RE: [smartBridges] APPO Power consumption

[Jason]

Title: Message

I'm in the Caribbean. Diesel generators are not cheap, and distribution is difficult in mountainous terrain. That being said, we do use solar in every application possible. By the way - 30 cents is the business rate. Residential is closer to 20 cents.   Unfortunately, solar is not really cost effective when the energy needs are so miniscule. I've found that you start to reach an economy of scale when you have about 40W of power draw 24 hours a day (about 1 Kw-hr/day). The solar panels themselves are cheap power at any consumption level, but adding batteries, charge controllers, cabling and any DC-DC converters needed bring the price up considerably - even compared to 30 cents per Kw-hr.   Speaking of solar, I have found similar APPO power consumption from DC-direct applications. It's a little harder to measure DC draw over time (in watt-hours) without some pricey tools. But just spot checking the current draw and battery voltage, the total watts consumed seems similar.   That tells me that the AC-DC transformer that ships with the powershot is pretty efficient.   Anal - yes. But you really have to be in an environment where your cost for energy is so high. Remember when long distance wasn't 5 cents a minute? Were you not anal when scrutinizing your monthly phone bills? Now I pay whatever IDT says without batting an eye...   Jason   -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Mark Koskenmaki Sent: Thursday, July 10, 2003 12:05 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [smartBridges] APPO Power consumption   Where are you?   30 cents a KwHr is a ripoff almost beyond comprehension....   You'd be far better off putting up solar panels and/or wind turbines than paying that absurd price...       NEOFAST.NET North East Oregon FAST Net mark(at)neofast.net ----- Original Message ----- From: Jason To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Wednesday, July 09, 2003 2:12 PM Subject: RE: [smartBridges] APPO Power consumption Nish-   I pay almost 30 cents per Kw/hr where I am, so I know what everything I use draws...   Jason     --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.497 / Virus Database: 296 - Release Date: 7/5/03