DIY Series 38: Euro Profile Cylinder Lock

Euro Profile Cylinder Lock (Disassemble & Replacement)

The euro cylinder lock is one of the most commonly used lock profiles by locksmiths and architectural ironmongers since it is so easy to install, modify with additional security measures, or replace; it is seen in both domestic and commercial properties, offering protection and security for a variety of premises and facilities.

Symptoms: 

Unable to open the lock using the key. Suspect the lock mechanism stuck.

First time trying to understand this Euro Profile Cylinder Lock. Found out there are so many types in different dimension. 

This time I bought the parts from local store due to urgency. It is almost double the price.

I can get it online at half of the price or even lower.

Video:

Test the new Euro Profile Cylinder Lock using key

Photos:

(A) Euro Profile Cylinder Lock

1. Types of Euro Cylinder Lock
2. Typical Disassemble Steps 
3. Example of Cylinder Size
4. Measuring Guide (Length)

(B) Disassemble 

1. Unscrew 2 screws from the handle (internal side)
2. After removing the screws
3. Use spanner to twist to left/right to make the lock broken
   (key point of this sharing, in order to unlock the door)
4. Take out the broken cylinder lock
5. Pictures of the broken cylinder lock
6. Use screwdriver to unlock the tongue of the lock
7. Unrelease the tongue in order to open the door

[ Note: Alternatively, you may opt to perform (B)6 and (B)7 easily using new lock with key, if you have the new spare part. The procedures are same as shown in the video above. I do not have the new lock available at that time, thus I have to use screwdriver to unlatch the tongue of the lock. ]

(C) Replacement Parts

1. Get the correct dimension of the lock body that you need
2. Get the suitable cylinder lock that can fit into the lock body
3. Dismantle the broken lock body from the door
4. Insert the new lock body and tighten it with 2 screws
5. Insert the cylinder lock into the lock body
6. Test the lock with key, then tighten it with the screw provided
7. Insert the metal bar (reuse old parts) from external side into the hole
8. Place one of the handle (reuse old parts) at external side
9. Tighten 2 screws at the handle (external side)
10. Tighten 2 screws at the handle (internal side)

Tools required:

• Screwdriver

Costs involved:

• Lock Body: US$14 (local store), US$7 (online)
• Cylinder Lock: US$7 (local store), US$4 (online)

 

Cost savings:

• Repair charges (depends on service provided)

DIY Series 37: Washing Machine Inner Drain Hose (Leaking)

Symptoms: 

Water leaking at the bottom of washing machine during washing process.

Photos:

1. Open the bottom cover, you will see the inner drain hose having leakage
2. Remove the broken inner drain hose with help of a blade
3. Use any suitable size drain hose to replace (not necessary the original part)
4. Picture of original part from online store (Price: US$5 ~ US$6)

Tools required:

• Screwdriver, blade

Costs involved:

• NIL (use recycle part from previous leftover drain hose)

Cost savings:

• Repair charges = At least USD$10
• Inner Drain Hose = US$5 ~ US$6

DIY Series 36: Projector Debugging & Fixing (Temperature Error)

This is the 1st time I look into projector fixing.

• Last Sunday, I received a malfunction projector from my church. 
• I was informed that it was unable to operate due to having blinking "Temperature" LED.
• Initial suspect, it was due to cooling fan malfunction.

Video:

• Projector entering "Temperature" error after Power ON
  
  
  
  
  

Photos:

1. Unscrew 1 screw and remove the cover of Light Bulb Module
2. Unscrew several screws on the Interface Cover
   
3. Unscrew this screw in order to remove the Interface Cover
4. Flip to the bottom side, unscrew several screws to remove the Top Cover
   
5. There are total of 3 Cooling Fans at <A>, <B>, <C>. <A>: Light Bulb Cooling Fan <B>: Intake Fan <C>: Exhaust Fan
6. Remove the filter cover at Cooling Fan <B>, check the filter condition and fan condition
   
   
   
7. Buy a sheet of general air purifier filter, cut it into the size required
8. The filter holder after clean up the broken old filter
9. Insert the newly cut filter into the filter holder
   
10. In order to dismantle the top cover, please disconnect the cable from the main board
11. Unscrew 2 screws and pull out the Light Bulb Module to check its condition (if needed)
12. Check the Part No (ELPLP88) for the Light Bulb Module (if replacement part is needed). For this case, it is in good condition
13. Check the Cooling Fan <A> condition and its connector to main board
    (It is a bit challenging to dismantle this fan to see it is working or not, due to tight fitting space)
    
    
    
    
    
14. Check the Cooling Fan <C> and found a dead lizard on it, blocking the fan from rotating
15. Dead lizard taken out from the projector Cooling Fan <C>

Summary:

• Light Bulb Module and Cooling Fan <A>, <B>, <C> are in working conditions.
• Projector detected that there is "Temperature" error because Cooling Fan <C> is not rotating.
• It was the dead lizard that blocking the Cooling Fan <C> from rotating.
• Thus, the dead lizard is the culprit. :D

Tools required:

• Screwdriver

Costs involved:

• General Air Purifier Filter Sheet = US$2

Cost savings:

• Projector filter with holder = US$10 ~ US$20
• Projector Cooling Fan = US$20 ~ US$30
• Repair labour cost = US$20 ~ US$50

Historic Structures Since 1936 (by British)

• Giant Well
• River on River

 

To access to these 2 locations (which is along the same river), it is quite challenging by car, as the access road is only fit for single vehicle to access and there is no way to make a turning back (not easy though) until you reach the end of the road.

For those interested, GPS location of main road to access to these 2 locations:

https://goo.gl/maps/7MdK74S67xA6p12h8

Giant Well ("Telaga Gergasi" in Malaysia Language)

https://goo.gl/maps/w97ksHMuoWzRgqWH8 (2km from main road)

• The height of this giant well structure is about 100 feet or 30 meters high with a diameter of 20 feet or 6 meters.
• The British technology originally served to move tin produce through the river, but the modern features of the construction could indirectly prevent soil erosion from settling in Bukit Merah Lake.

River on River ("Sungai Atas Sungai" in Malaysia Language)

https://goo.gl/maps/gzNic6NC1vWxFMT69 (300m from main road)

• "Sungai Atas Sungai" is a water canal that is diverted from Ijok River and across the Redang Panjang River which flows beneath it.
• This bridge was built in 1936 across the canal and remains intact today.

DIY Series 35: Fixing Car Signal Switch

On this specific morning, I was exploring on how to fix the car signal switch.

There are many info available online, but it might not be 100% match to my requirement.
Thus, I had started my journey on looking into root cause of the signal switch malfunction.

1st video shows signal switch malfunction, the right-side signal light is not working.

2nd video shows signal switch already back to normal, after the fixing was done.

Photos:
1. Unscrew 2 screws at the left bottom side of the steering
2. Unscrew 2 screws at the right bottom side of the steering
3. Unscrew 2 screws at the compartment under the steering
4. Place the compartment at the car floor

5. Remove the upper casing at the steering
6. Remove the lower casing at the steering
7. There are 2 screws at the signal switch
8. Unscrew 2 screws at signal switch

9. Take out the signal switch
10. Locate and unlatch the 2 connectors
11. The 2 connectors from signal switch
12. Signal Switch Unit

13. Unscrew 4 screws at the top side of the signal switch
14. The turn signal return spring mechanism is in good condition
15. Unscrew 2 screws at the bottom of the signal switch
16. Identify all the copper contacts whether in good conditions or not

17. Found the copper plate for left / right signal was worn-out
18. Take out the copper plate for rework
19. Remove the copper plate from its holder
20. Use plyer to hold the copper plate

21. Prepare a set of soldering iron
22. Use soldering iron to touch-up the copper plate using solder
23. Copper plate after rework was done
24. Put the copper plate back to its original location

You may proceed in reverse order to re-assemble the signal switch back to its original condition.

It was tested and the signal switch is now working accordingly.

Tools required:
Screwdriver, plyer, Soldering Tools

Costs involved:
US$0 (Original new parts might costs about US$25.00, exclude labour charges)

Summary:
Repair/rework is one type of recycle activities. It is indeed reusing the old parts and hence reduce the rubbish.
[Ref]: https://blueandgreentomorrow.com/features/9-scrap-car-parts-can-reused-recycled/

Update [ 2023-10-21 ]:

After 6 months of usage, the soldered copper plate worn-out again.

I repeated the flow above to fix the copper plate, and it is working again.

Update [ 2024-10-03 ]:

After 12 months of usage, the soldered copper plate worn-out again.

I repeated the flow above to fix the copper plate, and it is working again.

Update [ 2025-05-21 ]:

After 7 months of usage, the soldered copper plate worn-out again.

I changed to a new unit while waiting for availability to fix the old unit.

DIY Series 34: Ceiling Fan Installation (Changed from Regulator Fan to Remote-Controlled Fan)

Installing new remote-controlled fan to replace old regulator fan.

Basically it is easy to have it done by self-installation, with just minor wiring modification at wall regulator to bypass its usage. 

Wiring configuration for Regulator (in-use) vs Remote-Controlled (bypass) as below:

Photos:

1. Example of Wall Regulator (basic AC Fan).
2. Default wiring connection for regulator under the housing.
3. Disconnect the 2-wires from regulator and shorted it.
4. Leave the regulator wires (not-in-use) and close the housing.
5. Connect the new ceiling fan (remote-controlled) to these 3-wires.

Tools required:

• Screwdriver, test pen, spanner/plyer

Costs involved:

• Panasonic Bayu 5 (New): RM330 ~ RM400
• Installation: DIY

DIY Series 33: Water Heater No Hot Water? How to fix it?

Instant Water Heater: Magnet & Reed Switch

How Does a Reed Switch Work?

[Source]: https://lastminuteengineers.com/reed-switch-arduino-tutorial/

The two contacts of a reed switch become opposite magnetic poles, which is why they attract and snap together. It doesn’t matter which end of the magnet you bring closer: the contacts still polarize in opposite ways and attract each other.

When you take the magnet away, the contacts separate and return back to their original position.

How to fix your Water Heater?

If your home water heater is not supplying hot water, it might be caused by one of the followings:

1. Faulty Magnet or/and Reed Switch
2. Faulty Heating Element
3. Faulty Thermostat
4. Blown Fuse

I would like to share specifically on Item (1), where the magnet is broken/malfunction, however the Reed Switch is still working fine.

Video:

• 1st part of the video shows the magnet is away from the Reed Switch or broken, "Heater" LED is OFF, thus the water heater is NOT working. 
• 2nd part of the video shows the magnet (good condition) is purposely pushed to be near to Reed Switch, "Heater" LED is ON, thus the water heater is working.

Photos:

• 1st Photo: You can refer to [Before] & [After] fixing with the new flow sensor magnet.
• 2nd Photo: Refer to this photo for procedures to remove the broken magnet.
• 3rd Photo: Refer to this photo for procedures to insert a new magnet.
• 4th Photo: Refer to this photo if you need to change a new Reed Switch.

Tools required:

• Screwdriver, plyer, screw (to remove the stopper in order to take out the magnet)

Costs involved: 

• Magnet = US$2.20 (roughly) 
• Reed Switch = US$1.10 (roughly)

[ Pensonic PWH-800E ]

Same flow sensor (magnet) is used by Pensonic PWH-800E. Thus, you can follow the same DIY steps to do the fixing.

Photos:

1. Pensonic PWH-800E
2. Use a screw and plier to remove the stopper
3. Replace the broke flow sensor (magnet) with a new one
4. New flow sensor (magnet)

[ Rubine RWH-2838EP-PT ] - Updated on 2024-10-08

Same flow sensor (magnet) is used by Rubine RWH-2838EP-PT. Thus, you can follow the same DIY steps to do the fixing.

Photos:

1. Rubine RWH-2838EP-PT
2. Use a screw and plier to remove the stopper, replace with new magnet (flow sensor)

DIY Series 32: Fixing Panasonic 1HP Aircond Louvre / Swing Motor

 

Panasonic 1HP Aircond Louvre / Swing Motor DIY Replacement

When your aircond unit is getting aging, most likely you will be facing such issue where the louvre is not able to open up to max, or not even halfway (and auto-swing is not working). This will definitely limiting the cold air flow to flow to a distance away.

This problem is normally caused by malfunction of louvre motor. For Panasonic 1HP aircond, it is very easy to source online for the replacement parts. Just look for the one labelled as "28BYJ46" 12V DC Motor. It might cost you RM15 (for OEM) to RM30 or even more (for original parts). Examples shown as below, I am using "Tokayp" brand bought from Lazada this time.

You do not need special tools to dismantle the aircond front grille, just a screwdriver will do. Of course, you will need some basic know-how on how to do proper dismantle and re-assemble the cover and parts.

1) Remember to power OFF the aircond before start any activities.

2) Lift open the vertical vane gently

3) Remove the 2 caps and 2 screws at the bottom of the discharge vane

4) Hold both sides of the front grille and remove it by pulling up and toward yourself gently

5) Take out the front grille from indoor unit

6) You can find the louvre motor located at the right side

7) Identify and detach the connector from the main board, unscrew the louvre motor and remove it from its location

8) Get the new louvre motor and screw it onto the same location as replacement.

9) Power ON and test its functionality, then re-assemble the front grille back according to reverse order.

10) After completed re-assemble process, you may now switch ON the aircond and the louvre motor will operate as desired.