How to Plan in an Inconstant World I was struck the other day by the report of another bankruptcy of a solar venture. I was not struck by the event itself so much as by the fact that it signals to me that one fundamental difficulty we face in building our energy future is that the landscape keeps changing around us. In this case, the bankruptcy of Solar Trust of America is apparently the fallout of insolvency proceedings in Germany for its majority owner, Solar Millennium AG. This is not an isolated event. All current nuclear projects are being questioned because of the low cost of natural…
Electricity
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Most Topular Stories
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Building Our Energy Future:
Energy3 May 2012 | 10:45 pm -
5 Ways to Creatively Save (Energy)
Ez DIY Electricity26 Jan 2011 | 4:33 pmThis guest post is written by Leon Harris of Southern States. If you would like to write a guest post for this site, then please visit guidelines and suggestions for guest posts at Ez DIY Electricity. There’s no denying that we’re wasteful when it comes to energy. We’ve gotten so used to having it on hand that we practically lose the ability to function during a blackout. We leave lights and electronics on day and night (whether we’re using them or not) and we keep our homes at a constant temperature regardless of the climate outside (be it sweltering hundred-degree heat or below-zero… -
Tiny solar-panel-like cells help restore sight to the blind
ScienceDaily: Electricity News13 May 2012 | 1:46 pmUsing tiny solar-panel-like cells surgically placed underneath the retina, scientists have devised a system that may someday restore sight to people who have lost vision because of certain types of degenerative eye diseases. -
Ultrasensitive biosensor promising for medical diagnostics
ScienceDaily: Electricity News15 May 2012 | 9:47 amResearchers have created an ultrasensitive biosensor that could open up new opportunities for early detection of cancer and "personalized medicine" tailored to the specific biochemistry of individual patients. -
Altis foundry updates 130-nm specialty design kits
News16 May 2012 | 12:07 pmAltis Semiconductor SA, the specialty foundry bought by French entrepreneur Yazid Sabeg from IBM and Infineon in 2010, has announced the release of updated process design kits for 130-nm specialty technologies.View the full article HERE.
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ScienceDaily: Electricity News
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Ultrasensitive biosensor promising for medical diagnostics
15 May 2012 | 9:47 amResearchers have created an ultrasensitive biosensor that could open up new opportunities for early detection of cancer and "personalized medicine" tailored to the specific biochemistry of individual patients. -
Watching the 'birth' of an electron: Ionization viewed with 10 attosecond resolution
15 May 2012 | 4:25 amA strong laser beam can remove an electron from an atom – a process which takes place almost instantly. This phenomenon could now be studied with a time resolution of less than ten attoseconds (ten billionths of a billionth of a second). Scientists succeeded in watching an atom being ionized and a free electron being “born”. These measurements yield valuable information about the electrons in the atom, which up until now hasn't been experimentally accessible, such as the time evolution of the electron’s quantum phase – the beat to which the quantum waves oscillate. -
Tiny solar-panel-like cells help restore sight to the blind
13 May 2012 | 1:46 pmUsing tiny solar-panel-like cells surgically placed underneath the retina, scientists have devised a system that may someday restore sight to people who have lost vision because of certain types of degenerative eye diseases. -
Scientists generate electricity from viruses
13 May 2012 | 1:46 pmScientists have developed a way to generate power using harmless viruses that convert mechanical energy into electricity. The scientists tested their approach by creating a generator that produces enough current to operate a small liquid-crystal display. Their generator is the first to produce electricity by harnessing the piezoelectric properties of a biological material. -
Solar power to dye for: Flexible lightweight inexpensive dyes could harvest energy from sun
10 May 2012 | 10:37 amFlexible, lightweight and inexpensive dyes could be used to harvest the power of the sun rather than our relying on costly and fragile semiconductor solar panel that use crystalline silicon, new research suggests.
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News
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Altis foundry updates 130-nm specialty design kits
16 May 2012 | 12:07 pmAltis Semiconductor SA, the specialty foundry bought by French entrepreneur Yazid Sabeg from IBM and Infineon in 2010, has announced the release of updated process design kits for 130-nm specialty technologies.View the full article HERE. -
Cadence extends verification and storage IP offerings
16 May 2012 | 11:28 amEDA software vendor Cadence announced a couple of extensions in its offering of intellectual property at the Cadence Live European user conference on May 15.View the full article HERE. -
NSF's I-Corps targets 'innovation ecosystem'
15 May 2012 | 7:04 pmThe National Science Foundation's Innovation Corps is designed to create an agile technology ecosystem that can transform basic research into value-added products. View the full article HERE. -
IHS: Apple iOS to reassert tablet dominance in 2012
15 May 2012 | 7:11 pmApple's iOS operating system is expected to reassert commanding leadership of the worldwide tablet space in 2012, following a temporary dip in market share in the fourth quarter of 2011, according to market research firm IHS iSuppli. View the full article HERE. -
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About.com Electrical
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Hydromassage Tub Regulations...NEC
12 May 2012 | 6:14 amThere is a certain relaxing quality of a hydromassage tub, but beware of electrical dangers. There are certain guidelines and safety precautions with this bathroom soaker and they should be followed to the letter....Read Full Post -
Cool Your Home Without Air Conditioners?...But How?
5 May 2012 | 4:51 amCooling without air conditioners? Are we in the 1920's or something? Of course not, but by following these great tips, you'll see a significant energy savings and give your air conditioner a well deserved break on the hottest of days....Read Full Post -
Have a Safe Swimming Pool and Spa Experience
5 May 2012 | 4:24 amPools and spas come in every shape and size. Swimming pools range in size from wading pools for young children, to Olympic sized pools that accommodate many people. Spas also come in different sizes and can accommodate many people at a time. They all require some sort of electrical connection to keep the working properly. Electric pumps, filters, heaters, and lighting all play a part in their day-to-day operation and maintenance....Read Full Post -
Maintaining Air Conditioners and Fans...Spring Cleanup
5 May 2012 | 4:16 amAs we head into spring and look forward to the summer months ahead, we should all remember our good friend the air conditioner. Some of us have a window air conditioner that satisfies the air temperature in a room or two. Then, there's the central air conditioner that cools the entire home. And let's not forget about the oldest type air conditioning, the fan itself. For additional comfort, ventilation is important in a home....Read Full Post -
Know Your Electrical Codes...Outdoor Lighting and Receptacles
29 Apr 2012 | 4:03 amWe all take into consideration the interior of our home when planning the lighitng and receptacle outline of our new home or room addition, but don't forget the outdoor areas as well. There are certain electrical codes that apply and must be followed to keep you safe, for convenience, and to pass the electrical inspection. Let's look over a few of these electrical codes today. Read More...
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GlobalSpec - Engineering News - Electrical Engineering
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Canadian Apprenticeship Forum wants your input for research projects
16 May 2012 | 1:49 amMay 15, 2012 - Between June and October 2012, the Canadian Apprenticeship Forum / Forum canadien sur l'apprentissage is conducting interviews for two of its research projects: "Retaining Apprentices" and "Technology & Innovation: Impacts on Apprenticeship?". CAF is seeking interview candidates for a 20-minute (approx.) phone call, and they want… -
Clean energy and hydropower key to our economic and environmental objectives
16 May 2012 | 1:49 amMay 15, 2012 - Speaking at the 2012 Forum on Hydropower, sponsored by the Canadian Hydropower Association, David Anderson (parliamentary secretary to Joe Oliver, minister of natural resources) emphasized the importance of responsible energy development to Canada's economic growth. -
ELP, EP, G.L., Ken Watt, Laplante and Titan get the nod for Picoma
16 May 2012 | 1:49 amMay 15, 2012 - JMC Steel Group Inc. confirmed today the sales structure and representatives for Picoma Industries' electrical conduit fittings in the Canadian provinces. Picoma, a producer of pipe connections for the electrical industry since 1946, was previously sold in Canada under the Columbia-MBF brand name by Allied Tube. -
Bosch- and Siemens-branded washing machine technology leads to clothespin energy analyzer
16 May 2012 | 1:49 amMay 15, 2012 - Until recently, large-scale industrial energy users in Germany have benefited from reduced tax rates on the electricity and gas they consume. Now the German government has decided that companies will only be eligible for such tax breaks when they take steps to reduce their energy consumption.… -
IEEE Communications Society commemorates 60th anniversary
16 May 2012 | 1:49 amMay 15, 2012 - The IEEE Communications Society (ComSoc) is celebrating its 60th year dedicated to the "development of communications professionals worldwide and the advance of the entire range of broadband, wireless, multimedia, data, image and voice technologies". Founded in 1952, ComSoc currently has over 50,000 members and stands as…
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electricity « WordPress.com Tag Feed
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Caspar
11 May 2012 | 3:20 pmThere were times you really made me smile and There were times you really made me cry and There were times I never really knew how to feel Electricity, it drew you near to me What you needed was to be rid of me And the fear has made you so unsure of me What you needed was to be rid of me ____ I still had a post with this drafted from September 4th 2011, and I reckon now is a good time to post it. It depicts one of the many feelings I have about the relationship we had very well – the feeling of finally having found C., someone very similar to me, and picking him up tenderly like the… -
snappin', cracklin'
11 May 2012 | 2:38 pmI got home from work super late last night, which is why I’m still in bed at noon, contemplating breakfast and a shower. For an hour I’ve been lounging with my cat, Oskar, and trolling the internet, my bedroom window open and the sound of cars passing and birds chirping wafting in through the window. It is sunny and the air is fragrant from the lilac tree outside. Perhaps its because its such a pleasantly innocuous day that I’m unbothered by a little slice of weirdness that happened a moment ago. I’d been hearing (among the other outside sounds) a strange staticy sound… -
An Unfinished Requiem
11 May 2012 | 1:07 pmMy father’s old Suzuki, as old as me, as strong as his mettle, remains on the porch. Cold meta -
Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC): What's the Big Deal?
11 May 2012 | 11:56 amThis week on our Facebook page, we posted this picture and asked followers to guess what the image is: We didn’t get any correct guesses, so for those left scratching their heads, here is the answer and a quick explanation of its significance: This is the Heat Recovery Steam Generator (HRSG) under construction at Mississippi Power’s future Kemper County Integrated Gasification Combined-Cycle (IGCC) power plant. A combined-cycle power plant’s first power cycle comes from a gas turbine. The waste heat from the gas turbine is then recovered and used to create steam, which is used… -
Co-op hydro-power at risk under new DOE scheme
11 May 2012 | 10:04 amDear Member: For more than 70 years electric cooperatives have had a special relationship with our n
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Ez DIY Electricity
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Maintaining Electric Heaters
14 May 2012 | 8:49 amElectric heaters provide an inexpensive way of heating your home but they can also present risks, mainly in the form of fire hazards. For that reason it is essential to give proper maintenance to your heater. 1- How old is your heater? With the passage of time, electric components can become damaged or dysfunctional, raising the risk of fire associated with electric heaters. In addition, many of the older models do not have safety elements, such as automated turn-off features. These are important as they are designed to prevent overheating, and with it, potential danger. It is also wise to… -
5 Ways to Creatively Save (Energy)
26 Jan 2011 | 4:33 pmThis guest post is written by Leon Harris of Southern States. If you would like to write a guest post for this site, then please visit guidelines and suggestions for guest posts at Ez DIY Electricity. There’s no denying that we’re wasteful when it comes to energy. We’ve gotten so used to having it on hand that we practically lose the ability to function during a blackout. We leave lights and electronics on day and night (whether we’re using them or not) and we keep our homes at a constant temperature regardless of the climate outside (be it sweltering hundred-degree heat or below-zero… -
Portable Generators Recalled by Cummins Power Generation Due to Fire Hazard
25 Jan 2011 | 9:42 amOn May 25, 2010 Cummins Power Generation, of Minneapolis, Minn. recalled approximately 550 portable generators which were manufactured by Loncin Industries Ltd., of China. The reason for the recall is fuel can leak through the carburetor during normal usage, posing a fire hazard to consumers. They have received 25 reports of fuel leakage. No injuries or property damage have been reported. This recall involves Cummins Onan Portable Generators. “Cummins Onan” and the model number are printed on the front of the generator. The serial number is printed on the generator’s name… -
Answers to Electrical Questions About Wiring a Ceiling Fan, Disconnecting a Receptacle in a Staircase and Wiring a Tanning Bed
24 Jan 2011 | 9:06 amMike asks: I have installed a ceiling fan and light in my living room. I have a three way switch that controls one receptacle that I have a lamp plugged into that gives me light in the living room. One light switch turns the lamp on when you enter the house and the other one turns it off when you go in the kitchen. I can turn the lamp on or off from either side of the room. I need help getting power to the fan and light. Can you help me get my fan and light to work? Answer: Yes I can make this work, but I need more information. Do you already have a light box in the ceiling where you plan to… -
Answers to Electrical Questions About Conduit and Wire Size for Sub-Panels and 240 Volt T-Stat Rating
10 Jan 2011 | 3:11 pmDoug asks: I am running power to my detached workshop and need some advice. Here’s some detail: Installing 90amp dbl breaker in main house panel for power-up at workshop. Distance: 100 ft. Plan to use #3 Cu stranded x 3 runs for power and neutral/ #8 solid Cu for ground from main panel to ground bar in sub panel. Wires to be buried 18? in conduit. Have a Seimens 125amp external sub panel with 8 possible circuits. Will use 4 total circuits: 2 for tool power @ 20 amp; 1 for workshop lighting@ 20 amp; one for loft and external security lights @ 20 amps. My issue is this: I can run feeders from…
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Free Utility & Energy Magazines and Downloads from alltop.tradepub.com
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4 Tips for Recruiting Oil & Gas Professionals
15 May 2012 | 2:00 amRead these tips and you'll increase your pool of qualified candidates, improve your ability to choose the right candidates, and lower your turnover.Request Free! -
10 Best Practice Tips for Screening Resumes and Candidates
15 May 2012 | 2:00 amReduce the amount of time you spend sifting through unqualified candidates' resumes with these 10 quick and easy tips. Screen applicants more efficiently, save yourself time and frustration and be more successful filling your open positions with top performers.Request Free! -
Rigzone Global Retention Survey
15 May 2012 | 2:00 amLower turnover and improve your ability to retain your most valued employees. Find out what percentage of your employees believe it would be easy to find a new position and how likely they are to have been contacted by a recruiter. Learn about successful retention incentives. See results by world region.Request Free! -
Managing and Leveraging Change in Infrastructure Assets
11 May 2012 | 2:00 amInfrastructure assets are unique due to their scale, complexity, and life expectancy. Over the considerable lifetime of an infrastructure asset, change - both within and from without - is an inevitable and unavoidable fact of life. It can be predictable or unexpected, manageable or catastrophic, beneficial or disastrous, significant or inconsequential, inevitable or avoidable. This free white paper discusses:The challenges faced by infrastructure asset owners from an information technology perspective as they grapple with issues associated with changeUnique information technology requirements… -
Striving to Maintain the Nuclear Design Basis
11 May 2012 | 2:00 amEven in today's so-called information age where powerful information processing platforms exist, a fully electronic design change process is almost unheard of. Existing processes offer very little assistance to the design engineer responsible for preparing, reviewing, and coordinating the impact of the design change and performing the closeout process.This free white paper describes the elements required for a fully automated electronic design engineering solution that links each step of the process, including: Problem identification and resolution, including problem identification, analysis,…
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Energy
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The Oil Industry’s Deceitful Promise of American Energy Independence
9 May 2012 | 7:30 amThe oil and gas industry would like you to believe that American energy independence is just around the corner. The question is, why do they want you to believe it now? After all, if energy independence were that easy to deliver, the industry would have done it a long time ago. Why has the industry chosen now, in particular, to begin a campaign of deceit to push the false promise of American energy independence? First, a little background. Both the large international oil companies and the smaller independents are finding themselves increasingly locked out of those areas richest in… -
Far west follies
6 May 2012 | 5:20 amAEHI, a penny stock firm, pursues development of a nuclear reactor in rural Idaho Sustained attention by the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission isn’t the best advertisement to attract investors to buy a firm’s stock. Neither are multiple lawsuits by angry investors and land owners who want to stop a firm’s project which is to build a nuclear reactor in rural Payette County, ID, 60 miles northwest of Boise. Add in the resignation of the Chairman of the Board and what you have is the environment of recent developments that Alternative Energy Holdings Inc. (… -
Building Our Energy Future:
3 May 2012 | 10:45 pmHow to Plan in an Inconstant World I was struck the other day by the report of another bankruptcy of a solar venture. I was not struck by the event itself so much as by the fact that it signals to me that one fundamental difficulty we face in building our energy future is that the landscape keeps changing around us. In this case, the bankruptcy of Solar Trust of America is apparently the fallout of insolvency proceedings in Germany for its majority owner, Solar Millennium AG. This is not an isolated event. All current nuclear projects are being questioned because of the low cost of natural… -
Senate Restores Funding for Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Infrastructure
3 May 2012 | 2:13 pmIn the Springtime of the past several years the Oval Office has wanted to cut funding for hydrogen research and development. And just as in years past, the U. S. Senate has come to the rescue to restore at least some of that funding. This year is no different thanks to U. S. Senator Charles E. Shumer who had the foresight to step in and help one of the Senate committees restore funding for fuel cells and hydrogen infrastructure. According to Shumer, “Earlier this year, the Administration proposed eliminating the Department of Energy’s Solid State Energy Conversion Alliance (SECA) funding… -
Jaczko denies everything
22 Apr 2012 | 8:41 amWhen a politician gets in trouble in Washington, it is almost always about one of two things – money or women The classic instances of a politician getting in trouble in Washington usually include being found out to have spent time, like overnight or longer, with someone who was not their spouse. Examples include President Clinton and Monica Lewinsky, Senator Gary Hart and Donna Rice, and Wilbur Mills with a stripper called the ” Argentine Fire Cracker.” Less often people get in trouble for being difficult to get along with especially if they are male managers with…
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POWER TRANSFORMER DESIGN-PRINCIPLES & INFORMATION
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AUTOTRANSFORMER CONNECTIONS BASIC AND TUTORIALS
12 May 2012 | 7:25 pmThe autotransformer is both the most simple and the most fascinating of the connections involving two windings. It is used quite extensively in bulk power transmission systems because of its ability to multiply the effective KVA capacity of a transformer. Autotransformers are also used on radial distribution feeder circuits as voltage regulators. The connection is shown below: The boosting -
POWER TRANSFORMER TEMPERATURE RISE AND THE THERMAL CAPABILITY BASIC AND TUTORIALS
12 May 2012 | 7:19 pmTransformer KVA ratings have been alluded to on a number of occasions up to this point without explaining how the KVA rating is determined. The KVA rating of a transformer is simply the steady-state KVA load applied to the output of the transformer at the voltage rating of the output winding that produces an average winding temperature rise (above the ambient temperature) equal to 65°C. For -
POWER TRANSFORMER SERIES IMPEDANCE AND REGULATION BASIC AND TUTORIALS
12 May 2012 | 7:17 pmThe series impedance of a transformer consists of a resistance that accounts for the load losses and a reactance that represents the leakage reactance. This impedance has a very low power factor, consisting almost entirely of leakage reactance with only a small resistance. As discussed earlier, the transformer design engineer can control the leakage reactance by varying the spacing between the -
ON LOAD TAP CHANGER DESIGN TEST FOR MOTOR DRIVEN MECHANISM BASIC INFORMATION
12 May 2012 | 9:57 amMechanical load test If the LTC is operated by a separate motor-drive mechanism, the output shaft shall be loaded by the largest LTC for which it is designed or by an equivalent simulated load. At such a load, 500 000 operations shall be performed at room temperature across the entire tap range. Additional cooling of the motor-drive is permissible during this test. During this test, 10 000 -
ON LOAD TAP CHANGER NAMEPLATE SAMPLE AND REQUIREMENTS
12 May 2012 | 9:56 amThe LTC nameplate shall be in accordance with ANSI C57.12.10-1987 and shall include the items listed below: a) Number and year of this standard b) Manufacturer's name c) Serial number d) Manufacturer's type designation e) Year of manufacture f) Maximum rated through current g) Basic lightning impulse insulation level to ground The nameplate shall be permanently attached to the LTC compartment.
