What did you do today?

[J Tiers]

shrinkage happens as we get older

I understand that is also associated with leakage issues, these had none........

[TGTool]

shrinkage happens as we get older

Yeah, happened to me too. I hear there's a pill for that though.

[gambler]

[QUOTE=PStechPaul;1226410]This was when I was replacing the rotted mud sills, studs, and joists, as well as rebuilding much of the rear foundation wall, which is mostly below grade. The house was 100 years old when I bought it in 1977, and at that time I had plenty of energy and enthusiasm to tackle such undertakings. Around 1983 I developed back problems and I abandoned the project while I moved back to Towson to live with my mother and brother after my father died. In 1989 I bought the house next to this one, expecting it to be in better condition, but it had many of the same problems that had been covered over. Also in 1989 I became self-employed and money was tight. My brother and his buddies helped with a complete renovation project, including supply and drain plumbing (both houses used a hand-dug shallow well and had outhouses).

My back problems got worse and I couldn't get health insurance so my ability to work was limited and money remained tight. In 1996 my mother died and my brother got into drinking and drugs and depression, and I moved back here in 1999. I had to take legal action to get my brother out of the house in Towson and I renovated it (because he really trashed it), and sold it in 2005, but because of the legal action with my brother I had to pay about $30,000 short term capital gains tax, so I didn't get as much out of the sale as I had hoped. So now I have had four orthopedic operations over the last six years and things are better, but being almost 70 and on SSA means I don't have enough energy or money to finish many projects. And I also admit I am lazy.

pspaul. I always want to post and ask if you ever take a break. I don't think you are lazy, you do more then most younger people I know. relax, you have earned it. you don't have to explain anything, you're doing fine, take care.

[PStechPaul]

When the power went out last Sunday, I went to use my rechargeable work light that I've had for 10 years or so, and found it was dead.


I took it apart, found the AA NiMH batteries were bad (all except one), so I replaced it with three others I had on hand. Seems to work OK now, but I don't know if I should leave it on charge as I had, or just charge overnight and test every couple months or so.







It did not go back together very well. I think one of the wires to the lamp section got jammed in the hinge. But otherwise it works OK. I had thought about replacing the 3.7 VDC NiMH pack with a single 18650 lithium cell, but it would not fit very well and the charging circuit would not be right.

[Noitoen]

3.7 v is a good candidate for a lithium cell replacement. You can get those with the integrated protection chip

[Cenedd]

I took it apart, found the AA NiMH batteries were bad (all except one), so I replaced it with three others I had on hand. Seems to work OK now, but I don't know if I should leave it on charge as I had, or just charge overnight and test every couple months or so.
I had thought about replacing the 3.7 VDC NiMH pack with a single 18650 lithium cell, but it would not fit very well and the charging circuit would not be right.

Pretty sure that these will be similar to laptops: If you leave it permanently on charge the battery will die (unless charging circuit really smart). If you don't charge them, they will die. If you constantly cycle them....they'll die. What is it one of the members signatures says? "You can't win...and there is a penalty for trying"!

As (I believe) a direct drop-in replacement, you could try Eneloop batteries. They're still NiMH but they're rated to have something like 80% of their charge left after a year of storage. Same AA form factor too so they'll fit.

[PStechPaul]

I think I'll just keep these cells installed until there is another problem. I would use a lithium cell but I don't think it would fit very well and the charging circuit really should be designed for that, even for a protected cell. I found a manual for this light and it recommends that it should be charged no longer than 8 hours at a time. I guess leaving it on charge for ten years was a bit too much. I really don't know just when the last time it actually worked. A while ago I noticed that the light was on, but it was still on the charger, and I didn't think to remove it to test it until the power went out. The cells I used to replace the originals were some that I had in a container of batteries, and they were probably sitting for a year or more, but still had enough charge to operate the light for a short time, so they are obviously pretty good. I have some others that still show at least 0.8 VDC and mostly 1.10-1.25 VDC. I used to use them in my Nikon L22 camera but I found it more convenient to use inexpensive alkaline cells. However, they are not recyclable and I'd rather be as "green" as possible.

http://documents.dewalt.com/documents/English/Instruction%20Manual/Vector/VEC164.pdf

[vpt]

Battery tools suck! Flashlights are no exception.

I buy 10 packs of those little led flash lights. Seams within a year most are missing and the two that I can find either don't work or are missing parts.


But a 10 pound oil lamp never goes anywhere and works every time.

[mattthemuppet]

Low self discharge AA batteries (like eneloop) are what you need for that application. If you ever do want to swap out the cells let me know and I'll post you a lion cell and USB charging board

[Tim The Grim]

I replaced the cartridge on our TACO 006 potable hot water recirculating pump.
Replacement pump itself goes anywhere from $205 > $335.
Local distributor was $307. Their website had an exploded dwg. showing a cartridge and part #.
Amazon had the cartridge for $100.50 delivered. Binford Supply - recommended.
Whoever plumbed the house when built did not provide isolation valves so fully draining the hot water heater was required.
Once that was done it was 4 screws, the cartridge pops out, replace an o-ring and reassemble. Back to being quiet as a mouse. The old impeller was in pieces.
I figure I saved a couple hundred or more.

[J Tiers]

......
Whoever plumbed the house when built did not provide isolation valves so fully draining the hot water heater was required.
.......

They never seem to put in stuff like that..... HVAC and plumbers always seem to try to save a few cents here and there. Dollars they scream about. And, of course. the customer pays the price. Twice. Once to do the poor job, one to fix it.

Neighbor paid to have new copper pie put in.... says so right on the contract.

So...... what did they ACTUALLY put in? Yep, they put in PEX, with the cheap connectors, and made her pay for copper.

They did not know that her niece is a lawyer.... that cost saving actually cost them double th price they were paid. But most people might have never known the difference.

[vpt]

the hot water heater was required.
.

Did they at least put one on your water heater? Sometimes the water will drain back threw the water heater from the hot water heater.

[plastikosmd]

Got a bit more snow. Bit much for the 3 wheelers but fun for the Argo. The new (utv) Jeep also had a workout. (Yes I know it is March and the Xmas lights are still up!)

[Cenedd]

"You see Dear? I TOLD you we needed to buy an Argo!" Am I right?

Substitute "Argo" with Lathe/Mill/Mitre Saw/Surface Grinder/Shaper as appropriate

[Dan Dubeau]

Argo's are a lot of fun. My Uncle had a 6x6 when we were growing up. You wont get there fast, but you'll get there for sure. Almost bought it off him a couple years ago when we bought our place, and kind of wish I did. It needed a bit of work to get going again, and I didn't want another project at the time. Plus I'd rather have an 8x8 anyway. Great for ice fishing.