Leaderboard

Being careful is what it's all about, as it's not always easy to see things like the assumptions they use when publishing tariffs! For us, EDF are a fair bit more expensive than SSE, but then there are pretty big variations from one post code region to another.

Here is EDF's rates: https://my.edfenergy.com/gas-electricity/unit-rate-comparison Be careful, they assume a certain usage. When we paid a lot for mobile phone calls, I always looked at the price of the most expensive call i.e. once any 'free' calls or texts were used up, then picked the cheapest. I did not pick the cheapest headline figure and assume that the rest was equally as cheap. Mate of mine got seriously ripped off like this.

Cat 6 needs a fairly large bending radius compared with cat5 , that's all, tbh, for point to point in the average domestic situation you are not going to see any benefit between cat5 and cat6 , not much equipment can handle the speed of cat5e even, and that's only for transferring internal files, ultimately you are restricted to your internet speed for external files. ps, remember and use proper copper cable, not rubbish CCS or CCA

Cat6 has a minimum allowable bend radius of 26mm, Cat5 is 20mm (IIRC). 26mm radius is too tight, IMHO, and I'd not go tighter than 50mm bend radius with Cat6. If all your bends are over 30mm bend radius you should be OK, but the general rule is to have as few bends as possible, and keep them as gentle as you can.

I mentioned in another thread recently about the challenges in actually finding really reliable and accurate tariff information, in order to make an accurate comparison, using the standing charge and the unit price. It was far from easy, as the price comparison websites don't have good information, and don't even seem to give the best deals going. Even getting accurate information from a shortlist of suppliers meant several phone calls, as the tariff rates on the websites didn't seem to tally with what they were actually offering. The biggest single problem I had was finding out where the discounts for paperless billing, direct debits etc were actually taken from. Two suppliers just refused to tell me, and one felt that I didn't really need to know, and when I insisted (because it makes a difference if you are a low user as to whether the discount comes off the standing charge or the unit price) they were incredibly reluctant to let me know, I had to remind them that they had an obligation to tell me what they were going to charge me.................

Did you hear the bit on the radio (MoneyBox I think) a while back about how they work out these fixed deals. Apparently they compare it to what they could charge you, rather than the best deal (or something like that). So it is always worth checking the rental and unit prices as well. You bills will tell you the amount in kWh you have used, simple sums after that.

You can get armoured Cat-5E / 6 out of interest.

Probably for the gatekeeper's lodge! I think he's meaning the 16mm2 is from the meter at the gate TO the house for the house supply.....but not sure.

I can't add much. I think till receipts are ok up to £30? Places like Homebase will give you a hand written VAT receipt with your name and address on it if you ask for one. If it has your lunch on it as well as materials you can just cross off your lunch and put the correct amount on your spreadsheet. The reclaim form asks for "All the original VAT Invoices, bills and credit notes". I think the word "bill" would cover an order confirmation? Note it also states they "..may ask you to prove that you paid for them". That that implies you don't have to prove it unless they ask. The above is on page 11.. https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/487894/VAT431NB_form_and_notes.pdf

Personally I can't abide rolling credit fixed monthly payments, but accept that may be the bribe you have to take to get the best deal. But are you not looking at this from the wrong angle? It's not the monthly price you need to look at, but the unit costs for the energy. Anyone could set the monthly payment low to make them look cheaper, only to find they have under estimated your usage and you get a correcting bill. Or am I being to cynical?

With the oil price having fallen so much I am expecting a rise in this and other commodity prices over the next couple of years. The US Dollar could also continue to strengthen depending on US economic policy and how Brexit goes. A large part of energy prices is not commodities but paying for the infrastructure which should continue to rise probably a little faster than general inflation. Net net I would be similar to Steamytea's forecast. However, when I have looked at 2-3 years fixes they are often at a large premium to current prices and you are paying a lot for piece of mind. If they are more than 7-8% more than a one year deal I would stick with that.

The simplest way to do this might be to use a cheap thermal switch bonded to the waste pipe and fed to the MVHR dry contact boost connection. Something like this: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/KSD-9700-Temperature-Switch-Thermostat-Thermal-Protectors-20-and-25-degrees-/281790336437?var=&hash=item419c034db5:m:mQq9kyBHVG4C7euaGe1_h1g They are out of stock of the normally open ones you would want, but a 25 deg C normally open thermal switch should do the job OK. Edited to add: Alternatively, if you don't mind running a 12V supply nearby and want adjustment, then the cheap thermostat units from China are pretty versatile, have dry contacts and are adjustable over a wide range: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Hot-DC-12V-Digital-LED-Thermostat-Temperature-Control-Switch-Module-XH-W1209-TC-/391659881408?hash=item5b30bf83c0:g:95sAAOSwA3dYXVNl

Generally by between 5 and 8% over the next two years. Nationally demand is set to call, but imported prices are up and the cost of new infrastructure is high. Trump could play a strange one here (don't he always) but encouraging coal extraction for the export. This will then affect world coal prices, and coal is the 'back stop' energy price. Generally, over the last 40 or 50 years, domestic energy price is about 5% of national mean wage (pretty true across the developed world too). So taking a stab at energy prices is similar to taking a stab at wage growth.

Good boy

@Triassic is like a top class hut! Some of my compatriates

I was going to nominate my pallet shed for the "reuse" category but I think OnOff has just won that one. Triassic definitely wins the best aesthetic design category.

Here's my entry to the Buildhub shed of the year, I'll be living in it for a couple of years if I don't finish the bathroom :

I have carpets over 3 rooms that have ufh and it works fine as long as you get a low tog carpet and underlay. Don't take the sales reps word the carpet and underlay is suitable check the documentation before you buy.

Erm yes sarking...that's larch isn't it. Hey it was Saturday night, just me and the boy sharing an M&S meal deal, he doesn't drink so I had the wine all to myself. Today, ran out of roof felt due to my last minute notion to increase the roof overhang. Topping out ceremony will have to wait another day? And a nice view of the Hut from the shed roof...

@nod @Roundtuit How did u get on with ur slate prices in the end? We r looking at ordering ours just now, 362m2, and if I hear one more time about Brexit and price increases from suppliers .....i will....I will...ehm....well....not much I can do really....suck it up and accept the bad timing!