joidevie

Thanks.. The Loctite looks like a new one on me.. And PTFE is the devil I know.. Sorry I can't compete with the animated avatars!

I've been doing the Google rounds and am getting very mixed opinions on PTFE vs hemp and pate (which I have never used). I've done the basic circuit in the kitchen and bathroom in 20mm 'Multicouce compression fittings' and am spurring off that circuit in flexis in 1/2 inch with ball 'vannes' (isolation valves) at each joint to the 20mm multi 'T's to connect to taps, baths, sinks etc. A new Chauffe eau as well. I've not used any PTFE for any of the chrome 20mm compression joints (I don't think I'm supposed to) but am now looking at doing the thread joints for the 1/2 inch valves and the chauffe eau plastic threads.. Filasse or PTFE? The French clearly love the hemp, but some UK forums call it outdated or not needed for joints of less than 1 inch and PTFE is the way to go.. Different for the plastic threads on the ballon? This is probably an old debate, but I'd still love to hear any arguments for/against and advice for a DIY'er not looking to win any awards, but looking to keep things in good shape for a long time to come.. Many thanks indeed for any suggestions..

[quote user="andyps"]If you want the absolute best fittings you probably need to go to Swagelok - http://www.swagelok.com/search/find_products_home.aspx?SEARCH=/search/Straights/id-10002045/type-1&item=20b6dcb5-5a04-42f1-9df7-a5d3fd3672c3 - they are somewhat overengineered for domestic use but your tube will burst under pressure before the fitting gives way![/quote] Gosh.. Thanks. Very interesting stuff. Haven't 'registered' to check pricing.. But still looking at the abbreviations and codes for what might be the equivalent to an 'olive joint in 16mm to 1/2 or 3/4 male etc.. Lots of bewildering options?

Cheers again.. Good point about the price of 16mm - however I have plenty of 20mm left from the 50m roll I bought, so hey ho!

Cheers again.. I just found this page (very useful) which seems to imply that Multi should be OK if used with a kit as the kit is fixed so that you can still 'pull out' the connectors if there's a problem? (ie the frame fixed 'onto' the surface of the placo before tiling).. I'm wondering whether 'arriving' in 20mm Multicouche in one run behind the placo (no hidden joints) and connecting DIRECTLY to the sortie cloison 3/4 (say with this? ) would be the best option? My thinking in the 20mm is that it is in effect 18mm inner dia - or should I reduce to 16mm? Cheers

[quote user="sid"]How about.... http://www.anjou-connectique.com/sortie-cloison-entraxe-150mm-multicouche-male-34ek-p-3391.html [/quote] Cheers Sid - I noticed in previous posts that you're a multicouche 'convert' - things have come a long way since I did my flat in the UK with grey plastic Hep2o! If Multicouche is NOT recommended behind placo, then what is? Soldered copper only? Compression fit copper? Crimped PER only? Surely any joint can fail.. And why would a 'hidden placo sortie' be available with 3/4' male threads? A little confused as I plan to fit the pipes behind placo attached to a stone wall with metal rails (ie. a little hard to access once tiled!).. Would multicouche connecting directly to the 3/4' sortie cloison with this not suffice? I looked at the fitting in the link and bookmarked it a couple of days ago.. I presume the 3/4 male is the bit you can't see inside the plastic casing?? In which case it could be the one to go for, and 'flexibles' are a godsend with the M/C system.. Cheers for any thoughts..

I wonder if anyone can send me a link or something.. I'm looking for either a fixed pair or individual 'sorties cloison' for a shower mixer.. I plan to 'arrive' behind a placo in 20mm 'Multicouche a visser' (ie. compression fittings).. Plenty available 'a sertir' PER.. but how best to mount/branch a shower mixer if using the Multicouche a compression? Many thanks - I've been searching for hours!

You're right.. Sorry -  I didn't check your link.. Probably useful for frequently cold areas..

[quote user="Théière"]Can you use a Heat tape  and insulation? self regulating, low energy and not expensive. [/quote] What about this? Ingenious, though maybe not necessary as the cold 'thing' is only meant to happen every 50 years

And bear in mind the spiraling cost of 'Gaz de Ville' - 6 years ago in my first property I decided on a combi as the village had town gas.. Bought a "Veissmann" boiler (German made) through a local plumber who got it on discount plus low tva. Worked very well, but after my fixed 2 year 'tarif' ran out, the costs of running went up quite a lot (like in the UK, gas is getting quite pricey..). Having sold and bought again, we've gone down the wood + electricity route (we are South, so winters are short(ish) and sharp (especially this year!) and have opted for a standard EDF tarif which should be 'capped' by Govt guidelines.. So maybe in the long run you might weigh up the options of taking down the rads and going down another route.. Maybe you can benefit from a vastly overinflated French prices for second hand white goods on Boncoin and sell on the rads?  ;o)    OK, joking there.. ... but do look at all the options.. Good luck.

You're not wrong there.. When I returned to the house in the middle of the -8c spell (which is pretty cold for the South!) the bathroom sink had the most enormous icicle running from the tap to the basin where the tap washer had burst, which thankfully let the pressure out of the pipes.. Avoiding more severe problems. I have since insulated the bathroom, but am still looking for a solution to the pipes that run through one or two out buildings.. Which never went above -4c during that period..

Hi all.. I've recently re plumbed the kitchen & bathroom in 20mm Multicouche, and will soon need to connect it up to an existing 16mm copper pipe. I'll want to fit a stop tap (I mean stop c@ck but the forum software won't allow the word to be used!) at this point as well. The multicouche will end in a chrome 1/2" male.. After the cold spell I was somewhat shocked (but not surprised) to find one of the 'bicone' compression fittings I'd used in 14mm to plug an old outlet had completely split - the 1/2" nut itself had split in half (around the whole circumference), and no the olive which I had heard might happen. The brass fitting I'd used was a brico shed 14mm raccorde a bicone and looking at it (and a few others I've used) the nut is of quite 'lightweight' brass and feels 'brittle'.. Seeing as I merely need one good fitting to join all the Multicouche to a single 16mm copper pipe (with a stop tap if possible) I am happy look for something superior (or at least the best pro brand) that will give me years of peace of mind.. I am no blow torch expert and have had mixed (mostly inconsistent) results with French hot fittings which I believe need a hotter flame etc.. So ideally I'm looking for a top notch source of a good 16mm compression fitting.. Any suggestions? Many thanks.

Yes, the "captcha" is hugely annoying, but it is one of the 'softer' ones (ie. easier to read) - some websites use an upgraded version which is MUCH more difficult to decipher.. Even more difficult to decipher are the 'no thanks' options during the booking process which are becoming ever more difficult to find..

"Il est recommandé d'avoir une roue de secours et le matériel permettant de la changer dans son coffre, mais rouler avec des pneumatiques défectueux ou en mauvais état est interdit." So, I can have a 'slightly suspect' condition spare wheel/tyre as a spare, but will only be braking the law if I fit it and drive with it on? Same with the breathalyser, you're braking the law if you use it before driving - so carry a spare or a reusable one.. I read somewhere that the sat nav camera issue is hard to enforce unless you 'give the traffic cop permission' to inspect it, which they 'do not have the right to do'.. So if asked, tell them 'no'.. But of course, that is bound to get their back up, and they will inevitably 'find' some other defect if they're in the mood or you have peeved them.. To be fair, I've only ever been pulled over once over 20 years ago when my passenger wasn't wearing his seat belt (which I didn't notice), and was politely clarified on French road law and allowed to continue..

Hi.. I was just reading about and wondering what the latest requirements are for driving in France.. Am I on the right lines: Vest (1 per car, or 1 each?) Bulbs Triangle Fire extinguisher? First Aid kit? Breathalyser kit? Also, is a spare wheel compulsory for a remorque? Cheers for any current infos..

[quote user="HoneySuckleDreams"]It depends on the airline. Ryanair won't allow it. [/quote] .... and of course Ryanair happens to be the airline.. Cheers.

I guess things like this get me thinking.. Seems it's a grey area, so I may post it ahead..

Not sure if this is the correct section, but does anyone know if I can carry  a hand held laser distance meter (the Leica Disto type, but a cheapie) in with my hand luggage? It's marked 'class 2' laser product, but there is mention of 'no laser pointers allowed' in some airport security pages... Though many 'pointers' seem to be class 3 or 4.. Thanks if anyone has experience/knowledge of this..

Thanks.. Trouble is I'm not over for another 3 weeks, however there may be still a way as our bill is so late.. Office is miles away though..

How do you sign up for monthly payments? We have just received our first TF bill now for 2011 in Jan 2012 - it was originally sent to the previous owner by mistake, who then contested it, and we have now been correctly billed with a payment due in Feb.. No problem clearing this outstanding bill, but It might be more useful to go prelevement.. Many thanks..

OK.. Thanks, I'll give it one more try.. I wonder if I'll win a prize too? [:)]

Did you get triple receipts for proof of leaving it there (joke) or did they just log it on the system and they refunded via RIB? Cheers..

Has anyone cracked this? It seems when we take a box back to the store (2 different branches) for our €50 refund (we never used it, nor plan to, nor wanted it in the first place but were told we 'had' to have it) we get long faces and words to the effect of 'ooohh, not sure if it will work smoothly, maybe your account will never get credited, box might get lost on the way etc. etc... Clearly unable (or unwilling) to make a call to HQ to acknowledge it's receipt, or make a note on our account on their system (they are a communications company non?).. We seem to be left with the only way, which is to fill in the form enclosed in the box packaging and post (at our own expense - €12) and wait for the refund to come through.. (which I'm sure it would..) Now I'm not that stingy, but I am a little bloody minded and like to push these people (by that I mean rigid officious businesses..) and make them work a bit harder (and hopefully change their ways in the long run..). So, in short, has anyone successfully done the easiest of things, drop their box off at an Orange shop, and got their money back? Cheers for any successful (or not) encounters..

Interesting viewing..

[quote user="baypond"]"  The French would love to tax foreign ownership i'm sure.[/quote] Wasn't this already thrown out as against EU level playing fields? I remember there being uproar within France for additional taxation of residences secondaires..