A Shed Downunder.

[don long]

Hi 1/2
I just dropped by to see whats new down under and to wish you the best in 18

My party garage is looking for an alternative for electricity. I have overloaded the place with all the signs. I pull 225 amps on a 200 amp breaker and that's without any A/C in the game room. I have popped the main incoming breaker a 300 amp when we have had big parties and the elevator is constantly going up and down.

 

[BBChevro]

I researched heat pumps and found mixed reviews - in particular some surprisingly very bad reviews for the heat pumps offered by a couple of very reputable companies (one starts with "R" & the other with "D" - they would be the most recognisable and trusted brands in Australia for HWS - just not heat pumps apparently).

My father-in-law has had a heat pump for a few years now, and it hasn't missed a beat - unfortunately, the company that made his has gone out of business (for reasons that had absolutely nothing to do with the product).

There were a couple of relatively lesser known HWS manufacturers that seemed to score better reviews - one was Sanden (I presume, the a/c compressor folks) and the other was Siddons (apparently these are popular in Victoria at present due to some Govt. rebates, so there was a 4-6 week wait here - which was no good to me).

Most of the other manufacturers/retailers that we contacted were very hesitant to promote their heat pumps and actively tried to steer us toward other systems (I couldn't help but wonder if this could be due to excessive warranty claims, etc.? ).

Sorry to hi-jack, I just thought I'd add my 2c - I thought it might help someone considering a new HWS.

 

[1/2 Cup]

Hi 1/2
I just dropped by to see whats new down under and to wish you the best in 18

My party garage is looking for an alternative for electricity. I have overloaded the place with all the signs. I pull 225 amps on a 200 amp breaker and that's without any A/C in the game room. I have popped the main incoming breaker a 300 amp when we have had big parties and the elevator is constantly going up and down.

Don,

There is always something on the go here, it never stops and like wise I trust 2018 is a good one..

200 plus amps that is incredible, that said I can understand given the total diversified load and maximum demand you must have now.

I am not sure what options you have investigated at this point but the first thing I would look at in the short term is to:

. Load shed as much as possible.
. Investigate alternative lamp technologies for some of your signs and general lighting ( I understand that you may not want to alter an original but you would be surprised just what percentage you would prune off your overall demand in doing this.)
. Your lift potentially could be fitted with a VSD.

Then there is the obvious options like:

. Solar ( I am really pleased with our solar as it has made a huge difference and allowed a lot more flexibility for us in terms of demand )
. I haven't investigated adding a battery bank at this point in time as battery technology is changing on a daily basis so I am prepared to wait until the technology matures some what ( just a note the company I work for has about 15000 solar sites and we are currently doing a considerable amount of R&D in that area.)

https://www.g-mwater.com.au/

. Upgrade to your incoming supply ( usually this would require an upgrade to you main switchboard to cater for the additional load capacity )

All the best with your supply and keep us updated on your progress.


Thank you for dropping by..

 

[1/2 Cup]

I researched heat pumps and found mixed reviews - in particular some surprisingly very bad reviews for the heat pumps offered by a couple of very reputable companies (one starts with "R" & the other with "D" - they would be the most recognisable and trusted brands in Australia for HWS - just not heat pumps apparently).

My father-in-law has had a heat pump for a few years now, and it hasn't missed a beat - unfortunately, the company that made his has gone out of business (for reasons that had absolutely nothing to do with the product).

There were a couple of relatively lesser known HWS manufacturers that seemed to score better reviews - one was Sanden (I presume, the a/c compressor folks) and the other was Siddons (apparently these are popular in Victoria at present due to some Govt. rebates, so there was a 4-6 week wait here - which was no good to me).

Most of the other manufacturers/retailers that we contacted were very hesitant to promote their heat pumps and actively tried to steer us toward other systems (I couldn't help but wonder if this could be due to excessive warranty claims, etc.? ).

Sorry to hi-jack, I just thought I'd add my 2c - I thought it might help someone considering a new HWS.

Mark, thank you for your info, appreciated and not a hijack at all. As clearly you have been down that road.

The more I read about a heat pump for solar I can rule it out right now..
Installing one will be diametrically opposed to what I am trying to achieve in terms of energy efficiencies

Again thank you for your two bobs worth..

 

[oldironfarmer]

Sounds like Don needs to look into a second 200 amp service. I doubt monthly usage is that great however when the guests show up all the lights are going to be on and the A/C is needed.

I find the heat pump conversation interesting. I've got a ground source heat pump (pumps the heat exchange fluid through several hundred feet of buried plastic line) so I heat the soil up all summer by rejecting heat to it, and when heating season starts the heat pump is withdrawing heat from warm soil. Very efficient and atmospheric temperature independent. The whole unit is about the size of a large window unit, and like a window unit, all the refrigerant is contained in the small box, no external refrigerant lines to leak or damage.

It seems someone mentioned wells, so you must have them down there as well.

A question about names. I think it was Guster said something about normal winter temperatures. Do you call seasons by the same name that we do? Is winter your hot season and summer cold? I just assumed you had Christmas in summer.

 

[rixtrix1]

Nice selection of new tools. That's always fun adding a few necessary bits and pieces to the tool box. I say every 40 years or so a guy definitely deserves a new floor jack!
[emoji106]
Bob

Damn, it's only been 32 years and 2 rebuilds since I got my heavy 3T floor jack. I don't want to wait another 8 years

Great tool buys, Steve. Just getting caught back up. Looks like your weather is worse than we had last year! Heard it was 47.5 in Sydney yesterday. That's crazy. Stay cool and Happy New Year!

Sent from my SM-J320V using Tapatalk

 

[rmalkow2]

Damn, it's only been 32 years and 2 rebuilds since I got my heavy 3T floor jack. I don't want to wait another 8 years


Sent from my SM-J320V using Tapatalk

I love to enable others so, you are hereby granted permission to go buy that new floor jack 8 years early!!!

 

[1/2 Cup]

Sounds like Don needs to look into a second 200 amp service. I doubt monthly usage is that great however when the guests show up all the lights are going to be on and the A/C is needed.

I find the heat pump conversation interesting. I've got a ground source heat pump (pumps the heat exchange fluid through several hundred feet of buried plastic line) so I heat the soil up all summer by rejecting heat to it, and when heating season starts the heat pump is withdrawing heat from warm soil. Very efficient and atmospheric temperature independent. The whole unit is about the size of a large window unit, and like a window unit, all the refrigerant is contained in the small box, no external refrigerant lines to leak or damage.

It seems someone mentioned wells, so you must have them down there as well.

A question about names. I think it was Guster said something about normal winter temperatures. Do you call seasons by the same name that we do? Is winter your hot season and summer cold? I just assumed you had Christmas in summer.

Andy,

Don does have a bit of predicament there for sure. Out this neck of the woods the Power Co s will not allow 2 services in to the one property so the only option we have is to upgrade that single service.

Geo thermal plus heat pump, to the best of my understanding , has not really caught on here to any great extent and would be limited to semi rural and rural premises for the most.

http://geothermalaustralia.com.au/

Just to clarify your understanding of our seasons in an upside down land.

Summer - Warm to ****** hot. ( yep Christmas is in summer )
Autumn - you guys call that Fall.
Winter - Mild to below freezing and no snow where we are.
Spring - Cool to absolutely beautiful.



Have a top day..

 

[1/2 Cup]

Damn, it's only been 32 years and 2 rebuilds since I got my heavy 3T floor jack. I don't want to wait another 8 years

Great tool buys, Steve. Just getting caught back up. Looks like your weather is worse than we had last year! Heard it was 47.5 in Sydney yesterday. That's crazy. Stay cool and Happy New Year!

Sent from my SM-J320V using Tapatalk

I love to enable others so, you are hereby granted permission to go buy that new floor jack 8 years early!!!

Ric, just do it

Our place is nice and cool but those temps in Sydney were extreme to say the least..

Thanks Bob for your support

Here hoping that Ric gets his Floor jack.

 

[rixtrix1]

I love to enable others so, you are hereby granted permission to go buy that new floor jack 8 years early!!![emoji38]_hitti

Awesome! Many thanks, now, what is 1/2's bank number?

Sent from my SM-J320V using Tapatalk

 

[1/2 Cup]

All, while we are on the subject of energy efficiency.

I have gotten tired of finding reliable replacement 12 volt LED lamps for halogen fittings so I spat the dummy yesterday and purchased complete LED lamps to replace every one here.

https://www.lh.com.au/products/lighting/


View media item 79273
The old and the new. BTW there is 25 to do.

They work a treat at 10 watts and you can set the colour rendering from Daylight to Cool White..

Thank you for your visit and have a great day..

 

[1/2 Cup]

Awesome! Many thanks, now, what is 1/2's bank number?

Sent from my SM-J320V using Tapatalk

Good one Ric, just ask Andy for it he gave it to a Nigerian Prince.

 

[Bob Heine]

Nice tool gloat there Steve. I didn't even know they made Mig and Tig torch handles. Now I need one of those or maybe I can make one.

Bret

I bought mine at Zoro for $37 in 2014. Still the same price but that was with free shipping. They are stainless steel with chrome magnetic bases. Here's the TIG holder (and link):

https://www.zoro.com/mag-mate-tig-magnetic-holder-2-58-in-wtht01/i/G6606582/#specifications

And here's the MIG holder (and link):

https://www.zoro.com/mag-mate-mig-magnetic-holder-wthm01/i/G7080683/

 

[rixtrix1]

Good one Ric, just ask Andy for it he gave it to a Nigerian Prince.[emoji38]_hitti

Hahahaha!

Sent from my SM-J320V using Tapatalk

 

[Bob Heine]

Heatpump HWS are still a novelty here and that comes with the additional cost but are due to become more mainstream as sales increase. Especially with so many houses fitted with heatpump air conditioners already and since most HWS are often centrally mounted which suits heating and cooling too. One of the draw backs of heatpump AC units are that they are usually installed on an outside facing wall to make it easier to mount the external unit.

Still love the idea of a ground well/source heatpump which is a very popular system in countries like the UK.

Our street is the only street that is not reticulated for gas in our area but we can have either natural gas or LPG supplied through tank rental. LPG would suit me as it has a slightly higher BTU rating compared to natural gas. Normal 12kg cylinders will do for my other needs in the mean time.


47.8C was apparently a new record high for Sydney. Must be heat pumping to compensate for the snow in California.

Steve, I bought a GE Geospring heat pump water heater in 2010 to try to save a little on electricity and have the side benefit of cooling my garage. In addition to its regular electric heating elements, it has a heat pump on top.

Installing it myself saved a couple of hundred bucks so I "spent" that money on that 32-inch flat screen. The water heater worked fine for 11 months when a code said the heat pump wasn't working and it was running on the heating elements only. Called for service and they knew what was wrong right away.

The tech (who we adopted) replaced the flawed parts and it worked for three months. Six more "repairs" over the next 24 months resulted in a new code. That code meant it was my problem and no longer a warranty repair. I chose not to spend $600 in parts and who knows how much for labor to feed this dead horse. Ran it for a couple more years as a regular water heater.

One day the warning beep and failure message caused a meltdown. Not the water heater, I suffered a meltdown from having to silence the beeping in the garage for the thousandth time. I decided to buy a plain Jane water heater and during the removal of the hybrid water heater discovered it was doing something very weird in the outlet line.

Sometimes it's better to wait until the technology matures....

 

[1/2 Cup]

Hahahaha!

Sent from my SM-J320V using Tapatalk

 

[1/2 Cup]

I bought mine at Zoro for $37 in 2014. Still the same price but that was with free shipping. They are stainless steel with chrome magnetic bases. Here's the TIG holder (and link):

https://www.zoro.com/mag-mate-tig-magnetic-holder-2-58-in-wtht01/i/G6606582/#specifications

And here's the MIG holder (and link):

https://www.zoro.com/mag-mate-mig-magnetic-holder-wthm01/i/G7080683/

Bob, thank you for the links as I am sure there are a few that could use them. Mine are not stainless, just powder coated steel and cost around $28.00 AU.

https://www.machineryhouse.com.au/MIG-TIG-Torch-Holders

I think I should get the hand rest guide as well as it may cure my natural tendency to weave when welding..

 

[1/2 Cup]

Steve, I bought a GE Geospring heat pump water heater in 2010 to try to save a little on electricity and have the side benefit of cooling my garage. In addition to its regular electric heating elements, it has a heat pump on top.

Installing it myself saved a couple of hundred bucks so I "spent" that money on that 32-inch flat screen. The water heater worked fine for 11 months when a code said the heat pump wasn't working and it was running on the heating elements only. Called for service and they knew what was wrong right away.

The tech (who we adopted) replaced the flawed parts and it worked for three months. Six more "repairs" over the next 24 months resulted in a new code. That code meant it was my problem and no longer a warranty repair. I chose not to spend $600 in parts and who knows how much for labor to feed this dead horse. Ran it for a couple more years as a regular water heater.

One day the warning beep and failure message caused a meltdown. Not the water heater, I suffered a meltdown from having to silence the beeping in the garage for the thousandth time. I decided to buy a plain Jane water heater and during the removal of the hybrid water heater discovered it was doing something very weird in the outlet line.

Sometimes it's better to wait until the technology matures....

Bob, thank you for the information.

I totally agree and do wait until any emerging technologies have matured and the cost is more affordable, I have seen it across many over the years and always err with caution before jumping in head first..

Have a top day..

 

[HOTFR8]

Hi 1/2
I just dropped by to see whats new down under and to wish you the best in 18

My party garage is looking for an alternative for electricity. I have overloaded the place with all the signs. I pull 225 amps on a 200 amp breaker and that's without any A/C in the game room. I have popped the main incoming breaker a 300 amp when we have had big parties and the elevator is constantly going up and down.

Don, Go over to Solar with a dedicated system battery back up just to run the lights.

All, while we are on the subject of energy efficiency.

I have gotten tired of finding reliable replacement 12 volt LED lamps for halogen fittings so I spat the dummy yesterday and purchased complete LED lamps to replace every one here.

https://www.lh.com.au/products/lighting/


View media item 79273
The old and the new. BTW there is 25 to do.

They work a treat at 10 watts and you can set the colour rendering from Daylight to Cool White..

Thank you for your visit and have a great day..

Swapped the whole house over some time back and found not only the lights 100% better but a massive saving on power.

 

[1/2 Cup]

Swapped the whole house over some time back and found not only the lights 100% better but a massive saving on power.

HOTFR8, yep.

After this lot all our lighting is complete.

As coincidental as it may seem Mrs 1/2 Cup received our last 1/4 account from AGL this morning and for the first time in decades the bill came in under $200 AU so I was ecstatic as this includes all the service charges as well ( about $1 AU /day for the 90 days ) so we at getting there..

PS we do not spare the horses when it comes to air conditioning let me tell you..

 

[Guster]

Top job ripping out the halogen fittings and supplies rather than running compatible lights in the existing fittings. Nice to have units with adjustable colour temp too. Sometimes less is much more.

I look forward to the day of dual voltage wiring in the home. Having lower voltage DC lighting system throughout the house rather than having each fitting with its own constant current/voltage driver definitely reduces cost and complexity longer term. Would open the options for ease of environmental lighting control too. My whole house is now LED lit and I love them but they have tremendous challenges when SWMBO demands dimming or specific task lighting. You don’t simply add an LED strip into a floor to ceiling tiled wet area. Other than my wife’s beauty tools everything else is either 5V or 12V in the bedrooms. Got to a point that we have USB powerboards everywhere and it makes the wiring so much simpler than dealing with all the individual adapters. Wife wants one in the kitchen along with another Bluetooth speaker and thinking of adding Bluetooth audio zones rather than dragging a BT speaker everywhere. She’s already talking about room displays to cast content to.

It's a very slippery slope…

 

[1/2 Cup]

Guster, thank you.

The LED retro fit lamps were not a success at all mainly due to the beam angle and outputs and believe me i tied heaps. Even the LED retrofits to some of my fluorescents ( the colour rendering was way off what I have come to expect for a cool white )

We are all Cool White here inside and out but that is truely an indiviual preference. Mrs 1/2 Cup is very pedantic like your SWMBO

Honestly there is nothing stopping you installing a Low Voltage DC system in your home or shed.

Here is my solution to the USB charging issue ( Clipsal ) note that I have included an isolation switch as I hate stuff being powered all the time on standby...

View media item 42293
All the best with yours..

 

[Spud1985]

All,

Situation : Our schools have a program called Kick Start where year 12 students do work placement for 2 or three months..

Our team has to look after two of the six students.

Issue : what activities does on give budding engineers actively engaged.

Solution: Hand them over to our Graduate Engineer to provide some in depth training on the technologies we use in the Elect/ Mech space.

First hands on exercise following all our workplace inductions was lo and behold...................

Three axis plasma cutting with the course materials and objectives all provided by yours truly...

View media item 65596
Needless to say they all passed the assessment criteria today..

1/2 Cup, amazing thread, longer than most books I read. Still working my way through it.
I wish more schools over here offered kick start type programs. The theme has been college, college, college for so long we are now in a shortage of skilled hands on labor. Everyone has some sort of degree and thinks they should be a clean hands manager.
But it sure is nice being a man with dirty hands and dirty boots cashing bigger checks than an executive in a 3 piece suit.

 

[shortykorte]

Just stopping in to say hello. Looks like all is well.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[drivesitfar]

1/2: i always knew that if you had 6 SATURDAYS & 1 SUNDAY every week that you'd put us all to shame and jealous of all that you can accomplish. OMG you are on full 1/2 WORKS MODE now and looks like you are maybe liking these extra SATURDAYS that Andy and I mention quite a bit. WELL DONE!!

i'll be trying to catch up on all your tool buys and their uses, electrical change outs and cool supplies and how SOLAR ENERGY WORKS as time permits cause i'm in ORGANIZING MODE this month.

cheers and keep up the great work and PRAYERS SENT!!

 

[1/2 Cup]

1/2 Cup, amazing thread, longer than most books I read. Still working my way through it.
I wish more schools over here offered kick start type programs. The theme has been college, college, college for so long we are now in a shortage of skilled hands on labor. Everyone has some sort of degree and thinks they should be a clean hands manager.
But it sure is nice being a man with dirty hands and dirty boots cashing bigger checks than an executive in a 3 piece suit.

Spud1985, thank you so much for taking the time to read through the thread and kind comments I am truly humbled..

The company I work for is very proactive investing in the future of our next generation.

https://www.g-mwater.com.au/careers

Personally I am a huge advocate for he program and I am fortunate to be able participate in mentoring our future engineers, giving them an insight into an exciting career.

Once a nut and bolt ( or should that be a wire and plier ?? ) type person, always a nut and bolt type person


I really love what I do

Have a top day..

 

[1/2 Cup]

Just stopping in to say hello. Looks like all is well.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Shorty, still here and doing well.

Many thanks.

1/2: i always knew that if you had 6 SATURDAYS & 1 SUNDAY every week that you'd put us all to shame and jealous of all that you can accomplish. OMG you are on full 1/2 WORKS MODE now and looks like you are maybe liking these extra SATURDAYS that Andy and I mention quite a bit. WELL DONE!!

i'll be trying to catch up on all your tool buys and their uses, electrical change outs and cool supplies and how SOLAR ENERGY WORKS as time permits cause i'm in ORGANIZING MODE this month.

cheers and keep up the great work and PRAYERS SENT!!

Drives, full on 1/2 Works Mode is right and thoroughly enjoying it.

All the best with your Organising Mode Month..

I have kept myself busy, not over doing it mind you and feeling great as your prayers and thoughts are certainly having an impact.

I do have an appointment with my Oncology Specialist to review the next step in my treatment today which I am looking forward to..

Thank you one and all, enjoy your day..

 

[bolensboneyard]

Go Steve!

 

[BBChevro]

 

[rixtrix1]

Steve, as you know I just jumped back onto the forum, and your thread in particular, and was a little upset by some of comments I saw in the most recent pages and what I assumed they were about, so tonight I want back until July and saw the last post of mine was about the look of the West Wing's carport. I've spent the last hour scrolling from there forward until I found the cause of all the comments and have to apologize for missing your illness. I have had a brother(35 years ago) and several classmates go through similar treatments more recently and I know it's extremely hard to put up with all the treatments, travel, especially the side effects. I wish to offer my support and prayers for continued recovery! With your strong resolve, I'm sure you will power through this difficulty as you do with the many projects you have tackled. Prayers have been given in your behalf from all over the globe and I firmly believe in the strength found through that. You've given so much to the readers of GJ so willingly, but continue to put yourself and your family first in working through this!

All my best to you!

 

[1/2 Cup]

Go Steve!

Bobby and Mark

Thank you so much..

 

[1/2 Cup]

Steve, as you know I just jumped back onto the forum, and your thread in particular, and was a little upset by some of comments I saw in the most recent pages and what I assumed they were about, so tonight I want back until July and saw the last post of mine was about the look of the West Wing's carport. I've spent the last hour scrolling from there forward until I found the cause of all the comments and have to apologize for missing your illness. I have had a brother(35 years ago) and several classmates go through similar treatments more recently and I know it's extremely hard to put up with all the treatments, travel, especially the side effects. I wish to offer my support and prayers for continued recovery! With your strong resolve, I'm sure you will power through this difficulty as you do with the many projects you have tackled. Prayers have been given in your behalf from all over the globe and I firmly believe in the strength found through that. You've given so much to the readers of GJ so willingly, but continue to put yourself and your family first in working through this!

All my best to you!

Ric, I thank you so much for taking the time to go back until July.
No apology required and I completely understand..

I have to admit it was difficult at the start ( diagnosis ) the Chemo and Radiation knocked me around a fair bit and the last thing on my mind was opening a computer and my Son Andrew and Others ( to numerous to mention ) have assisted me in keeping this thread up to date through that time which I am just so grateful for..

The support from family, friends, work colleagues, the GJ members, neighbors - physically, emotionally, prayers and kind words have just been overwhelming and for this I will be eternally indebted & thankful for.
Its just been an ever so humbling experience for me..

I do thank you sincerely for your prayers and kind words as well, they mean so much

I will get there

 

[oldironfarmer]

You're doing so good, but we're all still pulling for you every day (I guess every night, to you).

Great seeing you get up to 1/2 speed.

 

[drivesitfar]

1/2: I hope the Dr. had good news for you yesterday!!

Organizing mode got put on hold a bit yesterday while a friend had issues changing out dimmer switches for LED lighting above their dining table so spent a few hours cleaning up his electrical issues. do your fingers feel like they are a piece of raw meat when twisting those wires into the wire nuts or have you graduated to all the modern ways of putting wires together? if i recall correctly you had to change out almost every box in your rental and it probably took you less time to do them all than it did for me to clean up our friend's one (he also spent about 6 hours on it mostly reading and youtubing troubleshooting before calling me).

i remember seeing your electrical circuit box and saying to myself WOW that looks so neat and ORGANIZED.

then my mom calls me a few days ago saying that they want to sell their 2 older cars and just get one newer, but no hurry (ya right). so my sister who knows very little about cars finds a USED CAR at a dealer's lot and wants my mom to go look at it. so i had to run over to mom and dad's last night (yep 85 and still active) to let her know she doesn't have to rush into it and I'll help her make a good choice. GEEESH i mentioned they should do this 3 years ago and since several times and no warning that they heard me until a few days ago.

I hope your Dad and extended family are maintaining while you are recovering cause MENTAL HEALTH is so key to GOOD HEALTH.

take care and prayers sent!!

cheers

 

[1/2 Cup]

You're doing so good, but we're all still pulling for you every day (I guess every night, to you).

Great seeing you get up to 1/2 speed.

Andy, thank you.

I have a bit of ways to go as yet and your right it is still only 1/2 speed at this point. Very much a softly, softly approach.

1/2: I hope the Dr. had good news for you yesterday!!

Organizing mode got put on hold a bit yesterday while a friend had issues changing out dimmer switches for LED lighting above their dining table so spent a few hours cleaning up his electrical issues. do your fingers feel like they are a piece of raw meat when twisting those wires into the wire nuts or have you graduated to all the modern ways of putting wires together? if i recall correctly you had to change out almost every box in your rental and it probably took you less time to do them all than it did for me to clean up our friend's one (he also spent about 6 hours on it mostly reading and youtubing troubleshooting before calling me).

i remember seeing your electrical circuit box and saying to myself WOW that looks so neat and ORGANIZED.

then my mom calls me a few days ago saying that they want to sell their 2 older cars and just get one newer, but no hurry (ya right). so my sister who knows very little about cars finds a USED CAR at a dealer's lot and wants my mom to go look at it. so i had to run over to mom and dad's last night (yep 85 and still active) to let her know she doesn't have to rush into it and I'll help her make a good choice. GEEESH i mentioned they should do this 3 years ago and since several times and no warning that they heard me until a few days ago.

I hope your Dad and extended family are maintaining while you are recovering cause MENTAL HEALTH is so key to GOOD HEALTH.

take care and prayers sent!!

cheers

Drives the Oncologist Appointment went well.

My bloods are looking great so moving forward I have to reduce the Steroid and Anti biotic dose over the next two weeks.

Then yet another CT scan in two weeks ( 22/01 2018 ) to insure the Pneumonitis has cleared it self 100 % then the Moving Forward Review with the Oncologist two days after that.
At this point I am happy with the approach as the Steroids and Immunotherapy do not compliment each other..
I was under the assumption that yesterday was to be the Moving Forward Review, not to worry we will get there..

I am eating full sized meals now as the taste bud s are just slowly getting back to normal and have maintained 132 lbs for the last two weeks..

Its great to read that you have been giving a friend a hand with his electrical issues that is a nice gesture on your part for sure.

All our cables are stranded and we do a heap of twisting wires trust me. It is some thing that you do get used at an early age and it never seems to leave you. For the most part we do not used twist connectors / wire nuts but use connectors like these below which are great..

https://www.clipsal.com/Trade/Produ...cessories-Tools/Cable-connectors#.WlY9QUxuJPY

After 40 plus years in the Electrical trade I am still learning it just never stops. You do get quicker at things with practice..

Err on the side of caution when purchasing a new car and don't rush into things if you don't have to. Yep I am hearing you all of a sudden for what ever reason it becomes urgent.

All the family is doing well and Dad has settled into his new unit at the retirement village well. They have been great support to me over this time.
I do agree that Mental Health is just as important as you Physical well being, the two go hand in hand..

Thank you yet again. Have a top day.

 

[1/2 Cup]

All, as the weather has been a little milder here I took the opportunity to get cracking on the Ugly Area No. 4 to the West Side Entry of the Shed Downunder over the last couple of days.
Stone by stone I got there.

Before.

View media item 76799
After.

View media item 79373
Yet another one off the list...

 

[rmalkow2]

No more ugly there! Well done and a good feeling of accomplishment I suspect.

 

[Finallygotit]

Nice job!

 

[rixtrix1]

I bought mine at Zoro for $37 in 2014. Still the same price but that was with free shipping. They are stainless steel with chrome magnetic bases. Here's the TIG holder (and link):

https://www.zoro.com/mag-mate-tig-magnetic-holder-2-58-in-wtht01/i/G6606582/#specifications

And here's the MIG holder (and link):

https://www.zoro.com/mag-mate-mig-magnetic-holder-wthm01/i/G7080683/[/

Hi, Bob. Happy New Year. Don't know if it's exactly the same tig torch holder, but it's twin is on sale now on Amazon for $17.98.

 

[Sabbath]

That's some impressive looking paving.