A Shed Downunder.

[1/2 Cup]

I worked a flower and garden gift show for my wife.

3 days and 60,000 people later, my nerves were shot.

She moved some product, and tells me it was worth it.

Never again.

Its a tough gig for sure and I can relate to what you are saying .

 

[1/2 Cup]

Monday at work, I have just had a full days training on an Electrical Engineering design software package called Powercad and another couple of hours tomorrow.
I am brain dead more than usual after 8 hours of crunching stuff like:

Cable Voltage Drop Calculations
•Time/Current Co-ordination Curves
•Co-ordination Curve On Screen CB OCR Adjustment (dynamic)
•User defined Time Current Curves
•Selectivity/Cascading
•Maximum Demand
•Cable Thermal Stress
•Let Through Energy
•Cable Sizing
•Conduit Sizing
•Fault-loop Impedance
•Fault Level Calculations
•Arc Fault Calculations
•Circuit Breaker Selection
•Single Line Diagram
•Harmonic Mitigation
•Power Factor Correction
•Harmonic Analysis
•Network Resonance
•Substation Sizing
•Standby Generator Sizing
•Active Harmonic Filter Sizing
•Passive Harmonic Filter Sizing
•Single Line Diagram Export to AutoCAD®
•L.V. Distribution Network Modelling
•AutoCAD® Interface for Loads Input
•Automatic Mains and Submains Cable Selection
•Automatic Final Subcircuit Cable Sizing
•Display Load Starting Current Profile
•Light Fitting and Motor Libraries
•Reports with Print Preview
•Direct Online Support
•Standards AS/NZS, IEE, BS, CP5 and IS (India)


One powerful package when it comes to taking the guess work out of my job.

For those interested here is the link.

http://www.powercad.com.au/index.php

 

[HOTFR8]

Can you put any of that into practical and working relationship for the Shed Down Under ?

 

[1/2 Cup]

Can you put any of that into practical and working relationship for the Shed Down Under ?

Oh yeh, training like that is no burden to carry HOTFR8. It been great to refresh my understanding of the current standards and put all things electrical into perspective again...

 

[1/2 Cup]

There is an unwritten rule in the Shed Downunder and that is with every domestic type project I do i.e. Carport / Storage Solution build it justifies the purchase of a few new tools so tacked on to the end of the steel account for this one has been these little numbers.

View media item 45942
Regards

 

[HOTFR8]

That is or is that how you do it so Mrs 1/2Cup is not aware of the budget ?

 

[1/2 Cup]

That is or is that how you do it so Mrs 1/2Cup is not aware of the budget ?

You are on the money there HOTFR8.

Actually I have been pleasantly surprised with the budget for the Carport/Solution build thus far, so every thing that you see there right down to the tech screws and including things like inground box guttering, foil, mesh, galvanising, steel, brackets, cement has cost a shade under AU$3000.00.

I finished my material take off for all the roofing, flashing and spouts yesterday to get a quote today, expecting that to come in around AU$2000.00. There is no labour attached to this of course, add all my time and I think you would blow it out of the water.

View media item 45358
Regards

 

[HOTFR8]

So MUM is the word.

 

[Grizz1963]

The internet is a rather amazing invention.

Through my life on various interest forums I have met a range of amazing people, learned a lot, and shared some info.

Friendships that should last as long as me have been forged.

One of the many friendships formed on here has been with Bret J in Texas.

He is a meticulous woodworker, and is restoring a Chevy C10 pickup for his wife that has been in the family a long time.

A while ago I commented on some Rocketships that he had turned., saying that Nicola loved it too.

Today I get home and there is a parcel from Texas. Bret and I have exchanged number plates before, so he had my address.

Inside was the Rocketship mkVI for Nicola and some stickers for me, as well as some number plates for my collection.

Bret sent me a Texas Disabled Veteran number plate and three Australian plates. JACKPOT !!!

Massive thanks to Bret for his kindness

HOTFR8 asked the question on my thread, what plates I got.

Blue on White Canberra

Green on White Victoria -Garden State

NSW Conditional green on white.

Feel very privileged.

 

[1/2 Cup]

So MUM is the word.

I have a sneaking suspicion Mrs 1/2 Cup is aware of my random purchases anyway

The internet is a rather amazing invention.

Through my life on various interest forums I have met a range of amazing people, learned a lot, and shared some info.

Friendships that should last as long as me have been forged.

One of the many friendships formed on here has been with Bret J in Texas.

He is a meticulous woodworker, and is restoring a Chevy C10 pickup for his wife that has been in the family a long time.

A while ago I commented on some Rocketships that he had turned., saying that Nicola loved it too.

Today I get home and there is a parcel from Texas. Bret and I have exchanged number plates before, so he had my address.

Inside was the Rocketship mkVI for Nicola and some stickers for me, as well as some number plates for my collection.

Bret sent me a Texas Disabled Veteran number plate and three Australian plates. JACKPOT !!!

Massive thanks to Bret for his kindness

HOTFR8 asked the question on my thread, what plates I got.

Blue on White Canberra

Green on White Victoria -Garden State

NSW Conditional green on white.

Feel very privileged.

That's fantastic, I will try and hunt up some old Black and White Victorian plates to compliment your collection if that's the case, Mrs 1/2 Cups nephew is on the hunt as well..

Regards

 

[1/2 Cup]

Friday at work, a whole day at a Strategic Asset Maintenance Workshop, that really capped of my week after Mondays training session. So I am looking forward to some garage therapy this weekend.

The quotes came through for all the roofing iron, rain gutter fittings and flashings yesterday, once again I was pleasantly surprised as at AU$1400.00 delivered it was well under my original estimate of AU$2000.00 based on the Lysaght Trade Price List. so I have promptly accepted it and I am hoping it will be here for the Christmas break fingers crossed.

Note to file: for Aussie purchases of Colorbond steel there was no difference in price between the imported sheet as against the Aussie made stuff, always ask the question of your supplier.
While you are on the go compare apples for apples in regards to Base Metal Thickness ( BMT )

The too do list for this weekend:

. Lawn edges.
. Mow lawns.
. Fertilise Orange tree.
. Water lawns.
. Walk Shelby.
. Trim front brick fence creeper ( Ficus )
. Install insulation wire mesh to purlins ( 200 odd 1/8 holes I might add )
. Make a start on the down pipes for the Carport.
. Weekly shed floor vacuum.
. Wipe down benches.
. Help Mrs 1/2 Cup as she is on a spring cleaning mission from hell and that includes but is not limited to - remove, clean and replace all light fittings and lamp shades - remove, clean and replace all exhaust fans and covers.

Have a great weekend..

Regards

 

[ajohno]

You will be stuffed doing all that work.

 

[1/2 Cup]

You will be stuffed doing all that work.

Just a normal weekend for me realy.

Thanks for dropping by..

 

[metalhead140]

Nice to catch up with what you've been up to! Hope your weekend went well, and you got everything you wanted to done (wish I could say that ever happened for me!).

 

[1/2 Cup]

Nice to catch up with what you've been up to! Hope your weekend went well, and you got everything you wanted to done (wish I could say that ever happened for me!).

Thanks for dropping by Andrew, I actually got most stuff done but to tell you the truth even with all that I had on the plate it was still quite a lay back couple of days and I smelt the roses so to speak..

 

[don long]

1/2 Cup
I would be driving myself crazy if I started listing everything that I need to get
done

I guess that retirement creates a less demanding time line

Your addition is looking good

Don

 

[sean Buick 76]

Looking good!

 

[1/2 Cup]

1/2 Cup
I would be driving myself crazy if I started listing everything that I need to get
done

I guess that retirement creates a less demanding time line

Your addition is looking good

Don

Lists are a must do for me, if I have an idea for a project its on the list, similarly if Mrs 1/2 Cup has one of those moments with a tape measure, its on the list.

I have to admit I am looking forward to the day that I can retire Don.

Looking good!

Thanks Sean, I am waiting to see wether the roofing iron will be delivered before the Christmas break, if not I do have a heap of projects that I want to finish off in any case, namely the Fabrication Bench stainless draws and tick another one of the never ending list.

Thanks for dropping by guys, appreciated..

Regards

 

[80WTI_55_CHEV]

Just stopping in Steve and as usual looks like you haven't sat still, you sure no how to get the most out of a day mate, keep up the good work and don't forget to upload some pics of the carport when all done.

 

[1/2 Cup]

Just stopping in Steve and as usual looks like you haven't sat still, you sure no how to get the most out of a day mate, keep up the good work and don't forget to upload some pics of the carport when all done.

Thanks Lee, I will post pics of the carport as I go no problem..

 

[taumac]

Friday at work, a whole day at a Strategic Asset Maintenance Workshop, that really capped of my week after Mondays training session. So I am looking forward to some garage therapy this weekend.

The quotes came through for all the roofing iron, rain gutter fittings and flashings yesterday, once again I was pleasantly surprised as at AU$1400.00 delivered it was well under my original estimate of AU$2000.00 based on the Lysaght Trade Price List. so I have promptly accepted it and I am hoping it will be here for the Christmas break fingers crossed.

Note to file: for Aussie purchases of Colorbond steel there was no difference in price between the imported sheet as against the Aussie made stuff, always ask the question of your supplier.
While you are on the go compare apples for apples in regards to Base Metal Thickness ( BMT )

The too do list for this weekend:

. Lawn edges.
. Mow lawns.
. Fertilise Orange tree.
. Water lawns.
. Walk Shelby.
. Trim front brick fence creeper ( Ficus )
. Install insulation wire mesh to purlins ( 200 odd 1/8 holes I might add )
. Make a start on the down pipes for the Carport.
. Weekly shed floor vacuum.
. Wipe down benches.
. Help Mrs 1/2 Cup as she is on a spring cleaning mission from hell and that includes but is not limited to - remove, clean and replace all light fittings and lamp shades - remove, clean and replace all exhaust fans and covers.

Have a great weekend..

Regards

Holy ****, I didn't see a nap on the list so I took one for you this weekend. Busy busy man you are...

 

[1/2 Cup]

Holy ****, I didn't see a nap on the list so I took one for you this weekend. Busy busy man you are...

Actually I got through nearly all of what I had planned and managed a nana nap into the bargain Gerard. We had a few itinerant visitors call in for a chat as usually happens, so just a normal weekend out here.

My sister in law ( the one with the garage sale from hell # post 986 ) has rented a new home and is planning to start the move this weekend so it looks like I have been seconded to help as one does. The issue is there is still a heap of "stuff" to get rid of still. I know where my focus will be over the holidays now.

Regards

 

[HOTFR8]

Focus ? You never seem to have your eye off the ball. Good Luck with all that.

 

[1/2 Cup]

Just a quick up date on the Solar Installation, we are right into the best time of the year right now in terms of solar efficiency, I just snapped the controller data, late afternoon to give you guys an idea of how things are performing.



Regards

 

[sean Buick 76]

That is super cool, I will need to look into this! We get a lot of sun here!

 

[HOTFR8]

Impressive figures for your system 1/2. Still no reply from my Solar guy on the updates here and he has left me not impressed given he told me he would get back to me in a couple of days and that is now a couple of months ago.

 

[1/2 Cup]

That is super cool, I will need to look into this! We get a lot of sun here!

Impressive figures for your system 1/2. Still no reply from my Solar guy on the updates here and he has left me not impressed given he told me he would get back to me in a couple of days and that is now a couple of months ago.

Thanks guys,

I am very pleased with the systems performance to date. As you can see since we commissioned it in late January this year we have generated over 7000 kwh our winter quarter bill was 1/2 of what we paid last year and we are due to receive the current quarter account any day now.

What I haven't shown is the real time stats for each panel, these figures underpin what's on the over view page. I can monitor and control each panel to some extent.

Our home is mostly all electric with electric hot water, electric wall oven, Natural Gas cook top, gas heating and 3 reverse cycle split air conditioners in the mix.
So there is a bit of diversity to some extent.

The system has been a great investment for the long term.

HOTFR8 sounds like your solar guy needs a tune up..

Have a good one...

 

[firecracker]

Geeeez arfer! I wish we had arf as much sun over here, our panels in a year only generate 2150ish, mind you they are on the west side of the house and we are always in a cloud. (better than money in the bank though)

 

[metalhead140]

1/2 Cup, you'd been interested before in our LED downlight install. I thought you might be interested, we have just received our electricity bill for this quarter. If you recall we installed the downlights just before having ducted aircon put in. It happened that it coincided pretty closely with our quarterly bill period, and I hoped that the lights would help to offset the electricity use of the ducted air. Imagine my surprise when our electricity use has gone down by several kwh/day compared with the last two quarters (the only ones since we moved in)! Despite use of the ducted air a few times a week to cool the whole house (we had no air conditioning prior), our electricity use has decreased by ~10%. Nothing else to explain the drop, no change in usage or extra time away from home. Haven't done the maths on the savings yet, only had a quick scan of the bill, the price has dropped by a bit over $200, but the price per kwh has dropped also. Real $ savings probably ~$80, not bad for $240 worth of cheap led bunnings globes. Still, considering that's with the addition of the aircon as well, the savings due to the lights must be more than that. Still very happy with the lights too, good light output and no failures yet.

 

[HOTFR8]

HOTFR8 sounds like your solar guy needs a tune up..

He needs something.

 

[rixtrix1]

News on the private solar power front here in Arizona, USA. One, of two, local power utility, Salt River Project, in their latest price increase proposal, has outlined a "tax" on all new solar systems installed after Dec 8, 2014. There has not been a price increase in the last 10 years, during which they claim to have incurred millions of dollars of infrastructure expense in maintainance, upgrades and federal emissions requirements. The "tax" will help cover the loss of income for future upgrades and is said to be in the neighborhood of $50 a month. Any systems installed, or contracted for, before said date will be grandfathered at whatever contract was set at the time the system was installed and will be honored for a minimum of 10 years unless contracted otherwise. The utility is a non-profit, public owned, but government supported company. I haven't heard if the other utility is following a similar plan as I'm not on their grid.

Kind of puts the kibosh on putting in new solar system in one of the sunniest spots on the globe. I think the only way around this would be to keep your solar system off the grid, but that seems to kill the benefit of selling extra production back to the utility, as well as adding in the need for some kind of storage system for any extra production above daily usage. I'm definitely not up on this, but have seen 4 systems installed within blocks of our home in the last 6 months, so may be they stand a chance of recouping some of the cost under the old system.

I'm just waiting for them to tax my 25 year old solar hot water heating system. There just might come a time when I may have to tap into the unused natural gas pipeline that was installed when our neighborhood was built back in 1983 as a condition for the gas utility to continue to be the supplier for the city, which has grown some 10 times in population since then. Strange as our subdivision is totally electric. Makes one wonder if those gas mains have rusted away from lack of use.

 

[1/2 Cup]

Geeeez arfer! I wish we had arf as much sun over here, our panels in a year only generate 2150ish, mind you they are on the west side of the house and we are always in a cloud. (better than money in the bank though)

Its been a great investment firecracker with out doubt. My panel are not ideally placed but are more than doing what I had expected..

1/2 Cup, you'd been interested before in our LED downlight install. I thought you might be interested, we have just received our electricity bill for this quarter. If you recall we installed the downlights just before having ducted aircon put in. It happened that it coincided pretty closely with our quarterly bill period, and I hoped that the lights would help to offset the electricity use of the ducted air. Imagine my surprise when our electricity use has gone down by several kwh/day compared with the last two quarters (the only ones since we moved in)! Despite use of the ducted air a few times a week to cool the whole house (we had no air conditioning prior), our electricity use has decreased by ~10%. Nothing else to explain the drop, no change in usage or extra time away from home. Haven't done the maths on the savings yet, only had a quick scan of the bill, the price has dropped by a bit over $200, but the price per kwh has dropped also. Real $ savings probably ~$80, not bad for $240 worth of cheap led bunnings globes. Still, considering that's with the addition of the aircon as well, the savings due to the lights must be more than that. Still very happy with the lights too, good light output and no failures yet.

Andrew, I have actually brought some based on what you posted and your assessment to try out, I haven't installed them just yet but will do over the holidays. We have a Fluke Power analyser and data recorder at work which I intend to hook up for a few weeks and look a bit deeper into my electrical system and how I can improve things here some more.

He needs something.

I know , something like this...

News on the private solar power front here in Arizona, USA. One, of two, local power utility, Salt River Project, in their latest price increase proposal, has outlined a "tax" on all new solar systems installed after Dec 8, 2014. There has not been a price increase in the last 10 years, during which they claim to have incurred millions of dollars of infrastructure expense in maintainance, upgrades and federal emissions requirements. The "tax" will help cover the loss of income for future upgrades and is said to be in the neighborhood of $50 a month. Any systems installed, or contracted for, before said date will be grandfathered at whatever contract was set at the time the system was installed and will be honored for a minimum of 10 years unless contracted otherwise. The utility is a non-profit, public owned, but government supported company. I haven't heard if the other utility is following a similar plan as I'm not on their grid.

Kind of puts the kibosh on putting in new solar system in one of the sunniest spots on the globe. I think the only way around this would be to keep your solar system off the grid, but that seems to kill the benefit of selling extra production back to the utility, as well as adding in the need for some kind of storage system for any extra production above daily usage. I'm definitely not up on this, but have seen 4 systems installed within blocks of our home in the last 6 months, so may be they stand a chance of recouping some of the cost under the old system.

I'm just waiting for them to tax my 25 year old solar hot water heating system. There just might come a time when I may have to tap into the unused natural gas pipeline that was installed when our neighborhood was built back in 1983 as a condition for the gas utility to continue to be the supplier for the city, which has grown some 10 times in population since then. Strange as our subdivision is totally electric. Makes one wonder if those gas mains have rusted away from lack of use.

Wow, that's incredible Ric the rebates out here have dwindled over the past few years, my feed in is only 8 cents per kwh, so we have had to adjust our usage patterns, making hay while the sun shines so to speak. An off the grid solution is very attractive now and coupled with maintaining a conventional mains feed to supplement things with no feed in is now a very viable option and the technology to achieve this is now maturing.

Thanks for the feed back guys, great stuff

 

[1/2 Cup]

I just have to share my day at work.

Yesterday 4.30 pm Boss to 1/2 Cup - The generator we ordered is ready to have Factory acceptance testing tomorrow....................................in Melbourne at 9.30 ..a 2 1/2 hour drive at best, dependant on the traffic.

1/2 Cup 6.00 am arrives at work to piece together a Factory Acceptance Document, all 36 pages.

The Elves ( Civil engineers with nothing better to do ) had been at work over night, decorating some of our plant. Depicting the sleigh ( Cat excavator and JCB dump truck, complete with Santa ) and reign deer ( Mitsubishi Outlanders ) Fake snow ( geotextile fabric )



View media item 46136
A small selection of some of our plant that they had to choose from.

View media item 46135
Log on to the GJ while I am cobbling together the paper work for today, my office.

View media item 46134
Melbourne 3 hours later, our Mechanical Engineer and our new 40 kva trailer mounted gen set with load bank to test the set at full load.

View media item 46137
On the way home I stopped in to my favourite storage solution place ( Able Storage Campbellfield )and picked up some more storage containers for the Shed Downunder
Never let a chance go by..

View media item 46138
Back to the office 2 1/2 hour drive, finish my report from the testing, hit send then home at 4.30 done and dusted...

Regards

 

[sean Buick 76]

Thanks for the insight into your job, it is always interesting to see what our Garage Friends are up to!

 

[HOTFR8]

That Sleigh set up looks great. What a work day you have had.

I know , something like this...

Being another car guy would expect he needs none of that.
I think he has just lost the plot.

 

[1/2 Cup]

Thanks for the insight into your job, it is always interesting to see what our Garage Friends are up to!

Thanks Sean, I am taking a leaf out of your book here..

That Sleigh set up looks great. What a work day you have had.

Being another car guy would expect he needs none of that.
I think he has just lost the plot.

There is a Christmas decoration completion between departments at work, the guys have done an awesome job. We were going to put lights on our communications tower you see in the background of the picture but some Grinch put a stop to that one.

The gen set is actually going to Cairn Curran Reservoir to replace one that was stolen a couple of months ago and I will be down there Monday to complete the Site Acceptance testing and Commissioning.

This set is the 5th one I have Commissioned this year.

Regards

 

[1/2 Cup]

While we are on he subject of work, I was invited to the company annual awards dinner last night.

The Corporation I work for manages and maintains Bulk water storages and an irrigation network that covers a fair bit of the state of Victoria. We have a workforce some 700 strong.

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

So there is a heap of Electrical and Mechanical plant and equipment that makes all this tick, in fact we have one of the largest SCADA/ Communications networks in the Southern Hemisphere. My role as an Electrical/Mechanical Standards and Quality Coordinator is part of a large team of engineering type people that support our systems.

So I was truly humbled when it was announced that I had won the "Technical Support Person of the Year"
to be recognised by your peers like this is something pretty special..


View media item 46165

Note to file: I am not running on all 8 cylinders this morning I can tell you, the Red wine, a nice Cab - Merlot went down well with dinner.

 

[HOTFR8]

Something you did not do in 1/2's . Well done. Congratulations.
I have to keep away from Reds. They do not agree with me either.

 

[ajohno]

Congratulations on your technical support person of the year.

I read your thread and you have done a fantastic job on everything.

I can't wait till your old Ford is complete.

 

[CoopVA]

Congrats 1/2 Cup! That's fantastic!


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