On 02-01-98 Alec Cameron wrote... 
 
    AC> Wind power is long established for water pumping, and 32v DC 
        generation because the population density is very low, and 
        rural.  The modern wind genes on farms tend to be 12v or 24v, 
        with batteries/ inverters to 240v 50Hz 
    ---------------------------------------------- 
    Hi there Alec ! 
 
    You seem to use the european electric system of 240v 50Hz 
    for your inverters, we use the north american system of 
    120v 60Hz. 
    I really don't know if one system is better then the other, 
    and i'm a technician in electrical engineering (industrial 
    instrumentation & control). 
 
 
 
    AC> Solar power is used for: 
    AC> River navigation lamps, isolated public coin phones, phone 
        enquiry boxes on unattended railroad stations,... 
    ------------------------------------------ 
    Where there is a need, people will always find a way. 
    I like to work with renewable energy systems. 
    Sometimes it's difficult to get it to work efficiently, and 
    tune the systems correctly, but when it works it saves 
    resources and money in the long run, even if it's more 
    expensive up front. 
 
 
 
 
    AC> In the cities, hobbyists are "visible" as their homes have 
         both solar heaters AC> and solar elec panels. 
    ------------------------------------------- 
    A lot of companies are starting to do the same in Montreal, 
    particularly on the roof of new commercial flat roof buildings. 
    (for solar heaters only). 
 
 
 
 
    AC> It was once Govt policy to build railroads which routes 
    AC> then got populated. Sadly, the availability of cheap autos 
        after 1930s, resulted in folk over-using the roads. Rail 
        patronage hence revenue, dropped severely. 
    ------------------------------------------- 
    The same is happening in Canada.  The railways lines are mostly 
    used for cargo, on main lines (east-west).  A lot of side lines 
    (north-south) have been abandoned by the big national rail 
    companies, but something funny has happened.  Several of those 
    "useless" lines have been purchased by small local operators, who 
    are actually making a profit at it.  Several of the longer lines 
    have been taken over by US regional lines.  The big difference 
    is that those smaller companies are actually listening to their 
    customers, and giving them choices, something the BIG nationals 
 
 
    AC> Oh in my own home I have just two panels/ batteries. 
    ------------------------------------------ 
    I take it, you don't have power lines to your home ? 
 
 
 
    AC> Military style repeating and automatic weapons have been 
        banned. 
    ------------------------------------------ 
    It's the same in Canada.  The gun laws are becomming extreme. 
    Now just to get a permit to BUY a rifle (not even a restricted 
    handgun), you have to fill more formes then it used to take 
    to carry a handgun, and naturally it costs a LOT more. 
    The problem is that they make the laws restrictive for 100% 
    of the poeple, when only 0.1% of the poeple are at fault. 
 
    Salutations: Serge Brouillard 
                 Montreal, Canada 
 
 
... OFFLINE 1.32 *     The people are not silent, the government is DEAF ! 
--- Maximus/2 3.01
---------------