Waterway Plastics Offers Substitution For Polaris Booster Pump.

Waterway Plastics Offers Substitution For Polaris Booster Pump.

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Our family has an in ground back yard pool with two pumps.  One of for moving pool water through a filter so the water is made clean.  The second motor moves pool water from the pool filter exhaust out to a pool sweep.  This second pump is at a high enough force that it propels a pool sweep that picks up debris that might fall to the bottom of the pool.  What this pool sweep picks up is deposited into a mesh bag that requires cleaning from time to time.

There are two different pumps and motor combinations that we have installed for the pool sweep.  They are as follows:

  1. Polaris Halcyon Booster Pump (quiet version) Part #PB4-60Q
  2. Polaris Booster Pump  (not quiet)  Part # PB4-60

August 2017, the PB4-60Q began to make motor bearing noise and I had to replace that pump.  It seemed that the PB4-60Q was not made any more and I could not find any in stock.  I could find the PB4-60 but I really wanted a quiet unit.  By chance, I found another booster pump made by another manufacturer.  It is a Waterway Plastics 3810430-1PDA 38104301Pda 0.75 hp Universal Booster Pump.  I purchased mine at  Backyard Pool Superstore.  The price was quite reasonable, $219.99.  The Internet reviews were quite good.

I received it incredibly fast.  It was packed perfectly.  It came with all the hose accessories and teflon tape.  I timed the process of removing the old pump and putting in this new one and roughly took one hour and a half.  I must have spent at least 15 minutes of that time looking for my tools.  I used a Sharkbite fitting for our cooper input line and I used our existing plastic hose for the output line with a union fitting which made the pump water line exchange go real fast.  The motor comes wired for 220 Volts but we needed 120 Volts.  Just a simple switch under the rear cover is all that is required to make this change.  Wiring was way more easy than the A. O. Smith motors that come with the Polaris pumps.  I think the noise from this motor may be slightly higher than the PB4=60Q.  This motor was so cheap and new that I decided to add 3 years insurance.

Booster Pump For Pool Sweep

You might get the impression that this motor is made in the USA because there is a sticker on the unit that makes this claim.  It is designed and engineered in the USA.  I called to confirm this and was told that actually it is manufactured in Mexico.

Caution: this motor runs really hot.  I recommend you let it cool down before touching it.

As with any new product, time will tell if it lasts.

E-Bay Not Recommended Because Payments Are LInked To PayPal

E-Bay Not Recommended Because Payments Are LInked To PayPal

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I ordered a television table top swivel mount from E-Bay.  The company who I ordered the item from is BulbsOutlet.   I paid with my bank credit card.  A day later I get a notification that my payment went through PayPal, which I despise.  The order is sent to my e-mail and includes the following:  “This email confirms that you have paid Ness Electronics, Inc.”  I call this company and talk to a very nice fellow who educates me. Anything you buy on E-Bay, the payment process goes through Pay-Pal.  When I purchase, using my credit card, I see no reason that the transaction should go through PayPal.  That ends my buying anything more from E-Bay.

Amazon is recommended.
Ebay not recommended.
PayPal not recommended.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PayPal

Note: There is possibly a way to purchase an Ebay item and not go through PayPal.  The transaction will go through your credit card: “How to Buy on eBay Without PayPal“

Amazon Product Review Problem.

Amazon Product Review Problem.

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I dropped being an Amazon Product Review Program participant because I will not stand for anyone telling me how to write my blog posts.  Here are some examples:

Your review could not be posted.

Thanks for submitting a customer review on Amazon. Your review could not be posted to the website in its current form. While we appreciate your time and comments, reviews must adhere to the following guidelines:(which can be found by doing an Internet search for “Guidelines for Amazon.com Community participation.”
  On July 31, 2017 (I gave the product one star)
 
Wrong Charger Sent
 
ExpertPower Direct sent my sister the incorrect item. The Amazon web site showed the connections at the rear when being sold by ExpertPower Direct. This vendor does not seem to understand that the Kenwood TH-F6 now has two different chargers. The charger I ordered should have the connections at the rear. ExpertPower Direct sent me a charger with the connections at the bottom. It is true that you can buy batteries for this radio with the contact points at the bottom but this is unusual. HRO told me to buy from BatteriesAmerica.com from now on. I went to that web site and they really show you there are two different chargers and insist that you choose the correct one.
 
We encourage you to revise your review and submit it again. A few common issues to keep in mind:

  • Your review should focus on specific features of the product and your experience with it. Feedback on the seller or your shipment experience should be provided at www.amazon.com/feedback.
  • We do not allow profane or obscene content. This applies to adult products too.
  • Advertisements, promotional material or repeated posts that make the same point excessively are considered spam.
  • Please do not include URLs external to Amazon or personally identifiable content in your review. (I think Amazon did not like me to show BatteriesAmerica.com because it is an external link that Amazon does not make money from.)

 

 

Updated: March 6, 2019:  The web page for Amazon review guidelines had changed to: https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=201929730.  But, it would not work when I added the link to this web page, so I had to add search text: “Guidelines for Amazon.com Community participation.”
Updated again September 26, 2020 when the link for the Amazon product was taken down I removed the product link.
Recommended Free Reading – Undoing the Demos

Recommended Free Reading – Undoing the Demos

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(requires you download a pdf file)

If you are amazed at the level of political anger in the United States, in 2016, and wish to explore some possible reasons motivating people to so significantly change from past norms of political party action and support, then you might consider reading this book.

Undoing the Demos: Neoliberalism’s Stealth Revolution by Wendy Brown  (PDF file)
Paid version at Amazon:  Undoing the Demos: Neoliberalism’s Stealth Revolution
Review for this book at GoodReads: Undoing the Demos: Neoliberalism’s Stealth Revolution by Wendy Brown

Installing insinkerator Evolution Prestige Garbage Disposal.

Installing insinkerator Evolution Prestige Garbage Disposal.

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Date of purchase: July 20, 2017

Vendor: Lowe’s.

It was a Thursday, July 20, 2017, when our garbage disposal failed. One of the grinding heads broke loose which caused the garbage disposal to nearly explode with noise and vibration. I dove for the on/off switch and shut the unit down. I fished out the broken piece. The disposal was way out of balance when I applied power again and shut the unit down quickly. I knew then I had to replace the unit. After an hour of conducting Internet search for the best replacement including Consumer Reports I found three units I was willing to buy. The top rated unit was not available the same day. I settled on the insinkerator Evolution Prestige.

Garbage disposal $339.00
Plumbers putty $2.99
Power cord assembly $11.99 This garbage disposal does not come with a wall plug electrical cord which we require.
1 1/4” O.D. by 7/8” I.D by 2 feet hose $4.78 which connects the dishwasher vent to the garbage disposal.

This disposal is very quiet and offers an alleged 7 year in home warranty.

Customer reviews said this disposal was very easy to install. I do not agree. I ran into three difficult portions of the installation.

I had to install this unit with no help from anyone else.

First, getting the C ring out of the assembly was impossible until I reasoned that I should back off the 3 screws so tension on the C ring was removed.

Second, Getting the C ring back in place was impossible. I came up with a trick. I reasoned that the ring would be easy to slide into place if I could keep the ends of the ring separated by about a quarter of an inch. I used a wood wedge. I separated the C ring at the very end corner of the wood and used the rest of the long piece of wood to position the C ring.  All I had to do was use my fingers to slide the ring in place.

Third: placing the rather heavy garbage disposal correctly in place was impossible for me alone to do. I placed a scissor jack under the unit and cranked the garbage disposal up in place. (see picture).  I had to make sure the unit was properly aligned.  The attachment ring on the disposal requires you get all 3 tabs to connect to the sink ring.  I used a lot of lights to illuminate the work area.  I used an inspection mirror to view the back side of the disposal to ensure all the 3 tabs had connected.

insinkerator Evolution Prestigue Gargage Disposal
Garbage disposal held up by scissor jack.

Tip: When aiming the disposal correctly into the sink hardware, view the docking from the the sink top as well as from below.

A major problem for me installing garbage disposal is getting the drain tubes connected. This garbage disposal has a brilliant solution.  The connection from the L tube out of the disposal down into the sewer drain is soft rubber. All I had to do was install all the drain connections leading up to the disposal first and leave the connection to the side of the disposal for last. I then just rotated the L tube into the soft rubber connector and placed the lock ring to finish the connection – utterly brilliant!

Conclusion:  This garbage disposal is very quiet.  My daughter has her bedroom over the kitchen and she could hear the old garbage disposal run.  There is no way she can hear this unit from her bedroom.

Fundamental Principals Which Should Guide All Of China

Fundamental Principals Which Should Guide All Of China

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The following principals which should guide all of China was taken from Congressional – Executive Commission on China, Chapter 8:

Freedom. Freedom is at the core of universal human values. Freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of assembly, freedom of association, freedom in where to live, and the freedoms to strike, to demonstrate, and to protest, among others, are the forms that freedom takes. Without freedom, China will always remain far from civilized ideals.

Human rights. Human rights are not bestowed by a state. Every person is born with inherent rights to dignity and freedom. The government exists for the protection of the human rights of its citizens. The exercise of state power must be authorized by the people. The succession of political disasters in China’s recent history is a direct consequence of the ruling regime’s disregard for human rights.

Equality. The integrity, dignity, and freedom of every person—regardless of social station, occupation, sex, economic condition, ethnicity, skin color, religion, or political belief—are the same as those of any other. Principles of equality before the law and equality of social, economic, cultural, civil, and political rights must be upheld.

Republicanism. Republicanism, which holds that power should be balanced among different branches of government and competing interests should be served, resembles the traditional Chinese political ideal of “fairness in all under heaven.” It allows different interest groups and social assemblies, and people with a variety of cultures and beliefs, to exercise democratic self-government and to deliberate in order to reach peaceful resolution of public questions on a basis of equal access to government and free and fair competition.

Democracy. The most fundamental principles of democracy are that the people are sovereign and the people select their government. Democracy has these characteristics: (1) Political power begins with the people and the legitimacy of a regime derives from the people. (2) Political power is exercised through choices that the people make. (3) The holders of major official posts in government at all levels are determined through periodic competitive elections. (4) While honoring the will of the majority, the fundamental dignity, freedom, and human rights of minorities are protected. In short, democracy is a modern means for achieving government truly “of the people, by the people, and for the people.”

Constitutional rule. Constitutional rule is rule through a legal system and legal regulations to implement principles that are spelled out in a constitution. It means protecting the freedom and the rights of citizens, limiting and defining the scope of legitimate government power, and providing the administrative apparatus necessary to serve these ends.

Charter 08, partially copied from https://www.cecc.gov/resources/legal-provisions/charter-08-chinese-and-english-text

Updated: April 6, 2018