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Microbes Pass Valuable Gas
inimicus writes "Wired reports: 'With a reliable source of hydrogen, fuel cells can produce energy with water as the only byproduct.' The good news is that there's a functional prototype (measuring 0.7 square centimeters and less than 1 millimeter thick) that produces 1 microwatt of power -- approximately enough to power a digital wristwatch. Personally, I'm intrigued by the concept of powering my laptop with sugar-water..."
And I suppose you iron your shirt 24 hours a day. I just calculated a thirteen month average of my home's electrical usage (data straight from the power bill), and it comes out to 0.765 kW. The two of us use a 25 year old refrigerator, an electric hot water heater, electric stove, '80s vintage dishwasher, clothes washer and dryer, and limited electric baseboard heating and a space heater during the winter. Oh, yeah, and the computer, tv, stereo.....and lights. And a 24/7 fan to eliminate radon. And the iron and vacuum
I *lived* in place which had 20Amp circuit brakers (which gives 20kW at 120V), and the circuit brakers were out all the time.
Your electrical system's inability to handle peak usage says nothing about average usage.
"I'm so moist I'm sticking to the leather." -Kermit the Frog on The Late Late Show
I believe that was GM's idea. They are developing a skateboard style bottom that encompases all the major components of the car(ie. motors at each wheel, electrical supply, computers, etc.). Then you buy the tops from the dealer as you see fit.
It is a neat idea, but they still have to make it pass safety regulations. Some of their tops call for windows from the floot to the ceiling. I question how they will get that to pass safety tests.
Beer Die is the game of champions Learning To walk my own path.
Actually a 20amp breaker is will trip if asked to give more than about 18amps for longer than 5 minutes.
Ah, no. At least not for comerical grade breakers.
In college I worked calibrating breakers and they were required to 'break' at 135% voltage within roughly 5 to 45 minutes(Exact time range depending on the ampage of the breaker). Of course it is possible thatt different mfgs calibrate them a litte different.
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