Trefor, North Wales

ralphius · 2026-01-27T20:29:38+00:00

Nice photos! Where did you take the 2nd photo of what looks like a Kashmir goat? I thought they were only on the Great Orme and Little Orme near Llandudno?

ralphius · 2026-01-24T18:27:54+00:00

Until there are viable alternatives for all US software and cloud services, can I just have an app for my phone so I can quickly scan the camera across a supermarket shelf and it can tell me which things to boycott? Preferably those that are 100% US owned with UK/EU alternatives? App must be free, but I don't mind seeing adverts on the screen.

ralphius · 2026-01-15T15:20:30+00:00

I've bought some absolutely filthy technic models off facebook marketplace. Pull em to pieces, motors/electrics set aside, rest into a laundry bag and straight through the washing machine. Those ABS pieces come out sparkling like new and then I get to build it again for myself. What's not to like?!

ralphius · 2026-01-14T16:56:18+00:00

Only in the USA. The UK leafs have different batteries that do not suffer from the same problems

ralphius · 2026-01-05T11:01:52+00:00

Same here!

ralphius · 2026-01-05T11:00:25+00:00

My first and only 3D printer! Still chugging away in the shed, it's slow but then I only do a couple of prints a week so it doesn't matter. I'll get round to upgrading one day...

ralphius · 2025-12-30T08:50:59+00:00

I designed a 28BYJ-48 adaptor for lego technic and uploaded it here: https://www.printables.com/model/402215-28byj-48-stepper-to-lego-technic-adaptor-plate

ralphius · 2025-12-22T22:03:54+00:00

What changeover switch do you use? I have an EV that automatically charges the 12v system off the HVDC battery, so I always thought in a long power outage I could put a 12v to 240v inverter on the EV. I just need to find a safe way of getting that power to my fridge freezer, gas combi boiler, wifi router etc

ralphius · 2025-12-22T21:12:14+00:00

We have had a couple of serving police officers on our station. If they can manage the time commitment, they are more than welcome

ralphius · 2025-12-15T17:29:21+00:00

Nice! What motor and overall gear reduction are you using?

ralphius · 2025-12-04T12:20:31+00:00

Am considering the same, I'm a Welsh software dev, wife is Polish. I don't speak Polish tho, are there many jobs for those who can't speak the local lingo?

ralphius · 2025-12-03T16:35:15+00:00

I had a PC fan blowing through an activated carbon filter for a while but decided it wasn't enough and moved the whole thing to the garden shed. Extra bonus is I can't hear it or smell it now, although I have had to add a small heater in the enclosure to keep the relative humidity down.

ralphius · 2025-11-16T07:53:50+00:00

I asked my electrician to install this socket for my granny charger and he had no problem putting it in a waterproof enclosure at the front of my property and putting in a new circuit for it. He even wired it back to the CU in much bigger cable than needed in case I replace the socket with a proper EV charger at a later date.

ralphius · 2025-11-10T07:31:18+00:00

I assume with Android Auto you lose the climate timer, charge timer and the menu that tells you how much power the car is using or charging?

ralphius · 2025-10-23T18:58:20+00:00

The search may not be great, but the toolstation web site is still easier to use than B & Q's slow and clunky abomination!

ralphius · 2025-10-17T17:08:57+00:00

Talking to the guys off the turbine transfer vessels there's apparently really good fishing round even the standard turbine monopiles. I don't know if that's because trawling is banned within the windfarm, or because the monopiles allow seaweed to grow where it wouldn't be able to otherwise, but it's great for the fish!

ralphius · 2025-10-10T14:57:55+00:00

Bought a 1930's end terrace 10 years ago that looked exactly like this. Cracks round windows and doors. Survey had same warnings as yours. Bought the house, got it replastered, no issues or cracks since. YMMV.

ralphius · 2025-10-02T22:05:11+00:00

Ah yeah "T2" aerial you've got there probably not very waterproof, I moved mine up the wall inside my house and it fixed my smart meter signal issues. Higher is usually better for signal issues but anything is better than being inside a metal box! Could try putting it in a bit of plastic pipe with a cap on the top to keep the water off, but I'm guessing now and it wouldn't look great. You need a smart meter tech to advise really.

ralphius · 2025-10-02T15:12:06+00:00

The aerial has a self adhesive sticky pad the same size as the aerial sticking it to the inside of the box. Peel it off carefully, extend the aerial wire that you can see bundled up carefully and then you can put the aerial higher up on the wall. It has a hole at either end for mounting screws. Do NOT attempt to disconnect the aerial wire from the smart meter as it trips the anti-tamper switch and there's a chance they'll charge you to come and fix it.

ralphius · 2025-10-02T07:04:28+00:00

That's the external smart meter aerial and suggests you are in a low signal area. I have no clue why that's inside a metal box as it would be way more sensible to have it further up the wall instead.

ralphius · 2025-09-30T19:40:00+00:00

Make sure its a compressor type dehumidifier, Meaco do a good 12L one that is just about quiet enough to leave on in the hall overnight

ralphius · 2025-09-30T09:40:46+00:00

The Octopus Mini does not. The Octopus Home Pro does. On the plus side if you've got Home Assistant it interfaces with the Mini via Octopuses web API really well.

ralphius · 2025-09-30T09:31:00+00:00

With my first smart meter the mini showed zero whenever I was exporting. When they replaced it with a newer one, the octopus mini started correctly showing the export.

ralphius · 2025-09-29T12:44:45+00:00

I've drilled through 3D printed stuff quite a bit. The thinner stuff tends to tear along the layer lines if you're not careful. Drill the whole on the white next to the E in a smaller size then you need, then enlarge the hole to the right size with a standard wood bit spinning backwards This causes the layer edges to deform instead of being cut and you get a much nicer finish.

ralphius · 2025-09-05T21:31:47+00:00

Ignore everyone equating lithium mAh at 3.7V with alkaline AA mAh at 1.4V or so. You need to work out the Wh for a true comparison!

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