House of Horrors
 

If I went into a loft and found a domestic distribution amplifier that was
dead I would test for a mains supply and if there was one I would scrap the
amp. I would bother checking whether someone had removed the fuse in the
plug top! The possibility of that is zero under normal circumstances, so it
would be reasonable to assume that either the plug top fuse had blown or the
amp had an internal fault. In either case the amp, which runs unattended in
the loft, has to be scrapped. It would be too risky to just change the fuse.
It would, in fact, be a seriously bad thing to do. So that part of the
programme was ********. Since they had the CAI on board I would have thought
they could have cooked up a better 'fault'. How about making it look as if
someone had put a heavy case in the loft and it had pulled the downlead out
of the amplifier's aerial socket? This is a common situation. Idiots!

The rip-off prices were pretty disgusting though.

Bill

House of Horrors
 

In article , Bill Wright
writes
If I went into a loft and found a domestic distribution amplifier that was
dead I would test for a mains supply and if there was one I would scrap the
amp. I would bother checking whether someone had removed the fuse in the
plug top! The possibility of that is zero under normal circumstances, so it
would be reasonable to assume that either the plug top fuse had blown or the
amp had an internal fault. In either case the amp, which runs unattended in
the loft, has to be scrapped. It would be too risky to just change the fuse.
It would, in fact, be a seriously bad thing to do.

Fuses do fail with age; I have had a few which have failed after many
years operation, when I check the current consumption I find it to be as
expected, so I replace the failed fuse and the kit continues to work. If
there is a fault causing excess current then the replacement fuse will
do its job and blow. This is much cheaper than replacing equipment that
you have not even bothered to test for a fault. If I tried telling my
employer that "the fuse is blown, you'll 'ave t' cough up twenty
thousand quid on a replacement bit of kit" they would replace me. Part
of my job saves customers money, that way they come back when they want
more equipment.

--
Ian G8ILZ
There are always two people in every pictu the photographer and the viewer.
~Ansel Adams

House of Horrors
 

So loft amplifiers are a serious fire hazard then? I must make sure that I
never have one fitted.

Frankly I would have thought that there was some way to check whether such
an amplifier was receiving a mains supply and indeed working.

House of Horrors
 

On Tue, 29 May 2007 20:54:07 +0100, "Bill Wright"
wrote:

If I went into a loft and found a domestic distribution amplifier that was
dead I would test for a mains supply and if there was one I would scrap the
amp. I would bother checking whether someone had removed the fuse in the
plug top! The possibility of that is zero under normal circumstances,

Yes, agreed.

so it would be reasonable to assume that either the plug
top fuse had blown or the amp had an internal fault.

Correct

In either case the amp, which runs unattended in
the loft, has to be scrapped.

Utter drivel

It would be too risky to just change the fuse.

On what basis do you come to that conclusion?

It would, in fact, be a seriously bad thing to do.

Why?

So that part of the programme was ********.

And your post isn't?


Since they had the CAI on board I would have thought
they could have cooked up a better 'fault'. How about making it look as if
someone had put a heavy case in the loft and it had pulled the downlead out
of the amplifier's aerial socket? This is a common situation. Idiots!

Pity, I had thought more hightly of you and was considering putting
some work your way. On the basis of your posting I reckon you'd be
selling me oxygen free copper directional coax for a line of sight 10
miles from Emley aerial.

P.S. Are you sure you weren't ****ed out of your skull when you
posted?


--

House of Horrors
 

"Prometheus" wrote in message
...
In article , Bill Wright
writes
If I went into a loft and found a domestic distribution amplifier that was
dead I would test for a mains supply and if there was one I would scrap
the
amp. I would bother checking whether someone had removed the fuse in the
plug top! The possibility of that is zero under normal circumstances, so
it
would be reasonable to assume that either the plug top fuse had blown or
the
amp had an internal fault. In either case the amp, which runs unattended
in
the loft, has to be scrapped. It would be too risky to just change the
fuse.
It would, in fact, be a seriously bad thing to do.

Fuses do fail with age; I have had a few which have failed after many
years operation, when I check the current consumption I find it to be as
expected, so I replace the failed fuse and the kit continues to work. If
there is a fault causing excess current then the replacement fuse will do
its job and blow. This is much cheaper than replacing equipment that you
have not even bothered to test for a fault. If I tried telling my employer
that "the fuse is blown, you'll 'ave t' cough up twenty thousand quid on a
replacement bit of kit" they would replace me. Part of my job saves
customers money, that way they come back when they want more equipment.

Yes, but we're talking about an item here that costs £25 max. In fact if
it's an 8 way UHF only amp it will cost a tenner for a good one (a TS2008).
If the fuse has failed with age the amp must be old. If I come across an
amp that appears to be more than, say, 20 years old I will change it (or at
the least advise the customer very strongly) purely on the grounds of its
age. Any domestic amp running unattended 24/365 in someone's loft should be
changed if the fuse has blown. It isn't worth the risk. My public liability
and conscience won't allow anything else. And after all, if the amp does
turn out to be faulty that's another call out, which is far more than the
cost of an amp. And an old amp has a good chance of developing hum bars or
whatever the minute your back's turned.

I have standing orders from one of the local authorities I work for to
automatically replace any active device I find that is more than 20 years
old.

Bill

House of Horrors
 

"Norbert Wittgenfeld" wrote in message
...
So loft amplifiers are a serious fire hazard then?

No, of course they aren't, any more than any other device that draws power
from the mains. But some of them (those in plastic cases) can start a fire.
I've seen it once in 40 years. I've seen quite a few where the amp has
melted into a blob but hasn't caused a fire.

I must make sure that I never have one fitted.
Oh I shouldn't worry.

Frankly I would have thought that there was some way to check whether such
an amplifier was receiving a mains supply and indeed working.
There's lots of ways to achieve the end you describe. But the will has to be
there.

Bill

House of Horrors
 

"Mike" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 29 May 2007 20:54:07 +0100, "Bill Wright"
wrote:
In either case the amp, which runs unattended in
the loft, has to be scrapped.

Utter drivel
This is abuse with no supporting argument.


So that part of the programme was ********.

And your post isn't?
This too is abuse with no supporting argument.



Since they had the CAI on board I would have thought
they could have cooked up a better 'fault'. How about making it look as if
someone had put a heavy case in the loft and it had pulled the downlead
out
of the amplifier's aerial socket? This is a common situation. Idiots!

Pity, I had thought more hightly of you and was considering putting
some work your way. On the basis of your posting I reckon you'd be
selling me oxygen free copper directional coax for a line of sight 10
miles from Emley aerial.

P.S. Are you sure you weren't ****ed out of your skull when you
posted?

Please don't reconsider your decision to not employ us. If however you do
please let me know that you are the person who posted the message above. As
always, the abusive ones hide behind their anonymity.

Apart from those who are attempting to reformulate the whole of western
theology this newsgroup has recently been reasonably polite and courteous --
until you spoilt it. You should bear in mind that the best way to refute a
post is to provide contrary arguments, not abuse.

Bill

House of Horrors
 

"Bill Wright" wrote in message
...

"Norbert Wittgenfeld" wrote in message
...
So loft amplifiers are a serious fire hazard then?

No, of course they aren't, any more than any other device that draws power
from the mains. But some of them (those in plastic cases) can start a
fire. I've seen it once in 40 years. I've seen quite a few where the amp
has melted into a blob but hasn't caused a fire.

I must make sure that I never have one fitted.
Oh I shouldn't worry.

Frankly I would have thought that there was some way to check whether
such an amplifier was receiving a mains supply and indeed working.
There's lots of ways to achieve the end you describe. But the will has to
be
--------
there.


I'm following Owain's lead in correcting you: There're lots of ways
.......... grin

Sylvain.

Bill

House of Horrors
 

"Mike" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 29 May 2007 20:54:07 +0100, "Bill Wright"
wrote:

If I went into a loft and found a domestic distribution amplifier that was
dead I would test for a mains supply and if there was one I would scrap
the
amp. I would bother checking whether someone had removed the fuse in the
plug top! The possibility of that is zero under normal circumstances,

Yes, agreed.

so it would be reasonable to assume that either the plug
top fuse had blown or the amp had an internal fault.

Correct

In either case the amp, which runs unattended in
the loft, has to be scrapped.

Utter drivel

It would be too risky to just change the fuse.

On what basis do you come to that conclusion?

It would, in fact, be a seriously bad thing to do.

Why?

So that part of the programme was ********.

And your post isn't?


Since they had the CAI on board I would have thought
they could have cooked up a better 'fault'. How about making it look as if
someone had put a heavy case in the loft and it had pulled the downlead
out
of the amplifier's aerial socket? This is a common situation. Idiots!

Pity, I had thought more hightly of you and was considering putting
some work your way. On the basis of your posting I reckon you'd be
selling me oxygen free copper directional coax for a line of sight 10
miles from Emley aerial.

P.S. Are you sure you weren't ****ed out of your skull when you
posted?


A rather disagreeable post. Were _you_ ****ed when you posted it?

Sylvain.


--

House of Horrors
 

"Bill Wright" wrote in message
...

"Mike" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 29 May 2007 20:54:07 +0100, "Bill Wright"
wrote:
In either case the amp, which runs unattended in
the loft, has to be scrapped.

Utter drivel
This is abuse with no supporting argument.


So that part of the programme was ********.

And your post isn't?
This too is abuse with no supporting argument.



Since they had the CAI on board I would have thought
they could have cooked up a better 'fault'. How about making it look as
if
someone had put a heavy case in the loft and it had pulled the downlead
out
of the amplifier's aerial socket? This is a common situation. Idiots!

Pity, I had thought more hightly of you and was considering putting
some work your way. On the basis of your posting I reckon you'd be
selling me oxygen free copper directional coax for a line of sight 10
miles from Emley aerial.

P.S. Are you sure you weren't ****ed out of your skull when you
posted?

Please don't reconsider your decision to not employ us. If however you do
please let me know that you are the person who posted the message above.
As always, the abusive ones hide behind their anonymity.

Apart from those who are attempting to reformulate the whole of western
theology this newsgroup has recently been reasonably polite and
courteous -- until you spoilt it. You should bear in mind that the best
way to refute a post is to provide contrary arguments, not abuse.

Bill
Well said. "Manners maketh man".

Sylvain.