More on flourescents

[Jeweller]

I have a twin 8' fittingwith 100/125 (?) tubes. One of them is not working properly. The tube flashes as tho' trying to 'strike', but keeps flashing till I take out the starter. Then it stays on. Meanwhile the other tube functions faultlessly.

From this I assumed it was the starter that needed replacing. New starter, with correct details 8' 100/125 watts, and still the darling light flashes away.

Can I assume the tube is OK? (On the basis that it works without the starter in situ.) I have tried a few different starters, is there something else that I should have a look at?

[meow2222]

yes

yes

weird! Have you got a bad batch? You know the tube works ok.

NT

[Jeweller]

The new starter I tried was a different make altogether, translucent blue, I can see the thing flashing in its own (smaller) way.

[Dave]

Try swapping the tubes over ... if the 'faulty' tube acts the same in the other side it would be a fault with the tube. If the same thing happens the the tube you swapped over, then it would be a fault in the original circuit where the'faulty' tube came from. You would expect the a tube to carry on being lit once it has started with the starter. Did you swap the starters over? Dave

[Jeweller]

I'll try that lot tomorrow. Thanks.

[Richard Savage]

I'm hoping to tap into the UK-DIY SatNav knowledge base!

My MIL has expressed a desire/need for a SatNav for her car. This is good as we had decided to buy one for her this Christmas.

As a Garmin Zumo user I'm not well placed to make an informed choice of MIL-friendly SatNavs and seek the advice/opinions of the subscribers here.

IMO she needs: UK mapping only, full TTS instructions, full UK postcode searching and simplicity of operation. Not much really! I'm open to arguments as to why she may not need TTS etc.

I don't want to rush out and buy a TomTom One without giving the matter careful consideration. Especially as Misco are offering this:

TIA

Richard

[Rod]

No longer available!

I shall be interested in responses.

[Richard Savage]

Odd, I was able to add it to my basket 5 mins ago.

R

[Frank Erskine]

Have you noticed how difficult it is to get a GPS these days, rather than a SatNav?

I have a TomTom SatNav, but they aren't a great deal of use if you leave the road, say to climb a mountain, or expect to navigate to a particular NGR...

I suppose I should have been a bit less honest when I retired about three years ago, and 'lost' my official Magellan Meridian GPS :-)

[Tim S]

Richard Savage coughed up some electrons that declared:

Not so much a suggestion, but my experience:

I've been happy with the Garmin Nuvi, although I've been in a car with a TomTom and my Nuvi side by side[1] and the TomTom possibly gives slightly better verbal directions.

I went with the Nuvi 2 years ago because it came with full European maps (no extra charge to use them, watch out for that with some products) and TrafficMaster was included which I find generally useful.

As to the postcode searching, Nuvi is fine with this provided you have a numbered house - it can't cope with house names, though it will still get you to the right road.

Cheers

Tim

[1] Should have heard the disagreements going through Milton Keynes!

[Dave Plowman (News)]

If you're looking at the bottom end of the market CPC had refurbished Garmin on offer the other day which looked like a good deal. Unfortunately I've deleted the email.

[nightjar]

I no longer use 8 ft fittings, as they are always a bit temperamental.

Colin Bignell

[Rod]

[The Natural Philosopher]

Surely just put some random stuff n a box.

After all, you want her to get lost. Don't you?

[Dave Plowman (News)]

That's the one. I oft wonder what they mean by 'refurbished'. Checked to be complete and working would be more like it - I can't see them doing anything else.

[dennis]

Tomtom one is really easy to use and update provide she can get access to a PC, unless she wants to edit the maps.

[stuart noble]

IME it often means brand new and unopened. For the manufacturer it's a way of shifting stock without being seen to be undercutting their retailers.

[Steve Firth]

I have a refurbished Garmin 12XL. They get properly refurbished, case cracked, 100% inspection and repair/replacement of components and then reassembled and resealed. It's done by Garmin themselves and the units are certificated with a schedule of repairs.

Or at least they were when I bought mine. The one I got was a "returned from the Gulf - no longer needed for a war" unit. It still works well.

[Jeweller]

Swopped the tubes and now they are both stable!

[Tim S]

Roger coughed up some electrons that declared:

I agree. It's partly a limitation of the map data, of which there are two main sources AFAIK. I *think* TomTom uses the other source to Nuvis and there's similar whinage on forums regarding both.

Cheers

Tim