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Posted on 7/6/2011 3:12 AM By Steven McFadyen
While there are a vast array of cable insulation materials, these are often divided into two general types; Thermoplastic or Thermosetting. For example the current capacity determination of a cable in accordance with the UK Wiring Regulations is categorized into thermoplastic and thermosetting cables.
Posted on 6/2/2011 5:03 AM By Steven McFadyen
Visitors who like to type web address rather then click menus may be interested in how our URL structure works.
Posted on 4/24/2011 2:52 AM By Steven McFadyen
The other day I came across an article in Technology Review on the development of a smart transformer. A professor at North Carolina State University is developing a transistor based transformer capable of coping with both dc and ac and of directing power to where it is required. His idea is to shuffle power around the grid in the same way that the internet intelligently moves data around. The interesting thing from this is that people are starting to address the way we move power around.
Posted on 4/16/2011 11:48 PM By Steven McFadyen
Recently I have seen a few interesting articles on viable cold fusion; the combining of atoms at room like temperatures to create boundless energy. Now after a bit of research I have discovered the are a few proponents [believers] and a lot of skeptics. The jury is not out, but just in case the technology comes in as a winner here is the latest and it happens to be a working machine.
Posted on 3/16/2011 10:56 PM By Steven McFadyen
Delum, who had watched all in silence, his face empty of expression, now spoke in turn. ' "Lead us, Warleader, into glory."'
Reading is something I do regularly and at the moment I'm working my way through Steven Erikson's Malazan Book of the Fallen series. Enjoying the series so much I decided to give it a bit of a plug.
Posted on 3/1/2011 12:48 AM By Steven McFadyen
It's been a busy few months on different projects or busy couple of decades depending on how I look at it. I can say that on the odd (frequent) occasion when trying to explain something (i.e. electricity) I felt like banging my head against the wall. To be fair to everyone this does include talking to electrical engineers as well as non-electrical types. I have found out that I'm not the only one to wonder why it is difficult to understand electricity and as it turns out the answer may not simply be that everyone else is not quite with it.
Posted on 11/29/2010 10:26 PM By Steven McFadyen
GE have put together a time-lapse video shown flight take-off and landings at some airports. An interesting view:
Posted on 11/2/2010 3:07 AM By Steven McFadyen
When selecting a generator, there are inherent limits on the active and reactive power which can be delivered. Generators are normally sized for a certain kW at a power factor of 0.8. However, to understand the operation fully, it is necessary to look at the generator reactive power curve.
Posted on 9/30/2010 3:25 AM By Steven McFadyen
IEEE TV has a part series of videos on wind power and it's implication. For a really good overview to the technologies and issues around wind power, these videos are excellent. Each video is around 10 minutes and can be watched at:
Posted on 8/30/2010 3:26 AM By Steven McFadyen
Two driverless and solar power vans have departed from Italy on their way to China via the silk road. During the 13,000 kM trip the vans will drive themselves on standard roads. The hope is that this will help to prove the viability of using current technology to enable autonomous vehicles on public roads.
Posted on 7/21/2010 11:55 PM By Steven McFadyen
If you have a great idea or invent something the last thing you want is someone to steal the idea. One of the things you can do is protect the intellectual property of on the idea by using patents.
Posted on 7/7/2010 11:41 PM By Steven McFadyen
MIT OpenCourseWare, makes the materials used in teaching all MIT subjects available on the Web, free of charge, to any user in the world.