kiddo's Profile
- 1990
- 2006
- Brooklyn
- Park Slope
Author's Posts
June 20, 2009
can radiator be repositioned?
I have those old heavy steam radiators in my brownstone apt, and want to put covers on them. But one juts out of its little window alcove at an angle, sticking out about 2 inches too far, leaving a lot of space behind it. Could this radiator be nudged back a little bit? I know this would mean a slight adjustment to the angles at which the pipes elbow to connect with the radiator. Has anyone ever moved/reconnected these things?
May 9, 2008
Why did our USB port explode? - Anxiety about wiring
We're setting up our office space about 1 month after a gut renovation was finished in our apt. We got a new printer, for which I installed the software and did a test page with no problem. Then my husband goes to do the same thing on his machine, but when he inserted the USB cord into the port as directed, it burst into flames and melted, and instantly the circuit for that end of the apt tripped. The computers still worked when we put the electricity back on, but we really want to know what could have caused this since no one that I've talked to has ever heard of something like this happening before.
Can anyone reading this shed some light on what would make a usb cord/port explode like that? Is there something wrong with our new wiring? Did our new heavy-duty surge protectors do what they were supposed to? Do we need new computer equipment or a new electrician?
May 7, 2008
Excellent mover/storage experience
Just wanted to let others know how pleased we were with U Santini for handling moving and storing our stuff during our renovation. They did everything we'd have wanted, in terms of taking care of our stuff, being flexible when we were repeatedly forced to postpone/change our moving-back-in date, being helpful with packing suggestions and pleasant all around. In fact it was the one completely satisfactory, smooth, and stress/regret-free aspect of our renovation experience, and for that small piece of mind we are really grateful.
November 17, 2007
what's this thing in wall of brownstone?
This was covered by a piece of wood and a patch of concrete on the interior brick wall of our brownstone apt. It appears to be made of a thin metal, with a curved interior, and slots leading above and below. It is nearly a foot high,
about a foot off the floor, and 3 feet from the fireplace.
Any idea what it was for? In case this matters, it's on the third floor of a Brooklyn brownstone built in the 1870's.
Thanks!
Author's Comments
FOLLOW UP: We returned the scanner and bought one from a different company. My husband again had sparks appear when he tried to hook it up to his imac, but I used it 4-5 times with my laptop without incident. Then last week I was using my laptop (Lenovo, running on battery, with my HP printer attached through USB). I plugged another USB cord from the (new) scanner into my USB port on the laptop, and heard a loud popping sound. This time the laptop was dead, as was the transformer brick on my printer. The laptop's motherboard needed to be replaced and I was lucky (again) that the thing was still on warrantee and that I was able to find a place that fixed it back to normal very quickly (Lincoln Business Machines near Lincoln Center). The circuit did not trip this time.
Yesterday we had an electrician evaluate our apt. He couldn't see anything in our wiring that would explain our USB power surges problem and basically said these events with different scanners and different computers must each have been a freak accident (!)
But one thing he noticed and questioned was that the devices involved (all except my laptop) have 3 pronged plugs on the end of their transformer cords. He thought this was strange, and a new trend he hadn't noticed before, so he wondered if this could have something to do with it.
On Google I found some articles about the 3-prong transformer cords leading to excessive electrical noise that is particularly a problem for audio recording. They say the problem is that the devices are attached to each other by cords (like USB) but if 2 or more of the devices have 3-prong transformer electrical cords they are also connecting to each other through the grounding wire. The suggestion in these articles was to attach only 1 3-pronged device to the computer at a time, and if you have to use another one, use an adapter to cover its grounding pin.
Has anyone else heard of or experienced a related problem? Given this new information, any ideas what is causing such powerful surges through our USB ports? Do you think the 3-prong transformer cords could have something to do with it? Thanks in advance for any ideas you have.
Posted by: kiddo at September 13, 2008 9:58 AM in response to Why did our USB port explode? - Anxiety about wiring
Absolutely NOT KIDDING.
Yes, lucky - that there wasn't a fire, or an electrocution, or more damage to our computers, or that this didn't turn out to be faulty wiring from our renovation. On this last possibility, the sloppiness that we can see and the hidden screw ups we have come to learn about since moving back in to our apt would have made us not completely surprised by faulty wiring (just completely ill). But having been spared even that I know that this once we were very lucky.
It was the USB port and the end of the USB cord that melted. The i-Mac still works as well as before, but has a burnt-out hole of melted metal and plastic where one of its USB ports used to be.
I suppose not believing this story, Epson customer support asked us to plug the printer in again to test it. There was a spark at the outlet and the circuit tripped again.
Although Epson still won't agree to take it back (apparently not sufficiently convinced that their printer has a problem) I won't be plugging it in again so I've got a very bulky expensive paperweight until they do. Aggravating yes, but not the end of the world, or even as serious as I was afraid it might be when I posted last week. Thanks for your input everyone.
Posted by: kiddo at May 12, 2008 3:17 PM in response to Why did our USB port explode? - Anxiety about wiring
I recently had one of those less-expensive omega kitchens installed. Although the price was actually lower than budgeted, I would not recommend using YNY in Brooklyn as I did, because the quality of the installation was so inexplicably bad. There are protruding nails, unfinished sharp edges where things don't line up, and so much use of wood filler everywhere that I can only assume the installer tended to have his drill slip, and to get hammer-happy, more than you'd expect of a professional. There is even a 1-foot x 1 inch piece that was mistakenly cut and patched back in on the front of the island; this patch is also just smeared over with wood filler as if this makes it go away (it doesn't). The cabinets themselves are nice, but this installation was really something else; if you're looking for cheap be careful what you wish for. I could have done a better job installing these cabinets my little old ameteur self.
Posted by: kiddo at May 7, 2008 10:01 AM in response to Kitchen Cabinets
Yes -- although its not in the picture, right next to this duct thing is clearly one of those laborer doorways. Not crawling size but a full height thing that looks like it was hastily filled in with bricks after the rest of the walls etc were all built. There is a similar 'doorway' in the brick wall parallel to this one, so they could get through to 3 buildings, and I suspect something similar provided access to at least some of the others on the block.
Posted by: kiddo at November 21, 2007 11:37 AM in response to what's this thing in wall of brownstone?
(OP): I think its too small to be a dumbwaiter since its only the depth of the brick wall. A hot air duct seems reasonable - what era would such a thing have been used?
Now that we have removed the ugly patch of concrete that had been smeared over this thing, is there any problem with us leaving it uncovered (e.g., putting something decorative there?)Any suggestions for what to do with it?
Posted by: kiddo at November 18, 2007 10:14 AM in response to what's this thing in wall of brownstone?
Responses to Author's Forum Comments
It certainly looks like a heating duct. From the pic it also looks like the louvers are still in place. The original coal systems would use these and some home owners used the exsisting ducts for a forced hot air system.
If you can remove the louvers some of them are dated. The ones I removed and refinished from my house were stamped 1872.
Posted by: guest at November 18, 2007 12:23 PM in response to what's this thing in wall of brownstone?
Looks like a heating duct. As others have noted, a lot of these places had ducted heat installed at some point, then the radiator heat system later. The heating progression generally went, fireplaces, then the ducted heat, then raditators, I think ...
Posted by: guest at November 19, 2007 12:54 PM in response to what's this thing in wall of brownstone?
Stashbox.
Posted by: Rehab at November 20, 2007 12:50 AM in response to what's this thing in wall of brownstone?
funny, b/c I hear a story that when most of the b'stones were being built at once, that the laborers would create small "crawl spaces" to get from on struture to the other more easily. makes sense if you think about it.
Posted by: guest at November 20, 2007 8:53 PM in response to what's this thing in wall of brownstone?
Yes -- although its not in the picture, right next to this duct thing is clearly one of those laborer doorways. Not crawling size but a full height thing that looks like it was hastily filled in with bricks after the rest of the walls etc were all built. There is a similar 'doorway' in the brick wall parallel to this one, so they could get through to 3 buildings, and I suspect something similar provided access to at least some of the others on the block.
Posted by: kiddo at November 21, 2007 11:37 AM in response to what's this thing in wall of brownstone?
It sounds like there is a problem with the power supply in the epson printer, and it is leaking high voltage, somehow, to the port where it was attached to the Imac.
Disconnect it from the wall immediately and take to a professional computer repair shop. It might not be worth repairing...
Posted by: guest at May 13, 2008 9:54 AM in response to Why did our USB port explode? - Anxiety about wiring
FOLLOW UP: We returned the scanner and bought one from a different company. My husband again had sparks appear when he tried to hook it up to his imac, but I used it 4-5 times with my laptop without incident. Then last week I was using my laptop (Lenovo, running on battery, with my HP printer attached through USB). I plugged another USB cord from the (new) scanner into my USB port on the laptop, and heard a loud popping sound. This time the laptop was dead, as was the transformer brick on my printer. The laptop's motherboard needed to be replaced and I was lucky (again) that the thing was still on warrantee and that I was able to find a place that fixed it back to normal very quickly (Lincoln Business Machines near Lincoln Center). The circuit did not trip this time.
Yesterday we had an electrician evaluate our apt. He couldn't see anything in our wiring that would explain our USB power surges problem and basically said these events with different scanners and different computers must each have been a freak accident (!)
But one thing he noticed and questioned was that the devices involved (all except my laptop) have 3 pronged plugs on the end of their transformer cords. He thought this was strange, and a new trend he hadn't noticed before, so he wondered if this could have something to do with it.
On Google I found some articles about the 3-prong transformer cords leading to excessive electrical noise that is particularly a problem for audio recording. They say the problem is that the devices are attached to each other by cords (like USB) but if 2 or more of the devices have 3-prong transformer electrical cords they are also connecting to each other through the grounding wire. The suggestion in these articles was to attach only 1 3-pronged device to the computer at a time, and if you have to use another one, use an adapter to cover its grounding pin.
Has anyone else heard of or experienced a related problem? Given this new information, any ideas what is causing such powerful surges through our USB ports? Do you think the 3-prong transformer cords could have something to do with it? Thanks in advance for any ideas you have.
Posted by: kiddo at September 13, 2008 9:58 AM in response to Why did our USB port explode? - Anxiety about wiring
There is a place called Laytner's Linens and Home on Broadway in the 8o's where they have velvet curtains with lining, in the long lengths needed for Brownstone windows, for under 15 dollars each. They have other inexpensive curtains as well (silk, I think?) and they all come in about 6-8 colors.
Their velvet curtains were a quick way to start decorating our 3 big new windows after our renovation without having to spend much of what little was left of our money.
Posted by: kiddo at September 13, 2008 10:12 AM in response to Window treatment help. Shades blinds and cutains