Nick Jones Posted May 5, 2024 Author Posted May 5, 2024 2 hours ago, Nick Jones said: Back on this...... took my brave pills and measured the high voltage bit. 340v DC present, though seems to be polarity reversed - ie with red probe on the + DMM indicates - voltage....... Anyhoo... seems that bit works. Onwards... So, measuring downstream in the LV area shows that the 12.4v rail is present but oscillating between 12.3 and 13.2v every couple of seconds. The 1.5v output that powers the clock display, remote receiver and on/off switch is not present. The 12v and 5v rails are not either but I think that is because they are switched off. Not sure I’m going to win this one….
Escadrille Ecosse Posted May 5, 2024 Posted May 5, 2024 1 hour ago, JohnD said: Ah, the cesspit, the archaeologist's favourite! Why do archaeological cess pits matter? - University of Birmingham "This approach is the opposite of the practice in the United States were latrine pits are often investigated in deep archaeological and historical detail." Love the apparent total absence of facetious tone in this, especially in the use of the word 'deep'. He obviously grew up - unlike yours truly 2 hours ago, Nick Jones said: 340v DC present Like old CRT tellys - always slightly daunting
Nick Jones Posted May 5, 2024 Author Posted May 5, 2024 2 hours ago, Nick Jones said: So, measuring downstream in the LV area shows that the 12.4v rail is present but oscillating between 12.3 and 13.2v every couple of seconds. The 1.5v output that powers the clock display, remote receiver and on/off switch is not present. The 12v and 5v rails are not either but I think that is because they are switched off. Not sure I’m going to win this one…. Well....... can report success - but not exactly how achieved. I've been messing with capacitors - desoldering, testing and refitting. All have actually measured fine. I've actually changed 3 x 680 uF/25v for 10v versions, partly because the circuit diagram calls for 6v and 10v is closer and partly because I actually had them and they fit better. I've changed these before - I guess the 25v are what I could get at the time. Most likely fix was curing a bad joint. The board tracks are very delicate in a couple of places and I had issues last time. I had bigger issues this time, causing the need for a more creative repair. It's not pretty.... but..... The display seems even dimmer than before (which I thought was usually blamed on PSU capacitors) but all voltages measure as they should now (slightly high side if anything) and the internet basically says "they all do this sir". Old age (it's probably 20 years old) and parts NLA...... I'm calling it a win. Thanks to Ian and Rob for the encouragement, especially Rob @DeTRacted for finding the manual, which was a huge help! 1
PeteStupps Posted May 7, 2024 Posted May 7, 2024 On 5/5/2024 at 4:26 PM, Nick Jones said: can report success - but not exactly how achieved Definite win but probably less satisfying without definite diagnosis. Must admit I was confused reading this, as I thought it was in relation to the Saniflow! Wondering what the display would be for.... but it's a DVD player 1
Nick Jones Posted May 7, 2024 Author Posted May 7, 2024 1 hour ago, PeteStupps said: Must admit I was confused reading this, as I thought it was in relation to the Saniflow! Wondering what the display would be for.... but it's a DVD player Apparently my household is infested with poorly appliances serving a wide range of purposes…… Actually I think everything is currently working. Temporary state of affairs no doubt….. plenty of seriously decaying outbuildings to steal my time though.
RedRooster Posted May 7, 2024 Posted May 7, 2024 On 5/5/2024 at 3:16 PM, Escadrille Ecosse said: "This approach is the opposite of the practice in the United States were latrine pits are often investigated in deep archaeological and historical detail." Love the apparent total absence of facetious tone in this, especially in the use of the word 'deep'. He obviously grew up - unlike yours truly Like old CRT tellys - always slightly daunting We used to turn the lights out when we grounded them, better to see the big spark
Nick Jones Posted May 13, 2024 Author Posted May 13, 2024 Watching a DVD (The Martian, obviously) using my mended player 2
Escadrille Ecosse Posted May 13, 2024 Posted May 13, 2024 Having scienced the shit out of that video recorder would expect nothing less... 2
Escadrille Ecosse Posted June 19, 2024 Posted June 19, 2024 Internet packed in Monday lunchtime. Router not connecting to BT. Did all the suggested stuff which did nothing. Had to call them on the mobile as we no longer have a separate phone line in these here parts. Long wait and repeat the tests I'd already done and diagnosis is failed router. Given the history of our connection I was unconvinced but nothing else for it but to wait for the replacement to be delivered. Arrived this afternoon and as suspected still no dice. Back on the phone and BT advise they need to send an engineer to check the connection in the house. First appointment, next Wednesday afternoon! So on to amazon to order a SIM router and data SIM card from Smarty. Meanwhile there is only so much my phone hotspot can do 1
JohnD Posted June 19, 2024 Posted June 19, 2024 (edited) When my email was hijacked, BT were most helpful! Not their website - which was useless - but their Email Team, phone number 0808 100 6778. While on the phone to them the guy said that he could tell there was a line problem, quite apart from the scamming barstewards. He arranged a technician to visit, who used an extraordinary device - to me any way- that was like radar! "The problem's not in your house" he said, " it's 63 metres away!" And he followed the line back, found a junction box in the field opposite, and fixed it! Broadband from 10 to 60 whatever-they-ares! John Edited June 19, 2024 by JohnD
Escadrille Ecosse Posted June 19, 2024 Posted June 19, 2024 (edited) Yup. Pinpointing the location of cable faults is pretty basic stuff they've been doing almost since the invention of the telegraph. Just modern tech allows it to be done remotely. And the local Openreach engineer who has been a couple of times in the past is excellent. And the girl I spoke to today who remotely diagnosed the issue at the termination in the house promised to try and arrange an earlier visit if one became available. And in respect of line service (rather than cable) I am pretty sure BT are as good as you're going to get. However as they say past performance is no guarantee of future results and regardless of how things previously went for you or me, still don't have an appointment before next Wednesday afternoon. Hence the purchase of the SIM backup. Edited June 19, 2024 by Escadrille Ecosse
DeTRacted Posted June 19, 2024 Posted June 19, 2024 (edited) That device 'like radar' is a time domain reflectometer. Basically you send a pulse down the cable and it reflects from any changes in cable impedance. The velocity of propagation in a cable is about 0.7c so by measuring the time taken for the pulse to reflect you can tell where the problem is and the size of the reflection corresponds to how bad the mismatch is. I've also had line problems today but much more basic. The landline just went dead. Investigation showed the fault to be up in my loft where an open-reach tech had made a joint using insulation displacement 'jelly crimps' . Neither had been crimped properly and the wires were no longer connecting. Pliers soon cured that. Edited June 19, 2024 by DeTRacted
PaulAA Posted June 20, 2024 Posted June 20, 2024 13 hours ago, Escadrille Ecosse said: So on to amazon to order a SIM router and data SIM card from Smarty. Meanwhile there is only so much my phone hotspot can do I had a relatively expensive and not altogether reliable cable connection in the office, which I replaced some years ago with a T-Mobile GSM router. It served reasonably well, rarely if ever failed, and delivered about 30 Mbps symetrical. Then the router died and I replaced it with some Chinese tat (Xiaomi), which didn't work and proved to have crapulous after-sales service, so I succumbed to the 5G sales blather and now have T-Mobile's 5G router and aerial. This gives me 150 Mbps (assymetrical) on a good day, and 20 Mbps on a bad day. There are definitely more bad days than good days. Meanwhile, I don't pay for 5G service on my iphone, but in the same location, it consistently gives me 250 Mbps. It just gets a little hot if i use it as a... hot spot. I realise that this information is of absolutely no value, except to say that, in my isolated and unconnected case, a SIM card is better than a cable. I think I'm going to offer my canvassing skills to Reform...
JohnD Posted June 20, 2024 Posted June 20, 2024 11 hours ago, DeTRacted said: That device 'like radar' is a time domain reflectometer. Basically you send a pulse down the cable and it reflects from any changes in cable impedance. The velocity of propagation in a cable is about 0.7c so by measuring the time taken for the pulse to reflect you can tell where the problem is and the size of the reflection corresponds to how bad the mismatch is. So it IS 'like radar'! But from my POV, "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic", Arthur C. Clarke, "Profiles of the Future"
thebrookster Posted June 20, 2024 Posted June 20, 2024 Pleasantly surprised this last week. I was carrying out some maintenance on the MTB, when I discovered a rather worrying split in part of the frame! It wasn't immediately obvious as it underneath the upper rear suspension arm, and I honestly thought this would effectively be a "write-off". However, I saw that Merida have a warranty on their frames, albeit one that only applies to the original owner. I'm the second owner, and the bike is a 2018 model. It does still however retail second hand at around the £1k mark, so I was loath to simply cast it away. I found a bike shop in Bridge of Weir who are an authorised dealer, and dropped it off with them. Couple of days ago I get a phone call from them, Merida have the section in question, only issue is it is a different colour! Well, as far I am concerned the colour ain't gonna make my riding any worse, so I said okay. Price? £40 quid, plus postage! So a) the bike survives a while longer, and b) probably the cheapest fix going these days! Fair enough, that doesn't include the bike shops costs for working on it, but I'm still pretty happy. Phil 1
Escadrille Ecosse Posted June 20, 2024 Posted June 20, 2024 (edited) 6 hours ago, PaulAA said: I think I'm going to offer my canvassing skills to Reform... Paul, your display of honesty wouldn't go down well with the mob of liars and swindlers trying to bluff their way into office. Meanwhile the TP Link router has arrived. The promised 4G SIM still apparently in transit @thebrookster result Edited June 20, 2024 by Escadrille Ecosse 1
Escadrille Ecosse Posted June 30, 2024 Posted June 30, 2024 An update on my broadband issues. After it just stopped working my first call to BT diagnosed a failed router and a new one sent out. That arrived a couple of days later but didn't work either. My second call to BT the diagnosis was a line fault in the house which would require a BT (actually EE) engineer to come out. First appointment was a week away. He came round, listened to what I had to say and pretty quickly suggested that the problem was in the local cabinet not at the house. Either a failed component or 'finger trouble' by someone doing work in there at the time I got cut off. He did his standard tests for the records and then handed things over to Openreach for the 'outside' stuff. Two days later a pair of engineers arrived and sure enough someone working in the cabinet had disconnect my line. Back on line in 20 minutes. Apparently this is not an uncommon issue. The 4G router did a fair job while all this was going on. The main issue being that the 4G signal in our area is not that good (quite a lot of Glasgow is a bit average) and combined with the the thick stone walls of the house made things rather slow. As for 5G...
RedRooster Posted June 30, 2024 Posted June 30, 2024 3 hours ago, Escadrille Ecosse said: omeone working in the cabinet had disconnect my line. Back on line in 20 minutes. Apparently this is not an uncommon issue. Known as a condutor air gap in the trade 1
Escadrille Ecosse Posted June 30, 2024 Posted June 30, 2024 2 hours ago, RedRooster said: Known as a condutor air gap in the trade
Nick Jones Posted July 5, 2024 Author Posted July 5, 2024 The MiL, nemesis to domestic appliances, has struck again….. This is (was!) the element from her fan oven. Worst I’ve seen by a wide margin. Oven was covered in mineral dust. Ordered a new element but have concerns about the thermostat too… If you are wondering why the earth leakage trip didn’t pop (as I was), it’s because there isn’t one…
Escadrille Ecosse Posted July 5, 2024 Posted July 5, 2024 56 minutes ago, Nick Jones said: If you are wondering why the earth leakage trip didn’t pop (as I was), it’s because there isn’t one… Impressive degree of self destruction.
Nick Jones Posted July 8, 2024 Author Posted July 8, 2024 On 7/5/2024 at 6:59 PM, Escadrille Ecosse said: Impressive degree of self destruction It is. Irritatingly, having traipsed all the to Taunton and back (in pissing rain) to fit a new element, I now know that the element took the thermostat with it. It transpires that the (leaf) contact spring in the thermostat is in the current path and has been overheated and annealed by the excessive current. Possibly an intentional design feature. In hindsight I suppose I’m not that surprised. Disappointed though.
RogerH Posted July 9, 2024 Posted July 9, 2024 So you need to fit a new elephant Hmm - big oven. Roger
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