Onoff

I wouldn't remove the render. That makes up part of your protective "rain screen" against the elements. To remove it you'd have to first screw your ledger on to the bumpy face. Then use a grinder to cut into the render using the ledger as a guide. Then hope you could bolster off the render and that it would separate cleanly from the block face. To make it "flat", for the ledger to sit against, you'd first have to remove the paint for any subsequent render to have a chance of sticking. Cup brush in a grinder for that. Messy. Eye protection, mask etc. As aforementioned, having some airflow behind the ledger is a good thing.

First off I'd sluice that drilled hole out with water from a plant spray bottle. Drilling dust may well be masking an obvious colour change between render and the underlying block.

There may come a time of grid shortages when we are grateful for any power. I'd rather have PV than not for a bit of security. How much is that worth?

Q: What did the UK have before candles? A: Electricity!

I was, 100%, genuinely about to commit a few grand to PV but didn't know where to start.

Sorcery!

Noticed tonight little black insects on the stalks of some of the 50 runners. Is this "black fly" I've about? The ants seem interested in them. Do I need to do something about them?

Yep, copied the same photo. Here's the one showing two pots in series with 1.6VDC. Constraints being surface area / available depth. I could try two zinc and two copper electrodes in the same pot... Last time I measured my own 4' long / 3/8" dia rod (TT) I got I think 47 Ohms from memory as an aside. For bigger battery fun I'm debating proper, copper clad rods for one electrode and zinc plated studding for the other. Maybe make a "pond" up, fed by the kitchen grey water to keep topping up the electrolytes? I'll get bored soon!

Thought you drove an MG?

https://www.labc.co.uk/news/how-get-it-right-notches-holes-solid-timber-joists

Unless you gave congestive heart failure when constipation, amongst other issues is a thing...

Let's face it, it's good you remember to get up! 😂

Wow! How much? Think I'll stick to their chicken bakes and cottage pie then "feed" a homemade compost battery 💩

Probably, in a roundabout way.

You draw it, I'll make it! Eventually 😂

Well...what to do after a beer and Thai box meal? Take a Zilt stick and bit of 15mm copper. That's my electrodes sorted. Lad's meter: Push into dwarf bean pot: 0.8VDC: Same again with the runner pot, link the two "earth batteries" together and we get 1.6VDC: Wonder if it's enough of a deterrent if I put two copper strips around the pot? That's for another night/month/year as I work at a.....snails pace!

Brilliant thread tbh, I'm in awe. Wish I understood it but in awe.

Is it a worry I had an inkling to what that was? I do miss going to the Erotica show.

I know, I probably shouldn't be allowed access to a pen... As you water the plot it'll charge the earth battery. Enough mV to deter slugs / snails?

Talking of a bit rich... (Do I sound jealous? I am 😂 )

Kudos, I've always admired your fores....

Get a room!

The BiL funnily enough has knocked up a box section jib for the front of his dumper. No calcs, just rule of thumb / over engineered. I'll get a pic over the next day or so.

You'd have thought Any chance of running an extension lead to your place?

You just reminded me to add my emoji to @Big Jimbo's post! I'm just jealous mate, on the slippery slope to fuel poverty here unless I freeze to death first or can make insulation/electricity/fuel from runner beans?