New Grump of the Day

[fernicarry]

If the lights here weren't controlled by the computer they would be on 24x7x365. My co-residents seem to be under the impression that doors and windows can only be opened and lights can only be turned on.

Its just done with scripts and cron jobs and X10 controllers. Been meaning to get HA set up for a very long time now.

 

[Cubist]

I just know I'm going to regret this but - did any of you guys see the article published the other day, on the BBC News web-site, concerning using a domestic Data Centre as a home heating system?

'I heat my Essex home with a data centre in the shed'

"It's fantastic because it's eco-friendly...We're not burning any gases," says Terrence Bridges.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[LadyArowana]

An electric blanket and/or a throw along with a cat or two should help to keep you toasty. Works for me.
Mind you, if I stoke up the stove in the lounge in an evening, it can get above 25°C in there even with the door wide open.

Oh yes I have the electric blanket, and the fleecy PJ’s, and the Oodie, and the duvet, have never tried putting the thermostat up to 25°, perhaps that’s where I’m going wrong. His Lordship is in charge of the Heatmiser system, but I know how to override it from the in-room device, and if he tries any funny business I can sever his link to the big TV via the smart plug and also send him into darkness

 

[paulc]

Oh yes I have the electric blanket, and the fleecy PJ’s, and the Oodie, and the duvet, have never tried putting the thermostat up to 25°, perhaps that’s where I’m going wrong.

Oh, I don't turn my thermostat up to 25°C either - It is usually set between 17° and 20° depending on the time of day.
And just to pacify Cubist' concerns, there are no flashing lights or sirens to disturb the peace here. I draw the line at technology that beeps (except for the microwave), and just use the smoke alarm to alert me to the fact that toast is done. If any of the computers here show any sign on sentience, the offender will promptly get a reboot and digitally castrated.

 

[Itchinfilth]

Bit mundane this one but every year the nice man from Vaillant services the boiler but he always turns the CH temp back up to the default 70’C and I always forget until I’m sitting in the living room in the evening and find myself uncomfortably warm, so have to trot back upstairs and turn it back to 58’C again

I've just relented and turned the heating on. And here I was thinking I was a man of Heathcliffe hardness up on the moors ... now happily luxuriating in the warmth with a takeaway on the way. A disgrace...

 

[Flyfisher]

Well it has turned rather cold so don't berate yourself too much. Personally I find I can usually tolerate temperatures in double figures (ie >10C) with the addition of more layers and thicker socks, but anything below that and I definitely need additional heating. Though I suspect my tolerance is declining with the passing years.

 

[paulc]

Well it has turned rather cold so don't berate yourself too much. Personally I find I can usually tolerate temperatures in double figures (ie >10C) with the addition of more layers and thicker socks, but anything below that and I definitely need additional heating. Though I suspect my tolerance is declining with the passing years.

Just hit 0°C at 23:00 in *this little bit of Norfolk. In response, I've upped the thermostat to 18°C during daylight hours with a boost to 20°C for when I get home in an evening. Get a lot of pain in my fingertips when it gets cold, so I'm determined not to suffer this year.

 

[Lacan07]

Oh yes I have the electric blanket, and the fleecy PJ’s, and the Oodie, and the duvet, have never tried putting the thermostat up to 25°, perhaps that’s where I’m going wrong. His Lordship is in charge of the Heatmiser system, but I know how to override it from the in-room device, and if he tries any funny business I can sever his link to the big TV via the smart plug and also send him into darkness

The problem with employing a duvet for anything other than sleeping duties (like watching TV or working at a desk) is that as soon as you remove it the rest of the house feels like a fridge. I like to rock a pair of long johns and a string vest.

 

[LadyArowana]

I like to rock a pair of long johns and a string vest.

I didn’t know they still made string vests and yes I have been unwise enough to go online and find the answer…. I will not be ordering any time soon.

London has been properly cold, briefly snowed yesterday morning. I have been educating my friend in Sydney on the concept of Winter, because she has claimed they have it, and obviously she knows nothing.
Stay warm out there folks

 

[Flyfisher]

I know it's possible to buy electrically heated motorcycle clothing so would guess that there must be similar clothing out there somewhere that's the equivalent of a wearable electric blanket. Such a thing must surely be a highly cost-effective form of heating. I realise an 'electric onesie' would hardly be the height of sartorial elegance, but if it's a matter of survival . . .

 

[paulc]

Just one example: https://www.bosch-professional.com/gb/en/products/ghv-12-18v-xa-s-06188000EA

A quick search for "USB heated clothing" turns up a wide range of stuff for both men and women.

 

[Cubist]

Heartily agree with the 'string vest' sentiment - somehow in my mind they are synonymous with blokes with huge beer bellies and a fag gripped between their lips. Now that's an image I would rather forget.

I was once waiting for a flight from Rome to Athens in about mid March when I got a call from my boss to tell me I was wanted in Helsinki and a flight had been booked for me to travel there after my upcoming meetings. Given that daytime temperatures in Southern Europe were hovering around 18C at the time I was a somewhat concerned that my clothing would not offer much comfort in the Negative to 0C temperatures in Finland. Hasty arrangements were then made for a very helpful assistant in Athens to acquire some suitable outerwear for me. On arrival in our Athens office said assistant gleefully presented me with a Bright Yellow Ski Suit which was the only suitable clothing she could find, in my size, in the local department stores. Not wishing to offend, and not to spoil the obvious amusement of my Greek colleagues, it duly accompanied me onto the flight. On landing I unhappily noted that a heavy storm had preceded me and there were mountains of snow to either side of the runway and all the roads into the city. Unabashed, but with a desperate hope I would not bump into someone I knew, I duly went about my business before departing back to England the following morning.

The ski suit was never used again and every memory of it expunged from my mind.... until, on a similar trip, I was diverted to St Petersburg in a January.