fossyant
Ride It Like You Stole It!
- Location
- South Manchester
Wet one here !
My SIL and husband have an electrical shop locally, so we try and support them when we need stuff, but it's usually much more expensive, even with family discount, than B&Q/Wickes. Except it usually ends up double...
christmas lights - OK at best you are lucky to get a season from them, but every set we've bought from them have lasted just one season. Feature light for our landing - it's an 8 shade suspended light, lovely, but either the bulbs kept blowing, or they'd developed an intermittent fault. I managed to cure it by investing in a load of LED bulbs that not only cut power, but also heat, which was causing the faults.
Latest has been an LED daylight roof 'worklight' panel for MrsF's sewing 'understairs' area. Gave the business to BIL who sourced various parts and handed to me - no obvious wiring instructions. The LED driver was massive, really only suitable for office environments where you've got to drive numerous lights, not one. After spending ages getting the wiring sorted, the bloody things switching is too sensitive. Press on, press again to dim, press to stop, press again to brighten etc. Except the switch isn't sensitive enough and it just won't switch off. Roll on a couple of months and MrsF is getting hissed off with it.
Can you sort it she said ! YOU need to speak to BIL (oh great - you bought it). Tried to go back to 'on/off only' and it just won't work. Went to Homebase, bought a similar LED panel light, that actually looks much nicer, and fitted it in 10 minutes, no messing. Cost half the amount of the one BIL gave us and works. Since tested the light/driver in the garage and it's knackered. In the bin it will go. Can't really take it back as he always sends everything out with 'TESTED' certificates (including bulbs !), and they can't really afford to have stuff back as it's a tiny shop.
I think, for the sake of our pockets, I'm going to buy from B&Q etc, at least 'returns' don't pull at your heart strings.
Shame, but it always ends up costing us double !
My SIL and husband have an electrical shop locally, so we try and support them when we need stuff, but it's usually much more expensive, even with family discount, than B&Q/Wickes. Except it usually ends up double...
christmas lights - OK at best you are lucky to get a season from them, but every set we've bought from them have lasted just one season. Feature light for our landing - it's an 8 shade suspended light, lovely, but either the bulbs kept blowing, or they'd developed an intermittent fault. I managed to cure it by investing in a load of LED bulbs that not only cut power, but also heat, which was causing the faults.
Latest has been an LED daylight roof 'worklight' panel for MrsF's sewing 'understairs' area. Gave the business to BIL who sourced various parts and handed to me - no obvious wiring instructions. The LED driver was massive, really only suitable for office environments where you've got to drive numerous lights, not one. After spending ages getting the wiring sorted, the bloody things switching is too sensitive. Press on, press again to dim, press to stop, press again to brighten etc. Except the switch isn't sensitive enough and it just won't switch off. Roll on a couple of months and MrsF is getting hissed off with it.
Can you sort it she said ! YOU need to speak to BIL (oh great - you bought it). Tried to go back to 'on/off only' and it just won't work. Went to Homebase, bought a similar LED panel light, that actually looks much nicer, and fitted it in 10 minutes, no messing. Cost half the amount of the one BIL gave us and works. Since tested the light/driver in the garage and it's knackered. In the bin it will go. Can't really take it back as he always sends everything out with 'TESTED' certificates (including bulbs !), and they can't really afford to have stuff back as it's a tiny shop.
I think, for the sake of our pockets, I'm going to buy from B&Q etc, at least 'returns' don't pull at your heart strings.
Shame, but it always ends up costing us double !

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