The moaning old git thread

[Brockett]

Back in November (18th) I arranged with OVO to have my "smart meter" changed because since May 2022 it had not connected with OVO and I had to provide reading via the website. The engineers are due to arrive Tuesday next (10th) to change the meter. However, OVO now report the meter has been giving up to date readings since 24th December.  Is this a problem with OVO that has now been fixed? Is it the local mobile phone signal strength  which has been boosted? Has the meter been sulking  and has got over whatever upset it?
Who knows. OVO don't know and the company that fits the smart meter don't know.  I have been told to ask the engineer when he arrives. Modern times eh! the only people we can talk to are clueless as to how it all works. 

[2112]

Most of the meter operators in the UK have been having issues with smart meters. One of my colleagues has had his 6th (yes, 6th) smart meter fitted and it's still not communicating properly! So many issues it would take several pages to list but a few well known ones are - Poor signal capture, poor signal transmission, electronic interference, magnetic interference and it goes on and on. It's hard to believe it was hastily rolled out with very little testing really ?

[Ianmc]

     I refused to have a “smart” meter fitted some years ago when my provider said I “had” to have one.The main reason was that they could not tell me who provided the power to send the readings back several times a day, me or them.I know who it would have been.... “me !! “
    I send meter readings monthly via the providers website and get a bill for that month after about 10 minutes,I can easily change the amount of the direct debit they take on the same website.Simples.

[Brockett]

The Smart Meter technician came today. He agreed with me the meter is now working  properly and does not need to be changed. The most likely problem was an interuption of supply, probably just a brief outage which went unnoticed. Although a minor problem it could have upset the meter's synchronisation so that it could not 'send' when consumption data was requested. The system could have self corrected during December having been thrown out of balance back in May.

[StromGeeza]

In defence of smart meters, so long as they work, they are pretty.... smart. Ours has even made us a few quid as we get   paid to shift usage away from the peak on occasion (its not obligatory). And even if the coms cost a few pence to talk to base each year, I value my time more not doing unpaid admin for the utility companies taking and sending readings each month.
But each to his or her own.

[Brockett]

Yes. The prospect of off peak rates is the reason I want mine to regularly sent data to OVO.  Sad me for keeping a daily record of meter readings on a spreadsheet that calculates the KWHs and costs for both gas and electricity. ( it's what I do instead of going to work)

[2112]

It's the sort of thing I do as work, but on a much larger scale.

[Brockett]

Watching a DVD about Mike Hailwood and the sound of the engine is reduced to be replaced by some non descript pseudo rock muzak.   I am so ticked off because it shows that the producer has no idea that the sound of a racing internal combustion engine is the only music I want to hear.
"Duke" DVDs did that and I so I don't buy them.

[V-Twin]

So I wanted 4 new plastic feet for my folding hop up folding platform.
Couldn't find any anywhere. So I sent an email to ProDec to ask them where I could get them.

Their reply was "Unfortunately we don’t provide them and never have done for the work stands.  It’s not quite as simple as sliding an old one off and a new one on, the feet are riveted to the leg so there is risk for damage to the leg in making the change".

My return reply was, "Hello Niamh, and thank you for your reply.
I beg to differ with your comments or your company’s excuse for not making these available to the public.
The plastic foot is easy and simple to remove for any handyman or professional worker who would be using this platform.
One Pop rivet is not difficult to remove and replace.

I'm now wating for their reply....

[Brockett]

I think this is an example of ..... An item manufactured say....er...  in China. A UK import company brings 500 into the country and advertises on say Ebay / Amazon.  There are no spare parts as there's no benefit to the importing company.  Even when an item is 'made in the UK'  it will no doubt have components that come from somewhere else.
Now that UK manufacturing has completely shut down and moved to the east this problem will persist. The only remedy is for Government regulations that require a certain level of spare / replacement parts to be available for a given number of years.
Meanwhile there is a need for all items to have a certain degree of repairability so as to decrease the tons of stuff that is sent for landfill for want of a replacement widget. Apart from motorcycles and cars what else is out there that can be kept going with OE parts for 10 years

[TLPower]

From my own perseverance and being tight, I have sauced and parts and repaired the dishwasher, the washing machine, electric oven, an electric shower, the strimmer, my old electric lawnmower (the mower was replaced by a petrol one that a neighbour had left out for the scrap man, a de-coke, spark plug and air filter had it as good as new) and even an 42"LCD tv.

Being a tight and inquisitive Yorkshire being can cause marital issues however.....

[Fat Rat]

You sauced parts? Which sauce did you use?

[V-Twin]

Yorkshire Katchup

[Brockett]

So this is how in todays world children stay children for so long.
When I was 15 I worked in a factory and used lathes, drilling machines, milling machines and all sorts of thing that could rip of fingers and even arms. Today in B&Q I had to wait for an assistant to veryfy that I was over 18 or over to purchase five hacksaw blades through their auto till.
it might not be so bad if the blades were going to be any good, but well..... B&Q
And before you all start...... around here the tool shops that stocked quality goods have all closed down.

[Rusty Nuts]

5 should be enough to cut through almost a dozen m6 mild steel screws. If you're careful.

[TLPower]

......or one will suffice for any Suzuki fastening.

[Mr Nick]

Suzuki specific tool:

[Brockett]

All over the news - BP making astonishing profits and well they may be, but yesterday my local Morrisons were charging £1.607 per litre while at BP (A140) I paid £1.499 for E10. My local Morrisons has been charging well over the odds for a few months.

[Rookie]

Not to worry Mr Brockett, you will soon be living in a 15 minute city. Then you won't have to buy fuel anymore. Bring on the hunger games 

[Brockett]

A dreadful prospect although I fully expect sea level rise will wash this area away long before the 15 minute city comes within 100 miles.
Hunger games? was that a film?