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Hi All - I am currently facing a problem and any suggestions are welcome

I have currently moved into a new home with a ground and first floor. I have kept a small fridge in the first floor to avoid going down multiple times a day.

The problem is this: The power to the fridge on the first floor is taken from a 5A socket. When the cut over from EB to Generator happens during power cuts, the line trips due to the momentary overload and I have to manually switch it over. I tried to change the wiring of the socket to come from a 15 amp source but the wiring is not possible internally and it needs to be done externally, thus spoiling the interior of the room.

Is there anything which can be done that can automatically detect the power source (EB/Generator) and supply current only if its through EB? I saw an appliance which does exactly this on amazon however it is out of stock. Please let me know if anyone has faced this issue and solved it elegantly, without having to resort to external wiring. Thank you.

Regards
Arvind

If I understand correctly, the momentary over draw by the Fridge when switchover happens from EB->Gen is causing the MCB to trip.

If my understanding is correct, then adding a delayed start stabilizer can help.

Hi Sagar - Yes, that is right. Thank you for the suggestion. Will explore options. Thank you.

Regards
Arvind

How is the Generator connected to the incoming distribution box?. Is the generator an auto start one?.

Generally, the generator is wired directly into the main incoming MCB so it is not possible to differentiate between EB and Generator power at the load (Fridge) level.

As @sagarpadaki had mentioned, a delayed start voltage stabilizer would wait for a few minutes for the Volts to settle down before switching on the load. This should mostly solve your problem.

Yes, it is an auto start generator which kicks in about 10-15 seconds.


Yes, I will see if this can help me. Quick confirmation: Any voltage stabilizer would be delayed start only right?

Please check specifically for a delayed start one - these will have 1-2 min delay (We have one such v-guard that was bought ages ago). Better purchase from the local store after testing the delay.

No suggestions, anyone?

Are these rates given by the Asian Paints guys ? I am asking since they seem a bit lower than regular painter rates.
My experience with any painting being done by the company guys has not been that great since the quality of work is not up to the mark. The Brands normally work on aggregator model to get these works done, and most of the times, the process is where the teams compromise to save on the costs.
Fortunately, being in the Interiors / Civil works business, my regular painter does a better job albeit at a little higher rates.

For options, you may try out Jotun Paints - their Fenomastic Range is a good option for Interior walls since they are odor-less.
Dulux is also another brand you can look at. Their Velvet Touch range is good.

If the wall finish is smooth and level go for Aspira or Royale luxury. Else stick to just the Royale.

Thanks for your responses sagarpadaki, hkanitkar

The rates are from an independent contractor. Going in for the Aspira to see - at least it boasts of low VOX compared to the oil based ones.

Hi all,
I have a query for the experts. We are planning to redo the wardrobes and kitchen in our home. I have come across brands like Hafele, Hettich, Assa Abloy and Ebco for the hardware. Now my questions are

1. Reliability and longevity of these European brands in long term (especially with respect to Indian environment and usage cycle)?
2. Is it worth spending extra money on some of these European hardware?
3. Warranty periods and the ease of claiming warranty among these European brands?
4. Where does Ebco (or any other Indian brand) stand in terms of quality and longevity among the European brands?
5. Other good quality and reasonably priced Indian alternatives?

Thanks in advance!

Hi all,
I have a query on labour charge for tile replacement. (floor tiles, bathroom tiles, terrace, parking etc). Can someone tell me the labour charge for a) laying the tiles b) removing the tiles.
Also, how much do the materials ( excluding the tiles) cost?

We'd gotten our house done 2.5 yrs ago so I'll answer based on my experience.
We've used Ebco & Hettich mostly.

1. Hettich is holding up well in the timespan, no issues. There was a single issue with one hardware piece in the Kitchen which they had replaced/partially fixed under warranty.

2. Honestly, extremely satisfied with Ebco, only niche component that Ebco doesn't make/seemed flimsy were the one's in where Hettich was used.

3. Hettich: Claiming warranty was easy as we'd retained digital copies of the bill and warranty papers during installation. Ebco: Didn't need to till date.

4. It's the Superb v E-Class equation. 90% at 50% prices.

5. Check Nimmi, they were the other one recommended at the time we were getting Ebco.

We used Hafele, Hettich, Ebco - long time back. All Ebco units failed and were replaced with Hettich. All Hafele units failed, again replaced with Hettich. Carpenter told us that there is a 50% chance of picking up a fake fitting (Yeah, its that high)

Folks, can rain affect roof RCC slab casting if it rains after 2-3 hours since the casting was completed? Casting done using 5" thick slab using 53 Grade OPC.
If yes, what are the best ways to prevent any damage/loss assuming casting date cannot be pushed? I can think of using tarpaulin to cover the slab areas, anything else?