Gas meter hackers

[bernardgreen]

Surly before you can call yourself an engineer you would need a degree in engineering..

In Germany it is an offence to refer to your self as an engineer if you do not have a recognised qualification. No matter how skilled the person is they are a technician until they have the qualification and where applicable also membership of a trade or scientifc organisation.

 

[Nige F]

You would be surprised just how uninterested the gas suppliers are.

A customer had lived in the house for four years and wanted to sell it.

She had never received or paid any bill.

To help the sale she contacted ALL the gas suppliers and NONE admitted having supplied or even wanted to.

A a minicab firm in NW London has a meter which seems stuck on 9999 whenever I have visited to mend the Biasi boiler!

I'm surprised that it still goes on ! I had a friend with a dodgy meter in the 70's - the heating worked for free and the only way it recorded was when the cooker was on - so the cooker had to be left on to create a small bill.

 

[45yearsagasman]

View media item 40518I've got this in my garage, anyone know what it's purpose is?

 

[bernardgreen]

Telephone meters and hacking.

In the good old days of electromechancal telephone exchanges each line had a four digit meter at the exchange, a few businesses caught on that if they made enough expensive calls that the meter clocked up more than 9999 units in a charging period the meter went back to zero and then showed only a few units used. So they ensured they used at least 10000 units per charging period by putting all outgoing calls on one line and if necessary making long distance calls and idle chatter. They would have a local meter as well so they knew how many units they had used.

The GPO soon put stop to this. They changed the meters to 5 digit meters and had no reason to tell anyone that they had changed them. So the first the companies knew was when they got bills for over 10000 units per charging period.

 

[Storms]

I am not myself a gas engineer. Just thinking about taking the ACS exams atm

Do you believe that passing the ACS exams will make you an engineer? Surly before you can call yourself an engineer you would need a degree in engineering..

tomato. tomaytoe.... if it were up to me you'd simply be called gas men. Or Corgi's (I'm old school).

You're right, gas safe registered guys are not engineers at all (unless a real engineer has switched trade).

Unfortunately in modern day tory Britain everyone aspires to be a stuck up toff. Hence why toilet cleaners are referred to as 'Waste Disposal Consultants'.

 

[Dan Robinson]

Some people might want to look up the dictionary definition of engineer.

Just because something is done in Germany, doesn't make it good by default.

 

[Corgigrouch]

I prefer Heating Geezer though I believe that Dickie has promoted me to Heating God... I really hate guys calling themselves "Engineer" unless they have a recognised engineering degree...

Dan, everything done in Germany is superior....

 

[45yearsagasman]

My missus is a domestic engineer, what do I call her now, that won't leave me needing urgent medical treatment Answers on a postcard.............

 

[vulcancontinental]

Used to be asked whether I was a plumber or heating engineer/fitter. Which pays better was my response. Who cares as long as the job is done properly and works correctly.

I've known guys who can quote regs forever and have long lists of qualifications but throw their work in - engineers? No. Brilliant commercial guys who do the most complex plant rooms then act like gorilla's in someones home.

 

[OwainDIYer]

I've got this in my garage, anyone know what it's purpose is?

It's for pressure testing in rented properties where the tenant's stolen the meter.

Yours is more elegant than this one
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Gas-Meter-Test-for-U6-E6-G4-/151882787737

 

[bernardgreen]

Some people might want to look up the dictionary definition of engineer.

dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/engineer
engineer meaning, definition, what is engineer: a person whose job is to design or build machines, engines, or electrical equipment

 

[Aquaheat]

So by that definition me building this control panel would make me an engineer?

As would any of us heating engineers who design and build control systems for any HVAC need? Especially when they can't be bought off the shelf and have to be designed in situ to suit a need?

 

[bernardgreen]

So by that definition me building this control panel would make me an engineer?

My opinion is that if you designed it as well as building then you would have engineered it.

If you wired it to a diagam supplied by another person then you would have carried out the work of a wireman. An equally skilled function, some of the best designers of circuits cannot wire a panel. ( well some can but the quality of work is very poor )

 

[Aquaheat]

As said they are designed and built to suit certain HVAC needs. As are all bespoke control systems. So yes, designed and built and occasionally modified again!

 

[Whitespirit66]

Unfortunately in modern day tory Britain everyone aspires to be a stuck up toff.

Not like those salt of the earth, men of the people, workers-champions, good, honest socialists from New Labour, eh? Like Tony Blair and old 'Two Jags' Lord Prescott. Even Diane Abbott sends her kids to private school.

Up the workers!!