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Discuss Plumbing and Heating for VIP s in the Plumbing Jobs | The Job-board area at PlumbersForums.net

Rob Foster

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VIP ...visually impaired people. My colleague at Henshaws produces info,
audio material and videos with sound for blind people, Henshaws are a charity and it all goes out free all over uk and Europe to smaller groups and individuals.
He has asked I compile Few subjects with examples of how some everday aspects of ordinary plumbing and heating usage which might be problematic to vip could be explained. I have said I will .and ..this is all free ! anyone got sensible ideas about basic subjects we can cover in 3 min. Its quite good fun, close your eyes and work out a solution to a simple problem for a sighted householder . Thanks Rob
Foster ...aka centralheatking..you will get to see the results by the way.
 
Saw a radiator plug that sensed system pressure and sent alert to smart phone when system pressure had dropped.
Maybe an adaptation of that idea and have it so it reads out the pressure when being topped up and verbal alerts when pressure loss.

As I imagine topping up system pressure to correct point without vision would be incredibly difficult, but the solution wouldn't be that difficult to produce/manufacture.
 
How many of these ideas are you quickly going to patent Rob;)
none, absolutely not, this is a legacy project for me , something
which I can help produce, you can help and the world is better
because of what we might produce collectively , there you go
I have enough property etc already but really want and I WILL
do this ...people that know me know the phrase ..
WATCH ME ..I ALWAYS DELIVER
.you all can help please if you want to
Rob Foster ...centralheatking
 
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Oh and they already exist but if its something they're looking to give out to VIP's then I'd say the thermostatic radiator valves that actually click into position for each number so you don't need to see the number to know its in setting "3" position.
Thats ace ..I am compling a list
for Henshaws to consider thats the 1 st ...there are were some trvs that clicked ...i know ..drayton ..mk 3 or 4 thank you
 
Saw a radiator plug that sensed system pressure and sent alert to smart phone when system pressure had dropped.
Maybe an adaptation of that idea and have it so it reads out the pressure when being topped up and verbal alerts when pressure loss.

As I imagine topping up system pressure to correct point without vision would be incredibly difficult, but the solution wouldn't be that difficult to produce/manufacture.
Thats in a nutshell the problem
there are no brail pressure gauges on any combis
..centralheatking
 
Saw a radiator plug that sensed system pressure and sent alert to smart phone when system pressure had dropped.
Maybe an adaptation of that idea and have it so it reads out the pressure when being topped up and verbal alerts when pressure loss.

As I imagine topping up system pressure to correct point without vision would be incredibly difficult, but the solution wouldn't be that difficult to produce/manufacture.
What if there was a device that could automatically top up your system pressure and you would never have to worry about it!

Something you stick to the side of the bath. It sounds an alarm when water hits so you know it’s full

Use lever valves for all isolation valves so operation is simple
 
On the topping up system pressure then just a pressure reducing valve set at 1.5 bar would do fine as all they'd need to do is open isolation valve to fill and leave it for a while. Then just turn off as would only reach 1.5 bar.

But for them to know the pressure had dropped then an alarm would be required of some sort.

Dont think auto filling systems are allowed on domestic properties but I could be wrong.
Though wouldn't want one on domestic personally as if a leak happens then it'll keep going indefinitely under high pressure.
 
What if there was a device that could automatically top up your system pressure and you would never have to worry about it!

Something you stick to the side of the bath. It sounds an alarm when water hits so you know it’s full

Use lever valves for all isolation valves so operation is simple
The bath side device is great
thank you..very sensible
 
On the topping up system pressure then just a pressure reducing valve set at 1.5 bar would do fine as all they'd need to do is open isolation valve to fill and leave it for a while. Then just turn off as would only reach 1.5 bar.

But for them to know the pressure had dropped then an alarm would be required of some sort.

Dont think auto filling systems are allowed on domestic properties but I could be wrong.
Though wouldn't want one on domestic personally as if a leak happens then it'll keep going indefinitely under high pressure.
Hi Mastermix , the device you
mention already exists and its on sale ...thank you for your help here ..Rob Foster ...centralheatking
 
Thats in a nutshell the problem
there are no brail pressure gauges on any combis

Pressure gauges with high and low threshold switches are standard in the 'industrial process' world. Just Google 'pressure gauge with electrical contact'. One of these combined with a suitable sounder box may a solution in some circumstance.

A lot of modern boilers have electronic pressure gauges built in. Using an Arduino or RaspPi to monitor the output from these would be another approach.

Has anybody actually tried asking a boiler manufacturer to supply a variant with controls suitable for a VIP? The Equality Act may require them to provide an adapted boiler for the same price as a standard one.
 
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Please keep ideas coming , I am going to list everything we come up with and then send it over to Henshaws as their members are the ultimate end users not a plumber with his eyes closed, although I have been doing it just to get some idea whats needed ...Rob Foster
aka centralheatking
 
How about a braille stick on overlay for boilers, along the lines of the stickers you can get for computer keyboards (Braille keyboard stickers). It would have cut outs for the various knobs/buttons and stick straight onto the front/control panel of the boiler. Would be a fairly cheap and easy way to make the boiler more accessible for VIP.
Hi Pickwick your idea is ace ..the thing you proposed is called bump on ..the braille stickers you mention .They are easily applied ...Henshaws ..a charity .look them up ...are really pleased with all our help at UKPF
more ideas aswell please.
regards Rob Foster
 
Assistance for Blind and visually impaired people VIP

I am re opening this thread here. Please can you put up any more ldeas about plumbing and heating you might have. After the weekend I am going to draw all your ideas into a coherent list. Then present it to Henshaws...the VIP assistance organisation who act as a umberella trust disseminating
info to 100's of organisations all over UK and Europe.
Thank you all Rob Foster aka
centralheatking
 
Just to round this one off, I have collated all your ideas
and sent them off to the technology development officer at Henshaws...an umberella charity which produces videos and info for Visually Impaired People all over UK and parts of Europe and smaller local vip organisations. Centralheatking
 

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