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| Number of Posts: | 12250 |
| Registered on: | 10/22/2010 |
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The siding isn’t tapered. It’s the same width the whole way. So it would just stick out the wall a bit farther at the same angle.
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Thank you both for the feedback. That video actually does a good job showing how to mount it somewhat cleanly and the angle actually doesn’t look too bad. I figured it would stick out like a sore thumb.
Mount AC Disconnect to Hardie Siding
Posted by bapple on 9/9/26 at 8:52 pm
I built a shed in my backyard and plan to mount an AC disconnect outside to install a mini split air conditioner.
How do I mount the disconnect flush with the wall without it also sitting at an angle on the siding? Are there shims you can buy to flatten it against the siding? And how do I avoid moisture intrusion? Just a bead of caulk along the top or more than that? I know I'm really mounting the disconnect to the OSB board under the siding but again, same problems getting it flush and sealed from moisture. The siding is unpainted right now and looks like this:
%2FFiberCementSiding-1fbbe575611f468d87587bc3a5acb2a2.jpg&f=1&nofb=1&ipt=5c55ca08f98005653e2103315dec8fb632ea88dee700796fd71fe3d2c42f1d1b)
Please help because I cannot find a straight answer anywhere. Thanks!
How do I mount the disconnect flush with the wall without it also sitting at an angle on the siding? Are there shims you can buy to flatten it against the siding? And how do I avoid moisture intrusion? Just a bead of caulk along the top or more than that? I know I'm really mounting the disconnect to the OSB board under the siding but again, same problems getting it flush and sealed from moisture. The siding is unpainted right now and looks like this:
Please help because I cannot find a straight answer anywhere. Thanks!
re: Name a good place to eat in a boring little town
Posted by bapple on 6/16/26 at 4:05 pm to Ramblin Wreck
Hoots BBQ in McGehee, AR
quote:
Not all of our refineries are optimized to run on US crude.
+1. Many grades of crude. It’s honestly amazing that we haven’t built a new refinery in over 50 years to process the light crude coming out of the Permian. Massive oversight.
re: 1/25-1/26 2026 Major Deep South Winter Storm Thread
Posted by bapple on 1/22/26 at 2:17 pm to real turf fan
quote:
How deep is deep enough? I remember going over to Asheville NC and finding an area with no water. Their lines were buried to the required depth, but the required depth was too shallow for that very cold spell.
The coldest it’s ever been in BR where I live was last year during the snow when it was 7 degrees. Our water actually comes in underground and feeds into each part of the house underground as well. I wondered if the ambient heat in my attic would keep it warm enough to not freeze and all was good. Otherwise I would have bought some pipe heating cable.
re: 1/25-1/26 2026 Major Deep South Winter Storm Thread
Posted by bapple on 1/22/26 at 8:53 am to DownshiftAndFloorIt
quote:
So ha. Poor people 1 rich people 0
:lol: I have two gas water heater tanks in parallel feeding my whole house. Unless my gas supply fails I’ll always have redundancy!
quote:
Even the gas tankless water heaters require electricity to run.
True. Its control circuit requires some power. Granted it isn’t much but still needs it.
Also note the components on the heater are more susceptible to water freezing since it isn’t a constant source of heat. Keep an eye on it.
re: Fireworks off Highland Road
Posted by bapple on 1/17/26 at 8:56 pm to Michael T. Tiger
You sure it’s fireworks? Sounded deep, not like a supersonic crack of a bullet but seemed far away and can’t confirm.
All the dogs in the neighborhood are going nuts.
All the dogs in the neighborhood are going nuts.
quote:
Yea but I want one to run as much as possible otherwise it seems like a waste.
If you don’t have heat pumps or electric water heaters, a regular 20kW would work just fine. Have them install a load management system (prevents overloading) or put soft starters on all your units. My parents have about 10 tons worth of HVAC and their 24kW Honeywell can handle it all with start kits on them.
If you have heat pumps (with resistive heating) or electric water heaters (again, high electrical power consumption) you’d likely need something bigger. If your only concern is the AC, you can reduce the startup current for each unit.
If you need me to do a load calculation for you I can shoot you an email.
re: IST 11/26/2025
Posted by bapple on 11/26/25 at 5:30 pm to tke_swamprat
Watched a 80-100ish pound lone button but but then momma popped out. Going home with some meat!
quote:
ETA. Acorns raining.
The amount that I’ve seen produced this year is insane. An acquaintance of mine is an arborist and said that certain oak trees have a 2-year memory when it comes to producing acorns. Most of them remember the drought in 2023 and have produced accordingly. He said expect about a 50% reduction next year.
Near Selma, AR
Calm winds, 57 degrees
Aero Precision AR10 .308, 150gr Barnes TTSX handload
Looking to bring home some hog or doe meat. LFG.
Calm winds, 57 degrees
Aero Precision AR10 .308, 150gr Barnes TTSX handload
Looking to bring home some hog or doe meat. LFG.
re: Toyota Supra to be discontinued in 2026
Posted by bapple on 9/23/25 at 6:24 am to weagle1999
However fun it may have been to drive, it was never a real Supra.
quote:
The AI data centers are using almost every form of power production, wind, solar, gas, and nuclear.
Which of these forms of energy are controllable by human input? Which are weather-driven and not dependent on human input?
Most data centers run on a 5-nines level of reliability (99.999%). Which form of power can provide 24/7/365 with brief periods of downtime for maintenance?
You may be hearing they are using all forms of energy but if you actually look at their actions, they are going for gas turbines first. With a vast pipeline network and near unlimited gas, it makes the most sense.
Until a hospital erects a wind farm or solar farm to backup systems that directly support human life, I will continue to see and believe that baseload, dispatchable power sources (gas, coal, nuclear) are more reliable and preferred. If not for the massive subsidies, “green” energy would not exist in the free market.
re: IEA Says World Must Spend $540B a Year Looking for Oil, Gas
Posted by bapple on 9/16/25 at 12:01 pm to ragincajun03
Even more entertaining has been the about-face from Big Tech that pushed for wind and solar for decades. All of a sudden they need REAL power for their big facilities and are falling over themselves for gas turbines.
Reality has a way of dealing with stupid. Sometimes it just takes time.
Reality has a way of dealing with stupid. Sometimes it just takes time.
re: Best Neighborhoods in Baton Rouge
Posted by bapple on 9/10/25 at 3:11 pm to Texas Tea 123
Oak Hills. Great location and lots of young families with kids playing in the neighborhood.
re: Surge protector for AC units. Real need or scam?
Posted by bapple on 9/9/25 at 2:11 pm to OysterPoBoy
quote:
Is this just a new sales pitch or is there a legit reason to install surge protectors?
The more efficient and new items get, the more intricate the electronics get. If you notice, almost every appliance has its own circuit board and electronics inside. With the addition of tvs, routers, variable-speed AC compressors, etc. into homes the greater chance of these items becoming unusable in the event of a lightning surge.
So do I think you need surge protectors at each AC compressor? Not necessarily but it’s a good idea to have one on your main panel as others have suggested. I have an Eaton one from HD in my panel and my house was built in 1987. Installed it myself pretty easily - required a 2-pole 50A breaker and then landed a wire on the neutral bus and ground bus. Done.
quote:
I don't understand the concern? Is it messing with your grass?
Yes. It completely smothers the ground and makes the grass grow in all patchy. I still am amazed at the amount of acorns they drop each year. It’s mind blowing.
Removing Oak Tree Acorns - Best Way?
Posted by bapple on 9/8/25 at 6:24 pm
I have two live oaks out front and one on the neighbor’s property extends a bit on my property line.
It is a battle every single year dealing with the acorns. I usually blow them into a pile then bag them or use the shop vac. Takes an insanely long time though.
I’ve seen some rolling acorn pickers, yard brushes, dethacters, etc. but none specifically note being able to pick up small live oak acorns.
Any advice is appreciated before I waste an entire day on these before the trees drop even more and I do it all over again.
Thanks in advance. :cheers:
It is a battle every single year dealing with the acorns. I usually blow them into a pile then bag them or use the shop vac. Takes an insanely long time though.
I’ve seen some rolling acorn pickers, yard brushes, dethacters, etc. but none specifically note being able to pick up small live oak acorns.
Any advice is appreciated before I waste an entire day on these before the trees drop even more and I do it all over again.
Thanks in advance. :cheers:
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