nomadpete

QUEENSLAND'S pumped storage was commissioned circa 1980 and is still running and unlikely to shut down any time soon. There is no hazardous products nor expensive maintenance coming from a couple of big flywheels spinning on greased bushes. Peak output 600Mw with cut in time measured in milliseconds. Like a big battery without all the chemicals. The entire construction is achieved with simple well proven local engineering. I am dumbfounded by the absence of such a simple, relatively quick solution to storage has not been built. Other than the Qld one.

What matters is the longer term balance between generation and consumption. Well it matters, as long as there is a storage media to smooth out supply & demand. My humble 3Kw PV produces approximately the same energy annually as our house consumes annually. I just can't afford a flywheel big enough to tide me over the dark times.

I totally agree with changing the policing from fund raising, to cautions and friendly educating. A long time ago I was so gratefilto a copper who stopped me, then said something like 'We both know that was a silly thing to do. I'm letting you off... this time" I remember the lesson but I hardly recall anything that later coppers said when they booked me for similar stuff. I rarely get an infringement these days - but haven't had a caution since 1970.

Is the value of a couple of cars greater than the value of lives lost to careless drivers? Further, most owners of rare & collectabe cars don't lend them to careles hoons.

Not about Mr Dutton's plans, but relevant to the looming energy crisis.... There is a lot of marginal farmland out past Roma in Qld. The area also has great annual sun radiation. Sounds like a suitable location for a big PV farm. A couple of years ago, the grid owners invested around $500 million in extending the coastal grid out to Roma - to supply power the power hungry gas industry. Note this might be redundant after the gas seams have been emptied. But the HV grid can work in either direction. So, there is now a grid connection between a perfect solar farm location and the populous east coast grid. All we need is the government to get off its ass and build some coastal pumped storage.

The only thing I would add, OME, is that we really need to raise public awareness of the fact that driving a vehicle is NOT a universal right. If our legislators REALLY want to reduce the road toll, introduce compulsory crushing of the vehicle for serious or repeated motoring offences. No matter who owns the vehicle. Let the chips fall where they may.

That is why I was surprised to find he said something logical.

The common type you are likely to find these days are a Chinese copy (not quite accurate) of the JIS Japan Industry Standard that was developed to avoid royalties to Phillips (or to USA Posidriv which neither will fit)

Take succour from the fact that Exmouth has largely been outsourced to Australian defence contractors. I have heard similar reports about Alice Springs (Pine Gap).

Few seem capable of thinking that far ahead.

As good a place as any to put up this quote - and not my own smazement that I agree with something Matt Canavan said..... “I’m not saying we should be 100% coal, or not build nuclear, or not invest in renewable. But the balance has shifted so far away from investing in reliable power.” “We shouldn’t build a complex electricity system based on focus groups. The focus group approach to our energy system is leading to constant warnings of blackouts … All sides of politics are deciding their energy based on focus group, not a real world analysis of impact.” So far neither major party have been starting serious investment in electricity security. Major storage is needed and it is needed fast. Are Labor waiting for the LNP mob to win the next election so they can blame LNP for the blackouts? The pollies of both sides are trying to buy votes with magic promises - but no good will come without solid investment in new infrastructure.

That goes for you too, Wille!

Hello everybody. All the best for the festive season!

Jet skis are a law unto themselves. All other small motor craft are required to carry 'an alternate means of propolsion'. (Paddles)

It is illegal here to do anything electrical, except replace a light bulb or a smoke alarm battery. No replacing 3 pin plugs. No making an extension leads. No replacing a switch. No replacing a power outlet. No touchy the wires! Etc, etc.

The Australian Electrical Office is pretty tough. They can impose fines up to $20,000 for electrical work done by a non qualified person (business fines are very severe). In theory, any time any work is done, the electrician must supply a certificate of compliance describing the work done. In my recent experience, they didn't. But the other thing is if there is a fire you might find your insurance is on shakey ground.

Mostly along winded whinge being used to promote a dashcam. He has a point about driver education and preventative policing. One thing that surprised me - the annual road death tolls for India & China are 250,000.

Yes. All mains wiring must be terminated by a licenced electrical contractor.

With all due respect, I point out (for readers) the fact that an engineer is not permitted to do domestic electrical work - unless they happen to also be a currently licenced electrical contractor. I'm not arguing the merit of the items involved. Just the legal responsibilities involved. Was mentioned by you as being expensive but they are comprehensive and simple for a consumer to safely utilise. I agree, as you are aware ( but didn'tmention), there are more cost effective solutions (such as mine). I have 30 years experience in the power industry. I am not a licenced electrical contractor although I am capable - as you might be - to do the work at least as well as a contractor, but I choose to do it the legal way. Liability is a bitch.

When properly set up, the changeover switch isolates the street side wiring and only activates the normal internal house power. The pic is what we have at the Fire Station. Obviously it must be installed by a registered electrical contractor.

In your case, you should be able to run your 15A extension lead from your EV to the meter box. Much easier than running extension leads into the house and to each appliance you want to use.

KG, a possible affordable solution for you:- Get a sparky in to separate 'essential' power points & lighting circuits. Get him to set those up with a Emergency Manual switch - to a 15A power input (caravan plug). This will allow me to leave my genset near the meter box, and when the power goes down I switch over, start the genny, and the lights, fridge, TV all work. (Within the 15A maximum) The A/C and oven will not. I can give you an idea of cost after mine is finished. The sparky is busy over xmas.

At the rate that our governments are dithering, you are probably right.

Try it! It'll stop you rolling out of bed.

The public are already voting with their own wallets, just look at the PV panel sales. When batteries reach a critical pricepoint, the public will be buying them in big numbers. Combined with suitable EV interface, a modest house battery will put an end to reliance on grid power.