f1_fan

iTrader: (9)

You thought I was serious????? I was seeing if I could get a further rise out of Robsy. Genuinely laughing out loud here

jonc

Well at least I still get a few laughs even if it's at my expense!

f1_fan

iTrader: (9)

No worries Although should I be insulted you thought I was 'that' dumb? Is that how I come across? No, don't answer that

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

On that logic, why not convert to 415volts?

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

Half right. The first part is correct, if we lowered the voltage, we would have to INCREASE the current drawn by all appliances to have them working at the same rate.
Kettles etc would just take twice as long to boil......

The second part is correct, but incorrect, since the power companies don't distribute electricity, except for locally, at 230V, but at 11,000, 132000 and 400,000Volts.

This is done because as you transform the voltage UP, you DECREASE the current in the same ratio, so that Voltage x Current remains the same.

But the heat lost in the wires is proportional to the SQUARE of the current, so it makes sense to keep current as low as possible, while keeping voltage to a level that can be controlled as far as discharges to air and nearby objects is concerned.

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

Because whereas 230V CAN be lethal, it rarely is, but 415V almost always is.

I remember learning that if you can cause 0.25A to flow through the human body, the result will be fatal.
The higher the voltage, the MORE current you can force through.

Hence 110V on building sites....(wet, metal etc).

Adrian F

Back to the point there is plenty of Coal so we can dig new mines and use this to power our selves out of the problem

I agree that if Labour gets elected then they will just build loads of inefficient wind mills and just put massive taxes on fuel to subsidise them whilst pretending there is no alternative then on the days the wind blows to little or to much we will have power cuts

Labour just look for any reason to impose taxes so they can take our money and spend it for us on their chosen projects

Tidgy

the only people to blame for this are the general population of the uk, the currently only via source of enough energy is nuclear power, yet every time companys try to build them they get the 'build them else where' and it grinds to a halt.

renewable are not efficient enough, the green bunch have seen our coal gone and we havn;t got the surplus of power stations we used to have.

cster

What a fascinating post.
Maybe you should be a teacher - you seem to have a real knack for making such interesting observations that serve to inform, educate and entertain.
ps Should that be "objects are concerned"? I was always told that verb conjugations in English are extremely straightforward. I am guessing that perhaps English is not your first language?

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

Oh dear my hint of sarcasm failed

Most industry IS 415 volts already


(albeit three phase...can you imagine the average householder wiring a 5 pin plug? ).

dpb

Like the ex BP boss was saying we need a mix of it all,


where we've certainly failed is the knock on anti nuclear sentiment brought on by CND

Together with Thatchs bloodlust for destroying unionists, and thus mining

CharlySkunkWeed

iTrader: (7)

Watched a program about how people living in the village of the Fukashima Nuke Plant after it was hit by the Tsuami , they still havent moved back in and it "was built to withstand a Tsunami". The town is covered in radiation.

dpb

We Havnt seen a decent sized earthquake or tsunami in many a year

CharlySkunkWeed

iTrader: (7)

Just saying , when it goes wrong for any reason (even the ones you prepare for) it goes REALLY wrong.

Chip

The miners though were their own worst enemy, holding the country to ransom all of the time. As for Scargill, the man was on a personal crusade, unfortunately for him his opponent was bigger and better than him.

He sold his own men down the river I'm afraid.

AndyBaker

My old man was a copper back in the strike days and was regularly on the picket line. They used to wear yellow badges with ASPOM on them to wind the miners up which meant "Arthur Scargill Pays Our Mortgage" as the overtime was plentiful.

f1_fan

iTrader: (9)

I think it would be a great idea.... it would kill off the stupid

cster

Can you remember the good old days when you bought an electrical appliance sans plug and were expected to fit it yourself?
Perhaps someone was trying to confirm your hypothesis?

f1_fan

iTrader: (9)

Yep, the nanny state no longer allows this.... pity really for the reasons mentioned

Lydia72

http://www.gridwatch.templar.co.uk/

wind power doing well today

David Lock

Drive through any town after six when workers have gone home and the building will be fully lit up waiting for a couple of cleaners. Huge waste of power. Street lights lighting up empty roads during the small hours.

Nuclear set to cost about twice current cost of power.

Shale gas could be the real answer. Made a fantastic difference in US.

Go back to coal for a few years.

Buy Cypriot gas

dl

Chip

Good, I wish we had more of it as well.

David Lock

Pity there's no snow power technology (Ali will tell us there is ) as that would keep us warm when we need it......

dl

Chip

Stupid thing is that over a third of the gas coming into the country is being used to generate electricity.

Luan Pra bang

They are still wasteful its just that now it does not matter they can just put up every ones bill to cover. Privatisation is just another way to transfer to transfer money from poor people to rich people, in terms of utilities often rich people outside the UK. How can that be good ? Its a bit like the trains, some operators like Virgin have invested in new belter trains but we still pay for it in higher ticket prices and they still get government money.

Luan Pra bang

They need to motion sensor street lights and change them to LED or another technology so they can switch on and off quickly when needed, they could also cut benefits and force unemployed people to sit in cold dark bedsits catching pneumonia and dying early to save on the benefits bill.

warrenm2

In fact ALL companies exist to extract money from people to make the owners rich. The thing is they have to do so in a worthwhile manner else no-one would trade with them i.e they have to be useful. State run monopolies have been tried in the 20th century and failed. Get over it

f1_fan

iTrader: (9)

Depends how you define failed. Electricity and gas were a lot cheaper then even allowing for inflation.

Luan Pra bang

Except Utilities are not subject to the same market forces as other companies and people need to use them. I have no option to transfer my business away from Anglian water and the rail network is a disaster seeing as it charges high rates and STILL gets subsidized. The utilities networks were built by tax payers and are now making money for fat cats. Privatisation has been bad for the consumer the benefits are minimal. The only sector it has worked in is telecoms.

Lydia72

Michael Jackson had the right idea