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Keeping Computers (And People) Warm In Winter?
Grimwiz writes "Similar to a few of you, I have some of my computers on a UPS. However, the UK press have recently been warning that power supply interruptions are likely this winter and I've been pondering about upgrading my power protection from those few machines to include a few key house components. In particular, I need to ensure that the gas-powered (but electrically controlled) central heating stays working. I have reviewed a few solutions, including Solar / Photovoltaic or purchasing a generator
but they seem to be hugely more expensive than my simple UPS solution, although they do provide a much longer lasting solution than running off batteries. (A battery solution becomes quite expensive if I require more than an hours backup.)
My power requirements for a quiescent house is about 4amps @ 250V, and I'd like to survive at least 8 hours. What solutions do you recommend?"
A warm jacket.
porn keeps me warm in the winter
will keep you warm in winter
Nothing for you to see here, Please move along.
I run a benchmarking app and leave it on, and my room is toasty all winter long. Infact, if the window is closed, it gets too warm.
Candy-Coated Knowledge
You can get used to the cold, just like anything else. Hypothermia is an absurd myth perpetuated by the heating and clothing companies to sell you their expensive and unnecessary products.
We need a Heat Transfer Protocol for the Internet to allow transfering it around. Probably HTP/IP because you wouldn't want to accept HTP datagrams from just anyone. In any event, in case of DDoS attack, a high capacity firewall would be a good idea.
One line blog. I hear that they're called Twitters now.
And people, as anyone knows who has seen "The Matrix", are a great source of power. Have a few kids, wire 'em up to your PC, and you're online forever.
Each year during winter I migrate from a PPC chip system to an Intel based system for greater warmth. In summer, I return to the cooler PPC. Just like whales.
Seriously, you probably should investigate a natural gas generator, talk to a good electrician, and be prepared to combat a plethora of zoning (or similar in the UK) restrictions. Alternativly you could reinforce the floors of your house and consider lead-acid batteries but many of these solutions are solar oriented and not ideal for the UK in winter.
It's not easy being green.
I've heard mixed reviews
I know I'm going to be modded up on this
Honestly you're right - but I've found CRT monitors more effective at producing heat. Older, larger CRT monitors are basically small space heaters. A multi-monitor setup with old IBM 'powerdisplay' model CRTs will heat a dorm room VERY quickly.
You mean like this?
Yes, they are all functional, and there is even one more screen you can't see in this picture.
I was in the beta for death. Was pretty buggy, had trouble respawning.
printf("Goodbye cruel world!\b\b\b\b\b\b\b\b\b\b\b\b\b\b\b\b\b\b\b\b");
replace all your computers with Athlon XP boxes. if your heater cuts out, the computers will keep the house warm.
fluorescent lamps have been deprecated for over four years - they're wasteful and short lived, if cheaper.
;P
When I moved into my place, 4 years ago, I decided to never buy another fluorescent lamp again. Over the next 2 years I replaced every lamp, as it blew, with an appropriate high-efficiency white LED array. I will have to replace the first of those in 2017.
Net saving is around 50 or 60 quid a year in electric and 100 or so per decade in lampage. 'Nuff said.
(I kid, I kid... because I love)
-"...bad old ideas look confusingly fresh when they are packaged as technology" - Jaron Lanier (Digital Maoism on Edge.o