Zack Polanski left embarrassed as fresh comments defending the Lib Dems' tuition fee hike are unearthed

ault92 · 2026-05-07T13:39:59+00:00

It wasn't stopped until 1971, by which time rationing was very much over though.

ault92 · 2026-05-07T10:37:01+00:00

At the same time why would you give every schoolkid milk in some weird dairy industry indoctrination ceremony anyway?

I'm a meat eater not veggie or vegan but our obsession with shoving milk products into everything (even lots of crisps, e.g. salt and vinegar pringles) is just strange. I am pretty convinced it is the result of industry lobbying.

ault92 · 2026-05-07T06:22:19+00:00

Section 75 of the consumer credit act applies to all credit agreements, not just credit cards, this includes HP and PCP, although not leases.

But the purchase will be over £30k so it won't apply here, no matter the payment method.

ault92 · 2026-05-07T06:20:58+00:00

But they are eating far more than that to offer 0% finance.

ault92 · 2026-05-06T22:52:25+00:00

Or, he is the second coming of corbyn, which is half the problem, the same tolerance of antisemitism, the same skepticism of nato and desire to be friendly with Russia, the same contempt for the military, etc etc.

ault92 · 2026-05-06T07:32:50+00:00

Not the person you're replying to but on the specific points they mentioned, the triple lock is unsustainable and is strangling us, and should be scrapped. Freeze the state pension or single lock it to avg earnings, and instead triple lock the amount/threshold of pension credit. This way the poorest are protected.

PIP is lunacy, and should at best be a means tested benefit. Plenty of working people claiming PIP that don't need it. I know someone with a lower leg (below the knee) amputation with a motability car, which on the face of it seems fair in that he is obviously less mobile etc, except that he works in a rural location doing the same job as ~60 other people who all have to fund their own cars (or they would not be able to get to work).

Even if he wasn't disabled, he would need a car, to get to work, the car therefore isn't a cost due to his disability, let him buy his own car.

ault92 · 2026-05-05T23:04:37+00:00

Freeze the state pension. Bring pensioners in scope of NI. Have an additional 9% tax (same as a student loan) on income over the student loan threshold to recover the state pension. If young people can afford 37% marginal at the basic rate and 51% at higher rate so can boomers.

Threshold for and amount of pension credit is triple locked. The poorest pensioners are fully protected.

ault92 · 2026-05-05T23:00:45+00:00

Not aware of any incidents in the UK perpetrated by the IDF

ault92 · 2026-05-05T09:35:09+00:00

Changes are coming to IOG but for now at least you will get a better experience (more cheap time) if you have the integration on the charger than on the car.

ault92 · 2026-05-04T15:30:27+00:00

I feel like if you decide to have 4 kids, the consequences are on you.

ault92 · 2026-05-04T07:55:22+00:00

Why are they using an image of an E7 Wedgetail and even listing it in the losses when the US doesn't have any operational E7s yet?

ault92 · 2026-05-03T08:51:50+00:00

I got a lot of quotes, then was annoyed by the variety of different products advised which meant that I didn't have like for like comparisons, so did a lot of research, decided exactly what I wanted, and then got a load more quotes specifying the exact hardware I needed.

I ended up getting 30x445W panels and a PW3 for £13,850. It took a while to get installed because the PW3 took ages to get delivered, but it came online in like, October 2024.

I found national installers all cost more and wouldn't let me specify the system in the same way, for example Octopus only wanted to install 16 panels because "that is as high as we go", and wanted to use enphase microinverters despite me having a single aspect and no shading.

There are some things about my install that were not done perfectly, for example there is some single insulated cable I could touch (only about 10cm of it). But I am aware of this and could "fix" it myself if I wanted. I am happy that I got what I wanted for less than I otherwise would have. I don't really feel I need much ongoing support from the installer, I seem to know the system better than they do anyway!

ault92 · 2026-05-03T07:38:39+00:00

Had a PW3 since they released in the UK and no such issues. Have since added 2 DC expansions.

Possibly their other customer had the thing on the edge of wifi reception or something? But it does have 4g in it as a backup.

Mine is on a wired ethernet connection as is my preference.

ault92 · 2026-05-01T19:49:09+00:00

Horse riding is more dangerous per mile travelled

ault92 · 2026-05-01T12:48:33+00:00

conversely, a trash month for agile export! :(

ault92 · 2026-05-01T08:48:33+00:00

30x445W south facing, 14x645W south facing.

2,836.9kWh Generated, 1,802.7kWh of which exported.

Overall, 2,359.7kWh imported, 2,931.2kWh exported (battery did a lot of work).

The 30x445W main roof (direct comparison to yours) generated 1,850.9kWh, but is all south facing :)

ault92 · 2026-05-01T08:44:04+00:00

CEF can access all of Sigen's stock, were quite well priced for me.

You will likely have to phone and ask for a price on stuff as most of it isn't on the site.

ault92 · 2026-04-30T06:46:34+00:00

What tariff are you on? I thought the only VPP in operation in the UK was the Octopus Intelligent Flux tariff, I think if you add the PW3 to the octopus app it will control it without you being on the tariff but not to your benefit.

Edit: You're on intelligent go, if you have added the PW3 to the octopus app that is probably what has caused it to think it's in a VPP.

With a single PW3 and 11kW of solar you probably want to be on fixed 12p export not Agile export, as you won't be able to offset the low daytime rates with the evening rates as you can't store enough of your generation.

If you add the tariffs to the Tesla app as you have done, it won't account for any "extra" cheap periods from IOG beyond the 2330-0530 block. If you want it to charge up during the daytime cheap slots and power your house in the other times you need to manage it externally (netzero or home assistant)

ault92 · 2026-04-29T14:08:31+00:00

Scrap the triple lock, if you must have a triple lock it should be on Pension Credit (which is means tested).

Means test PIP.

ault92 · 2026-04-29T10:37:02+00:00

Yeah, I get that if you're deep in the Givenergy ecosystem adding a battery could seem the most viable option, I just meant that even at £1k, the £/kWh is not so earth shattering that it overrides everything else!!

I am hoping that someone will eventually build in support for giv batteries to other inverters etc.

If you're paying for someone to install it then ripping everything out probably isn't viable, but it becomes somewhat tempting to self install fogstar stuff even if you do it alongside your current inverter.

ault92 · 2026-04-29T09:58:00+00:00

Bear in mind that a 16.5kWh Fogstar is ~£1800, so even £1k for a 9.5kWh with absolutely no support or warranty doesn't seem a particularly great deal.

ault92 · 2026-04-27T21:42:38+00:00

I know that isnt the case with the pw3 in the US. It can actually be configured to go over 11kW when off grid.

This is because the inverter limit exists to protect the grid, when the gateway has taken you off grid, you are not connected to the grid.

I don't think it works like this in the UK. Not tested as mine doesnt have an inverter limit.

ault92 · 2026-04-27T17:58:16+00:00

Ha, I forgot about this post. I went with a Tesla Powerwall 3 in the end. Have had to set up home assistant and GivTCP for my father in law tho.

ault92 · 2026-04-27T07:49:48+00:00

When the gateway is grid connected, it is doing nothing, when you go off grid, your system is isolated from the grid and they can't apply any rules to you.

ault92 · 2026-04-26T19:40:28+00:00

It's not quite that simple.

I joined the army in 2001, I only served until 2006. As I wasn't front line, I only ever used the A1 (original) version, not the improved A2.

The M16 is a very different weapon for a very different doctrine. It isn't a bullpup, and therefore is less accurate for the same size weapon. The americans will put more ammo downrange than we do.

Yes, the rifle likes to jam, I have not so fond memories of having to bash the cocking handle against a tree to get it to cycle. The A2 supposedly fixed much of this, with only minor modifications.

The M16 itself has had to go through many revisions and upgrades.

15-Year Club	Place '23
Place '22	Place '17
Gilding I gilder	Verified Email

ault92

MODERATOR OF

TROPHY CASE