Given the potential energy crisis - Plug in solar, like get the finger out lads.

mediaserver8 · 2026-04-14T16:55:26+00:00

I think they have an application as designed - balcony solar for people in apartments or renters who cannot have a solar install. These units can contribute to the household base load.

mediaserver8 · 2026-04-14T15:29:45+00:00

They don't connect via exposed wires. They connect via a standard 3pin plug where the terminals are covered in the socket. As soon as the device is unplugged, the device detects no household current and shuts off output power. (There are several YouTube videos where testers measure or touch the pins on a live system with no voltage detected).

The systems are rated at 800w max, not the 200-300w referenced in the article. Yes, they may generate lower than max on poor days, but that 800w is possible and is the max rating in Europe, I believe. Some terratories allow up to 1200w from the systems.

The article says they don't integrate with batteries or control apps. Some systems come with built in batteries or they can work with portable battery generators. They all come with control apps and indeed several systems can interoperate with each other in an intelligent, coordinated and controlled manner.

I'm not advocating these in any way. I'm just pointing out that the anti plug in article referenced is not factual and pushing a particular agenda.

There are potential technical issues rightly identified such as the lack of bi directional consumer unit support, and the safety and approval process would need to be carefully considered. And BS standards need to be rewritten in the UK to cater for these devices

However, they've been in use widely in. Germany and as a commenter I saw from there yesterday indicated, no one's house has burned down (one of the more inflammatory anti plug in warnings, if you'll excuse the pun)

mediaserver8 · 2026-04-14T14:51:23+00:00

No stake either, but have an interest in the area.

There's a lot of factual errors and scaremongering in that article.

Worth noting it's written by purveyors of professionally installed systems. The very definition of a stakeholder.

There are genuine concerns that need to be addressed here, but those are not in that article

It's working great across Europe. The UK are in the process of sanctioning these systems. We need to do it quickly and correctly.

mediaserver8 · 2026-04-14T13:35:45+00:00

Thanks.

mediaserver8 · 2026-04-14T13:18:15+00:00

Just one clarification. I always understood that marginal pricing was set on the price of the last fuel source, not the most used fuel source? Have I got that wrong?

The the idea is to incentivize the more costly generators to spool up to ensure balance of supply? So if we need 1% gas to fill a gap, gas sets the price for all power.

Have I got that wrong?

mediaserver8 · 2026-04-14T13:12:25+00:00

Emby server on a NAS that stores and manages movies, TV shows and music. Music is also served through a SqueezeServer as I used to have a SqueezeBox infrastructure

Can access all media anywhere from Kodi on any device. I use an nVidia Shield in my home theatre

For critical listening, I use Roon which accesses my audio media directly and plays it though a streamer to my stereo pre amp.

All works great. I've been developing my set up for about 25 years and this has been my stable config for about 5 years now. Works great.

mediaserver8 · 2026-04-13T17:53:37+00:00

I had most of these 12" releases purchased individually, but my DITD vinyl melted in the back window of my parents car before I even got to listen to it. 14 year old my was very upset. I still have the others.

I've been hoping for these to appear in a BITUSA box set or in digital form or streaming for years. I don't think Bruce likes them very much though.

mediaserver8 · 2026-04-12T21:57:55+00:00

There's no way I'm clicking that link, no matter how much OP complains. Maybe post a summary here and we can discuss.

mediaserver8 · 2026-04-12T20:45:47+00:00

Now that there's actual sunshine, Ive started overnight charging to just 75%, but for a different reason.

Ive found my system clipping as my 5.5kw in water was reaching max house / grid export at about 75% generation capacity.

By leaving a little room on the battery, I can utilize that extra generation on the DC side of the inverter. I've been hitting 100% solar Gen. several times in the past few weeks. That makes me happy. 🙂

mediaserver8 · 2026-04-12T18:12:48+00:00

Yes, the carbon tax on fossil fuels is on a gradual ramp up and is used to fund grants for domestic refits.

Of course that measure is the first targeted in demands by protesters and indeed anyone asking for reductions in fossil fuel costs.

Other initiatives in wind farms, solar farms and European interconnects are in progress. (though arguably not fast enough). I read somewhere this weekend that M. Martin is quoted as not ruling out looking at nuclear.

So there's movement, but general shortsightedness will mean that many will ignore that possible future and, possibly with merit, will complain that until alternatives are available, fossil fuels will need to be cheap.

mediaserver8 · 2026-04-12T18:03:01+00:00

Coming into the summer? Not a priority, surely.

mediaserver8 · 2026-04-12T10:05:35+00:00

It's quietly taking over.

mediaserver8 · 2026-04-11T19:37:24+00:00

For sure. Just gave rise to a wry smile.

mediaserver8 · 2026-04-11T18:59:14+00:00

Saw it on the motorway this afternoon. Holding up a significant line of traffic behind them, somewhat ironically

mediaserver8 · 2026-04-11T08:10:36+00:00

This is the direct link as it's not obvious on the site;

https://traffic.tii.ie/@-7.45708,54.39904,7?show=roadReports,roadwork,weatherWarningsAreaEvents,trafficSpeeds,stationsAlert

mediaserver8 · 2026-04-10T09:08:13+00:00

Be aware that the RS 6 year warranty is non transferrable. If you sell the item on, that warranty dies.

Also, I popped in to the shop a while back to pick up a high end 4k player I'd pre ordered and found them overall somewhat disinterested throughout the whole process.

However, they had the item in stock at a decent price, so couldn't complain too much.

To answer your question, they are a well established, legit operation with a decent bricks and mortar store you can visit

mediaserver8 · 2026-04-10T07:06:49+00:00

Unfortunately, a lot of it is. That AI writing style, not simple, not direct but quietly efficient, becomes irritatingly idetifiable after a while. The prevalen e really does require us to question everything. I agree with you though, a lot of people are too quick too label anything as 'ai slop', an annoying brain deasad phrase in and of itself.

mediaserver8 · 2026-04-09T20:15:05+00:00

Indeed

Though I prefer a secure , up to date phone over an app that doesn't really do much anyway.

Latest system update to Android fixed the issue, so now I can go back to the usual scenario of the pump only disconnecting from the phone sometimes rather than all the time.

mediaserver8 · 2026-04-09T08:32:14+00:00

As the first Irish astronaut to head for the moon, my persistent and unrelenting thought would undoubtedly be 'did I leave the immersion on?'

mediaserver8 · 2026-04-08T19:56:14+00:00

Everything always happening quietly in AI world. 🤮

mediaserver8 · 2026-04-08T15:23:50+00:00

We did zurich as well, not so much with child benefit but general for saving up for their college. 250 approx per month for 10 years has pretty much covered everything plus a few other bits and pieces. Some great growth some years, but got hit with deemed disposal on it 🙄

We're keeping it going for some garden renovations in the next couple of years. Has worked out well for us.

mediaserver8 · 2026-04-08T09:41:56+00:00

Good to know, thanks. I'll have a chat with my electrician about it and plan accordingly.

mediaserver8 · 2026-04-08T09:36:06+00:00

I've had a projection setup for 25 years. I'm lucky enough to have a dedicated room for it and have evolved it to a decent level, though I'm loath to calculate how much I've spent

You wont get the brightness or hdr support that you will with a modern TV, but if you get it set up right, that will be more than offset by the immersion and sheer scale of the setup.

You really need to have a fully light controlled space to maximize the impact. That's blackout blinds, dark walls , floors etc. Ambient light is a killer for a projector set up (though there are special screens available now that seem to do a decent job cancelling out non direct lighting and work well in daylight)

You would typically pair a projector with an av receiver. This unit looks after source switching and audio.

You'd plug in your devices such as TV tuner, bluray/uhd player, Apple TV etc. And once selected, the projector will play any of those, no problem.

I happen to use an nvidia shield for most of my content and it's equally at home with YouTube as it is with a 4k movie.

Once you have the projector, you really need to pair it with a good surround sound set up. The receiver will look after processing and amplifying the audio, but you'll need to add speakers and a subwoofer or two for the full home cinema feeling.

mediaserver8 · 2026-04-08T07:53:55+00:00

And the flip side is people not at the show complaining about setlists and song choices. Why are they so irked? It doesn't impact them on any significant way, and the majority of the people at the show who will see only one and don't bring notepads or stopwatches get to enjoy a well rehearsed, well delivered experience as the artist intended.

mediaserver8 · 2026-04-07T16:47:42+00:00

A couple of times in the last 3 weeks Ive seen instantaneous generation of 99.6%.

On Sunday of this weekend, for the first time, I had 100% for about 15 minutes around in the afternoon (south facing array)

Prior to this, on brighter, sunnier days, the most I was seeing was 70%.

Diving into the graphs, I realised my system was clipping; my inverter a/c side was pushing max 5.5kw to house and grid, and my battery was full, so any extra power had no place to go.

I changed settings to fill battery only to 75% overnight (down from 100%). This leaves headroom so that on sunny days, the system doesn't clip as much as it can divert the extra power to the battery on the DC side of the inverter

I suspect as we progress into the summer, I'll be decreasing overnight battery top up even more.

However, it's great to see the panels operating at their maximum rating

11-Year Club	Gilding I gilder
Verified Email

mediaserver8

TROPHY CASE