What is your wish list for train room electrical items?

[peteski]

Sorry, I do not understand "throw switch 23". Did you mean to say throw turnout 23?

   To throw a turnout you would have to rip the entire assembly (including the switch itself), and throw it up in the air.   You throw a switch and install a turnout. But I'm sure you know that. 

[Point353]

  To throw a turnout you would have to rip the entire assembly (including the switch itself), and throw it up in the air.   You throw a switch and install a turnout. But I'm sure you know that. 

Tell it to the NMRA: https://www.nmra.org/beginner/trackwork

[MK]

(Yeah, I know you're joking. Or are you?) 

"Sorry, there is a problem with service provider (so I cannot turn your damn device off)".  My GF has these types of (intermittent) problems with her "digital house".   

Jokingly half and half. 

Tell your GF she needs a better ISP.  I know a lot of people who use these voice assist devices (I don't but my son does) and have no complaints.  Me personally I don't see the need unless you're something like an auto mechanic with constant dirty hands. 

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Jokingly half and half. 

Tell your GF she needs a better ISP.  I know a lot of people who use these voice assist devices (I don't but my son does) and have no complaints.  Me personally I don't see the need unless you're something like an auto mechanic with constant dirty hands. 

I actually live in the perfect use case: my house has almost every light wired through switches that make little sense and many rooms can be entered from numerous directions. I really wish I could just walk into the kitchen and say "Alexa, turn on the kitchen" and have it happen. It'll also be nice to have it automatically turn things off at certain times because, well, I just got a $450 electric bill!

These things seem like minor conveniences, and they are, but when they work right, they can definitely make life easier when you add them all up.

[Dave V]

We use Alexa in combination with wifi outlets and bulbs which is not only convenient but also makes it easy to make it appear that we're home when we're not.  But her only role in the train room for now is to play me my Def Leppard radio on Pandora when I'm working on the layout.

[MK]

well, I just got a $450 electric bill!

Geezus Ed, $450!!!???  What the hell are you growing???? 

My house is a good size and our electric bill is typically $120 in the cold months and $200 in the hot months.  But we do have natural gas for heating, hot water and cooking.

Your house must be all electric.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Geezus Ed, $450!!!???  What the hell are you growing???? 

My house is a good size and our electric bill is typically $120 in the cold months and $200 in the hot months.  But we do have natural gas for heating, hot water and cooking.

Your house must be all electric.

It was gas and electric. Also our heating system needed to be bled. It should be MUCH better now. But being able to turn off things automatically will always help (especially when turning on the kitchen lights flips on a dozen bulbs).

[John]

Il, I just got a $450 electric bill!

Does your house have a electric heat?  Insulation? turn it down to 70 --- how old is your furnacd

[peteski]

Jokingly half and half. 

Tell your GF she needs a better ISP.  I know a lot of people who use these voice assist devices (I don't but my son does) and have no complaints.  Me personally I don't see the need unless you're something like an auto mechanic with constant dirty hands. 

It is Comcast (Xfinity).  It THe problem is not the ISP - it is usually the same light bulb that seems to be misbehaving. But either way, things are getting too complicated around us.  She loves all those gadgets - I call her a "Technology whore" and she is proud of that label. 

[peteski]

But being able to turn off things automatically will always help (especially when turning on the kitchen lights flips on a dozen bulbs).

You have heard of home LED lighting, right?   

[MK]

It is Comcast (Xfinity).  It is not ISP - it is usually the same light bulb that seems to be misbehaving. But either way, things are getting too complicated around us.  She loves all those gadgets - I call her a "Technology whore" and she is proud of that label. 

If Comcast/Xfinitiy is providing her with internet access then that's her ISP.  Just like Verizon FiOS, Optimum, Spectrum, Time Warner and a host of other ISPs. 

[peteski]

If Comcast/Xfinitiy is providing her with internet access then that's her ISP.  Just like Verizon FiOS, Optimum, Spectrum, Time Warner and a host of other ISPs. 

The problem is *NOT* the ISP.  It is related to the smart device (or its network).

[MK]

Ah!  You confusee me with that sudden switch. 

Edit:  LOL!  I see you went back and changed it.

On a side note, I can see it's easy to buy for her during the holidays.  There's always some hot technology available just before Christmas.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

You have heard of home LED lighting, right?   

Haha, yep. And everything's getting converted. Our electric company (in a strange turn) has really good deals on a bunch of energy efficient stuff. I grabbed two new Ecobees for 60% off (yes, the crazy place has TWO independent HVAC systems). They have bulbs too so every time I get an email about a deal I grab whatever will work.

Does your house have a electric heat?  Insulation? turn it down to 70 --- how old is your furnace?

It's gas. Like I said, the issue was that the whole system just needed some TLC (ie, having the baseboard system bled). It should be much better now.

[peteski]

Haha, yep. And everything's getting converted. Our electric company (in a strange turn) has really good deals on a bunch of energy efficient stuff. I grabbed two new Ecobees for 60% off (yes, the crazy place has TWO independent HVAC systems). They have bulbs too so every time I get an email about a deal I grab whatever will work.

In the New England area the electric companies offer all sorts of discounts/rebates on energy efficient bulbs (used to be on compact fluorescents, but when LED bulbs became popular, they added them to the program too).  But  even at regular prices, the LED bulbs are now dirt cheap, and they miniaturized the electronics inside them, so they are shaped just like the regular bulbs they are replacing. And many now have a clear bulb with "LED filaments", so they look just as attractive as the 19th Century Edison bulbs.