Been up on the roof tinkering

[Dan]

Hello all,

I've been tinkering!

I wasn't happy with the original Fine Offset gill screen as I found I was getting quite strong temperature spikes due to sun strike.  I made a new screen out of an toilet u-bend from my recent bathroom refurb.  I chopped it down and it's pretty strong being made from 5mm thick white plastic.  This should provide amply cover yet lets the air circulate well.

I cut down the supplied stainless pipe and mounted the UV meter to the top bar.  The cable from the UV meter is pretty short, so it goes straight into the hole at the top for now.  I'll get an RJ12 extension cable and coupler to extend it so it comes in underneath.  The screen is not weather tight so I've covered the central unit in a loose fitting Glad snaplock bag and velcroed it down to stop it going anywhere. 

I read about people having great success keeping spiders out the rain bucket with stocking material.  I got a pair of tights from the $2 Shop and wrapped up the rain bucket to keep the boogers out.  Elastic bands hold it in place top and bottom.  Hopefully an added advantage of the tights is to diffuse the wind and stop it blowing water up into the buckets.  I'll give it a go and see how successful it is.  I don't think I've had that issue yet, but hopefully won't now it's all wrapped up.

If it's no good I'll make a more conventional screen one out of melamine plates/ bowls and stainless steel rod.  So far the custom job has cost me nothing apart from a pair of tights and a few hours tinkering; everything else was in the "box of bits" in the old shed.

Cheers,

Dan

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[Dan]

Hey just in case you were wondering.... yes I used a NEW u-bend that the plumber left behind!



Dan