[Misc] Should we scrap imperial units and go fully metric?

[BN9 BHA]

A pendant writes: that's technically tube, not pipe.

Pipe actually uses one of the most ridiculous systems of all. Metric and imperial sizes are both aligned so they they are interchangeable, but neither are the dimension they are described as.

So a 1" pipe is identical to a 25mm pipe, but is actually 33.4mm (1.3") diameter, for example.

Thanks, I was just using one plumbing fitting as an example, I usually call copper..tube rather than pipe, but my tools i use to cut and bend it are pipe cutters and pipe bender
Plastic waste and soil is always referred to as pipe in our trade.

 

[Robdinho]

Thanks, I was just using one plumbing fitting as an example, I usually call copper..tube rather than pipe, but my tools i use to cut and bend it are pipe cutters and pipe bender
Plastic waste and soil is always referred to as pipe in our trade.

No worries, the terms tube and pipe are used pretty much interchangeably. I really just wanted to take the opportunity to point out how stupid pipe dimensions are

 

[BN9 BHA]

No worries, the terms tube and pipe are used pretty much interchangeably. I really just wanted to take the opportunity to point out how stupid pipe dimensions are

One copper tube size that imo can be confusing for diy or inexperienced plumbers is the old imperial 3/4, metric 22mm is slightly bigger and a metric to imperial socket is required.
I got called to a property this week to fix a leak where someone had put a 22mm push fit cap onto old 3/4 imperial copper.

 

[Han Solo]

I'm a long way short of 60 and still use a combination of imperial and metric.

Probably more towards the latter but still use imperial in certain situations.

When I discuss with British people in places with a younger demographic than NSC, I don't get the impression that the "mix" is ending anytime soon.

 

[Notters]

I'm a long way short of 60 and still use a combination of imperial and metric.

Probably more towards the latter but still use imperial in certain situations. This sums it up quite well:

Yes, true - I was thinking specifically about fahrenheit, which much of the post was about. It's hardly ever mentioned anymore. They've generally stopped including it on weather forecasts at all now.

 

[Mellor 3 Ward 4]

Metric makes much more sense.

I guess that since you live in Germany and are used to being 'short changed' when it comes to beer it won't make difference to you

 

[Mellor 3 Ward 4]

Yes, true - I was thinking specifically about fahrenheit, which much of the post was about. It's hardly ever mentioned anymore. They've generally stopped including it on weather forecasts at all now.

Until we get a heatwave and then it's 'Britain scorches in 90 degree heatwave'

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

I guess that since you live in Germany and are used to being 'short changed' when it comes to beer it won't make difference to you

There are perfectly adequate ways to compensate for this, …….she brings a second beer to compensate.

I have your back, don’t worry.

 

[WATFORD zero]

Until we get a heatwave and then it's 'Britain scorches in 90 degree heatwave'

And then most of us go that means it's the low 30s

 

[Mellor 3 Ward 4]

There are perfectly adequate ways to compensate for this, …….she brings a second beer to compensate.

I have your back, don’t worry.

View attachment 198353

She carrying two beers?

TBH I hadn't really noticed the beer.

 

[alanfp]

So I'm guessing 22 yards

Yes,, a chain is 22 yds
An acre = a chain x a furlong (which is 1/8 of a mile for all you Gen x/z/alphas)

 

[alanfp]

OAP goes to greengrocer "Can I have three pounds of potatoes please"
Young Jack the Lad "Blimey grandma, get with the times - it's all changed to kilos now - has been for years"
Hesitant OAP "Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't realise. I'll have three pounds of kilos then".

 

[GT49er]

Their numbers were very strange. X L V I M C etc

How many men did a Centurion command?

How big was a Legion?

No idea on their coin currency.

C.

 

[Bakero]

Yes, true - I was thinking specifically about fahrenheit, which much of the post was about. It's hardly ever mentioned anymore. They've generally stopped including it on weather forecasts at all now.

True. The only time I use Fahrenheit is when I'm talking to American friends or watching American TV and converting it to Celsius for my partner. She's five years younger and has absolutely no idea what Fahrenheit is.

 

[PILTDOWN MAN]

True. The only time I use Fahrenheit is when I'm talking to American friends or watching American TV and converting it to Celsius for my partner. She's five years younger and has absolutely no idea what Fahrenheit is.

It's odd though as in winter people say it's -5 but in summer say it's in the 80's, thus using both scales to show the extremes.

 

[Bakero]

I know a fair few Americans that are adamant Fahrenheit is better for weather due to it's greater accuracy.

I don't get their argument. If it's below zero, it's freezing. 0-10, cold. 10-20, mild. 20-30, warm. 30-40, hot. 40+, too fecking hot.

 

[alanfp]

I know a fair few Americans that are adamant Fahrenheit is better for weather due to it's greater accuracy.

I don't get their argument. If it's below zero, it's freezing. 0-10, cold. 10-20, mild. 20-30, warm. 30-40, hot. 40+, too fecking hot.

I can still remember something I heard on TV in the 1970s when we were starting to adopt centigrade in everyday life, to help us get used to what the 'new' numbers meant in practice and it was this:

5, 10 and 21 - winter, spring and summer sun

For something so simple it's surprisingly accurate. Current data for Brighton suggests 7, 11 and 22 but global warming has meant a 1 deg rise in the last 50 yrs, so it really was a good metre-stick at the time.

 

[Bakero]

I can still remember something I heard on TV in the 1970s when we were starting to adopt centigrade in everyday life, to help us get used to what the 'new' numbers meant in practice and it was this:

5, 10 and 21 - winter, spring and summer sun

For something so simple it's surprisingly accurate. Current data for Brighton suggests 7, 11 and 22 but global warming has meant a 1 deg rise in the last 50 yrs, so it really was a good metre-stick at the time.

In Almeria it's more 15, 20, 42. Feck! it's summer, now we're screwed.

 

[Elbow750]

One copper tube size that imo can be confusing for diy or inexperienced plumbers is the old imperial 3/4, metric 22mm is slightly bigger and a metric to imperial socket is required.
I got called to a property this week to fix a leak where someone had put a 22mm push fit cap onto old 3/4 imperial copper.

Ah I knew it. Metrification was invented by Plumbers to guarantee them work, forever fixing leaks in mismatched fittings installed by us innocent non plumbers!

 

[Bodian]

I can still remember something I heard on TV in the 1970s when we were starting to adopt centigrade in everyday life, to help us get used to what the 'new' numbers meant in practice and it was this:

5, 10 and 21 - winter, spring and summer sun

For something so simple it's surprisingly accurate. Current data for Brighton suggests 7, 11 and 22 but global warming has meant a 1 deg rise in the last 50 yrs, so it really was a good metre-stick at the time.

"A metre measures three foot three, it's longer than a yard you see"
"A litre of water's a pint and three-quarters"
"Two and a quarter pounds of jam, weighs about a kilogramme."

Pretty sure these were on the back of cornflake packets?