This is only a preview of the May 1994 issue of Silicon Chip. You can view 31 of the 96 pages in the full issue, including the advertisments. For full access, purchase the issue for $10.00 or subscribe for access to the latest issues. Articles in this series:
Items relevant to "Fast Charger For Nicad Batteries":
Items relevant to "Two Simple Servo Driver Circuits":
Items relevant to "An Induction Balance Metal Locator":
Items relevant to "Dual Electronic Dice":
Items relevant to "Multi-Channel Infrared Remote Control":
Items relevant to "Computer Bits":
Articles in this series:
Articles in this series:
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Publisher & Editor-in-Chief
Leo Simpson, B.Bus.
Editor
Greg Swain, B.Sc.(Hons.)
Technical Staff
John Clarke, B.E.(Elec.)
Robert Flynn
Darren Yates, B.Sc.
Reader Services
Ann Jenkinson
Sharon Macdonald
Advertising Enquiries
Leo Simpson
Phone (02) 979 5644
Mobile phone (018) 28 5532
Regular Contributors
Brendan Akhurst
Garry Cratt, VK2YBX
Marque Crozman, VK2ZLZ
John Hill
Jim Lawler, MTETIA
Bryan Maher, M.E., B.Sc.
Philip Watson, MIREE, VK2ZPW
Jim Yalden, VK2YGY
Bob Young
Photography
Stuart Bryce
SILICON CHIP is published 12 times
a year by Silicon Chip Publications
Pty Ltd. A.C.N. 003 205 490. All
material copyright ©. No part of
this publication may be reproduced
without the written consent of the
publisher.
Printing: Macquarie Print, Dubbo,
NSW.
Distribution: Network Distribution
Company.
Subscription rates: $49 per year
in Australia. For overseas rates, see
the subscription page in this issue.
Editorial & advertising offices:
Unit 34, 1-3 Jubilee Avenue, Warrie
wood, NSW 2102. Postal address:
PO Box 139, Collaroy Beach, NSW
2097. Phone (02) 979 5644. Fax
(02) 979 6503.
PUBLISHER'S LETTER
We must reject any move
to reduce our mains
voltage to 230V.
You may recall that month I discussed the
move to reduce our mains voltage from a
nominal 240V to 230VAC. The main advan
tage to Australia is supposed to “improve the
opportunities for the electrical equipment
we produce, opening up the world to our
industry”. I pointed out that Australians
would pay a very high price for this in terms
of higher electricity distribution costs and so on.
Well this month, I felt I should return to the topic in case some people thought
that it was an “April Fool” story or that it would not affect them directly. It
certainly will. Consider, for example, that any heating appliance which you
presently have will not get as hot on 230 volts and the difference will be quite
noticeable. Your stove hotplates will be noticeably less hot and there will be
a consequent increase in cooking times. The same applies to your microwave
oven, convection oven, even your toaster, electric iron and so on. All of these
heating appliances will either take longer to come up to a selected temperature
or in the case of appliances which aren’t thermostatically controlled, they just
won’t get as hot.
Nor will your lights be as bright and you will find the need to replace all light
bulbs with new ones rated for 230V AC if you want the same brilliance as you
had before. That is bad enough but if you are using 12V halogen lamps which
need to run at close to their rated voltage to work properly, then they will be
noticeably dimmer - they will no longer sparkle at all. Again, the only solution
may be to change all halogen lamps or worse, change the 12V transformers.
If you have fluorescent lights, they will take noticeably longer to start, particularly on cold mornings - so you’ll have more of that annoying flick-flick-flickering each time you turn them on. And when they do come on, they won’t be
as bright either.
Nor will your refrigerator and freezer work as well and they will cost more
to run.
Still not convinced? What about that old colour TV you’ve had for many years?
It’s been working fine and you don’t have any real reason to update at this stage.
Well, when you run it from 230 volts AC, you will no doubt find that its picture
will shrink and that will certainly take the gloss off its performance. New TV
sets will not be affected at all by this change because their power supplies can
cope with a large range of mains voltages but people who can’t afford to update
their equipment are going to be disadvantaged.
No, the more I think about this proposal to reduce our mains voltage to 230
volts AC, the more I think it is harebrained. If you agree, don’t just nod your
head and turn the page. Either write to us or write to the Minister for Energy
in your state. It’s likely they haven’t heard of the proposal yet. Get them to nip
it in the bud!
Leo Simpson
ISSN 1030-2662
WARNING!
SILICON CHIP magazine regularly describes projects which employ a mains power supply or produce high voltage. All such projects should
be considered dangerous or even lethal if not used safely. Readers are warned that high voltage wiring should be carried out according to the
instructions in the articles. When working on these projects use extreme care to ensure that you do not accidentally come into contact with
mains AC voltages or high voltage DC. If you are not confident about working with projects employing mains voltages or other high voltages,
you are advised not to attempt work on them. Silicon Chip Publications Pty Ltd disclaims any liability for damages should anyone be killed
or injured while working on a project or circuit described in any issue of SILICON CHIP magazine. Devices or circuits described in SILICON
CHIP may be covered by patents. SILICON CHIP disclaims any liability for the infringement of such patents by the manufacturing or selling of
any such equipment. SILICON CHIP also disclaims any liability for projects which are used in such a way as to infringe relevant government
regulations and by-laws.
Advertisers are warned that they are responsible for the content of all advertisements and that they must conform to the Trade Practices Act
1974 or as subsequently amended and to any governmental regulations which are applicable.
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