Al salaam a'alaykum Bob

14 Dec 03 09:50, Bob Lawrence wrote to John Tserkezis:

 BL>  I can't believe two things: firstly that David is using 150AH gel
 BL> cells. I *know* what they cost, and my 5-year estimate is pretty
 BL> accurate. Rechargable batteries slowly lose their ability to hold a
 BL> charge and deliver full current. His 15-years would be like my mother
 BL> at 97! Utterly stuffed!

 BL>  Secondly, why the hell isn't he using gas bottles for the frig, or
 BL> even kerosene? Is he a Green freak?

(or concerned that I won't always be able to purchase oil products?)

Try to buy a kero fridge in Australia today.

Try to get an absorbtion fridge to cool properly in an tropical climate.

Try to move a 45Kg gas cyclinder with a motorcycle.

 BL>  Solar power is terrific for hot water, or battery-backup lighting,
 BL> maybe even running a TV for a few hours, but when it comes to real
 BL> power like a frig or cooking, there is nothing to beat hydrocarbons.

One does not cook with solar panels - unless you've got a shitload of them

 BL> My bushie relations were using kerosene refrigerators 50 years ago!

That is the last time they were available - ineffective as they were.

 JT>> Besides, you'll be abusing the top and bottom halves in a
 JT>> different way every six months now. :-)

 BL>  The whole and utter secret of engineering is how much. Anyone can
 BL> use aword like "gross" or "abuse" but an
engineer puts an number to
 BL> it. Trust me, one lousy amp unbalance does not amount to either of
 BL> those words for a 150 AH cell. In fact, if David likes to measure his
 BL> fully-charged trickle current, he will find that it is almost that
 BL> much anyway (assuming the dickhead who wrote the software had half a
 BL> brain, and that is a real ask, in my experience of programmers
 BL> Brenton excepted).

You do appreciate that for quite some hours each day these cells get no
charge at all?

Regards,
David

--- Msged/LNX TE 06 (pre)