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Punch

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Everything posted by Punch

  1. Hello, can anyone help with this please? I can't send emails from Outlook Express as the smtp outgoing port seems to be blocking all outgoing emails. I get the following message when trying to send emails to any email address I try. I am using Outlook Express 6 and windows XP, browser is Mozilla Firefox Impossible d'envoyer le message car l'un des destinataires a été refusé par le serveur. L'adresse de messagerie refusée était '********@hotmail.co.uk'. Objet 'Various', Compte : '*********', Serveur : 'smtp.wanadoo.fr', Protocole : SMTP, Réponse du serveur : '554 5.7.1 <hotmail>: Relay access denied', Port : 25, Sécurisé (SSL) : Non, Erreur de serveur : 554, Numéro d'erreur : 0x800CCC79 I've googled the problem and one of the responses says I may not be logged onto my Orange account , but that is not the case . I tried to change the smtp port number from 25 to 2525 and I have also done all the usual things , rebooted ( livebox and PC), disabled firewall, but nothing seems to help. There seems to be no definitive answer to what seems like a common problem. The strange thing is that I can send emails with identical account settings on my laptop using Windows mail, via the same internet connection via my livebox connected via wiFi ( the problem computer is connected via an Ethernet connection). Any help much appreciated.
  2. Can anyone confirm if this is true about the orange bouquet being available on the same satellite as sky? The reason being is that I have just had my TV decodeur delivered from orange (after having the TV offer available for some time with my with my current package) and have not yet got it out of the box beacuse I am waiting to put up another dish next to my existing dish for sky on astra 28. I would of normally just plugged it in to try it after reading this post but am laid up on my back at the moment after a small op. I must admit the set up instructions also refer to hotbird when setting up so, like the majority of posters suspect that Another has been given the wrong information.
  3. That's great news nomoss and hope you have a quick recovery but not quite the point that Quillan was making. Quillan is about right for the current wait at a French opthamologue - I've just tried here in Mayenne and the earliest appointments are in six months time. We will either go to Jersey for the day have our tests and get our glasses on the same day, which is what we did 2 years ago, or do it in the UK again, with Vision Express. MOH had a walk in eye test (no rendezvous) in the Uk a couple of years ago last year at Vision Express and then got her glasses replaced (due to damage) at Vision Express in Paris (1.5 hours from here) using their Europwide guarantee. I have also had this done at jersey around 5 years ago. I have been told that there is a Grande Optical in Fougeres that does eye tests but I think this is only if you have a recent prescription and don't want a full check up.
  4. Richard - that's a coincidence because I bought a Compaq laptop yesterday and I must admit that I hadn't even noticed it but I've just looked and I have no idea what it does! There is a small sqare symbol next to it and it changes to orange when you push it. I know it's not the WiFi button because that is above the top row of keys. I'd be glad to know myself without having to wade through the online manual! Paul.
  5. I see you also posted this on another Forum whereby the reply ( from a French national ) was generally that most people don't deem this insurance as necessary - I would agree, although it does depend on how well you know your installation and how much pipe you have on the consumers' side of the meter. Last year I had to dig up and replace a 20 metre section of water pipe on the consumers' side of the water meter that had sprung a leak ( due to bad installation practices when it was installed). The total cost ( around 2800 euros TTC) was covered by their standard household insurance policy. It wasn't an emergency though, the customer had had an underground leak for quite a few months. I would double check your insurance policy before taking up this offer as you may be covered, or better still get a RDV with your insurance agent to discuss, - they may have a similar bolt on policy option to your existing cover, as is the norm with motor insurance. www.punchardrenovation.com
  6. Largish one's that I have used are around 20cm x 20cm but I try to avoid having a large one unless it can be discreetly placed, and they can get difficult to install due to the number of conduits, when installed in a placo wall. There is another couple of alternatives; Use a "boitier de combles". These are loft mounted junction boxes, some are square, some are round but they are much more solid and can take more conduits. Or if you have a cupboard or suitable location, use a surface mounted box ( the type used for exterior connections) mounted tight to the ceiling.      
  7. [quote user="oldgit72"]Thanks for the reply. Looking again at l'installation electronique, there seems to be an option to take the lighting run via the interrupteurs themseves. My understanding of this is that you finish up with a lighting run connected via switches with each switch then having an independent light controlled from it. This seems reasonably simple and would avoid the need for junction boxes and inspection points for them which could get messy. Have I got this right?[/quote] If I have understood you correctly, I can't see the point in wiring this way as you would need two conduits arriving at each switch. Normal practice in the majority of cases, is to have just one. It seems excessively wasteful and time consuming!  Normal practice "in the field" is to daisy chain socket outlets and have accesible junction boxes for lighting circuits, with just one conduit to each switch /light/appliance. As I said earlier there are exceptions depending on the design, but having been in the game here in France for many years now, that method is quite unusual. Most installations require a boitier de derivation somewhere to make wiring simpler. You can daisy chain lighting through a DCL box, but you may struggle connecting up as space is very limited. You can use switch boxes as junction boxes ( deeper versions are available for this), and sometimes it is practicable to do so, but not in all cases. www.punchardrenovation.com  
  8. You could do it that way, but it would use more wire and that would mean passing through the switch each time, to get to each light and having twice as many wires, and an earth wire ( which is not required) at the switch. Normally I would have a local boite de derivation ( junction box) and then take conduits to switches and lights seperately from this boite. With the advent of DCL boxes which are a requirement on all new electrical installations, you do not really want to have too many wires in your DCL box! Installation design is an important factor in electrical wiring and every job is different in the planning of wiring runs. Neutrals are not needed at switches but is is strongly recommended to have a neutral available at switches to allow for future expansion and changes such as PIRs, dimmers etc. Hope this helps!   www.punchardrenovation.com  
  9. To be slightly clearer on this: The individual circuit breakers (disjoncteurs divisionaires) in your tableau electrique will only trip off when you are drawing current over the power rating of the breaker (as stated by Anton above) OR it can be caused by a short circuit between either phase and neutral or phase and earth. However in the latter case there has to be a good enough earth for this to happen. The main EDF trip is a combined unit which combines overload protection AND earth leakage protection. ( this is called a disjoncteur differentielle), and typically is rated at 500 milliamps for earth leakage protection. All EDF installations have this unit which serves as your main switch, and abbonnement rating. Additionally, all electrical installations should have at least one and typically three individual "interrupteur differentielles" rated at 30 milliamp trip current. An  interrupteur differentielle only gives earth leakage protection and does not protect from overload or short circuit. From what you say, it seems like your installation may not have an "inter diff ", as this would have tripped before your main EDF switch. The most likely reason for your problem was the EDF switch tripped out before the individual circuit breaker in your fuseboard because you had some leakage to earth that would not be detected by the individual disjoncteur divisionaire. Without further details on your actual installation, it is difficult to comment more, but the three items highlited in orange above all operate differently. The differentielles are very sensitive and can trip out very quickly from the smallest of earth leakage currents such as moisture and off balanced loads.
  10. Details Here - third article down are universal chauffe eau's . http://www.robinetterie-hammel.fr/ssfamille.php?fam=5&ssfam=1
  11. I buy and install universal Chauffe Eau's that can be mounted either horozontally or vertically. I have installed around three so far this year and they are excellent, as they have features that are not usual on a chauffe eau such as; an inbuilt on off switch and  an adjustable thermostat on the outside of the casing, and come pre-cabled, so no fiddling around taking plastic covers off. Price of around 261 euros TTC to the trade for a 200 litre. I have not seen the inside design/layout but there are 2 x 1200 watt elements inside which are stéatite ane can be changed without draining down.
  12. What you have is a three pin 20A French plug, which would mean that the water heater may be rated more than a standard 16A plug could cope with.  What is the power rating and voltage on the heater ? This is important, as this plug could either be used for single phase ( Live, neutral and earth) or two phase ( two phases and earth). In any case, the Regs say that a water heater (being a fixed appliance) should be wired directly to a "boitier de connection" rather than a plug and socket, but it is difficult to know what you actually have in terms of a water heater. If you can give me some more info, I will be glad to help further. www.punchardrenovation.com  
  13. Yes thanks Clair - bon fête du travail ! - It's also my daughter's birthday  !  (13) I've just been down to the local boulangerie to get breakfast - croissants, gateaux and pain au chocs, and I saw a mother setting her two children up on the roadside to sell bouquets of Muguet ( quite common here of course) but ....for  4.50€ a small bunch !! I think I'll wait for the next door neighbour to bring some round later this morning. How much is roadside muguet this year ? Has it been a bad year ?    
  14. "I wasn't quite sure what 'mater' is but I can guess..." mater - to watch closely / to have a gander at / to be a peeping tom/ voyeur ! mate-moi ça ! - get a load off that !
  15. The maximum permitted number of sockets using 2.5mm wire on a circuit is 8, protected by a 20A disjoncteur or a 16 fuse. You can also have a maximum of 5 sockets on a 1.5mm wire circuit protected by a 16A disjoncteur. French wiring diagrams can be found on many sites - just do a google search for "schema electric" . I am a working Electrician in France so if you want any further help please ask. www.punchardrenovation.com
  16. Quillan, I have a selection of various hep20 fittings and pipe here is Mayenne if it's any use - 15 years of working on other peoples DIY Plumbing installations in France made me stock various bits for breakdowns etc. I have approximlately 40 metres of 16mm Hep20 new pipe; I have a 16mm to 15mm HEP20 reducer, a 15mm T for Hep20 and a 15mm straight through coupling. I also have around 50 various fittings for 16mm Hep20, which are mainly T's and through couplings, plus metal inserts for 16mm. I may have one or two 15mm inserts too. I think it has been already mentioned that www.realheating.com  are suppliers here in France, which is where I sourced my stuff from a few years back. This link shows you some fitiings http://www.realheating.com/articles.php?lng=fr&pg=16 It is quite easy to adapt from 15 to 16mm pipe in copper - I do it all the time. I use a flaring tool to flare out the end of the pipe to the exact diameter required to slip into either a copper fitting of another piece of French pipe. It's quite a common pipe jointing method here is France, which I learnt from a brazing course I attended here.  
  17. Kass33 - don't worry. There are quite a few private entreprises in France offering to give you a listing in their own " annuaire des entreprises" . I have been contacted by several over the last 15 years since , some more pushy than others. It is common to get factures through the post for these and I just thrown them in the bin. Our local CAPEB  issued a warning las year about this.   If you have not signed up for the annuaire or paid any money then you do not owe a bean and therefore just ignore them . You say they sent you a bill in December - did you receieve it and sign it ?? Have you any paperwork at all ? Has your hubby signed up for anything unbeknown to you. It sounds much like over pushy sales staff to me.   http://www.punchardrenovation.com
  18. I wish they hadn't done away with my favourite comic strip  " Thieving Gypsy B******* " . That was so funny I havn't seen a copy in years but have an old annual that is good toilet reading !
  19. [quote user="nectarine"]ooh cripes, I didn't know about the controle pollution ..... is there any allowance made for older vehicles at all?[/quote] As per the text below, if your vehicule is a "utilitaire leger" ( light van) with a PTAC of less than 3.5 tonnes then the anti pollution test is due for petrol vehicles registered since 1972 and for diesel vehicles registered after 1980. It may be worth checking on your carte grise as if the "genre" of the vehicle is VP ( Voiture particulier) private car, then the intermediate anti pollution test is not required . Of course if you vehicle is less than 4 years old then no test is required Les véhicules utilitaires légers doivent effectuer une visite complémentaire annuelle anti-pollution, à la suite du premier contrôle technique. Sont concernés les véhicules : - Essence mis en circulation à partir du 01/10/1972, - Diesel mis en circulation à partir du 01/01/80.  
  20. Don't forget that you will also need a yearly "contrôle anti pollution" within a year of having the CT done.
  21. There are plenty of suppliers in France . Here are some for around 122 euros. http://www.webdealauto.com/Projecteur_principal__phare_/c259/index.html I have used these people and would recommend them.
  22. Yes as SD says insurance is quite easy to arange. Incidentally, I tried Assurland.com and in the same week I was contacted by several of the main insurers ( MAAF, MMA, AXA ) asking me if I wanted appointments with their agents, so it rather defeated the point of going to them in the first place, as the indicated prices were nothing like the actual quotes I was given ! I would also say that with the case of insurances (house, motor, life, etc) you can often negotiate good discounts by grouping them all with the same insurer. Try your bank also for a quote. We have private and business insurances with premiums probably totalling over 8000 € per annum and have saved quite a bit over the years by doing this. Another tip on motor insurance is that you can get reduced premiums if you agree to keep below a certain kilometrage per annum. we saved over 200 euros on one policy by doing this. There are all sorts of add ons and ways of getting premiums reduced. Don't forget that insurances in France are also continued automatically at the renewal date unless you give notice of cancellation which in some instances must be two months before renewal.    
  23. [quote user="tj"]A days work, 2 men, emergency callout, can't be far out I dont think. But is a reminder to discuss the cost in advance.   [/quote] Although it is a bit ambiguos, I took it from the OP's post that it was just one man attending and not two ??  If it was just for one then I still say too expensive but if it was for two then probably about right. Perhaps the OP can clarify and give us the detail of the facture?  
  24. [quote user="Nick Trollope"] Not so There is no legal requirement for a devis for any work - it is sensible, however. In the OPs case, he did not get (ask for) a devis, so he is stuck with the bill. All he can do is speak to the plumber and get him to reduce it. [/quote] Are you absolutely sure about that Nick ? I'm with GiantPanda on this one. As I have always understood it a devis for works estimated at over 150€ is obligatory . It's what my accountant has always told me. I found an arrête that may be relevant; Prestations de dépannage, de réparation et d’entretien dans le secteur du bâtiment et de l’équipement de la maison. L’établissement d’un devis est obligatoire pour les prestations suivantes dont le montant TTC est estimé à plus de 150 € (arrêté du 2 mars 1990 modifié par l’arrêté du 30 juillet 1999) : For the OP it is difficult to comment on his actual case as I would prefer to see the facture but I was called out to an electrical/plumbing problem between Christmas and the New year (on a Sunday) and my bill came to 150€ plus TVA, which included 2hrs labour and 1.5 hours travelling, so yes it does see a little high ( Or maybe I'm too cheap! ) . Every artisan should have their rates displayed at their premises which should include such items as hourly rate and frais de déplacement ( callout and travelling costs).
  25. In brief there is no obligation on the house owner to repair or correct any of these abnomalies. You can of course use the report as a bargaining tool in getting a price reduction if you so wish. You could ask the owner if you can get some devis for the works in question to get an idea of what the likely cost is. In answer to the electrical queries, the electrical diagnosis has become law this year in all house sales where the electrical installations are 15 years old or more. The electrical inspections look at the 5 or 6 main security issues such as RCD protection, earthing, protective devices, and such like. The sentence 'l'ensemble des socles de prise de courant n'est pas de type a obturateur' means that the socket outlets in the property do not have shutters in the holes to stop kids poking screwdrivers into them etc. The electrical regulations in bathrooms are quite specific and without going into great detail, socket outlets are not allowed within 60 cm of a fixed bath or shower. Depending on the existing electrical installation, I often I find that it is a false economy paying out good money after bad to bring an old installation up to a passable standard, and a rewire is often the more viable option. I hope this helps, please feel free to ask more questions! www.punchardrenovation.com
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