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Hi Clair. If you email me using the button at the bottom of this message detailing the email address you would like to change to, I will sort this for you. James

Anyone fancy doing a blog (web log)? I am currently setting up this feature on both our sites (Living France and France Magazine) and would be interested in whether anyone would like to participate and on what subject they would like to write? Ideas could be: Renovation project, living in France, moving to France and all it entails (importing a car etc), touring round France etc. Email me if interested using the icon at the bottom of this post. Thanks. James

[quote user="Monika"] James: how do I access the blogs, will I be made aware of them? [/quote] Yes, there will be a link to it when it is set up and goes live on the homepage of Living France and also the forum. James  

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Hi Ian, I've been meaning to clean up the main conference page and I think your idea is a good one. I have therefore made a change to the FAQ sections to make them sub-forums of a new category called 'About This Forum (read only)'. This should make the page look better and also importantly - load quicker. James

Hi Harley, Did you get my last email? It is set up now for you to start blogging. Email me if you have any questions. James

Hi Clair, Work was being carried out on the servers over the weekend and the error message you posted was due to our end rather than your PC. With regards to the email alerts, are you on AOL? AOL seems to block automated emails. James

Hi Gay, it was good to see you last year. I will be there again this year if anyone wants to come and say hello. James

Sent in by  La Guerriere:     FRENCH ELECTRICS GLOSSARY   This applies to a normal single phase domestic system only   Abonnement The contract with EDF is for a set maximum current typically 9 or 12 kW on single phase. This is set at the disjoncteur de branchement and can be varied by applying to your local EDF office. The levels are quite low, this why you don’t see electric showers in France. Alimentation Supply (of current) Apparent (en) Surface mounted (also en sallie) Applique Wall light fitting Barette de terre A connection point in the earthing circuit that can be disconnected to allow the testing of the earth resistance (required by CONSUEL on a new installation) Barre (ou Peigne) de Pontage Connecting bridge used in the tableau to connect modules. Boite de derivation / distribution Junction box, they come in all shapes and sizes. All connections must be accessible and not hidden in the plaster. Boite d’appareillage General box for building in sockets and switches, usually round (65mm). Two versions are available, one for use direct in masonry (fix with platre) and a different one with a clamping system for use with plasterboard. Borne Terminal, typically a small bus-bar in a tableau for phase neutral and earth Bouton-poussoir Push button, sometimes used for multiple way switching with a remote unit in the tableau. Cable Although French electricians generally use individual conductors, you can use cable (U 1000) black, three-core), but it must be buried directly into walls (encastre), must be in gaine. UK T+E cable even with new EU colours is not acceptable as the earth is not insulated. Chauffe-eau Water heater aka cumulus. The big white tank in the loft. Must be on a separate circuit 2.5 mm2 and 20A disjoncteur. Compteur Meter, which can be digital or analogue depending on age. The connection on the company side of the meter is to the EDF fuse (sealed), on the output side is the disjoncteur de branchement. If you are going over to heures creuses you will probably need a new meter. Conducteur Conductor, individual wires, see couleurs CONSUEL Comité National pour la  Securité des Usagers de l’Electricité – inspection body for the inspection of new electrical installations – see www.consuel.com the site gives local contact addresses, cost of inspection, and form for application. Couleurs Colours (of conductors). On a new installation these should be blue for neutral, green/yellow for earth, and (mainly) red or black for phase. Other colours occur on the output side of switched and in two way circuits. On old installations, you may find anything depending on the mood of the installer. Congelateur Freezer, should be on a separate dedicated circuit which is handy so you can leave it on when you go away with everything else switched off. Contrôle, Contrôler Test, to test (verb) Contrôle de Terre Earth resistance test required by CONSUEL, should be less than 100 ohms. Needs special earth meter (hirable) and cannot be done using multimeter. Convecteur Electrical convector heaters are generally available but if fixed to the wall should be attached via a sortie de cable rather than plugged into a prise, and be on a separate circuit. Storage radiators are available for heures creuses but are more expensive than UK. Couronne Lit: “crown”. Big roll of cable, 50 or 100 metres. DCL Dispositif Connexion Luminaire. Small plug-in fitting required for all lighting fixtures under new rules NF C 15-100, not really required for an existing system. Delesteur A module in the tableau which allows the offloading of non-priority circuits if the consumption gets too high. It will for example switch off a couple of heaters rather than cast you into outer darkness (usually when you are in the bath and the chauffe-eau kicks in) Disjoncteur de branchement The EDF circuit breaker which enables one to connect / disconnect all power. This breaker is set at the required abonnement by EDF. Connection from this is allowed, but the input side from the meter is sealed (scellée or plombée) by EDF. Disjoncteur differential Equivalent to RCBO i.e. combined earth leakage and overload protection. Expensive way of doing it, but may be desirable for the freezer. Disjoncteur divisionairre Circuit breaker, equivalent to UK MCB, but are two pole for both phase and neutral. Neutral is not connected on a  separate busbar Domino “chocolate block” connectors, available in many sizes. EDF Electricite de France, the French National Electricity company Eclairage Lighting Encastre Built-in, chased in wiring Enjoliveur Facia on switches and sockets Etanche Watertight (as in socket, junction box etc) Fiche Plug Fiche DCL Teeny plug for connecting light fitting to the DCL. Fil(s) Individual conductor wires. Fil Pilote Control wire: an exotic French way of controlling convectors and other heating devices by an extra wire sending control signals back to a control module in the tableau. Fusible Fuses, which come in different sizes depending on rating. You can still use fuse carriers in the tableau instead of disjoncteurs , but it’s not recommended. Gaine The corrugated plastic tubing through which wiring is threaded. Obligatory for individual conductors and for passage of cables in or through walls. It usually has a thin steel messenger wire for pulling through the conductors. There are limits on the amount of conductor you can thread into a given size of gaine. Typically 16mm takes a light circuit, 20mm diameter a power circuit. Gaine prefilée You can buy gaine ready filled with three cores of 1.5mm2 (lighting) or 2.5 mm2 (general power) cable, which saves a lot of bad language but costs extra. Goulotte Literally gutter, but is large size cable trunking GTL or Gaine Technique de Logement Under the new French rules, the meter, the tableau, and all telephone and television etc connections come in to a GTL. Not necessary for an existing system, it nevertheless forms a reasonable model for how to lay things out. Griffes Claws or clamps on old-style surface mounted switches or sockets, no longer allowed. Hauteur Height. French light switches are generally positioned lower on the wall than in UK, about the same height as the door handle. There are rules about height of points from the floor but these are not a problem. Heures creuses Off peak electricity Isolement Insulation Interrupteur Switch, see also va et vient Interrupteur differential (ID) Equivalent to RCD. Note that all circuits have to be protected by a 30mA ID not just the power circuits as in the UK (split load not acceptable). For general circuits Type A. For cooker and washing machine Type AC is required. Liason equipotentielle Obligatory separate earth line to bathroom etc, connected to all metal items, essentially the same as cross-bonding in the UK. Lave linge Washing machine – should be on a separate circuit from the general kitchen power points with 20A disjoncteur Lave vessailles Dishwasher– should be on a separate circuit from the general kitchen power points with 20A disjoncteur Luminaire Light fitting. Mechanisme The working bits of a socket or switch, sometime sold separately to confuse the issue Mise en Securité Making it safe: of an existing installation. Module Generic term for any bit of equipment in the tableau. Monophase Single phase. Now generally used in domestic systems. Moulure Cable trunking available in many shapes and sizes, and any colour you like as long as its white. Navettes Lit. “shuttle” wires in a  two way light switch arrangement Neutre Neutral (should always be blue in modern system) Normes Francais All material used in an installation should have an NF stamp somewhere on it. Norme NF C 15 100 The rule book for electrical installations in France, which nobody actually buys because it is horribly expensive. Obturation Sockets are required to have method of blanking the live holes until the earth pin is pushed in as per UK sockets. Also the bits of plastic that blank off  unused slots in the tableau. Parafoudre Module in the tableau that allows a sudden current surge in a thunderstorm to run to earth rather than into the house system. Obligatory in parts (mainly South) of France where thunderstorms are more common Phase Phase, live Piquet de Terre Earth stake, usually galvanised steel, typically 2 metres, large hammer needed. Prise Socket. Sockets do not usually have a switch. Phase or live is conventionally right side facing the socket but not always the case. Prise controllee Switched socket, probably for a light. Prise de confort General purpose power sockets, usually 16A arranged radially, rings not allowed. A radial circuit can take up to 8 points on 2.5 mm2 wiring connected to a 20A disjoncteur divisionel. Prise cuisiniere 32A dedicated socket or cable outlet for cooker. Recommended even if you have gas cooker. Needs 6mm2 wiring and a 32A DD at the Tableau. Prise de Terre Earth connection, note that French regs generally require a longer piquet de terre than UK, typically 2 metres. Prise rasoir Razor socket with isolation transformer. PROMOTELEC French official body for the promotion of the use of electricity. They set down recommended minimum numbers of sockets etc. See www.promotelec.fr Salle de Bains Bathroom. The rules regarding zoning and location of equipment are very similar to that in the UK. There are minor differences in Zone 2 which extends up to the ceiling. You also need an external light switch, they don’t do pull cord switches. Because of the relatively low abonnement electric showers and instant water heaters are not used. Saignee (en) Chasing in walls. Because everything has to be in gaine, there are rules about the position and depth to which you can cut into walls to take your wiring, particularly thin partition walls. For the same reason chasing for cables in stone walls is very hard going. Sallie (en) Surface mounted, as in moulures Seche-serviettes Heated towel rail, which may be controlled by a fil pilote. Socle Socket Sortie de cable Cable outlet, as for cooker or for convector heaters Tableau (de repartition) Equivalent to consumer unit, and contains rows of disjoncteurs divisonnaires, each fed by an interrupteur differential. The structure (DIN rail) is very similar to the UK arrangement, but the units themselves are not interchangeable. Note there is no separate incoming switch as the EDF disjoncteur de branchement fulfils the same purpose. TBT Tres bas tension (very low voltage) as in 12v halogen systems. Telephone For some strange reason, telephone points are recommended everywhere, and any French electrician will include for telephone points in each room whether you want one or not. Television And television points as well. Terre Earth (green /yellow in modern system) Triphase Three phase system, don’t touch unless you know exactly what you are doing VMC Ventilation Mechanique Centrale (Controllee). Centralised ventilation / extraction system, would normally be specified ina  new house, and very good for getting of condensation Va et Vient Two way switch Vis Screw, screw connection fixation a vis. WAGO Patent cable connectors sometimes used instead of dominos    

Anyone going to Vive La France next week? More information

[quote user="Miki"]....why can't we cut and paste any more ? OK, we can drag and drop but that is not always easy, as one can forget the limits of this forum and forget it has to be done as such ? [/quote] Copy and paste messages? You can, I use control c to copy and control v to paste (and within soemthing that can be cut eg post editor, control x).

[quote user="Ron Avery"] That is just not true, I have a PM unanswered to Deimos, I have looked at it  twice to cut and paste bits and another two times to test this theory of yours, and it now shows 4 views. [/quote] Yes, if you view the PM it will also add to the view count. [quote user="Ron Avery"] ALSO why cannot you edit a message now?  I sent one 5 minutes ago and want to edit a date on it, I am now getting a box telling me the edit facility is timed out, what is it set to 10 seconds?????  Someone been playing with their new toys?? [/quote] Looking into this see http://www.completefrance.com/cs/forums/608568/ShowPost.aspx  

Just an announcement about Private Messages. When you receive a Private Message (PM) within the forum you will also be sent an email notification. This notification also contains the Private Message but you will need to click on the link given in the email to reply. You cannot simply reply by email as this will not go to the person who sent the private message to you.  

Have sent email to you. But to answer publicly: This 'Receive Email' will always be set to 'yes' even if you change it to 'no' as it takes the overall settings from the software which at the moment allows emails from the forum. If anyone doesn't want to be contacted by email you can change within your profile the 'Private email (not shared)' to [email protected]. If you do this it might be worth adding to your signature 'contact me by PM only '. This will not effect your ability to login. James

Have PM'd you, but for everyone else, you will know if the message has been read as the views will increase to 2.

Yes, the PM button doesn't appear on your posts as you cannot PM yourself but it is visible to all other users...I can see yours but not mine as well. James

[quote user="Deimos"]I want to send a Private Message to somebody.  I know their username though do not know of any posts they have made and thus cannot reply using the PM button at the bottom of one of their posts.  Similarly, as I do not know their e-mail address I cannot search for any posts they have made (searching on the Username does not work). Many thanks Ian [/quote] Hi,   If you email or PM me the username I will search the system for you. The reason that the username does not show up in the search is because the way the system is set up/migrated from the old forum. The acutal username is the persons email address and therefore can't be displayed for privacy reasons. In fact if you PM me and we can test the PM 'views' as well.      

Hi, I have increased the time limit to 120 minutes. The filter has been changed.

Yes, I reminded him and he is going to have a look at this today and tomorrow. Will let you know. On a further note we have changed 'report post' which was set on two lines, to simply 'report' as some members of the forum were clicking on the 'post' part thinking that it was how to post. J

Hi, It was something that was disscussed, but from my experience of other forums with this facility, the chat never seems to get used!  

[quote user="Deimos"] Nor me.  I don’t generally answer e-mails people send my as I have had to spend hours offering people direct personal technical support before – so now I generally only respond to PMs but don’t receive any notifications when there is a new one. Ian [/quote] When you recieve a new PM message you are sent an email notification. If you aren't recieving these then check within your control panel (by clicking on your username at the top of the page) that the forum holds your correct email address. Some ISP's filter automated emails so this might be another reason for not receiving the notification.      

[quote user="beryl"] Is it possible for Forum Users to suggest things that they would like to see in LF Magazine? If so, could the powers that be please do a translated French Tax Form , they did something similar with the form that you need to fill in if you have an accident , a couple of years back.  I'm sure a translated French Tax form would be a God send to many.  [/quote] Hi, I will pass this on to the editor. Thanks  

[quote user="Iceni"] Sorry, but I cannot mark everything as read - so I have to go through the list in date order and then go to each and every section to mark as read - stupid and for someone who has very little time not possible. [/quote] Within each forum section at the bottom there is an 'options' button, you can then 'mark all posts as read' within each section and they will turn grey and disappear from the 'Not Read' list on the main forum page. However, I take your point that there is 'no mark topics as read' within the 'Not Read' list.      

[quote user="missyesbut"] Well I certainly can't teach this robot to write DUPA !....... as in S U P A - D U P A       ..................... Oh dear!... [/quote] I have now changed this.....Supa-dupa.

There are no pop-ups on the forum itself, but there are pop-ups on the main sites (www.francemag.com and www.livingfrance.com). I know they can be a pain for some but they help to generate income to keep the website and forum running. You can run a pop-up blocker if you would prefer not to see them.