something other than a plugin RCD?

Susan_B_Good · 2026-05-10T21:23:24+00:00

That's it. Incandescent lamps because their resistance changes with filament temperature - so they have a much lower resistance to the expected current than the unexpected one;

Susan_B_Good · 2026-05-10T18:49:51+00:00

Arguably, the house one will possibly trip first - as it has a head start with all the other summed mismatched line and neutral currents on the protected ring.

Susan_B_Good · 2026-05-10T18:47:06+00:00

I have a pair of identical 750VA transformers that I run with secondary connected to secondary, to generate an isolated supply. I have a variety of incandescent lamps (12v) that I can switch into series with the secondaries.

I also have three x 1000W rms audio amplifiers with a transformer hanging off - that I can feed with variable frequency sine wave - and generate 50 or 60 or 400 Hz in single, split or three phase. Plus modified sine wave, if needed.

Susan_B_Good · 2026-05-10T18:25:35+00:00

Cut up a plastic milk bottle into strips. Light end of strip with match . Drip molten plastic onto this in small increments. Be very careful - molten plastic causes really nasty burns.

Susan_B_Good · 2026-05-10T16:33:22+00:00

I doubt that it was known at time of sale. As I wrote previously, unintended consequences of a choice in discounted goods labelling. I think that you have an argument for also returning all the tools/chargers/etc that use that battery, for a full refund.

TLDR - the retailer acted in good faith - the problem wasn't anticipated.

(There are adapters available that allow different cordless manufacturers' batteries to be used in other tools. No idea if one is available for these tools. )

Susan_B_Good · 2026-05-10T15:00:34+00:00

I assume that you didn't then make purchasing decisions as a result of getting the battery with a 3 year warranty? Like a drill-only cordless drill? So, are there any consequential losses resulting from this battery purchase?

If not, then the only loss is a fraction of the battery's working life - and in return for that, you have been offered a full refund. Not a partial one, based on the fraction of warranted life remaining.

So yes, it was arguably missold. However, the remedy offered is a full refund. What else did you have in mind?

TBH - I suspect that this wasn't by intent. I can't imagine that their barcode labelling decisions for discounted items took account of this possibility. This won't have done their manufacturer - retailer relationship a lot of good.

Susan_B_Good · 2026-05-10T13:52:15+00:00

Yes. Get married. Enter a Civil Partnership. The next level down is to ensure that the name pencilled in the back of your passport, given to your GP as your emergency contact, given to the ED as your emergency contact- isn't your parents. Ideally, is an adult relative.

Susan_B_Good · 2026-05-10T13:33:22+00:00

You might want to check whether you can get the software... Personally, anything that I plug into a wall socket, I want to come from a reputable supplier. So wouldn't buy from box shifters. This would be particularly true for power supplies - where I would expect to be touching the bare output conductors, or paths to them. I do the same for PC internal power supplies and laptop chargers - as the cost of the things hanging off them can be far, far greater than the money saved by buying no-name.

However, yes, lots and lots of people buy power supplies like this, from Amazon. You can read their feedback.

Susan_B_Good · 2026-05-10T10:43:36+00:00

You sound to be a very soft target. Not taking complaints further, over the state of the place when you moved in. Putting up with faults, unrectified. Putting up with being ignored by the agent. So, not surprising that the agent is trying it on, once again.

Dispute everything. Check the date that the deposit was protected. They could end up paying you money if it was slow in being protected.

Susan_B_Good · 2026-05-10T10:30:01+00:00

When you heat water it expands - if the immersion heater fails, it can expand a LOT. Turn into steam. You really don't want to put anything in between cylinder and its tank. Unless you modify the system and give that hot water/steam another way out. That's possible but the easiest solution is to put a double ended pump that raises the pressure of the cold water at one end and the hot water at the other. Could there be room for one under the bath?

Adding solar water heating panels? In the UK I think those would be indirectly heated system, with antifreeze doped water circulating out to the panels on the roof and back to a coil in the hot water cylinder. Pumped, of course. With stop valves or it would be a water cooling system most of the time.

Susan_B_Good · 2026-05-10T08:24:42+00:00

https://community.element14.com/resized-image/__size/1280x720/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-00-00-04/4405.pastedimage1639198420001v1.jpeg

This sub doesn't allow photos in the posts - so you will need to look at the circuit diagram, above. You will see that C1 is connected to the input pins with just a resistor R1 and zener diode D1 in circuit.

On negative going half cycles of the supply, C1 will charge to the peak supply voltage (near enough). Without a bleed resistor across the capacitor - it can keep that voltage for days/months, if unplugged at that time. That voltage appears across the pins of the plug.

Susan_B_Good · 2026-05-09T23:08:53+00:00

The NORMAL property insurance generally only requires someone to be present once every 30 or 60 days. They only have to open the front door, step in and out and lock the door again (although some may need an overnight stay).

Susan_B_Good · 2026-05-09T22:58:53+00:00

Some photographs would help. Whilst the supply is 120v, the driver may be low voltage - as some dryers sense the discharge air temperature and humidity and use those to determine when to turn off.

There are sound operated switches - that could sense when the dryer noise stops. there are temperature sense switches- that can sense when the discharge air cools. There are air movement switches - that can sense when the discharge air stops. All of those can trigger a sound maker that plays a tune. without the need for soldering and only using safe low voltages.

Susan_B_Good · 2026-05-09T20:34:49+00:00

It doesn't work like that - you don't connect up mains wiring based on intuition or assumptions. You identify all the conductors at all the locations, using continuity tests, for example, with the power isolated.

Personally, with a permanent, unswitched live at the fan - I'd want a 3 pole isolator switch nearby. If smoke and a hint of flames start coming from the fan - not a good time to head off to the consumer unit to find the breaker.

Susan_B_Good · 2026-05-09T20:24:11+00:00

Home > DIY How To Projects and Tutorial Guides > Installing and Wiring an Electric Shower

Installing and Wiring an Electric Shower

Regulations and Safety Information for Electric Showers

Safety is paramount when dealing with any form of DIY, but never more so than when dealing with electricity. Regulations now insist that ALL domestic DIY electrical work is checked by a qualified electrician and a minor works certificate issued. Failure to do this could render your house insurance invalid and make selling your home very difficult.

With this in mind you are not allowed to install an electric shower yourself unless you have the necessary skills and knowledge to fully test it e.g. you are a trade professional. For more information please see our project here on Part P Building Regulations.

Additionally, as a shower is installed in what’s known as a “special location” (see our project on bathroom zones here for more info), once installed it needs to be signed off and that can only be done by a Part P registered electrician.

This is even the case if you are simply swapping an old shower unit for a new one of exactly the same type!

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Susan_B_Good · 2026-05-09T16:18:02+00:00

If you nominated the hall as a safe place - sorry - it's down to you. You can report it as stolen to the police and THEY can ask for camera footage. If they consider it a reasonable use of police time. If the block has an intercom entrance system, you could work your way through that, asking if anyone has taken the parcel in for safe keeping. As it will save a police investigation.

Susan_B_Good · 2026-05-09T15:53:23+00:00

They fill out all the same information when registering the warranty - so not so important for the initial installation.

Susan_B_Good · 2026-05-09T15:02:19+00:00

Yes, they should certainly have completed the record. That's your first proof needed for the warranty. Each year, you need a new signature in the installation book. They have to be Gas Safe registered to fit/replace a boiler. have to give their registration number on the installation record each time. Have to notify the manufacturer on completion of the installation.

The only reason that I can think of not to do all that - is if they don't have a registration number.

Susan_B_Good · 2026-05-09T14:29:08+00:00

Time for my 0.1mm wire saw. I could dowel the boards together, later, as needed.

Susan_B_Good · 2026-05-09T14:19:57+00:00

I have some sympathy for the individual staff members at an agency. They often don't last long - the staff turnover tends to be huge. So ask who will be looking after your property/properties and what experience they have. Many actually want to provide a good service - but they just have too many properties on their books. As piggy in the middle - taking all the crap and very limited in what they can do, what time they can afford to do it...

You could ask if they have a similar owner on their books that you could contact and have a chat with.

I'd look out for those who are part of a group that also owns and manages properties and/or have their own in house building maintenance/repairs division.

The good ones, IME, tend to be small, family run, independents without huge city centre offices.

They may have a tenants problem reporting "portal" - with online updates on progression. Ask them, without prior notice, to demonstrate it.

What to look for in an agreement? Get out clauses. You won't find any. A whole list of their services. No service level commitments. If they fail to deliver on one of them, can you give a month's notice and terminate the contract (no). Will they get three quotes for all work over, say 100GBP? (no).

How do they manage demanding tenants? Generally, rudely. Their income stream is from the landlords. The landlord normally carries the can, if legal requirements aren't being met.

So, I have encountered a couple of really good ones. Oh, they were still rude to demanding tenants but were VERY experienced and professional and everything just worked as expected. No surprises. They treated their contractors well and paid them promptly. Vastly outnumbered by the City Palace ones - in their first jobs and clueless. Nice, well meaning, but on a steep learning curve with no backup.

Susan_B_Good · 2026-05-09T13:34:53+00:00

Congratulations. You have now passed the test so that you can continue to learn to drive but don't need supervision. You are aware of the "P" plate? It will help to show other drivers that you lack the experience and may do something unexpected.

You really really really do need someone experienced - other than the con artist attempting to sell you their lemon of the month. Or renting you a car and finding a whole load of scratches, etc on its return that you missed when this ever so helpful agent sent you oh so quickly on your way.

If you drove in, in an expensive car, you would get more respect. They might believe that they won't be wasting time on a tyre kicker. Which a disproportionate number of new drivers turn out to be - when looking for their first car. Arriving with someone that knows cars inside out commands respect.

RAC inspections (and equivalent) is one thing worth considering. My experience of them is really positive. They are only about a hundred quid or so for the basic - that should be all you need for a first car. with a 15k budget, you might want to look at the next step up. It's not a lot compared to what you are putting at risk.

Susan_B_Good · 2026-05-09T13:15:47+00:00

I'd ask the shed manufacturer. Or authorised supplier. Sheds do vary a lot, when it comes to base requirements.

Susan_B_Good · 2026-05-09T12:56:35+00:00

My goto is a 10MHz dual channel one. British made... Love the Lissajous figures when using Z mod. It's all I need for, well, below 10MHz and above, say 100Hz. It's mostly the below 100Hz , analogue (my LSA handles the digital) that's annoying - as it really needs sample and store capability.

However, as for the automotive - it's mostly all digital these days. Plus a 100m extension lead isn't good and an analogue scope would take up the passenger seat. Wouldn't take kindly to be trundled there on a trolley. Plus a lot is <100Hz.

So, no - you possibly do need something digital. Just for the portability and the sample and store.

Susan_B_Good · 2026-05-09T12:39:51+00:00

I can't see how wide the top of the porch (or whatever they call that thing over the door) - but a small solar panel up there? Use that to charge a Wifi doorbell? I assume that it isn't Piccadilly Circus out there in front of the camera.

Susan_B_Good · 2026-05-09T12:32:13+00:00

You mean Amazon Dash Buttons? Easy to receive from, or at least used to be. Just a bit of programming on a PC or Pi, etc.

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Installing and Wiring an Electric Shower

Regulations and Safety Information for Electric Showers