What's made you not grumpy but not smile either today?

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

I got into the habit of flashing any large overtaking vehicle once it's cleared the front of my vehicle when we had the Dyane. - Artics, long wheel base lorries, caravans, anything longer/bigger than a standard Transit really - and I've just kept up the habit. I find most are grateful and appreciatively give a flash of the hazard lights in acknowledgement.

I don't tend to left indicate if just doing a normal overtake on a 2 lane highway - I do right indicate when starting the manoeuver. I pretty much always indicate appropriately on multilane highways - Motorways, dual carriageways etc - when changing lane either left or right just because I feel it clarifies my intentions amongst the generally fast moving vehicles.

Edit. My Ibiza has the "soft trigger" 3 flash indicators which gives 3 flashes of the indicator lights if you just partially pull the lever - not far enough to lock it on. I first came across this in the States and I really like it. I use it most for doing that left flash after overtaking.

 

[The Panda Nut]

After a lot of thought I have decided to get solar panels installed. Fortunately my brother bought some 10 years ago and can report on performance and output / money returned. I had a visit from a local firm who confirmed my garage roof is "the dream situation". Unshaded, facing due south and at the right angle. Being single storey with easy access all round there hopefiullu will be no extra costs. Quote for a 4.5kw system is 8750. We seem to use about 5400kw/hr a yr and from my brothers 1st hand experience it seems likely we can generate towards 3000kw/hr a year so the savings should be worth the out lay particularly as inflation is eating the money while we watch. For interest his original system was a 1.6kw installation and over 10 years its averaged 1400kw/hr a year output. The new panels he had installed 2 years ago are nearly twice the output. I shall put up some information as it arises on the progress of the project, and what the costs and gains are for information. Its not the best documented thing in terms of hearing actual figures and cost benefits. Hopefully htis side of christmas the job should be complete. There is of course a queue.

 

[StevenRB45]

After a lot of thought I have decided to get solar panels installed. Fortunately my brother bought some 10 years ago and can report on performance and output / money returned. I had a visit from a local firm who confirmed my garage roof is "the dream situation". Unshaded, facing due south and at the right angle. Being single storey with easy access all round there hopefiullu will be no extra costs. Quote for a 4.5kw system is 8750. We seem to use about 5400kw/hr a yr and from my brothers 1st hand experience it seems likely we can generate towards 3000kw/hr a year so the savings should be worth the out lay particularly as inflation is eating the money while we watch. For interest his original system was a 1.6kw installation and over 10 years its averaged 1400kw/hr a year output. The new panels he had installed 2 years ago are nearly twice the output. I shall put up some information as it arises on the progress of the project, and what the costs and gains are for information. Its not the best documented thing in terms of hearing actual figures and cost benefits. Hopefully htis side of christmas the job should be complete. There is of course a queue.

You know I'd be interested given the back of the house is south facing and we have an angled roof.

In theory we could have more than 50% of the house footprint in solar panels. But one of those things that keeps going down the road. Given we're probably going to end up getting forced into what will be a horrifically inefficient heat pump with the house being 100 years old may well be an idea!

 

[The Panda Nut]

Well I can say its 11 panels 1.7x1 included and the price is from an electrical supplier who moved into this after doing installs on new builds the price if itholds seems very competitive. I did try one of the big advertisers but got so much BS in the first call I politely asked them not to contact me again! My one concern it the hose to garage cable rating which I dont think is adequate in spite of being told initially that it is. We shall see. Its only about 10m away so shouldnt be a deal breaker.

 

[s130]

After a lot of thought I have decided to get solar panels installed. Fortunately my brother bought some 10 years ago and can report on performance and output / money returned. I had a visit from a local firm who confirmed my garage roof is "the dream situation". Unshaded, facing due south and at the right angle. Being single storey with easy access all round there hopefiullu will be no extra costs. Quote for a 4.5kw system is 8750. We seem to use about 5400kw/hr a yr and from my brothers 1st hand experience it seems likely we can generate towards 3000kw/hr a year so the savings should be worth the out lay particularly as inflation is eating the money while we watch. For interest his original system was a 1.6kw installation and over 10 years its averaged 1400kw/hr a year output. The new panels he had installed 2 years ago are nearly twice the output. I shall put up some information as it arises on the progress of the project, and what the costs and gains are for information. Its not the best documented thing in terms of hearing actual figures and cost benefits. Hopefully htis side of christmas the job should be complete. There is of course a queue.

I've been looking into this a well before I moved. Different ball game now.

That said my neighbour across the road (two story house) was happy etc. with these more modern panels that use micro inverters. One inverter per panel and each can be monitored for individual panel performance.

The one this she and her other half (builder) said is that they wished they were advised about birds, doves, pigeons nesting underneath the panels and had guards installed at the same time as the panels. So you may with to ask about this, or it could be standard practice these days. Not a problem with new builds as the panels are integrated into the roof like velux windows are.

Having moved to a bungalow myself I also wonder about panel theft, or attempted theft due to far easier access than a two or more story roof line. Again worth investigating likely hood and insurance.

In these tight times theft seems to be on the increase. Just after moving into our new home some bastards pulled 2km of 1000 (or was it 2000 need to check) pairs telephone trunk cable out of the roadside ducting. Took Open Reach 6 weeks to repair the damage and get our phones back running again.

 

[varesecrazy]

I was not sold on Solar..
But I used the 'not for profit' energy charities online calculator

I have a rear garden in an elevated position..facing due south .. perfect

( I was contemplating a 'tracking system'... but gains are not all that big considering the hassle)

A run of the mill fixed system would be @£8,500 and if all the ducks lined up

Still working from home.. so could use power hungry stuff at lunchtime.. etc

It would 'only' take 15 years to break even

None of the companies offer ' insurance backed guarantees' that run into that kind of period..

So quite a financial gamble from my perspective..

Having a car to charge would have a bigger effect of course

 

[The Panda Nut]

I was not sold on Solar..
But I used the 'not for profit' energy charities online calculator

I have a rear garden in an elevated position..facing due south .. perfect

( I was contemplating a 'tracking system'... but gains are not all that big considering the hassle)

A run of the mill fixed system would be @£8,500 and if all the ducks lined up

Still working from home.. so could use power hungry stuff at lunchtime.. etc

It would 'only' take 15 years to break even

None of the companies offer ' insurance backed guarantees' that run into that kind of period..

So quite a financial gamble from my perspective..

Having a car to charge would have a bigger effect of course

My brother has had his first batch 12 years now. I asked about problems and any maintenance. He has had no problems. The panels have a slight reduction in efficiency but he admits they are covered in bird pooh and need a clean. They have no maintenance requirenments but he is getting plagued by poeple trying to sell him maintenance packages. I think the appeal is that I can run my air con unit without feeling guilty in hot weather, surplus energy goes into the grid and helps reduc fossil fuel use there. There will be a small payback for this but only 5p/kwhr. Inflation will eat my savings anyway so its a small hedge back against that and energy prices are going only one way.... unless we are very very lucky so pay back could be significantly quicker than you expect. I will post the whole story as it unfolds.

 

[The Panda Nut]

Originally I was thinking wind generator. Close insection of the house shows the previous owners removed the outer skin of the cavity wall uip to about 8 feet high to make the kitchen extension bigger! I know that brickwork above is immensley strong having put a door in it but you have to wonderhow people who are so thick make it to adulthood. We are going to redo the kitchen soon and I will put some proper support under the top part of the wall while things are stripped out. Its been unsupported for 45 years so I am not panicing.

 

[portland_bill]

Our current car scored 4...because at the time they didn't supply AEB as standard although now it is (thankfully ours does not have it as the few encounters I've had with it in other cars it seems more likely it'll take exception to a large flower at the end of your drive way than help you avoid anything dangerous).

AEB (Autonomous Emergency Braking) only operates above a low threshold, and up to about 30 mph. Below the threshold (about 5mph on some models) it will not operate, to allow parking close to the garage wall or garden fence, etc. Above the threshold, it will react to anything, so a large flower at the end of the drive will activate it, but testing this may bring disappointment.
When AEB operates, it is violent, as it has to wait until the last moment, so as not to intervene unnecessarily. On a manual car, it will stall it. Can be tested heading towards something soft, like a sheet between two posts, or a large cardboard box, etc. Been there, done that. Well controlled on an airfield, with other trainers. Not pleasant, but worthwhile.
Above the max speed of the system it will not operate, as the radar cannot see far enough, and if it did, it would panic at everything, that a good driver would realise would disappear before they got there.
AEB will also not operate if the closing speed is greater than the vehicle speed. (Might take a moment to get your head around that) If you are approachig a wall, the approach speed is the same as the vehicle speed. If you are catching a vehicle ahead, the approach speed is less than the vehicle speed, but the system may still be needed.
If you are approaching another vehicle head-on, the appraoch speed will be greater than your vehicle's speed. You may think this is just the time when you need warning or help, but you will only get the warning. Imagine approaching a double-bend, at some point you are head-on with traffic, but both will steer around the bend without fuss. You do not need the AEB to stop you, or both of you. As it only has radar, not eyes and a brain, it has to be set to ignore such occurences.
Theoretically, that means a pedestrian moving towards you will get squashed.

 

[vexorg]

When AEB operates, it is violent, as it has to wait until the last moment, so as not to intervene unnecessarily.

You also forgot randomly in the operation, clear roads randomly trigger the nissan system.
Or I've also had it tell me off when approaching stopped cars at say a roundabout, with my foot on the brake at enough force to easily stop before hitting the car.

I t has about 3 different lights and warnings for collision that it's just ignored now. A bit like the lane warning on country roads, just ignored, it really doesn't like that when I drive at speed along them.

 

[StevenRB45]

AEB (Autonomous Emergency Braking) only operates above a low threshold, and up to about 30 mph. Below the threshold (about 5mph on some models) it will not operate, to allow parking close to the garage wall or garden fence, etc. Above the threshold, it will react to anything, so a large flower at the end of the drive will activate it, but testing this may bring disappointment.

The reason for the example was a friend of mine was marooned on his drive briefly with that very situation in a Golf 6.

He thought it was reacting to the gate posts so kept reversing back, changing the angle and it kept stopping dead.

At attempt 4 he got out and realised a large dandelion plant was immobilising the car.

These systems are great in a test environment...but you don't drive in a test environment and having the car come to a crashing halt because a bit of cardboard got caught in the wind is not ideal. Same with the lane keeping gear....

It's getting to the point that cars are like horses..the rider is theoretically in control, but it can have other ideas.

 

[portland_bill]

A thought on the solar panels. A house opposite has some, and there are several doves nesting under them. They make a noise like pigeons, cooing incessantly. I can hear them across the road, so they must be really annoying in their house. I was surprised there was no mesh around them to prevent such nesting.

 

[portland_bill]

A little trip, 7 miles each way. Returning to the Panda, there was a guy holding his son up high, spinning him around, as fathers seem to do with small children. Boy, I guess was about 3. Sad thing, due to concentrating on playing with his child, he was not paying attention to his location, so was in the middle of the road. An approaching car, slowed, puzzled, waited, then parped once. Father nearly dropped his son, realised his situation and headed across to his car.
He then decided to sit his son on the car roof. A black Galaxy people carrier. As he lifted his son towards teh roof, I thought, "won't that be hot?" Moments later, the kid screamed, but of course, was unable to say what the problem was. I was close by then, so spoke loudly, "I guess the roof might be hot." First reaction from teh guy was to give me a filthy look, then his second brain cell chimed in with the first, and he put a hand on the car roof, momentarily, as it was too hot to touch for longer. He did react a little quicker then as he lifted his screaming son off the roof. Hopefully he sought medical attention quickly. Kid was wearing shorts, so his thighs above the knee were probably seriously burnt. Hopefully the dad will remember that for the rest of his life, I'm sure his wife will, as I guess they were waiting for her. At least, at that age, the kid will probably not remember.

Then, half-way home, tyre noise increased, back end went wobbly. Stopped gently on a gravel lay-by. Offside rear tyre flat.
Somewhere earlier there was discussion about old tyres perishing. These tyres are getting old, but the valve perished, not the tyre. Split near base of stem. Space-saver spare fitted, first time it has been on the road since the car was new. 16 years.
Was still running the winters, as still intending to de-rust and paint the summer wheels, hence the tyres lasting a long time, only getting half a year of wear. So it'll be summers on tomorrow, without being painted, and new valves for all 8, after a careful inspection. I suppose normally valves aren't an issue, as they get changed with tyres.

 

[vexorg]

A friend bought a new house with solar panels fitted, they didn't come with a battery, so they only benefit when in on a sunny day, and very little benefit when noth are home in the evening and need to use electricity!

 

[s130]

A friend bought a new house with solar panels fitted, they didn't come with a battery, so they only benefit when in on a sunny day, and very little benefit when noth are home in the evening and need to use electricity!

Yes often forgotten. You have to be using the electricity when it is able to be generated OR have a battery store to charge up up ready for your use.

If you have no store then what you generate goes to the grid (unless you are an off grid system) and you get paid whatever your Feed-In Tariff (to March 2013) or Smart Export Guarantee (from March rates are. I believe the original FIT rates were initially very good but were reduced over the years. I suspect today's SEG rates are not very generous.

Battery systems for Solar are quite/very expensive so you have to make the most of them during their lifetime vs just getting SEG money. The maths for this could get interesting?

 

[vexorg]

I suspect today's SEG rates are not very generous.

Battery systems for Solar are quite/very expensive so you have to make the most of them during their lifetime vs just getting SEG money. The maths for this could get interesting?

You get next to nothing now for exporting back to the grid, and it is limited. The real benefit is offsetting your usage.

Batteries are around £4,500, he still trying to do the maths to see if it's going to be beneficial.

 

[The Panda Nut]

At attempt 4 he got out and realised a large dandelion plant was immobilising the car.

That would be a German dan de lion! Much scarier than a standard british one. That'll learn him for not buying a Panda!

 

[The Panda Nut]

I have had the Panda with CBC for 3 years and not many miles. (13000). The system has only intervened once when someone cut me up on a roundabout and I decided to see just how close I could get at speed. The car decided I was being bad and slowed it down so I couldnt get inside 6 feet. Apart from that I would not know its there. It might just stop me from rear ending someone in traffic as I get doddery. Not that that will ever happen to ME of course. As it gains nothing for insurnace purposes I have a mind to take the fuse out! The best bit of having it is the car being able to give other cars the evil eye.

 

[StevenRB45]

Found somewhere on a day out selling fuel 4p cheaper than locally..don't mind if I do.

However looking at fuelly I've spent 1100 quid on fuel since February..I used to spend between 1000-1500 a year.

 

[portland_bill]

Found somewhere on a day out selling fuel 4p cheaper than locally..don't mind if I do.

However looking at fuelly I've spent 1100 quid on fuel since February..I used to spend between 1000-1500 a year.

Now you're running only one car, you are putting most of the fuel in?