OT: General OT Thread [NO POLITICS, RACE OR RELIGION]

[stellation]

I haven't finished my Christmas shopping and this dude's talking about hot-wiring my cellar.

Everyone left to buy for, irrespective of age and tastes, gets a bottle of gin.

[Kerb Hohl]

Yeah, I may look into the DIY stuff. I'll call an electrician and see what they would ask price-wise.

Maybe I'll switch to a stationary bike...it's just easier to multitask and do a treadmill while working since I have no time with little kids.

[jschligs]

Was gifted Aviation Gin as a gift. It’s ok, but was reading a review where they said it almost had a taste of root beer and now I cannot stop tasting that. I’ll drink the bottle but it’s Hendricks for me.

[ReasonablySober]

To me gin is all about what you're gonna use it for. I like Hendricks, but I wouldn't buy it if I'm gonna have a dirty martini, and that's been my go-to cocktail over the last month or so.

[ReginaldDwight]

Unfinished basement? Now is the time to run a new circuit. Quite easy for a DIYer. At a minimum, you can run the wiring, put in a new box, add the receptacle (20A please), & hire an electrician to make the connections in the breaker box. Once the wire is there at the panel, it's probably a 15 minute job max. You can do it yourself if you have a main breaker in the panel & can turn it off. Then the only thing "hot" in the panel are the 2 main lugs at the top where the feed comes in. But if you're hesitant, your electrician would probably only charge his minimum fee for coming out (assuming you provide the materials). Perfect time to learn a new skill! Good luck.

Thing is that hot will kill you if you **** up, Im pretty handy, i leave the panel work to an actual pro.

[ReasonablySober]

I replaced a car battery last month and I was pretty proud of myself.

Less so when I found out the battery wasn't the problem and I wasted almost $200.

[Mags FTW]

Was it the alternator?

[jute2003]

Was it the alternator?

Seat belt actually

[Mags FTW]

Was it the alternator?

Seat belt actually

Reminded me of this classic Kids in the Hall sketch.

https://youtu.be/rryQfAnQs3M?si=n4jGRJaalTelswrX

[ReasonablySober]

Was it the alternator?

I know absolutely nothing about cars. It was the timing chain. Expensive as **** to replace.

[vital_signs]

I replaced a car battery last month and I was pretty proud of myself.

Less so when I found out the battery wasn't the problem and I wasted almost $200.

I recently helped my gf change hers and was proud as well. One of my biggest regrets from my childhood is not paying attention to adults trying to teach me basic car maintenance. I can't even change a headlight ffs.

[Mags FTW]

I replaced a car battery last month and I was pretty proud of myself.

Less so when I found out the battery wasn't the problem and I wasted almost $200.

I recently helped my gf change hers and was proud as well. One of my biggest regrets from my childhood is not paying attention to adults trying to teach me basic car maintenance. I can't even change a headlight ffs.

Youtube is great for all of that kind of stuff.

When it first got cold this fall our house was freezing. I looked through the vents on our furnace and observed that the burners would turn on for about a minute and then shut off. We scheduled an appointment to have it looked at, but in the meantime I browsed YT looking for a possible solution.

Found a video explaining that there is a rod that acts as a sensor to detect that your burners are on. If it doesn't detect them, it shuts off everything so the compartment doesn't flood with gas. Apparently, you are supposed to clean this rod once a year because sulphur can build up on it causing it to no longer detect the burners.

I took off the panel, cleaned it with a soft scouring pad, and got it working. Saved whatever the minimum house call fee would've been.

[MickeyDavis]

Years ago I had an old Buick beater. One cold morning it wouldn't start. Thought it might need a jump but I couldn't find the battery. Weird AF. Found out it was under the back (bench) seat. Seat lifted up and there was the battery.

[Finn]

Unfinished basement? Now is the time to run a new circuit. Quite easy for a DIYer. At a minimum, you can run the wiring, put in a new box, add the receptacle (20A please), & hire an electrician to make the connections in the breaker box. Once the wire is there at the panel, it's probably a 15 minute job max. You can do it yourself if you have a main breaker in the panel & can turn it off. Then the only thing "hot" in the panel are the 2 main lugs at the top where the feed comes in. But if you're hesitant, your electrician would probably only charge his minimum fee for coming out (assuming you provide the materials). Perfect time to learn a new skill! Good luck.

Thing is that hot will kill you if you **** up, Im pretty handy, i leave the panel work to an actual pro.

Of course. But it can be done safely if you know what you're doing. My buddy works on everything w/o killing the power. I learned most of what I know from him but I do flip the breaker off as needed. And I've been inside the breaker panel but I tripped the main prior to taking off the cover. Connecting a breaker to a new circuit is not difficult at all.

All kinds of ways to kill yourself if you screw up. But there's no reason to be afraid of stuff if you know your limitations.

[jute2003]

I replaced a car battery last month and I was pretty proud of myself.

Less so when I found out the battery wasn't the problem and I wasted almost $200.

I recently helped my gf change hers and was proud as well. One of my biggest regrets from my childhood is not paying attention to adults trying to teach me basic car maintenance. I can't even change a headlight ffs.

Youtube is great for all of that kind of stuff.

When it first got cold this fall our house was freezing. I looked through the vents on our furnace and observed that the burners would turn on for about a minute and then shut off. We scheduled an appointment to have it looked at, but in the meantime I browsed YT looking for a possible solution.

Found a video explaining that there is a rod that acts as a sensor to detect that your burners are on. If it doesn't detect them, it shuts off everything so the compartment doesn't flood with gas. Apparently, you are supposed to clean this rod once a year because sulphur can build up on it causing it to no longer detect the burners.

I took off the panel, cleaned it with a soft scouring pad, and got it working. Saved whatever the minimum house call fee would've been.

Car forums are a great resource as well. You can type in your symptoms and 100 other people have had the same problem and at least a couple have detailed exactly how to fix it.

[ReginaldDwight]

I replaced a car battery last month and I was pretty proud of myself.

Less so when I found out the battery wasn't the problem and I wasted almost $200.

I recently helped my gf change hers and was proud as well. One of my biggest regrets from my childhood is not paying attention to adults trying to teach me basic car maintenance. I can't even change a headlight ffs.

Youtube is great for all of that kind of stuff.

When it first got cold this fall our house was freezing. I looked through the vents on our furnace and observed that the burners would turn on for about a minute and then shut off. We scheduled an appointment to have it looked at, but in the meantime I browsed YT looking for a possible solution.

Found a video explaining that there is a rod that acts as a sensor to detect that your burners are on. If it doesn't detect them, it shuts off everything so the compartment doesn't flood with gas. Apparently, you are supposed to clean this rod once a year because sulphur can build up on it causing it to no longer detect the burners.

I took off the panel, cleaned it with a soft scouring pad, and got it working. Saved whatever the minimum house call fee would've been.

Common part to go bad, thermal pyle also the main cause of gas fireplaces not working.

[M-C-G]

Electricians or enthusiasts: I posted treadmill issues probably like a year ago. I have an unfinished basement and in the corner I've utilized a treadmill or walking pad while I work. At least that's the goal. I had a legitimate treadmill have overheating issues several times, even with new motors. They eventually refunded me. I then bought a cheap walking pad - it just conked out after I pushed its limits after a few months.

I know that directly plugging into the wall is what treadmill manufacturers suggest. I technically didn't do that and ran it on an appliance extension cord. However, I tried to move the **** by the wall and had similar issues.

I want to try another treadmill/walking pad or may switch to a bike. But I just realized that perhaps my problem is that the circuit I'm hooked up to is the one that runs through the water softener/heater/some of the HVAC stuff that needs power, etc...is this my problem? I am seeing these sorts of devices should have a dedicated circuit.

Is this my issue? I just don't want to burn out yet another device. My only option since this is the spot in the house for this would I guess (?) be to run another dedicated circuit out?

I work for a developer in construction and our building standard is to have all major appliances and HVAC equipment on dedicated circuits. I'll say, that's a hefty load to have on (1) circuit. Do you find it trips often? You'll need to ensure you have enough room on your panel to add circuits, then you will need to run all new wires to your receptacles, which can also get incredibly pricey. Good luck!

I should be more clear. This is a new house and I think it's fine. I don't think I articulated it well. Once I looked at the panel - the furnace is on its own circuit, AC is on its own circuit. Sump pump is on its own. This is fine.

I think the one in question is labeled "basement mech" and has the softener (doesn't drain much), water heater (it's gas but I think that draws a pretty large amount when running), and maybe the humidifier/air system seems like it may be attached. It's hard to tell but I could test it out. I also believe this one runs to a few outlets where I have a basement TV/my laptop is plugged in for my basement office, and the treadmill also was and was causing issues.

Someday (but not yet) we'll have the basement finished, so yeah, having an electrician come out and give me one more dedicated circuit would suck if it's expensive they're going to be back in 3 years when we finish the basement.

Two things,
1. I built a house 6 years ago and had to replace three or four fuses because they were cheap and malfunctioning
2. Anyone that has a treadmill, make sure you are waxing the deck every so often. If you don’t and the belt is too tight it puts enormous strain on the motor


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[stellation]

Christmas Eve here, we’re having our little family thing at home today then off to see family on the 25th (and the other side on the 27th). Currently taking part in my annual tradition of trying to remember how long it will take to cook a bone in, giant ham in a Weber (coals).

Every year I say I have to make notes, every year I don’t.

[KidA24]

Christmas Eve here, we’re having our little family thing at home today then off to see family on the 25th (and the other side on the 27th). Currently taking part in my annual tradition of trying to remember how long it will take to cook a bone in, giant ham in a Weber (coals).

Every year I say I have to make notes, every year I don’t.

Less than 36 hours at 740 C.

That's my only tip.

[ReasonablySober]

Christmas Eve here, we’re having our little family thing at home today then off to see family on the 25th (and the other side on the 27th). Currently taking part in my annual tradition of trying to remember how long it will take to cook a bone in, giant ham in a Weber (coals).

Every year I say I have to make notes, every year I don’t.

That sounds so awesome.