Welcome to my channel. I’m Chris Walsh and I make videos about typical handyman and householder stuff around the home.
This includes DIY, property maintenance and renovation, woodworking, gardening and much more besides. You'll also find lots about solar power, following our system installation in late July 2022, and I've recently started to dabble with Home Assistant too.
With over 40 years of handyman and householder experience, both personal and professional, I hope you'll find these videos useful and entertaining.
Don't forget, if you're using hand tools or power tools, be sure to take appropriate precautions as they can be hazardous. Your safety is your responsibility, so treat them with respect and if you feel at all uncomfortable carrying out any operation, stop.
Thanks for watching!!
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Hi there, My Webb 33 services us after five years to day I did the same with you but seems like can't help : (
You've got a new hobby, Handyman 👍
🤣
So detailed and super helpful, thanks!
Thanks. Glad you found it helpful. Chris
Again, a factual, real-life test. Einhell should pay you, instead of making their marketing videos.
That'd be nice 😊 Thanks for the feedback, Chris
Array value in kW's 4,800kW Multiply x 1095 for annual generation figure (5,256,000kW yearly generation aprox) x 1 for avg daily Winter output (4,800kW per day at Christmas) x 3 for avg daily Spring/Autumn (14,400kW per at Easter) x 5 for avg daily Summer output (24,000kW on a good summer's day)
good points about north facing panels, Upside down fork in southampton has had some brilliant generation from his compared to his SE panels, myself i have 16 old skool 250w South facing panels,but i am looking on adding 8-10 450w ish north facing along with some South facing on my flat roof with a battery :)
Thanks for the feedback. Yes, I think I saw one of Upside-down's videos to that effect. I was surprised that they would give as much as 55% of the output of south-facing, though I suspect that could be quite dependent on your location. Cheers
how much would you charge to do a job like this ??
Hi, Just replacing the sink waste with a new one shouldn't normally take more than an hour or two at the very most, depending on whether you hit any snags. A straight like-for-like replacement could be done in a lot less time... I used to charge £25/hour for handyman work (with a minimum charge of £20) but I'm retired now 😊 Cheers
@handyman-at-home thanks for your reply, much appreciated . videos are helpful
Really helpful. Thank you. Think I’ll try one now
Thanks. I've slightly altered my view after making the video. I've found if I make sure that it's not fitted too tightly (which it definitely was in the video) then I find it's not as noticeable when you're trying to get to sleep. I'm probably 50/50 on it now 😊
Hi thanks for the information! Very useful. Bought mine a few weeks ago in Germany , included battery and charger. cost €100. One reason I am commenting is to say that the trimmer is now fully assembled no need to assemble parts including the troublesome safety guard.
Hi, Thanks for the feedback and update. Chris
Nice work!
Thanks!
At this point, i would use a second pair of supply cables. The cabels to the inverter are only 4AWG and rated for just 60 Amps. The short ones between the batteries are rated for 120 Amps. That should be fine.
Hi, All the cables - short and long - are identical (4 AWG) and are as supplied by Pylontech themselves. From reading the specs. my understanding is that they have a continuous current rating of 100A and a peak rating of 125A. Thanks
@@handyman-at-home Take a look at cable calculators in the web. A 4AWG Cable of 30cm can handle more power, than a 2m 4AWG cable. Also depends on your breaker. If this is 120Amps ( NH as it looks like ) i would definitly not trust in one pair of this tiny Cables. Look, how long NH breakers can handle 120A+ till they blew up. Your Cable might be long gone since then. Is only a recommendation for safety, and it doesnt cost that mutch.
Do you run out of battery fast or does it last long?
I seem to get pretty decent battery run times, certainly enough to cut both my front and rear (small to medium sized) lawns, with at least 1 bar of power remaining. If the grass is wet, or particularly long, that does hit the batteries quite a lot though, so definitely best to mow when the lawn is dry and keep doing it every 7 to 10 days during the peak growing period. I'll try and take some run times the next time I use it as that might give a more meaningful answer. Cheers, Chris
Thank you so much for this Video its really helpful. I'm more than happy to subscribe to your channel
Thanks! Glad you found it useful 👍
Merci, grâce à vous j'ai pu changer la courroie du pitch
Je suis heureux que vous l'ayez trouvé utile. Cheers, Chris
Oakworth, the home of the Railway Children. Love visiting there. You've caught some good shots there.
Thanks!
I have the stainless steel one. There is polystyrene at the back should that be taken out? Just unpacking and booklet doesn't say much
Hi, I've just looked back at the video I shot whilst unpacking it (not shown in the video I uploaded) and as far as I can see there was polystyrene packing underneath, on top, and down the four corners vertically. There wasn't any polystyrene at the back on mine. I would guess that, if it's loose and can be easily removed, then that should be taken out, but if it feels attached or glued on, then it should be left as is - it's probably insulation or for sound deadening. Hope that helps, Chris
@@handyman-at-home Hi, Yes I finally spoke to someone from hotpoint ,your right its for sound deadening. Thanks for replying back :)
Ffs this was pointless and brutal
A huge thank you for this video, it was exceedingly informative and very much appreciated, especially the part about how to fit the guard and make sure that the operating handle was facing the correct way for the trimmer to work.👏👏. I would also like to add that I had extreme difficulty removing the black plastic trimmer guard, in fact, I actually cut my finger trying to remove it. Not sure if there is a "knack" to doing this or a special way of doing it,, I would be extremely grateful to anyone who has come across this problem and knows a solution, but it was probably the hardest part of all in assembling this trimmer.
Thanks - glad you found it helpful. I agree, I also find removing the black guard very difficult - it requires quite a bit of force, which suggests the moulding is too small... I've fixed mine vertically to part of some timber shelving, but have had to zip-tie it around the upright post a) to keep it vertical, and b) to keep it in position when I'm removing the trimmer. I didn't pick up on this before I made the video 😞 Cheers, Chris
@@handyman-at-home I do NOT think I'll be putting the guard back on as it was way too difficult to get it off and I don't want to cut my finger again, lol. I've just wrapped it up in a thick plastic sleeve covering. for safety 👍
Thanks for the great review , ordered one from Amazon
Thanks for the feedback 👍
would have been good if you said it actually worked ......?
Fair point - Mea Culpa 🤣 At first it looked like it had completely cured the leak, but then after some very heavy rain I noticed a very small damp patch in just one localised spot. Ended up giving the stripes another coat, and it's been fine ever since. I suspect that the holes from one or two staples in the felt hadn't been thoroughly blocked up by the first coat. Cheers, Chris
recap🎯 Key points for quick navigation: 🔄 The original document for setting up dip switch settings was found to be incorrect. 📝 A new, more recent document is available, but it lacks clarity in representing switch positions. 🛠️ To confirm settings, it is recommended to disconnect the daisy chain and test each module individually. 🔍 The key is to ensure each module is correctly configured by using BMS software for confirmation. 📄 The older document had misleading instructions, emphasizing the need for the updated version. 💡 Directly connecting and testing modules eliminates confusion when configuring dip switch settings. 🗂️ The current document is dated December 2022, version 2.3.1, providing more accurate information. 💬 It is essential to pay attention to the switch settings represented in the new document to avoid confusion. Made with HARPA AI
Thank you for sharing your findings. I had a similar problem with an occasionally used 3/4 year model. Same technical outcome. A chat to Bosch might get some closure. Best wishes
Thanks. There's definitely a design issue, especially in the more recent versions of this mower. I've seen numerous videos since talking about motor winding burnout after 1 to 2 years!! Cheers, Chris
My petrol Hayter 41 is (we think) about 20yrs old, wretched thing keeps starting every spring😊. I’ve a Einhall extendable hedge trimmer and cutter which apart from being very heavy, I’m happy with it. At some point my Hayter will go to lawnmower heaven so appreciate your post. Thank you.
Cheers. My broken down Bosch mower (see separate video) finally gave up the ghost a couple of months ago - had passed it onto my daughter who got 2 years more out of it. I'm not sure it's made it to lawnmower heaven though, as I stripped it down and sold off the spare parts. Worthwhile exercise if you have the time. Have netted £70+ for a couple of hours work stripping & listing. Chris
Thanks for the exhaustive and unbiased review ! Einhell should pay you for this, instead of commercials :D +1 for the max cutting diameter test, its nowhere covered in Einhell documents, nor in other reviews.
Thanks for the great feedback. "Einhell should pay me" ... chance would be a good thing🤣 Cheers, Chris
Thanks so much for this! After looking and looking and going mad with it all your video really helped. I have just ordered the stainless steel version after watching this.
Thanks, Glad it proved useful. My daughter has been very pleased with hers 👍
Hi, As a 70 year old Widow who has inherited the dubious pleasure of the garden tools. Our strimmer was far too heavy, and I purchased the above cordless one last year. I got it out of its box yesterday I wish I found your video earlier. Faffing with the guard faffing with the assembly, struggling to figure out where was supposed to even put the battery?? I figured it out, took it outside, I hadn't put the blade on properly so lost my only blade. Discovered I was supposed to have 20 spares? I couldn't find them?? Ordered an 100 of Amazon. Work was stopped unnecessarily and I found the blades today Watching your video! Sorry its long, but not everyone knows how to manage things. Thank you so much and please keep on educating.
Hi, Thanks for the feedback and glad it’s proved useful. The only thing I’d say about the cheaper blades bought off Amazon is that I find they’re slightly shorter than the Einhell ones, and are made of stiffer plastic. That makes them hard to fit and remove, and also they tend to shatter more. I bought a 100 pack myself but after using up around 30 of them, I’ve given up on them and forked out for a box of Einhell ones (also on Amazon). Cheers, Chris
@handyman-at-home I fitted my cheapie blade and off I went! Did about 15 mins and it packed in altogether? Hoping it's battery? However, I can't see where you are supposed to see how much charge it's got? I thought it would have a lit up bit? I will go and purchase some Einhell blades. Thank you so much for the advice! I am getting to like this strimmer.
Try pressing the little button to the side of the three LEDs on the end of the battery. You should get from one to three to light up. If none light up, it's definitely fully discharged. I think I show how to do that in one of my other Einhell videos. Cheers
Your expertise shines through again. I have finally found the lights, and it's half full! Thank you again. Also I didn't get 100 blades from amazon, I got 50 Einhell blades cos I wanted them in the plastic box. so that was my one thing I did right. I cannot express how helpful you have been, Thank you! And please keep on helping people.
hola, cuando dices que apagarás por completo la batería, esa caja de cuantos Amperes es? 3:28
Hi, Sorry for the delay in replying. The isolator is a Fuse Switch Disconnector by Jean Mueller. Model KETO-00-3/F - Item T500113002 It's rated to 160A, and from what I can see, there are two 80A fuses fitted, one on the positive connection and one on the negative. shop.jeanmueller.de/web/de_DE/1415707101776/NH-Sicherungslasttrennschalter%20KETO-00-3-F/$catalogue/jeanData/PR/T500113002/additionalInfos/index.xhtml Hope that answers your question Cheers, Chris
Hola, Perdón por la demora en responder. El aislador es un seccionador de interruptor fusible de Jean Mueller. Modelo KETO-00-3/F - Artículo T500113002 Tiene una capacidad nominal de 160 A y, por lo que puedo ver, hay dos fusibles de 80 A instalados, uno en la conexión positiva y otro en la negativa. shop.jeanmueller.de/web/de_DE/1415707101776/NH-Sicherungslasttrennschalter%20KETO-00-3-F/$catalogue/jeanData/PR/T500113002/additionalInfos/index.xhtml Espero que responda a tu pregunta Saludos, Chris Google translate .... 😊
@@handyman-at-home Hola, o sea, si yo tengo 2 US2000B y 1 US2000C (25A x3 = 75A), debiera tener un fusible de 80A ó 100A?, la pregunta es por que tengo uno de 50A
Hola, no soy un experto, pero habría pensado que un fusible de 80 A sería suficiente, en lugar de uno de 100 A, que me parece un poco grande. En cuanto a por qué tienes uno de 50A, sólo puedo adivinarlo. ¿Tenías originalmente solo las 2 baterías US2000B? ¿Quizás el instalador pensó que un 50A estaba bien para eso? No sé cuál es su inversor, pero en el mío (Solis) puede configurar las corrientes máximas de carga y descarga, por lo que siempre puede asegurarse de no exceder el valor del fusible en funcionamiento normal. Realmente existe un fusible para proteger el sistema cuando algo sale mal, por lo que probablemente elegiría un 80 A dada su configuración actual. Sólo mis 3 centavos. Saludos, Chris
@@handyman-at-home Hola de nuevo, tengo un inversor Solis, muy parecido al suyo, pero creo que es una versión anterior RHI-4.6K-48ES, pero no puedo encontrar esa configuración para configurar las corrientes máximas de carga y descarga, solo se que el máximo que puede ocupar el inversor son (Maximum Charge/discharge current(A) = 62.5/62.5), o sea, puede solo ocupar un máximo de carga y descarga de 62,5A
Thinking of buying a second battery 🔋
Thanks 🙏
This Month Exported 531.20 kWh Import / Used 473.73kWh. ? On flux cost £126. 94 ?
That's a hell of an export figure... What size panel array do you have?
Thanks for sharing just on Flux Exporting more than i am using
Thanks - sounds good. In April I was roughly equal between export and grid import. For May, it looks like my export will be around 10% more than grid import. However, the real kicker is that May's PV yield is massively down on last year ... around 400 kWh as compared to 600 kWh last year - a drop of around 35%. Chris
Hello, I have a Bosch Rotak 34 from 2009. Has it a belt inside and how can I replace that? 🙂
Hi Rick, I never got as far as looking at the belt as I was pretty certain that the motor was knackered. I've just done a quick search on KZread and this video came up that shows how to change the belt. Hope it helps! Chris kzread.info/dash/bejne/k5qIo6aNnc_VaJM.htmlsi=MkpwPKVqC3EnVvG3
@@handyman-at-home Thank you 🙂
Awesome engineering, love it.
Thank you for taking the time and effort to produce your videos, very interesting and may encourage me to have another go at Home Assistant.
Thanks for the great feedback. I've not been able to do much with HA for a few months (too many jobs 🤣). Hope to find some time to get back on with it myself.
What is the name of dishwasher
Hi, It's a ... Hotpoint HSFO 3T223 W UK N I did a review on it here ... kzread.info/dash/bejne/iYyIj8OLk5nTfNo.htmlsi=IoiHkgTWOMBnbN2z Thanks, Chris
I am new to HA and have the HA green box + skyconnect setup with a couple of devices so far. I purchased three Local Bytes plugs with Tasmota and found the process quite frustrating compared to the zigbee devices. I had many issues with the plug not restarting following the updates - or when I unplugged to move it somewhere else. However, got it all working for a while. They seem to disconnect and then I see them appearing as a wifi device as they do initially. They're not saving my password and often fail to connect once entered. This plug has been offline the past three hours, despite numerous attempts to get it to reconnect. I haven't tried the other two plugs but it's left me disillusioned with Tasmota. I've seen that they can be re-flashed to ESPhome and I think I'll give it a try with this particular plug. I need plugs to be reliable and low maintenance. I hear good things about Local Bytes and the prices are decent, so it's a shame this has happened. I'll be interested to hear if you experience any drops.
May sound like a stupid question, will the dishwasher water not run back into the dishwasher as the pipe is raised?
Hi, Not a stupid question at all👍- it's a fair observation. I've answered similar comments before, so have just copied one of those here ... The existing waste pipe outlet through the wall was already in situ and to change this would require drilling a new hole through the wall lower down, and re-routing the waste pipe. This wasn't going to happen late on a Friday night, so it got put on a long To Do list, for another time (and has since been done). The video footage was also slightly misleading in that the lowest point of the waste pipe was actually just lower (but I agree not by a lot) than the lowest point of the connections to the washing machine and dishwasher. Since shooting the footage I also raised the waste trap up by about half an inch or so (it wasn't up as far as it would go), so that further improved the situation. Dishwasher's been working fine for over a year now. Cheers, Chris
Just came Across your channel just the review I was looking for and a new subscriber how are the blades holding up compared to line
Hi Andy, Thanks for subscribing. A very timely question ....! So the original Einhell blades that came with the strimmer (can't remember whether there were 10 or 20) I found pretty robust and lasted well when strimming all lengths of grass. When I came to buy some more, I was a cheapskate and bought a pack of 100(?) non-original off Amazon. Big mistake! What a a load of rubbish they are. They turned out to be a couple of mm shorter (not a huge issue) and made out of very stiff plastic, as compared to the originals which seemed a bit more flexible. This made them i) much more difficult to fit and ii) have a much higher tendency to shatter/snap off. When you're cutting grass, they're OK(ish) but when you try edging against a hard paved surface, they can be a nightmare, requiring you to be extremely careful when positioning the strimmer i.e. just close enough to trim but no too close to clatter the paving. As an example, yesterday I was trimming the lawn along a stretch of block paving and I got through 6 (yes six!) blades ... and it's not a big lawn! That was unusually bad ... maybe I was rushing ... but either way, I won't be buying the cheap ones again. To be honest, I'd say I'm 50/50 between blades and line. I always had problems with the line feed/snapping off, which is why I thought I'd try the blades. But they're not without their issues as I've described. Hopefully some original blades will restore my karma. Cheers, Chris
Watched all your Einhell tool reviews and they look like decent starter tools! Have you also go let the Einhell Lawn Mower? And do you happen to know what the biggest battery I could put on here would be? Do they go up to 4Amph?
Hi, Thanks for the great feedback. Yes, I do have the Einhell Lawn Mower (have had it for 2 years now). I run it with 2 x 3.0Ah batteries which gives me enough power to cut both my front and back lawns twice over. I’d class the lawns as small to medium size. Not sure whether you can fit larger batteries to the mower - it might say on the einhell product pages. Cheers, Chris
@@handyman-at-home thanks for your reply I’ve had a look online and as long as it’s 18v and compatible with the Power-X change series you can put any of the batteries on, meaning it could go up to their newest and biggest 8amph, have you done a video on the lawn mower itself as wasn’t able to find it on your channel? I may have missed it
Hi, Yes - I do have a Einhell lawnmower - bought it around 2 years ago - so had a quick look at it yesterday. The battery compartment definitely looks large enough to accommodate batteries larger than my 3Ah versions. Haven't made a video on it, as I wasn't doing KZread when I bought it. Maybe I should do a 2 year review - would that be of interest? Chris
@@handyman-at-home hi, yes I’d be very interested in seeing a 2 year on review of the mower! With your style of videos I’ve found they are most informative and showcase the tools great, you don’t miss a thing on them haha Most reviews on KZread are only a 1 year in review so would love to see how it’s held up with 2 years! How is the battery after all this use on different tools? Do they still last as long? I’m really interested in getting all Einhell tools for myself for ease of battery swap and I trust German engineering haha
Altough i am not addressed, let me chip in as an Einhell battery mower owner for the second season. TLDR; --------- For 2-300 m2, the smallest unit and 2 4Ah will do fine, if you treat them good (sharp blade, battery protected from heat and frost, stored at ~2/3 charge during winter) The long version: ------------------------- Scope: i have to maintaina lawn about 300 m2 (which is 3 229.17313 square feet according to Google). I bought their smallest mower and a pair of 4Ah batteries *, and removed the front metal weight from the plastic chassis. The weight of the 4Ah somewhat compensates and this makes the chassis very light, easy to push / turn like a toy. I always keep the blades sharp, its 3min work after every cut. Tested as new, the 4Ah gave me 27min of continous idle operation. Real runtime depends on how dense the lawn and how short do you cut it. Due to extreme weather, i cut grass in the middle position of the mower and that needs 1 and a half of the second 4Ah. If i do a very short cut, both the 4Ahs needed and the blade must be sharp. Because the mower is so light and easy to operate, i stopped collecting the cut grass, instead i cut more frequently, and collect the waste at spring aeriation. * the battery connection is universal AFAIK among all PXC devices for Einhell. I did went for the 4Ah for power hungry tools for a reason: a good 18650 cell can do 10-15 A and have up to 3000-3500 mAh capacity. There are batteries for more amps but if done correctly, the anode - cathode surface must be larger to do like 20-25-30 amps -> less space in the form factor for electrolyte, therefore less capacity. Quality cells designed for continous 20-25 amps are available for this reason up to 2000-2500 mAh in the 18650 case. I saw a teardown of the 4Ah pack and it looked like a 4 or 5s2p configuration, which means the amp load is shared between 2 (pack) of cells. The motor is ~900w on the smallest unit, this makes 50A on the nominal 18V. OK, you do not need the full power at all times, so lets say 50A peak and (gut feeling) 40A under load. This is too much for a single 18650, the 3Ah maybe has some other form factor, but for the 4Ah's 2p cell config it means 25A peak and 15-20A under load. This falls into the "normal" zone of a quality industrial cell. So far i see no cell degradation for the two years they are in use. About "german engineering" ... c'mon, its 2024, everybody manufactures in China. Even a lot of brands just buys one of the chineese oem devices, maybe a little customization (different color, small change in function) and there you go. And honestly, what new scientific discoveries made about a cordless drill or lawn mower in the last 30 years ? :)
Great video once again! Very in depth, love the details and camera angles, very professional
Thanks 👍
Phenomenal review, really appreciate details you’ve gone into, the camera angles are fantastic and you’re very clear spoken and easy to understand, fantastic review I’ll be watching your other Einhell reviews following this one as I’m looking to start a gardening business
Thanks 👍
pylontech state these batteries have a 95% dod
Do you have an export limit set by your DNO?
Hi, My system (like a lot in the UK) is classed as a single phase micro generation G98 installation - see connections.nationalgrid.co.uk/get-connected/solar-and-wind/micro-generation-single-g98/ which limits the output to 16A per phase. As far as I know, there's no other limit to how much I can export Hope that helps answer your question? Cheers, Chris
Thanks. Is the waterproofing still working?
Hi, Yes - still working, although I did end up giving it an additional coat a few days after the video was filmed, as there was still a little bit of water getting through in one spot. After that however, it's been fine. I will probably end up replacing the felt completely either before the end of this year, or if not, then certainly next year. They use really thin felt on these pre-manufactured sheds (the shed itself is great). Cheers, Chris
Can you please show the finished product and how to use it . Thanks!
Hi! Have you noticed any power difference using 2.5 A battery or the larger 4.0 A?
Hi, To be honest, I don't use them with the 4.0A battery as the 2.5A lasts more than long enough for my needs. It definitely adds a noticeable amount of weight though. I can't see why there'd be a power difference but I couldn't say for certain. Cheers
i like the review, for me there nice, feel fine (dont think i tighten mine as much as you) i forget its there?
Thanks. That's a valid point - I think I had the band too tight when I filmed the video. I've used them a few times since .. sometimes I find them OK, other times they still annoy me 🤣 But they're definitely a lot better than having to listen to someone snoring 🤣
Hi Chris, this video i found to be very informative for me. I have Einhell cordless Lawnmower & Grass Strimmer already and I find Einhell products very good. They have replaced my old Qualcast corded/cordless garden tools, which served me very well for many years. Thanks so much for the Video's, i will watch your other Einhell Lawnmower & Strimmer Video's.
Hi David, Thanks for the great feedback!
Very good review straight to the point. Thanks
Thanks 👍
I have put off making an offer on a home that I really like because I don't know how I'd fit a dishwasher in the tiny kitchen. Where are you based?
Hi, I'm around 10 miles from Liverpool, but am now retired so am not doing any handyman work (apart from for family). Thanks