The Home Improvements Thread (2)

[xrapidx]

Can anyone tell me why I would have had muliple of what I think, was these in the garden?


Little difficult to see, these pictures are from when we bought the house - theres one in the bottom left corner - and then another at the top right of the grass section - and then another roughly where this picture was taken from.


For other reference, theres a bathroom at the small window, center of the picure, and then another one where the tap is attached to the wall.

More of the story to follow.

I’ve seen a lot of builders tell guys who don’t know plumbing to connect the pipes as it’s very simple... they do however forget to set the fall and end up with massive issues.

Exactly what happened here. Fortunately - I'd already caught on to the guys ****.

 

[R4m80]

Can anyone tell me why I would have had muliple of what I think, was these in the garden?
View attachment 925867

Little difficult to see, these pictures are from when we bought the house - theres one in the bottom left corner - and then another at the top right of the grass section - and then another roughly where this picture was taken from.
View attachment 925869

For other reference, theres a bathroom at the small window, center of the picure, and then another one where the tap is attached to the wall.

More of the story to follow.



Exactly what happened here. Fortunately - I'd already caught on to the guys ****.

It's probably a rodding eye.

 

[richjdavies]

Quick aside.

Tree cookies / slices.

(Similar to above, but on loose soil in shade not grass)
In a garden as a kiddy's path...
How would you preserve them? Is it worth it, will it takes months or years to rot / breakup?

 

[WAslayer]

Quick aside.

Tree cookies / slices.
View attachment 926365
(Similar to above, but on loose soil in shade not grass)
In a garden as a kiddy's path...
How would you preserve them? Is it worth it, will it takes months or years to rot / breakup?

Depending how much water they get, will be years.. something like linseed oil is cheap enough to consider, if you want to use something to preserve them..

 

[RonSwanson]

Quick aside.

Tree cookies / slices.
View attachment 926365
(Similar to above, but on loose soil in shade not grass)
In a garden as a kiddy's path...
How would you preserve them? Is it worth it, will it takes months or years to rot / breakup?

Creosote is cheap and very effective, will repel water and discourage insects (the main threat). But beware, it may kill grass or foliage, test it first to determine the extent.

 

[richjdavies]

Depending how much water they get, will be years.. something like linseed oil is cheap enough to consider, if you want to use something to preserve them..

Cape Town Newlands... Never stops raining. Is that a lot of water?
Think I have some linseed oil, will try that! Thanks for the tip. Would rather not use something that might kill the other plants and/or pets/kids

 

[rodga]

Can anyone tell me why I would have had muliple of what I think, was these in the garden?
View attachment 925867

Little difficult to see, these pictures are from when we bought the house - theres one in the bottom left corner - and then another at the top right of the grass section - and then another roughly where this picture was taken from.
View attachment 925869

For other reference, theres a bathroom at the small window, center of the picure, and then another one where the tap is attached to the wall.

More of the story to follow.



Exactly what happened here. Fortunately - I'd already caught on to the guys ****.

Rodding eye as mentioned earlier.
Need one at every change of direction to be compliant.

 

[johnjm]

Decided to repurpose an old 1946 valve radio and convert it to a google home mini (well put one inside). Will be connected to a mono amp and am
Waiting for speakers but a little worried about the sound quality and if I connect it to the speaker out without resistance etc.

Anyway, because it looked so pretty I am putting a glass rear panel and I painted the interior white including the entire chassis. LEDs in place with red backlighting, all hooked up to the original power switch which still works.

The power supply will be from a 12v battery UPS system for cameras... its 3amps so am hoping it we power everything:
- 5v LEDs pulling 0.9amps
- mono amp - 12v....
Google home, can’t be more than 10w?

Hopefully the 36w will be enough

Exteriors was sanded, stained and sealed. So like the gel stuff from woodoc.

 

[RonSwanson]

3A@ 12 volts DC should be more than enough overkill for most things. What isn't clear is whether or not you are using the old amp, have you opted for a high efficiency class D with high efficiency speaker/s? Also what isn't clear is what you are using for Google Home, a pi Zero consumes only 1.2A.

It would be great if you could incorporate a modern receiver such as a Si4730.

 

[johnjm]

3A@ 12 volts DC should be more than enough overkill for most things. What isn't clear is whether or not you are using the old amp, have you opted for a high efficiency class D with high efficiency speaker/s? Also what isn't clear is what you are using for Google Home, a pi Zero consumes only 1.2A.

It would be great if you could incorporate a modern receiver such as a Si4730.

I’ve gutted a google home mini and have it ready for install once speakers arrive.

I’ll include a link for the mono amp I’m using in 5min. With the google homes ability to also be a BT speaker I found this route easier because I also have a spare rpi3 lying around. Just didn’t feel like going through the coding.

The google mini will have its speaker out hooked up to the class D amps input.

 

[johnjm]

Here is a link to the amp I’m using. Bought two in the end as I initially ordered from Banggood but then am picking it this up tomorrow.

TPA3116D2 100W Mono Channel Digital Amplifier Board - Micro Robotics

TPA3116D2 100W Mono Channel Digital Amplifier Board

www.robotics.org.za

I was going to ask a favour from someone on the BB, if anyone would donate a piece of wood in the dimensions I need, would help a lot as I don’t have the tools to do basic wood stuff really. I will gladly pay in beers.

I’m trying to cancel the speaker order from an amazon 3rd party seller as two won’t fit (4”) and would rather go one 6 inch. Ordered Dayton audios. Wanted to put them in series to make it a total of 8ohm but I think the amp will be fine on 4ohm

Wood is 10mm thick... anything would be of help.

 

[WAslayer]

Here is a link to the amp I’m using. Bought two in the end as I initially ordered from Banggood but then am picking it this up tomorrow.

TPA3116D2 100W Mono Channel Digital Amplifier Board - Micro Robotics

TPA3116D2 100W Mono Channel Digital Amplifier Board

www.robotics.org.za

I was going to ask a favour from someone on the BB, if anyone would donate a piece of wood in the dimensions I need, would help a lot as I don’t have the tools to do basic wood stuff really. I will gladly pay in beers.

I’m trying to cancel the speaker order from an amazon 3rd party seller as two won’t fit (4”) and would rather go one 6 inch. Ordered Dayton audios. Wanted to put them in series to make it a total of 8ohm but I think the amp will be fine on 4ohm

Wood is 10mm thick... anything would be of help.

Location..? CPT..? If so, got wood for you.. 9mm chipboard, 12mm MDF, 18mm pine ply or 22mm pine..

 

[johnjm]

Location..? CPT..? If so, got wood for you.. 9mm chipboard, 12mm MDF, 18mm pine ply or 22mm pine..

Damn thanks for the offer but I’m in Pretoria

There isn’t much clearance with the tolerances but 12mm would work as much as 9mm would too (I’ll use thinner board to lay the new material when it comes

 

[RonSwanson]

Here is a link to the amp I’m using. Bought two in the end as I initially ordered from Banggood but then am picking it this up tomorrow.

TPA3116D2 100W Mono Channel Digital Amplifier Board - Micro Robotics

TPA3116D2 100W Mono Channel Digital Amplifier Board

www.robotics.org.za

I was going to ask a favour from someone on the BB, if anyone would donate a piece of wood in the dimensions I need, would help a lot as I don’t have the tools to do basic wood stuff really. I will gladly pay in beers.

I’m trying to cancel the speaker order from an amazon 3rd party seller as two won’t fit (4”) and would rather go one 6 inch. Ordered Dayton audios. Wanted to put them in series to make it a total of 8ohm but I think the amp will be fine on 4ohm

Wood is 10mm thick... anything would be of help.

RPi3 @2.5A (OK so maybe 1.8A if not totally maxed) + DC amp @3A (maxed)...
I can understand why you're stressed.

 

[johnjm]

RPi3 @2.5A (OK so maybe 1.8A if not totally maxed) + DC amp @3A (maxed)...
I can understand why you're stressed.

It’s a 12v 3A so 36w max. The rpi is 5v so can only be a max 12.5w right? Either way I measured the google home, pulls max 4w... no wonder it sounds k a k...

 

[daWolf]

Hi Everyone,

I need to install LED downlights in a bathroom (with existing insulation in the ceiling). Preferably with a 6500k color temperature, satin/matt silver finish and possibly dimmable.

Does anyone have any experience using Brightstar LED downlights , specifically this spec (Brightstar DL701) in a bathroom application? These ones are 4000k in color temperature and don't really provide any IP ratings in their specs.

I'm leaning towards an "all in one" fitting than going with a GU10 type of light fitting.

Any recommendations?

Thanks a lot.

 

[djiceman]

Hi gents and ladies

Im looking for some surface prep advice for painting. I have 90m of boundary which needs prep. The wall is precast which has been plastered(70m are plastered on both sides as its road side), most likely by one of the previous owners around 15 years ago. Everything was painted about 7 years ago to cover all the problems for the sale, in which I bought. I havent painted the outside as yet because the $$$ has been spent on the inside upgrades and repairs.

The first issue is the paint is washed away in many places, thus revealing the bright orange under paint and in majority of the fence, then I have these hairline cracks. Is there anything I can do to fix this, except chipping all the plaster and starting from scratch.

The other surface that needs prep is the house walls, its the tyrolean plaster which creates a hassle, since the house has arch windows, theres cracks above almost all windows around the house and at various points of renovations over the years of changing the structure. Its an old house, built in the 70's with each owner making a change along with the way.

Any recommendations to prep these surfaces?
Thanks

 

[xrapidx]

It's probably a rodding eye.

Rodding eye as mentioned earlier.
Need one at every change of direction to be compliant.

That would make sense, looks like its at every change of direction.

So long story short - on Friday I was opening up for the gardener, and my foot disappeared into a hole - confirmed to be very deep with a broom stick.

Asked the gardener to open up around it, then noticed some shredded pvc piping. He then said he noticed another one, and opened it up - same condition. I then remembered the white covers from when we bought the house.

I think the company which did our roll-on lawn decided they weren't necessary, and hacked off the tops, burying the open pipes

 

[PhireSide]

Hi Everyone,

I need to install LED downlights in a bathroom (with existing insulation in the ceiling). Preferably with a 6500k color temperature, satin/matt silver finish and possibly dimmable.

Does anyone have any experience using Brightstar LED downlights , specifically this spec (Brightstar DL701) in a bathroom application? These ones are 4000k in color temperature and don't really provide any IP ratings in their specs.

I'm leaning towards an "all in one" fitting than going with a GU10 type of light fitting.

Any recommendations?

Thanks a lot.

We have normal generic GU10 bulbs in our bathrooms and haven't had any issues with moisture/steam in the past couple of years. We have extractor fans too so most of the steam gets pulled into the ceiling cavity, but all the LED bulbs we use have been rock solid.

I think any bulb should do, just make sure you have sufficient ventilation around the bulb by cutting away the insulation - I think you need to usually leave a 2cm gap between the insulation and the bulb to be safe

 

[xrapidx]

Can anyone advise on painting raw vibracrete walling that's not going to peel off? (we have the ugly side of the wall)

I'd like to do a small 5m section outside my kitchen - before fixing trellis to it.