A manifesto on shower temperature control • Hacker News Board

Re: A manifesto on shower temperature control

#171

Post by johnwalkr » Fri, Feb 03, 2023, 8:58 PM UTC

jameshart wrote: post #131

Much of the confusion in this thread comes down to the fact that in the US, the standard shower valve is a 'pressure-balanced' valve, which allows you to select a flow-ratio between hot and cold feeds, but does not in itself maintain any particular temperature - it just ensures that in the event of pressure changes on one or other feed, the overall mix is maintained (preventing temperature spikes if someone flushes a…

There's something on-brand about a software engineer seeing a problem, and spending a great deal of time fleshing out his solution to the problem, even asking manufacturers to reach out to him, yet missing the easily-findable fact that thermostatic valves are a thing. At the end he concedes that someone else must have already tried his idea but doesn't quite get to the idea that someone else probably found an even better solution.

Re: A manifesto on shower temperature control

#172

Post by happymellon » Fri, Feb 03, 2023, 9:08 PM UTC

dsr_ wrote: post #164

WirelessGigabit wrote: post #157

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Mandatory Giphy: https://www.reddit.com/r/gifs/comments/5p9xfs/wash_yo_hands/ Also mandatory explanation why UK historically has had 2 taps: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HfHgUu_8KgA Which in the end is understandable. It's outdated. What isn't understandable is having the light switch OUTSIDE of the friggin' restroom.

In codes written before GFCI, making sure you can't electrocute yourself by accident could be achieved by: a) establishing a minimum distance between the sources of water and electrical switches that would have to be measured, inspected carefully, be expensive to re-do, and possibly not be practical inside a small bathroom, or b) requiring the switch to be outside the room Some locales chose b, and never updated.

All bathrooms I've been in the UK have had a hanging cord for the pull light switch, this enables usage of the light inside the bathroom.

I've not seen a switch outside the bathroom since university.

Re: A manifesto on shower temperature control

#173

Post by yencabulator » Fri, Feb 03, 2023, 9:08 PM UTC

andreareina wrote: post #159

WirelessGigabit wrote: post #157

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Mandatory Giphy: https://www.reddit.com/r/gifs/comments/5p9xfs/wash_yo_hands/ Also mandatory explanation why UK historically has had 2 taps: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HfHgUu_8KgA Which in the end is understandable. It's outdated. What isn't understandable is having the light switch OUTSIDE of the friggin' restroom.

Because that’s where there’s light to find the switch ;) Seriously I’ve never had a problem with the switch being inside or outside as long as it’s by the door

I've been in a multi-stall public bathroom where a person leaving turned off all the lights. For private bathrooms, I would much prefer to have the light control fully within my control while I am inside the bathroom.

Re: A manifesto on shower temperature control

#174

Post by spiffytech » Sat, Feb 04, 2023, 11:54 AM UTC

jameshart wrote: post #131

Much of the confusion in this thread comes down to the fact that in the US, the standard shower valve is a 'pressure-balanced' valve, which allows you to select a flow-ratio between hot and cold feeds, but does not in itself maintain any particular temperature - it just ensures that in the event of pressure changes on one or other feed, the overall mix is maintained (preventing temperature spikes if someone flushes a…

I don't think you need temperature sensing to achieve what the author wants: you just need the amount of hot water mixed in to follow a specific non-linear curve. We just want to adjust sensitivity on an already-functional mechanism.

Given my understanding that water heaters are all calibrated for approximately 140°F, then even assuming some fudge factor it seems possible to do better with pressure-balanced valves than we have today. Especially if the valve could be calibrated at install time.

Re: A manifesto on shower temperature control

#175

Post by dclowd9901 » Sun, Feb 05, 2023, 4:36 AM UTC

vl wrote: post #103

dclowd9901 wrote: post #87

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Same, nothing but good from my experience. Just a bit finicky to install like most European hardware and fixtures. Oh and their instructions are pictures only and hilariously obtuse.

Well, you can get Chinese thermostatic valve for few times cheaper.

You get what you pay for in my experience.

Re: A manifesto on shower temperature control

#176

Post by vl » Sun, Feb 05, 2023, 5:32 AM UTC

dclowd9901 wrote: post #175

vl wrote: post #103

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well, you can get Chinese thermostatic valve for few times cheaper.

You get what you pay for in my experience.

Hans Grohe panel shower broke, they don’t make panels like this anymore. Repair parts - $1600. Even BMW is not that greedy.

I replaced it with Chinese panel from Amazon for $500. Sure, not as fancy, but works just fine.