busy with things

[low_delta]

Monday night I worked hard and got some lightswitches changed. We've got two rooms in the basement, and between them they've got twenty 75-watt floods on four dimmer switches. Nice and bright. And expensive. I wanted to switch them over to compact fluorescents, but you can't run those on dimmer switches. We didn't really have any need for dimmers, and they're just annoying because every time you turned one off, you adjusted the brightness, and had to turn it back up when you turned it on. Besides that, they're always warm. Probably not a fire hazard, but it makes me think I'm paying extra to heat them. So I changed them out. Took me over three hours including a trip to a couple of hardware stores.

One of tonight's tasks (other than some online stuff I needed to take care of) was to install some cfl's. I knew I wasn't going to do them all, but I thought I had more than two. so I put the two in, and man are they bright. The incandescent bulbs are 75 watts. The cfl's are listed as 65 watt equivalent (14x, actual) but they're brighter. I wonder if they make any floods (we have can-lights in the ceiling) at less light output than that.

Speaking of hardware stores... Home Depot really annoyed the hell out of me. First thing I see when I walked in was the giant christmas display of multicolored fake trees. And this is a full seasonal display, not "starting to move some x-mas stuff in" display. No wonder Tim Burton keeps combining Christmas and Halloween themes - that's how they're found in the wild. And I had to walk about a quarter mile to and from the store (in the rain). From my car, not my home. And there wasn't anybody around to help me. I feel kinda stupid standing in the aisle waving my arms and yelling for help. I don't want to spend my money where I feel stupid. I only went there because it was closer than my locally owned Ace. I won't make that mistake again. I'll only go there when they really do have the best product for my needs.

Comments

[low-delta.livejournal.com]

No, I don't want to put those dimmer switches back in. ;-)

[low-delta.livejournal.com]

I was thinkin spray paint.

I learned that there is both a too-short length and a too-long length for those wires. I had a hell of a time getting them all stuffed in that one box. Was also a pain when I had five ground wires that all had to be connected. Didn't work.

[cynnerth.livejournal.com]

Then just wrap some tin foil around the bulbs to dim em. ;)

We could just squint when we go down there, barely opening our eyes. That would work. Or maybe just hand out sunglasses to everyone who comes to visit. We could have a little receptacle of them near the door saying, "Take one! You'll thank us."

[low-delta.livejournal.com]

Can you put halogens on dimmers?

[low-delta.livejournal.com]

Oh duh - like the lamp in my living room.

[northernsnokat.livejournal.com]

Thanks for that tip. We haven't put the new bulbs in because we like the dimmer in the living room. This will solve that problem!

[northernsnokat.livejournal.com]

Yes...thanks!

[pondhopper.livejournal.com]

First thing I see when I walked in was the giant christmas display of multicolored fake trees. And this is a full seasonal display, not "starting to move some x-mas stuff in" display. No wonder Tim Burton keeps combining Christmas and Halloween themes - that's how they're found in the wild.

Europe used to be so traditional. The Christmas season didn´t start until Dec. 1. Now it´s already appearing here in October just like "home".
ugh

[low-delta.livejournal.com]

Home Depot probably needs something to fill the space left by the things they only sell in the summertime. But a lot of stores don't have the excuse.

[dwivian]

Do write Home Despot and tell them why you don't shop there. They need to hear about their service issues.

[low-delta.livejournal.com]

Good idea.

[kingseyeland.livejournal.com]

I know nothing about home repair or improvement. I feel like a total loser because of it. Well, that and for owning all the Planet of the Apes movies.

p.s. "Home Despot" makes me laugh.

[low-delta.livejournal.com]

At least *you* can play guitar.

Some of the home repair stuff is surprisingly easy. But you can't really tell which is which before you start.