What have you fixed lately?

[heero_yuy]

Two fixes today:

Refurbished two very old solar rock-lights. New higher power resin coated solar cells, new electronics which is basically a 4 lead chip and a small choke to replace a whole printed circuit that had basically rotted away and down to a single 2500mahr AA cell. Batteries in the charger and then out they go.

Here's what the solar cells look like:
solar_cell.jpg About 55x45 mm

See how much silicon there is in them unlike the trash they use these days. A quick test shows over 100ma at 2v in morning sun. Spec says 150ma at full blast. I got quite a few, as they were so cheap, for some projects I have in mind.

Got the filters out of the dishwasher, totally blocked up with gunge which explains why it was misbehaving. Plenty of elbow grease and they're now nice and clean. Once we have enough dishes I'll run a test.

[heero_yuy]

Got the last solar lamp going. Thought it was terminal but bodged the battery compartment and took out the on-off switch and shorted it and hey presto it still goes.

[Osem]

Well done you. So satisfying when you can resurrect something.

[heero_yuy]

Originally Posted by Osem

Well done you. So satisfying when you can resurrect something.

It was the last one sitting forlornly on the book case. Was also the one that had been nibbled by something like a fox.

Glad to have given it a new lease of life.

[Uncle Peter]

Originally Posted by heero_yuy

Got the last solar lamp going. Thought it was terminal but bodged the battery compartment and took out the on-off switch and shorted it and hey presto it still goes.

I've been in the garden most of the evening doing the very same but as soon as I managed to sort one out another turned up in some remote recess of the garden. There are about 6 for the bin unfortunately.

Going to crank my antenna tower back up at the weekend so I wouldn't mind another set of those string lights to run up there if there's any way you can get a 60 odd foot length of them going

[progers]

Combi microwave stopped microwaving, took cover off, took out two fuses, tested them, both OK so back in and cover back on, now works fine!

Mrs R most disappointed, was looking forward to having a nice new microwave!

[heero_yuy]

Originally Posted by progers

Combi microwave stopped microwaving, took cover off, took out two fuses, tested them, both OK so back in and cover back on, now works fine!

Mrs R most disappointed, was looking forward to having a nice new microwave!

I'm sure a lot of perfectly good microwaves go to the dump because the internal fuse(s) has failed.

[Uncle Peter]

Re-aligned the freesat dish that serves the spare bedrooms.

Also, not quite sure this qualifies as fixing something but just pruned the holly bush (tree more like) that was taking over one corner of the garden. Will be fun disposing of the old branches and leaves. A job for my mate with a trailer.

[heero_yuy]

Originally Posted by heero_yuy

Got the filters out of the dishwasher, totally blocked up with gunge which explains why it was misbehaving. Plenty of elbow grease and they're now nice and clean. Once we have enough dishes I'll run a test.

Fully fixed, machine ran faultlessly this afternoon. Must keep an eye on those filters.

[Osem]

Originally Posted by heero_yuy

Fully fixed, machine ran faultlessly this afternoon. Must keep an eye on those filters.

It's easier to lick your plates clean...

[heero_yuy]

Originally Posted by Osem

It's easier to lick your plates clean...

Maybe we need to get a dog.

Actually I do rinse loose stuff off plates and pre-soak greasy things and rinse them but the gunge still builds up.

[Tinky]

Twist n lock shower caddy bought from E Bay kept falling off the wall, bought 2 self stick hooks and, keep fingers crossed, problem solved.

[Uncle Peter]

Had the car serviced the other week and they put this nasty Chevron detergent additive in which is a complete waste of time because most premium fuel has this by default. Anyway it knocked the fuel trim and timing adjustments in the ECU all over the place. Just given it good old spirited blast around the local twisties as most of the crap must have burned off and everything's now ok and coming on boost as it should.... otherwise it would have been a trip to the naughty step with the cable and laptop.

[heero_yuy]

Can't beat a good Italian service.

I remember my father getting a very nice mini that had had an old lady driver: It wouldn't do more than 50MPH, after dad had thrashed it up to Horsham and back it would do 80!

[rhyds]

Diesels are especially receptive to a good thrashing. You can always tell when a car that usually lives in town has come to visit us in North Wales by the acrid clouds of shizzle chucked out of the back when the car starts climbing hills.