What Have You Fettled Today?

[lazybloke]

Just found a faulty design of 13am plug in my house.
They're often made of a really solid material (phenolic resin?) which is so rigid that if anything is misaligned inside, you physically can't screw the lid on.
Well not this plug, it's made of something resembling wet noodle, so when the live terminal wasn't quite seated correctly, screwing the lid on caused the live terminal to push over and almost touch the earth terminal.

I say "almost". Not close enough to cause an immediate short; in fact it worked perfectly.
But close enough to cause nuisance tripping of the RCD - multiple times in the last few weeks - usually in the middle of the night!

The first time, my son woke me up at 3am because "the internet had gone down". Priorities.
The lighting circuits are not on the RCD so still worked. My son demonstrated this by switching on 2,700 lumens of LEDs in my face. My eyes!

Anyway, all fixed now.

 

[N0bodyOfTheGoat]

Just found a faulty design of 13am plug in my house.

My better half bought a wood engraving tool off Amazon just before Xmas, the plug is absolutely shocking, quite possibly literally if you used it with supplied plug!

Tiny "clover leaf" shape that leaves pins dangerously close to the edges and doesn't look big enough to fit a standard UK fuse, told her it needs a proper BS plug fitted before the tool is given any trial run.

 

[DCLane]

The first time, my son woke me up at 3am because "the internet had gone down". Priorities.
The lighting circuits are not on the RCD so still worked. My son demonstrated this by switching on 2,700 lumens of LEDs in my face. My eyes!

Can I politely suggest that next time he wakes you at 3am with such an issue you advise him to fix it himself.

And I 'd be shutting internet access off after 10.30pm unless it's his job to be online at stupid o'clock.

 

[lazybloke]

Can I politely suggest that next time he wakes you at 3am with such an issue you advise him to fix it himself.

And I 'd be shutting internet access off after 10.30pm unless it's his job to be online at stupid o'clock.

He's neuro-diverse, doesn't understand social norms, and definitely doesn't keep to normal waking hours. He can work all night in his uni project!

 

[DCLane]

He's neuro-diverse, doesn't understand social norms, and definitely doesn't keep to normal waking hours. He can work all night in his uni project!

That makes more sense.

 

[fossyant]

He's neuro-diverse, doesn't understand social norms, and definitely doesn't keep to normal waking hours. He can work all night in his uni project!

Sort of explains my son's issues - he's only just been diagnosed with ADHD at 25. staying up all night on the internet etc etc. Didn't understand why this may be an issue for mum and dad who had to be up early. It's explained it now, but he's moved out recently, so it's bliss not getting disturbed sleep - it's taking time to adjust.

 

[roubaixtuesday]

Sort of explains my son's issues - he's only just been diagnosed with ADHD at 25. staying up all night on the internet etc etc. Didn't understand why this may be an issue for mum and dad who had to be up early. It's explained it now, but he's moved out recently, so it's bliss not getting disturbed sleep - it's taking time to adjust.

I have teenage relatives diagnosed with ADHD/ autism, and from my perspective, always on Internet 24/7 is incredibly damaging to them.

 

[fossyant]

Back on fettling. I've not used my Tacx T2240 smart turbo for a long time, certainly not since getting back to bike commuting after Covid.

Dug it out of the corner of the garage last March as part of fractured hip recovery (once the specialist said I could ride). Only used it 4 times before the real world beckoned (and I had no pain), but it was making a clicky/clack noise when on low 'magnetic' load - i.e. cycling 'virtually' down hill.

Just though it was because it was unused etc. Dug it out in the last week due to the icy roads, and it's a bit worse, so googled it. Turns out if the grey casing over the electronics/magnetic resistance unit isn't clipped together perfectly, it could be an issue. Comments said check it, and/or remove the mounting screw and check the fit of the two halves.

Hmm. Popped out to the garage, and looked at the 'housing', and lo and behold, the casing wasn't quite clicked together in one area. Pressed it so it clicked back in, and used it properly today. It's now quiet. I thought it might have been knackered as it was more an 'electronic' type click/clack.

 

[fossyant]

I have teenage relatives diagnosed with ADHD/ autism, and from my perspective, always on Internet 24/7 is incredibly damaging to them.

It is. We tried all the parental controls, even fitting smart sockets that I could lock him out of, but he'd always find a way round - this was as an adult as well - there was no 'reasoning', but it was unacceptable when the rest of us were working and it's a small house. Shocking time keeper as well. Fortunately, it's no-longer my problem, unless he moves back home.

 

[roubaixtuesday]

It is. We tried all the parental controls, even fitting smart sockets that I could lock him out of, but he'd always find a way round - this was as an adult as well - there was no 'reasoning', but it was unacceptable when the rest of us were working and it's a small house. Shocking time keeper as well. Fortunately, it's no-longer my problem, unless he moves back home.

Same experience my relatives have; a teenager will always find a way around, and being online all night every night is destructive to their wellbeing. Must be awful as a parent.

 

[VinSumRox]

Fitted a Cat-eye bar end mirror as a pal was using one. What an excellent and useful bit of kit, clear view behind and quite unobtrusive!

 

[Dadam]

Fitted a Cat-eye bar end mirror as a pal was using one. What an excellent and useful bit of kit, clear view behind and quite unobtrusive!

Is it the BM-45? That's my favourite one and I've tried a few. Work just as well on drop and flat bars.

 

[Dadam]

Not today but I put the studded tyres on the Giant hybrid last week in anticipation of an early Wednesday morning commute to the station for an on site meeting... which was duly cancelled due to the weather. So the mileage for these tyres, bought last year, has now reached the heady figure of 0.05 miles! Up and down the drive a couple of times to check the wheels were back on ok.

Yes I know you're supposed to run them in for about 40km before using them in anger... but I cba!

 

[VinSumRox]

Is it the BM-45? That's my favourite one and I've tried a few. Work just as well on drop and flat bars.

Yep

 

[lazybloke]

Same experience my relatives have; a teenager will always find a way around, and being online all night every night is destructive to their wellbeing. Must be awful as a parent.

My son was always something of a tech-addict, but has developed hobbies away from computers so am not too worried. His present middle of night work is because of his asd/adhd laser focus on his uni project; once he gets in the zone, he needs reminders to eat!

My daughter (same diagnoses) has even more time away from computers, thanks to many hobbies (drawing/painting, cooking, crochet and music).