Hi de hi Folks, this is my first blog of 2025.
So what exciting news have I got to share for January 2025?
Well for one thing, you will have seen my new website if you are reading this blog.
If you recall the “Crowdstrike” incident that occurred in July 2024 crippled about 50% of the world's IT systems for at least 24 hours and my original website was one of the victims. And try as I might, I could not revive it, the host company was not much help either so in true Ted Barrett style I pulled the plug and walked away.
As you will have seen, this new one looks quite plush and I’m fairly pleased with it. I had to learn how to assemble it but I think I’m getting there now. You will probably have seen the notice on the Home page explaining “Under Construction” so I do apologise if I’ve cocked anything up.
Not much else to report apart from had a great Christmas (none of that sappy “Holidays” in our house) and a cracking New Year. In fact I’d also like to wish a “Happy Hogmanay” to all my readers.
On the 25th of January we celebrated “Burns Night” at home this year prepared by my commanding officer with the traditional fayre of Cock-a-leekie soup, Haggis, neeps & tatties, Tipsy Laird desert and all accompanied with a nip (or two) of Drambuie.
Where has Ted been this month? As I felt it incumbent of me 😊 to ease into the new year I have only been to the following few locations in January: Wallingford, Crawley, Eastleigh, Winchester and Southampton.
There is much talk about EVs at the moment and has been for the past couple of years now, however, I am not a fan. I think for somebody who lives within 20-30 miles of where they work and/or just nipping to the shops fine. But for longer trips, especially if you’re like me and need a full tank of fuel to travel 70 miles “just to be on the safe side” then an EV will seriously disturb your panic gland.
A hybrid looks quite interesting as at least you can’t run out of electricity, but consider the complexity. We need a petrol engine to power the generator to charge the batteries to run the motor to move the car. Reminds me of “the little old lady that swallowed a fly”. As an Electrical Engineer I find this technology, although not new, interesting. But from an engineering point of view, I’m afraid that more complexity = more to go wrong.
With regard to EV charger installations. BS7671 and associated Codes of Practice are of course quite rightly concerned about the dangers of transported earth faults and what type of RCDs should be used. But here’s my ten penn’orth on the subject: The technology is still developing. An equipment manufacturer will try their utmost to entice you with an “All-in-one EV Charging Test Unit”. I would say hold your horses. Don’t rush out and get too excited because requirements are very likely to all change again before too long.
And watch out when installing charger units, here is an extract from Zurich Insurance in regard to commercial installations: “Ideally, electric vehicle charging, and parking should be located at least 10 m from combustible walls or at least 7.5 m from unprotected openings/extensive glazing in non-combustible walls.” And remember, if a customer needs to make a claim at some point regarding an EV charger fire, the insurance company Loss Adjuster will probably be chasing the installer for compensation.
I saw a new product last week that caught my eye. It was a range of, get this “Kinetic Switches”. So I’m thinking “What the bleeding hell is a kinetic switch?” Well it could be a nice little earner and/or a solution to a problem.
How it works is operating the switch sends a Bluetooth signal to a receiver at any light fitting (or equipment) you decide to wire it into. Now, here’s the fun bit, the switch itself is completely “Wire Less”. It works by when you turn it on or off a tiny piezo crystal is struck by the switch mechanism, that’s the “Kinetic” bit.
The action of striking the crystal generates enough current to send the signal to the receiver. Brilliant! Don’t know how much it costs, but I bet it isn’t cheap.
So that’s me for this months chums. Now remember, make sure you aint got any burrs under that saddle before riding off into the sunset.
Stay safe and happy trails.