SoapZone Community Message Board

I bought Sensibo remote control devices for two of my mini splits. It allows me to adjust the temperatures on the mini splits through and app on my phone and even schedule changes. It's great hearing that <BEEP> at 11:15pm when the heater changes to the night time temperature (65 degrees...hey, you should be in bed, under the covers, and sawing wood!) and again at 6:30am when it changes to the daytime temperature (74 degrees is plenty hot). The only problem is that the display shows the temperature in Celsius versus Fahrenheit. There may be a work around, but it will probably take a while to figure out how to reconfigure the devices manually...I'm fine for now. I just ordered five more devices for the other mini splits in the house. Two of them aren't on and probably won't be on. They're in spaces that aren't used often and are either full of junk that isn't used (and needs to be sorted) or is a space I enter and leave quickly (my walk-in pantry).

Yesterday, I tried to change the front light. I'd changed the light near the front door without a problem, so I finally worked on the light that I hadn't used and that hadn't worked in about a decade. Bad idea!!!! I thought I'd turned off the circuit, but when I started working on disconnecting the old, non-working light after turning off two circuits and the actual light switch, there was a POP when two wires touched and a spark. Okay. That's not good. Then, I couldn't get the base plate to mount in the fixture.

I went down to my local Ace store to see if they had a different base and some advice. The guy recommended using the inner rings on the base, at least it seated properly; however, the screws were too thin. They wouldn't screw into the threaded holes. They'd drop in, but the threads didn't grip.

Frustrating, but then it got worse. I loaded everything into a box because I'd had enough for the day and the light hadn't worked for years, so I could try it again later, after careful consideration. That's when I found out that my internet wasn't working. Actually, none of the outlets on the wall that faced the street were working...later I found out that was too specific. That evening, I found out that the overhead lights in the living room, the overhead lights in the kitchen, the lights in the garage, one set of outlets on the counter next to the refrigerator, and an outlet on the far side of the garage didn't work. Ah, so that was what the POP was.

I tried resetting the circuit breaker. Nothing. I checked the circuit on my Span app (RED and OFF) and every time I'd turn it back on, it would turn green for about a second, then slip back to off and red. I got a message on my app that my Span had lost connectivity and needed to be reconnected by standing next to the electric panel outside in about 45 degree weather and go through some weird software dance. Weak wi-fi, "true," then nothing...and the circuit that was red and off still wouldn't turn green and on.

I let it go, we ate in the new room (it was on a still active circuit/subpanel) and the outlet that had the Suvie worked as did the microwave oven, wall oven, refrigerator, and the circuits will the freezers. So no major loss...except the light. (I fed the dogs by holding a flashlight in my mouth while getting their food into their bowls...not to self, get those headlights/miner's lights. They found their food in the dark.)

I planned to call the electricians I usually use as soon as they opened, around 8am, but as I was getting ready to feed the dogs their breakfast, I turned on the Span app with the red/off circuit, slid the option to the green/on option...and it stayed on/green. The light in the ceiling fan turned on. I turned on the overhead lights in the living room and they turned on. Same with the ones in the kitchen, the garage, and everywhere else that had been dark. I even moved my wi-fi device back where it usually is and everything is working well. So, I put off calling the electrician because it's no longer an emergency, and arranged to have them install the new light. They'll be here around 11am on December 3. I may try to find a different screw by then and do this myself. I'm on the cancellation list, in case there's an early opening.

The joys of homeownership never end.