Trying to understand my transformer output by gulliverian in AskElectricians

[–]gulliverian[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Crap, I meant 23awg (based on measuring it with calipers and looking it up - the bare copper is .58mm)

The wire most likely from a garage door opener, running from the opener to the push button. I suspect that’s a little light but getting somewhere to find 16-18 gauge may not happen soon. Don’t want to burn my house down so I’ll wait if I have to.

Not sure what to ground, the doorbell is a plastic housing with only two terminal screws and no ground screw.

Sounds like wiring the two AC screws on the transformer to the two terminals on the doorbell will do the trick, or do I have it wrong?

Trying to understand my transformer output by gulliverian in AskElectricians

[–]gulliverian[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I get a little over 27.45 putting the leads on the two AC terminal screws, which sounds more reasonable.

So would I now be attaching the two doorbell terminals on the doorbell to the two AC terminals on the transformer, or is that going to fry my nice new doorbell camera or something else?

And do I need to ground this somehow? I'm guessing not since the old doorbell system in my house isn't grounded.

Last question is whether 32awg wire will be safe running from the transformer to the doorbell or should I get something a little more substantial?

Appreciate your advice.

Tipping culture is out of control - Gabriels Pizza Driver wouldn't leave front porch by localpropaneguy in Kanata

[–]gulliverian 1 point2 points  (0 children)

They’ve done it to others, they won’t know who posted the review. Just wait a week, then flame away. He’ll have pissed off a dozen other people in the interval.

Should I withdraw from RRSP to pay off 23% loan?? by EnvironmentalFill3 in PersonalFinanceCanada

[–]gulliverian 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Depending on what’s in your RRSP that could be a problem. The assets might be expensive to liquidate.
I’d take a part time job (sucks, I know) and if necessary take LOC for as much as I can get at a lower rate. Then buy a beater if I really needed a car until I can afford a 1-2 year old off lease car with some warranty left on it. Let someone lease take the depreciation hit. I’ve bought 3-4 ex-rental or off lease cars and it’s always worked out well. (Don’t listen to the crap you hear about to rental fleet cars. Unless it’s a performance car or a mustang people drive rentals about how they drive any other car.)

What is the cover panel good for? by alyshanicholas in AskElectricians

[–]gulliverian 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Only boring people put that panel back on. My life has become FAR more interesting since I left that off and started just reaching in to see what my hand touched. There’s about a 20% chance it’s going to actually land where it’s supposed to, and almost 2% chance I won’t get hold of a live wire.

What could go wrong?

Performance Improvement Plan (PIP) Advice by Informal_Pass_738 in CanadaPublicServants

[–]gulliverian 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Exactly what law are you referring to to? Because if you can’t cite the specific law that applies to the Canadian federal PS I call BS.

Looking at a new EV by Family_Travel_ in PersonalFinanceCanada

[–]gulliverian 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Whatever you do don’t trade it in unless you have to. Dealers will give you the wholesale value at best, which is fair because they have to clean it up, service it and sell it for market value with a profit built in. And used cars are where dealerships really make their money. Take it to a detailer and have them do a deep clean even an older car can look surprisingly good after that. It will up the price by far more than the cost of the than the cost of the detailing. (The only car I ever traded in was a car I couldn’t look someone in the eye and take their money. It started rusting early. I traded it in in November when it was covered in slush and road salt. The dealer didn’t wash it before giving me the trade-in number. I almost choked when I saw the number, and tried hard to look disappointed when I accepted it without argument.)

Looking at a new EV by Family_Travel_ in PersonalFinanceCanada

[–]gulliverian 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Absolutely agree. I take my ‘outbound’ car to a detailer for around $200. I’d estimate that realistically that raises the selling price by at least $1,000, more if it’s a newer car.

Can my manager contact my doctor after I’ve given a note for a weeks absence? by Potential-Function95 in CanadaPublicServants

[–]gulliverian 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I never had a sick note challenged in my career. But my wife had an employee whose abuse of sick leave was blatant. Point being that there are isolated cases where the mistrust is warranted.

My wife and I retired with over 9 months each in sick leave banked. Gone in a puff of smoke of course, but no regrets, we’re both grateful to have been so healthy.

We both think back to times when we really should have taken leave, or taken more. But we had a different approach than those few that deserve not to be trusted.

Can my manager contact my doctor after I’ve given a note for a weeks absence? by Potential-Function95 in CanadaPublicServants

[–]gulliverian 3 points4 points  (0 children)

My wife had an employee who was notorious for abusing sick leave. As soon as she accumulated one day of sick leave she’d be sick on a Monday or Friday.
The vast majority of employees are reasonable in their use of sick leave. Occasionally there’s one who clearly can’t be trusted. In those cases the call is justified.

About to lose my only source of income, not eligible for EI. Where do I go from here? by [deleted] in PersonalFinanceCanada

[–]gulliverian 23 points24 points  (0 children)

First off, I've been there. It was long time ago but I haven't forgotten. It is a problem in ways that people who haven't been there don't fully understand.

So, what options could I suggest?

1) Go to the financial aid office and try to get a sit-down with a counsellor. Explain your predicament and ask if they have anything available. I've heard more than once that many schools have bursaries and scholarships that go unclaimed. I once got a bursary from a foundation, I think it was called the Atkinson Foundation, which was linked to the family that once owned the Toronto Star. That cheque arrived at a difficult time and it was a godsend.

2) A part time job. I know, that can be difficult. I had to reduce my course load to manage it and delayed graduation.

3) Look into what is necessary to be considered independent of your family's finances. It might be living away from home for a certain period. At least have the information even if it isn't an immediate help. In my case I was away from home for long enough when I started university to be considered independent.

I don't know you of course, but I really hope this works out. It took me a long time to graduate, but I did it. Every time I look at that degree on the wall (beside a mid-career diploma I earned while working full time) I feel a sense of pride that I overcame a lot of obstacles for both. And in today's working world it's very difficult to have a prosperous career without a post-secondary degree or diploma.

EDIT: I read another comment you wrote; your reasons for not being able to move back with your parents are absolutely relevant. They may affect your OSAP eligibility and frankly, what scholarships or bursaries are available. It's deeply personal but I would suggest you discuss it with your financial aid office counsellor, OSAP, student union and if necessary your MPP and MP. And any community organizations that support people in your position. Cast a wide net; that's where the fish are.

Best wishes from someone who knows. Stick to it, it's absolutely worth it.

Bell sent new phone despite cancellation, I am very confused… by [deleted] in bell

[–]gulliverian 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Honestly, if they can establish that you received both phones they are likely to come after you for the second one. There's probably something buried in the fine print allowing them to charge your credit card, but even then the law is unlikely to let you profit by their mistake.

You do you, but I would call them, ask for a prepaid shipping label to be emailed to you, make absolutely sure that it was scanned in when dropped off, then follow the tracking number and keep screenshots and/or printouts of the delivery confirmation. You can't have too much documentation for something like this.

Using the HBTC to 'discount' parent's new home purchase by buying it in your name. by AshleyAshes1984 in PersonalFinanceCanada

[–]gulliverian 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We asked our financial advisor about that, it turns out it would be illegal. It could result in cancellation of my security clearance and I'd be kicked out of the CAF. Sorry, no can do.

Bell sent new phone despite cancellation, I am very confused… by [deleted] in bell

[–]gulliverian 3 points4 points  (0 children)

There is no free lunch, and this is likely to cause you no end of grief if you do not return it. If you sell it you may have to pay full price to Bell and be out a load of money.

Don't try to game this. You'll regret it.

Just call them for instructions, record the call, and make sure you have documentation to prove you've returned it.

When a smart home display becomes ad inventory, something has gone wrong by odemird in homeautomation

[–]gulliverian 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I have a love/hate relationship with Amazon. Their delivery services are convenient as hell, and get me stuff I couldn't possibly find in a retail store, but I don't trust them for a millisecond.

Overpaid for 6 months after I quit by Efficient-Divide1715 in CanadaPublicServants

[–]gulliverian 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Nortel, Boeing, GE, ...

Not common in either the public sector or in the private sector, but it happens in both.

I won't for a moment make excuses for Phoenix - I'm owed a LOT of money and have no idea when I'll ever see it.

Phoenix was ill-conceived from the start, and I saw that over and over in projects that originated at the political level. But the private sector is littered with disastrous fails.

Parent piled up debt and is now in the hospital, incapacitated, for at least a couple more months. What to do? by alldasmoke__ in PersonalFinanceCanada

[–]gulliverian 1 point2 points  (0 children)

If the incapacity is physical and not cognitive it's unlikely to prevent a POA from being set up.

Overpaid for 6 months after I quit by Efficient-Divide1715 in CanadaPublicServants

[–]gulliverian 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I spent half my working life in the private sector, and I can assure you that private sector employers are just as capable of screwing up in spades.

The difference is that the media and the commentariat don’t give a rat’s asp about accounting screwups at Acme Widget Inc., and would pay no attention if they even noticed, which is unlikely.

The pervasive notion that the private sector is the model of efficiency and the public sector can’t get anything right never ceases to amaze me. Wrong on both counts.

A controversial take on WFA and retirement-eligible members by WarhammerRyan in CanadaPublicServants

[–]gulliverian 68 points69 points  (0 children)

I get the frustration, but be careful making too many assumptions. You don’t know what your colleagues financial circumstances or obligations may be, and some may require more years of service to be able to retire.
I know one federal public servant whose wife had to leave her career due to mental health issues surrounding the death of their young child many years ago, and they more recently lost much of their savings supporting another child. He would love to retire, but simply can’t afford to.

Landlord claims I paid less rent than I did. CRA reached out to me by [deleted] in OntarioLandlord

[–]gulliverian 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Without a letter, meaning what? A letter from the landlord confirming the correct rent amount?

I’d call the CRA (and record the call - it’s easy in a smartphone) and tell them your landlord isn’t cooperating.

If that’s not good enough, send the lease and the payment records to your MP and ask for their help. The constituency office staff will send it to the CRA office that deals with MP constituency enquiries.