MikeSharp01

Is that what you really meant to say as it reads somewhat like the old which is heavier a kg of bricks or a kg of feathers josh🤔.

Thanks all - I will post a drawing later to show the whole layout. This is all due to change in the room layout which means we have very restricted height above the pipe. The soil pipe is not yet fixed, only dry fixed, so it can all come out to play. I can get the pipe up a little but because it runs about a meter further in the direction of the open end I still need a fall and I cannot cut the flanges although the webs are fair game for 50mm holes given the span and loading.

That is a very interesting read - would be good to see the research the default tables are based on and how the 'where this data is made available' is asked of the manufacturers.

I need to connect the bath and sink outflows into the soil pipe and I am thinking something like this - ots only clipped on. I worry that its too close to and on the outside of the bend and that it will cause a 'catch point' for solids etc from the WC which is about 2m away from the bend. The blue arrow shows the flow direction. I can go through the I beam just behind and perhaps move the entry point 3-400mm downstream. I can also reduce the incoming pipe size but if I go much smaller the bath may take time to empty - not that that is a problem. Any thoughts?

Talking to people this seems like something of a lottery. Several here have asked for more than the 16A limit and got it while others did not. If you can get 3ph you will have 48A. We are about to ask for 7kW (32A approx) but my sources say we won't get it while another- who works for a DNO says is worth punt.

Only with current insulation config - by taking some steps to improve thermal performance you may well be able to get the gap closed and so get the size of unit down - I think that would be my starting point.

Don't be daft I have been seeing my dissertation students all year and the Easter break is after their hand in - its cruel out there these days!

They are already kicked off on their projects, if only I had known in December we could have arranged that.

Actually, last evening I managed to get Free RTOS working on a PICO board working, in C++ that is, which I had not tried and it does what it says on the tin so I think I will, once I have completed the terms teaching with Python, I will look at moving my personal system of systems over to that - I still have all the stuff I did with the esp blocks in prototype so lets see how I get on.

Yes that is a pain. I have a similar stretch although a different combination and I have tried teaching coding to undergrads in perhaps 8 languages across my career, which goes back to the early 80s, and they all have their challenges (Never Ada though - respect) - started with Assembler, moved through Fortran, BASIC, C (I can see my copy of Kernighan and Ritchie from here - literally), C++, Java (Hated that), C#, PHP, Javascript and now Python mainly because of its breadth - Data Science and Embedded although not mobile and its position on the TIOBE index, with a host of spin outs along the way EG ASP, VB & SQL. I would prefer full Python on the PICO and an RTOS but I appreciate why these are not imminent possibilities although you only have to swap to the RPi Nano and you can do all the languages, not the RTOS, and run under UNIX as well! If I really wanted true, hard, real time (Sommerville's rules as I think of them!) system I would not use Micropython but I think we can get away with a somewhat softer real time system so as long as we can achieve the softer timings it should be a workable solution. Yes I have found the timing issues with Micropython, usually dealing with MQTT publish / subscribe operations, a problem. Seem to spend a lot of time dealing with them - my current strategy is just to keep the main loop handing flagged operations from callbacks rather than extending the callback to actually do the handling.

Yes - I agree, I even advocated not doing this here I think, I won't be developing the hardware I will use COTS components everywhere I can, which I will double up on so I have spare of everything as I don't know how long even established brands will keep on keeping stuff available in a fast moving tech market, and document copiously both the system and the code if I need to develop any. I have wired the house traditionally and in places it will be used as such otherwise the switches just send momentary pulses, at 240V - so if needed be the momentary switches can be replaced by traditional rockers and the HA bridged out to control the lights, to the de-bounced inputs of the relevant PICO - its all node-red, local RPi install of mosquito and MYSQL for data logging - actually getting that stable has been one of the biggest challenges so far. DMX control of the lights via Whitewing will be the way forward although I have not purchased them yet as I don't actually know how many of the lights need dimming! I have struggled to keep it below 16 so I only need one unit but even then I will buy two with one as a spare! So I guess I would argue I have thought this through but I admit the risk you highlight but you must admit that any technology has a life (a carrying capacity) and so there are no guarantees anywhere here, only balances of risk.

I have a slightly alternative view of the PICO / ESP issue and that is down to my feeling that I want to support RPi Ltd in developing leading products in the UK rather than buying into a stream of technology from elsewhere, I have nothing against the ESP and was teaching with it until last this year, I am not a 'little Englander' I just want to bring my approach closer to home. I appreciate that I have given up a decent RTOS that I was using on the ESP but on the PICO I can work in VS code environment point it at either C++ or MicroPython which is, I feel, OK for HA work and I can talk to ZigBee, Z-Wave and most other proprietary protocols if I need to. I also wonder, although I appreciate the work involved, how long it will be before you can flash Tasmota onto the PICO!

I have a couple of these I intend to use to control 24v which will then use WAGO 24V relays to control the bigger loads. https://thepihut.com/products/industrial-8-channel-relay-module-for-raspberry-pi-pico?variant=40605655367875&currency=GBP&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiA2eKtBhDcARIsAEGTG40_R-cXtRgFbkA_bCKbAX7r1NvSWOReNEeHk8qOv5Sf7LZeswKMf6gaAiS6EALw_wcB As it takes a PICO directly, which you can of course bridge out on the Gpio pins, you have a smart relay board to boot.

Hi and welcome. Not an expert in any of your questions somebody who does should be along shortly.

PS you might be able spot the UVC running down fast and get behind it with both immersion heaters and bring the ASHP up to support the heaters when it's warmed up. In our place I think I only need a 5kW ASHP so two immersion would better it.

Perhaps all you need is enough data from the variety of sources and maybe some sort AI could do it although the variety of sources might need to be quite diverse. IE what history and confluence of circumstances last caused the UVC to empty?

Yes I agree it's a challenge and I already have a watchdog based, opto isolated and intelligent, interface card for that I designed in 1995 for some work in Petrol Chemicals. So that will deal with safe shut down and I have about 5 spares so they should see me out. I may even update it as it is only 8 channels and is 8 bit based micro (8052) based and has battery backed Ram which could be much better handled today. CONTROLLING the ASHP on / off by soft means is the way I would go for normal operations but as they will still have the standby current I think a controlled mechanical isolation from the mains makes sense. When you don't need it and I guess the choice of UVC, SunAmp and the amount of Solar available will have an effect on how often and how long that will be. If it is software controlled we can even look ahead of the weather and turn it on with enough warm up time when we see demand coming.

Hmmmmm. @MikeSharp01 responds It's a bit of a mine field. I have a deep aversion to anything that buys me into a technology win by any single supplier so I won't be buying anything like Loxone that won't work with everything else if I can avoid it. I think the open source stuff that is here to stay (MQTT, RPi, Node Red, ifttt) is a better route and will be less of a single point of failure if a single supplier goes out of business and they teach python to 7th graders now who could probably maintain a neatly documented code setup. I have just finished pulling 1500m of CAT6 cable all over out build to support POE building automation and although all the light switches are traditionally wired once they get back to the panel it's another world I could have run the whole lot as 24V but decided to go 240v and feed them all into suitably isolated inputs to the RPi. Realy just so a normal sparky could pull them off there and wire them directly if push came to shove. As it is the outputs are some relays and whitewing dmx control of 240V led lights everywhere. From a high current 240v controlling point of view I am not sure I want contactors banging about in the power control panel which is in our Utility room - neither would I want to force cool the panel or have it produce heat I don't need in a very well insulated house. I guess I could put the contactor for the ASHP in its panel outside. Inside the house the number of 13A loads is limited to immersion heaters which are not the most corrosive of loads for a decent relay. I guess I tend to align with @joth on when to use SSRs. I have also fallen to thinking that I don't need to control sockets because the devices plugged into them are or will be smart so can look after themselves. We have Zigbee and Z-wave hubs planned so if it won't talk to one of those or vanilla wifi we won't be buying that brand of fridge/ cooker etc.

Cripes yes - let's hope so.

So what is the highest order learning here - are the multifoil blanket insulation products looking like they are all they are cracked up to be?

Hmmm I think that may be an offence in the UK. We have just put ours exactly as you have on the Caberdeck glued down and sealed everywhere.

Think it does support all the connectivity you need on the ECO B models - best to call their technical help line - great advice and the unit is made in the UK I think.

Have just read this whole thread - very interesting and some excellent academic work cited and deployed. No real consensus on 'Thermal Mass's existence as a 'thing' although thinking deeper it must exist as a thing or we would not be talking about it. Boy do we talk about it - 526 mentions in various threads since BH was started! I do agree in some ways with @SteamyTea about not getting the units, and terms EG Mass, confused as it makes life difficult but on the other hand if an idea is easy to conceive of for people less used to 'units' then the challenge is to get the same conception in everybody's head so we are all talking about the same thing. After all not everything can be expressed in SI units - if you want an example try 'Love' - a word bandied about universally which everybody sort of understands but is devoid of units. I am, however, not yet sure we have got to the bottom of the OP in the comfort area. I am in my study at Millstone manor in Sevenoaks, it is 15.2 deg in here but I am comfortable reading and typing away. I will have to go and light a fire downstairs shortly so the core of house, currently at 18.5 will stay around that. I dimly recall attending a 'comfort' seminar with the Passive House Trust which, IIRCC, intimated, in the end, that comfort is, in a range, what you get used to. All of which gets @Gone West not much further. Still a great thread though.

I was thinking just yesterday about how to provide foundation for our lean too shed on the garden room for batteries, the solar panels are on the roof of the garden room. My analysis was that the whole decision came down to permanency and how much and material I would need, there seemed like three options. Slab, Post and Concrete beams with topping of screed, Post and Wooden Beam (which I assume is what you are considering - but I may have that wrong). In the end I decided to go for the concrete slab approach as it is only a small area (1m2) and will give me a simple install but I can wheel barrow the concrete in, albeit with difficulty. The alternative concrete beam approach was expensive and complex for such a small space and the wooden approach, although the simplest was not the most enduring. So I am going for concrete slab but with your bigger space and difficult access I would go for the wooden post & beam approach and make sure you have good ventilation below to keep it as dry as you can.

Sounds like you have convinced yourself to have a go at plan B. Your capping idea seems like the most reliable but your idea of finding out if it will work before you part with the money is sound. I think I might make a simple structure with battens that sits, is clamped to, on the wall and is covered by a membrane which would allow the wall to breath but not allow water on top of it. Essentially this is a plastic model of the eventual capping.