The Home Improvements Thread (3)

W@P said:
Yeah, I know the guy who did all the cabinets and the kitchen in this house. Let's just say I would run him over if I found him in the street.

We don't see eye to eye.
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:laugh: Yep, it happens.
 
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Regarding our earlier discussion about smart light switches I discovered that the new Sonoff's (the white SwitchMan / M5) have Matter integration.

I've ordered one to test out and see how it goes: https://muthersa.co.za/product/sonoff-m5-3ch-matter-smart-wall-switch/

Not a huge fan of them aesthetically as it't a bit chunky and might be a bit small to cover the wall box but willing to give it a go as they have these 3 gang models with physical switches, Matter support and aren't too pricey. I'll report back when I have played around with it.
 
DrJohnZoidberg said:
Regarding our earlier discussion about smart light switches I discovered that the new Sonoff's (the white SwitchMan / M5) have Matter integration.

I've ordered one to test out and see how it goes: https://muthersa.co.za/product/sonoff-m5-3ch-matter-smart-wall-switch/

Not a huge fan of them aesthetically as it't a bit chunky and might be a bit small to cover the wall box but willing to give it a go as they have these 3 gang models with physical switches, Matter support and aren't too pricey. I'll report back when I have played around with it.
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After I flashed tasmota to a Shelly plus 1pm, there was also a button to enable matter.
 
Tinuva said:
After I flashed tasmota to a Shelly plus 1pm, there was also a button to enable matter.
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I've just left my Shellys stock, they've been solid as a rock and haven't felt the need to change anything about them as they already work locally in HA.
 
W@P said:
Yes, Gelmar has some decent stuff at good prices too.
But as with everything in life, you can decide how far you wanna go.

If you spending a ton on a new kitchen with the best of the best you might as well go with the best hinges and runners. I must confess I think I have Gelmar hinges and runners in my place. Have not had issues with them.
But when we redid my folk's kitchen a few years ago they went all out and you get some next-level stuff.
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Downscaled 2 years ago and just redid my kitchen on a budget so had decent Gelmar runners fitted. Difference between them and Blum is chalk and cheese.
 
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I can add to the quality you get from Gelmar. It really is so much better than what you get elsewhere in general
 
So we're looking at new places to move, and found a place that we quite like. The house has solar panels, an inverter and a battery. We are coming from a relatively loadshedding-free zone, and I wanted to see if there's anything I should be checking in regard to the system?
Really not clued up about solar, so not sure if I'm asking the right questions.
 
Hazy_Living@79 said:
So we're looking at new places to move, and found a place that we quite like. The house has solar panels, an inverter and a battery. We are coming from a relatively loadshedding-free zone, and I wanted to see if there's anything I should be checking in regard to the system?
Really not clued up about solar, so not sure if I'm asking the right questions.
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First make sure it's not a leased system and if it is ensure you get all the details on that. Also find out when it was installed and who the installer was.

Take some photos of the inverter setup, post them here.
 
DrJohnZoidberg said:
First make sure it's not a leased system and if it is ensure you get all the details on that. Also find out when it was installed and who the installer was.

Take some photos of the inverter setup, post them here.
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Sweet, thanks. Clarified with the estate agent, it's the owner's system.

Seeing the place on Saturday, so will do.
 
DrJohnZoidberg said:
Regarding our earlier discussion about smart light switches I discovered that the new Sonoff's (the white SwitchMan / M5) have Matter integration.

I've ordered one to test out and see how it goes: https://muthersa.co.za/product/sonoff-m5-3ch-matter-smart-wall-switch/

Not a huge fan of them aesthetically as it't a bit chunky and might be a bit small to cover the wall box but willing to give it a go as they have these 3 gang models with physical switches, Matter support and aren't too pricey. I'll report back when I have played around with it.
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are these easy to install , simply swop over ?

what does it mean when they say something about neutral
 
I.am.Sam said:
are these easy to install , simply swop over ?

what does it mean when they say something about neutral
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Yes, they should be simple to install.

Neutral is referring to the neutral wire which is not always pulled down into the wall box and a lot of smart switches require a neutral wire (they will also tell you if they don't need one).

You can easily check if your neutrals are pulled in to the wall box by removing the switch panel and checking if there are some black wires pushed into the back of the box and not connected to the actual switch. To be safe make sure you've turned off the circuit on the db side before removing anything.
 
I have flat roof on my cottage.
It's that type where they put down boards, blowtorched something on and then painted it silver.
I regret agreeing to let the builder put this roof on. Obviously he promised that it was long wearing etc., but it isn't at all. It leaks often and has required a lot more maintenance than the much older IBR roofing on my main house.

But enough venting and to my question... what can I use to paint onto the roof to prevent further leaks. Every couple years the waterproofing cracks and I've been getting people in to fix it, but I'm tired of the expense.
Will that rubber paint I see advertised work?
 
DrJohnZoidberg said:
Regarding our earlier discussion about smart light switches I discovered that the new Sonoff's (the white SwitchMan / M5) have Matter integration.

I've ordered one to test out and see how it goes: https://muthersa.co.za/product/sonoff-m5-3ch-matter-smart-wall-switch/

Not a huge fan of them aesthetically as it't a bit chunky and might be a bit small to cover the wall box but willing to give it a go as they have these 3 gang models with physical switches, Matter support and aren't too pricey. I'll report back when I have played around with it.
Click to expand...
Just ordered one as well. Thank you!
 
DrJohnZoidberg said:
Yes, they should be simple to install.

Neutral is referring to the neutral wire which is not always pulled down into the wall box and a lot of smart switches require a neutral wire (they will also tell you if they don't need one).

You can easily check if your neutrals are pulled in to the wall box by removing the switch panel and checking if there are some black wires pushed into the back of the box and not connected to the actual switch. To be safe make sure you've turned off the circuit on the db side before removing anything.
Click to expand...

Just wondering - do Sonoff devices work during power blackouts? So during a blackout you send a command to switch off the lights - will lights come on when power returns?
 
maumau said:
Just wondering - do Sonoff devices work during power blackouts? So during a blackout you send a command to switch off the lights - will lights come on when power returns?
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nope, commands don' get queued
 
anyone bought from temu

 
I.am.Sam said:
anyone bought from temu

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Are these switches for ants!?

1717145126857.png
 
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