Looking at an electrical plan, or reading an electrical specification, and wondering what all the abbreviations are?
Well here are some of the more common ones you may encounter, many with links to other posts:
3ph – Three Phase Power AC – Alternating Current ACU – Air Conditioning Unit CB – Circuit Breaker DC– Direct Current DH – Ducted Heating Unit DIM – Dimmer DGPO – Double General Power Outlet ECU – Evaporative Cooling Unit ELCB – Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker GPO – General Power Outlet IP – Ingess Protection. Range from a basic IP 30 (standard outlet) to IP67 (fittings to withstand total immersion in water) JB – Junction Box LV – Low Voltage LED – Light Emitting Diode HW– Hot Water Unit M – Meter MSB – Main Switchboard RA -Return Air (from Ducted Heating/Air Conditioning) RCD – Residual Current Device RF – Roof Access SB – Switchboard S – Sensor SEN – Sensor WP – Weather Proof
There is always a need for more storage space to hide away clothes, linen or household items.
Nowadays there are plenty of clever storage solutions that can be tailor-made to suit your needs and the size of your room, to make the most of any given space.
Even in the smallest of homes, storage solutions can offer you a more organised space, allowing you to make better use of the floor space you have.
Space is particularly important if you are working in a small room.
You need to be mindful that the storage doesn’t take over the entire room.
One Wall Solutions
If you need storage in a small room, a great way to make the most of the space without making it feel cluttered, is to keep the storage units to one wall.
Keeping the other walls furniture free, or certainly not filled with bulky furniture like wardrobes or drawers, will give a more airy feel and give the illusion of more open space too.
For a clean and sleek look, you could make the entire wall a storage area, with a clever and bespoke modular wardrobe that utilises every spare inch of available space for a full integrated look.
There is a variety of different options for you to choose from when it comes to modular wardrobes, and you’ll certainly be able to find one that fits in with your décor.
Be Transparent
Keeping with a simplistic theme, another great way to give the illusion of a bigger area, to prevent a small room from feeling claustrophobic, is to use free-standing shelving units.
You can choose from options such as ventilated shelves, which are made from a wire construction.
These are not only perfect for keeping your linen and clothing well aired and crease-free, but will also make for a transparent storage system that looks clutter free and saves on space too.
Without the need for a boxy frame that will take up precious space, this is a great way to maximise storage in small rooms.
Flexibility
To ensure you are getting the most from your storage space, you need to know that it has the flexibility to adapt to your changing needs.
You may decide to change the use of a storage unit and need a different functionality, so choosing a space-saving solution that is going to be adaptable is also a good investment.
With modular units, you can re-design the wardrobe to have more hanging space, or maybe more shelving units depending on your individual requirements, meaning you can make the most of your area continuously.
Style & Design
Make a small space feel bigger by avoiding using dark colours that can make an area feel oppressive.
With ventilated shelving and lighter coloured modules, you can give your room a modern and European style that looks great and is entirely functional.
Add your own personal touch to the style and design by opting for funky boxes or baskets for storing items.
This will not only give a contemporary feel but is a clever way of hiding away anything you don’t necessarily want on display.
For additional privacy, you could also add elements of closed drawers as a centrepiece in a light colour or wood effect to make a nice feature of your storage.
Whatever your style, there are plenty of ways to make the most of a small area with clever techniques and space saving solutions that look great and function even better.
I hear a lot of complaints about Water Bills . . . . . but Town Water is one of the ‘Great Bargains’ of our age!
Don’t Believe Me?
Well lets look at the facts.
Typical Water Charges
Well I live in Melbourne’s City West Water area so my water charges are:
Water Service Charge
$54.65/quarter. This is to cover things like the maintenance of the thousands of km’s of pipes that are ready to deliver the water to you.
Water Usage Charge
To encourage people to be responsible in the water usage the cost/kilolitre rises at 440 litres per day and again at 880 litres per day. (The average Melbournian uses 160 litres per day, but my wife and I are careful and only use around 100 litres each per day)
$2.3060 per kilolitre for the first 440 litres of water used per day.
$2.7241 per kilolitre for water usage above 440 and up to 880 litres per day.
$4.0749 per kilolitre for water usage above 880 litres per day.
Cost For A Family
Well the daily cost for an average family of 4 using 640 litres per day is:
1st 440 litres $1.01
2nd 200 litres $0.54
Service Charge $0.60
Total $2.15 /day (Equivalent to $3.36/kilolitre)
Remember this is for a product that has been; Collected, Stored(for up to 4 years), Treated, and Delivered to your tap exactly when you want it.
Some Comparisons
You may not be familiar with what a kilolitre really means but here are 3 equivalents.
It weighs one tonne.
It is equivalent to a cube 1m x 1m x 1m.
Just over 4 large wheelie bins.
2,000 x 500ml bottles
Comparison With Any Other Product
If you can find any other product that you can have delivered to your door for $3.36/ tonne let me know . . . even dirt costs around $60/tonne.
Comparison with Bottled Water
Well the cheapest I could find bottled water was in my local Costco, where it worked out at $500/kilolitre!
Comparison with Beer
One days water supply = the cost of 1 stubby.
Still think Town Water is expensive? . . . . Then leave a comment!
What’s that white powdery stuff that can appear on brickwork?
Well the technical name is Efflorecence
It can also appear on concrete!
What Is Efflorescence, & How Is It Caused?
Basically it is caused by water soluble salts contained in either the mortar, or the bricks.
When any water in the wall (that has dissolved the salts) comes to the surface of these building materials the water evaporates, leaving the salts on the surface.
Although the salts sometimes come from the bricks, more commonly they originate from the mortar.
Although some efflorescence may be as a result of the initial construction water; walls that are regularly wetted can have more persistent issues, for instance:
Uncapped garden walls.
Retaining walls.
Walls exposed to driving rain.
Efflorescence is more prevalent on South and East facing walls as these are colder so the moisture gets to the face of the wall. North and West facing walls are generally warmer so the water evaporates before it reaches the surface leaving the salts inside the walls.
What Can Be Done To Prevent Efflorescence?
There are several things that can be done to minimise efflorescence including:
Overall design to keep water out of the wall structure.
Specifying Mortar Joints to keep water off the wall.
Protecting bricks from weather before they are laid
Specifying low alkali cement.
Specifying Washed Sand
Using a mortar admixture to minimise the water cement ratio.
Dealing With An Existing Problem
Probably the first step when dealing with an existing problem is ensuring the wall can be kept dry.
As long as there is a path for water to get to the surface it will be very hard to deal to achieve a permanent solution as water will continue to evaporate on the surface bring out fresh salts.
When removing the actual efflorescence its best to try a stiff brush first.
If this doesn’t work you can try hand washing again using a stiff brush. (Although it is tempting to wash the soluble salts off with a pressure washer the water can penetrate into the wall and then as the brickwork dries bring further salts to the service)
The final suggestion is to use a special chemical efflorescence removal chemical. (These tend to be acid based and need to be used exactly as the manufacturers recommend)
The other night on the television I saw (at least 5 times) an advert for anti-bacterial paint.
Here are five reasons why I think this is marketing hype, and I won’t be buying it:
Personal Experience
It might have been the ‘Good Old Days’ but my children, my wife and I have all reached adulthood in good health without these ‘Wonder Products’.
Increasing Allergies
Since these products became common in the Western World the rate of allergies has boomed. . . . Coincidence? . . . Some people don’t think so!
One of the suspects of the allergy boom is that reduced exposure to infections in early childhood can lead to an increased risk of allergy in later life.
Whats Wrong with Soap and Water
Various studies including the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have failed to show there is no real advantage in these sort of products for everyday products.
The Risks of Anti-Bacterial Products
One of the most common antibacterial products is the chemical Triclosan. Studies have found that this can get into the environment which isn’t a good idea as it can harm plants and animals.
If it can harm animals what is it going to do to me long term?
Are We Creating Super Bugs?
Its interesting that Hospitals, the most enthusiastic users of Anti-Bacterial Products, seem to frequently have problems with so called Super Bugs like Golden Staph.
In case you are thinking I am coming over all ‘New Age’ I can tell you I am an enthusiastic supporter of immunisation, and anti-bacterial products in the right place. (e.g. Chlorine in public drinking water supplies has been proven to be a major health benefit)
Want to Save money by painting yourself ? . . . Check: DIY Painting first
If you have bought an outside electrical switch, light, power point, or child proof power point, you may have seen it described with an IP rating. . . . but what does the IP numbers mean?
Understanding The Numbers
Well the IP rating (Ingress Protection Rating or International Protection Rating,) consists of two digits. These are defined by the International Electrotechnical Commission(IEC) Standard 60529.
The first digit is the degree of protection against the intrusion of a solid object (fingers, needle, screwdriver, or dust)
The second digit is the degree of protection against water.
Common Protection Levels
The following are the more common IP ratings encountered.
Penetration by Solid Objects
IP 3# – An access probe of 2.5mm diameter shall not penetrate.
IP4# – An access probe of 1.0mm diameter shall not penetrate.
IP5# – Limited ingress of dust permitted (no harmful deposit)
IP6# – Totally protected against the ingress of dust
Penetration By Water
IP#0 – No protection against water damage.
IP#1 – Protection against vertical falling water
IP#2 – Protected against sprays to 15°
IP#3 – Protected against sprays to 60°
IP#4 – Protected against water splashed from all directions.
IP#5 – Protected against jets of water.
IP#6 – Protected against strong jets of water.
IP#7 – Protected against the effects of temporary immersion in water to depth of up to 1m.
IP#8 – Protected against prolonged immersion in water
Although fittings with high IP Ratings are expensive remember they are keeping you safe!
The humble Aussie backyard can be home to so many different recreational activities for the family.
It is the hub for barbecues, parties, social events, birth days, and gatherings of neighbours.
When you think about it, so much can go on in the backyard that it make sense to plan it just as much as you plan your home!
During the planning, and the construction of your new house, you should have plenty of time to plan and sketch out some ideas.
You need to make sure that your backyard is a reflection of who you are and how you want to live.
So here are some thoughts:
Go Zen
I like an area where I can sit peacefully and have time for reflection.
You can go all the way with a traditional Japanese garden like this, but the key is try to have a natural look to the garden and keep it simple.
Go for shrubs and ground cover plants rather than flowerbeds . . . . It’s not relaxing to sit and think about weeding the garden beds!
Make sure you provide a seat that is protected from the sun and rain.
Getting Wet
If being active is high on your list of garden activities, than you might think about putting a pool in.
You only have to fly into most Australian cities to see how popular pools are!
IF you don’t have the space for a pool then you could think about something like a Spa.
Spas will fit into remarkably small spots, and if you go for a swim spa you’ll be able to swim for as long and as hard as you like!
Even if you aren’t interested in a pool the sound of running water can be relaxing so it might be worth thinking about a fountainn or a decorative pond.
Think About The Children
The two issues about gardens and children are keeping them safe, and having somewhere to play
Keeping them Safe
If you go for a pool remember that drowning is a real risk.
For all new pool installations you will be required to provide childproof fencing which is great.
It will be up to you however to make sure you don’t compromise the safety by placing furniture next to the fencing which will allow a child to climb the fence.
Somewhere To Play
Most young children love to run around so having an area of lawn is always good, as the occasional fall shouldn’t cause an injury.
Some play equipment or a cubby house are also things to consider.
Entertaining Area
If you like to entertain, a deck is an option well worth considering.
You can take it to the extreme if you really want to, but just make sure you have the basics of shade, some comfortable furniture, good lighting and – of course – a barbecue
If it all sounds a bit too much for your budget then just buy a basic furniture and Barbeque and upgrade when you can!
Whatever you do, make sure your backyard will be fun, and involve the whole family.
