HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: acampane@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (Angelo Campanella)
Subject: Re: Cost of running my PC?
Organization: The Ohio State University
Date: Mon, 21 Dec 1992 18:29:01 GMT




Figure it to be the same as a small TV set.... about 6 hours per kilowatt;

maybe a penny an hour or two bits a day.
Xref: sparky sci.electronics:21330 comp.lang.forth:3656
From: bmw@isgtec.com (Bruce M. Walker)
Newsgroups: sci.electronics,comp.lang.forth
Subject: Re: Where can I get the BASIC or FORTH versions of Zilog Z8671?
Keywords: chip uC Z8671
Date: 20 Dec 92 18:22:35 GMT
Organization: ISG Technologies Inc., Mississauga Ontario

In article <1992Dec16.233931.7313@eagle.lerc.nasa.gov> edsverk@ed4000-2.lerc.nasa.gov (Kenneth Lee Atchinson) writes:
> Has anyone got a lead on a supplier of the Z8671 microprocessor?
> I am more interested in the FORTH version, but I 
> will take the BASIC one also.

Z8671 is the part number for a Z8 with BASIC in ROM.  I'm not aware
that Zilog ever released a Z8 with Forth in ROM; but if they did, I'm
sure they'd have given it another part number.  The BASIC interpreter
is somewhat slow but useable for many control applications.  I built a
disk exerciser jig (among other things) with them.

Phone Zilog at 408-370-8000 and ask for the name of a distributer in
your area.

--
"Eventually, I decided that thinking was not getting me very far and it
 was time to try building."           -- Rob Pike, The Text Editor sam
      bmw@isgtec.com   [ ...!uunet.ca!isgtec!bmw ]  Bruce Walker
Newsgroups: sci.electronics,sci.physics
From: X1FT@VM1.CC.UAKRON.EDU
Subject: Re: Lasers/collimated light in RGB?
Organization: The University of Akron
Date: Wed, 30 Dec 1992 17:49:37 GMT

In article <1992Dec29.181125.1036@cmkrnl.com>
jeh@cmkrnl.com writes:
 
>
>Disclaimer:  I'm into VMS and WinNT internals; lasers are an occasional hobby.
>If you want an authoritative answer, ask on the laser hobbyists' mailing list.
>
Excuse me but WHAT laser hobbyist mailing list????  Where can I join????
Thanks!!!
                                   - Frank
From: dino@inqmind.bison.mb.ca (Tony stewart)
Newsgroups: sci.electronics
Subject: Re: RFI free dimmer switches...
Date: Wed, 30 Dec 92 09:01:00 CST
Organization: The Inquiring Mind BBS  1 204 488-1607

walsh@optilink.COM (Mark Walsh) writes:

> From article <1992Dec26.063254.23524@murdoch.acc.Virginia.EDU>, by alexander@
> > In article <72415@cup.portal.com> dbell@cup.portal.com (David J Bell) write
> 
> #>>But a light dimmer I have installed makes the lightbulb RING alot, and
> #>>it's very annoying. The ringing gets worse when you dim the light. I'm
> #>>wondering if a "RFI free" dimmer will reduce this ringing. Anyone know?
> 
> > You might look more in the direction of using a full wave
> > rectifier and a filter cap. If you take the AC out of it
> > completely...It CAN'T ring.
> 
> > You'll wind up with about 140 volts DC and that through a
> > rheostat should work on a standard light bulb ok. (I think).
> 
> Yikes!  This will result in about 170VDC!  Not only is it a
> bit more dangerous to deal with, but standard bulbs run this
> way last a very short time.  But they'll be pretty efficient!
> You must have a pretty large rheostat handy, or else you are
> playing with fire.  There are far more efficient ways of
> dealing with voltage conversion these days.  Why has nobody
> mentioned switching power supplies, besides cost?
> -- 
> Mark Walsh (walsh@optilink) -- UUCP: uunet!optilink!walsh
> AOL: BigCookie -- Amateur Radio: KM6XU@WX3K -- USCF: L10861
> "What, me worry?" - William M. Gaines, 1922-1992

The voltage in DC will be just as safe as 120 VRMS x 1.414.
If the switch is between the bridge and the triac then no surge will 
occur to the bulb, just the triac!... I think this is the best & cheapest 
solution

Tony Stewart

dino@inqmind.bison.mb.ca
The Inquiring Mind BBS, Winnipeg, Manitoba  204 488-1607
Newsgroups: sci.electronics
From: gw214790@LANCE.ColoState.Edu (Galen Watts)
Subject: Re: 110/220 V AC why ?
Date: Tue, 29 Dec 1992 19:46:20 GMT
Organization: Colorado Concert Sound

In article <1hptjfINNdt7@rave.larc.nasa.gov> kludge@grissom.larc.nasa.gov (Scott Dorsey) writes:
>In article <1992Dec29.160117.12068@cbfsb.cb.att.com> medha@cbnewsg.cb.att.com (keshav.havnurkar) writes:
>>Hi
>>  I am curious to know why some countries have 110V AC supply
>>and some 220V AC as their main line voltage ?
>>Any paticular reason for selecting any one number ? Is there
>>any talk of standardizing this like SI syatem of measurement ?
>
>Well, some countries have 240V power, too.  And Japan has 100V.  There
>used to be 136V service in a couple of South American countries, and
>I know there is still 208V service here in the US (coming from a single
>leg of a 240V three-phase line).

For a concise listing of voltages, frequencies, and connectors, look in
the Panel Components Corp. Export Designer's Reference, available from:

	Panel Components Corp.
	po Box 6626
	Santa Rosa, CA 95406-0626
	1-800-662-2290
	1-707-523-0600

Just a quick look shows 16 different connectors (8 in Europe alone),
10 different voltages and two frequencies, both 50 and 60 in Japan.
 
I have found the reference to be very helpful in preparing equipment for
use abroad, and I wonder how I got along without it.

Happy Trails,
Galen Watts



Xref: sparky sci.electronics:21655 sci.energy:6471 rec.autos:30607
From: pjs@gvgdsd.GVG.TEK.COM (Peter J. Stonard)
Newsgroups: sci.electronics
Subject: Re: Cost of running my PC?
Date: 25 Dec 92 22:52:51 GMT
Organization: Grass Valley Group, Grass Valley, CA
NNTP-Posting-Host: gvgdsd.gvg.tek.com

In article <1992Dec21.040252.19109@newstand.syr.edu> ldstern@rodan.acs.syr.edu (Larry Stern) writes:
>I'm sure this is a simple one, but somehow it eludes me.  I need to know how
>much electricity my pc is using.  It is a 386 AT clone with a 200W power
>supply.  I can find out the local rate for KW hours but how do I determine
>how much current the pc (and monitor) is drawing?

The best method to measure current is to insert an RMS reading current
meter into the AC line. One meter maker (Fluke, I think) makes an AC adaptor 
thingy to reduce the risk of electricution. You can make your own out of an 
extention cord.

You may calculate the power usage by making some guesses at the efficiency
of your equipment and noting the hours per day it's on.

A much simpler way is to ask your local utility company to loan you
a kilowatt-hour meter for a week. 

The local PG&E office here in Grass Valley (9,000 souls!) has four
units available in boxes which have a line cord and an outlet. You simply 
plug in everything you want to measure and note the reading. Do it 
again some time later (10 hours, 24 hours, 100 hours etc) and subtract 
the old reading. Multiply that by the rate on your utility bill (ours is
$0.111/kWhr) and you'll have a answer.

Call you utility office. Be patient and persistent. To work  for a
utility, answering the phones, one does not have to know about kWhr 
meters :*) :*)

++=++=++=++=++=++=++=++=++=++=++=++=++=++=++=++=++=++=++=++=++=++
Peter J. Stonard        +                                /^\  /^\
Grass Valley Group      +                       /^\     /   \/
Grass Valley, CA. 95945 +                     /     \ /    /  
pjs@gvgspd.gvg.tek.com  +     Fish keeper in the Sierra Foothills
++=++=++=++=++=++=++=++=++=++=++=++=++=++=++=++=++=++=++=++=++=++
If it looks like; sounds like; quacks like; an Opinion. It's mine.
From: vporguen@unlinfo.unl.edu (victor porguen)
Newsgroups: sci.electronics
Subject: Re: Caller ID block?
Date: 22 Dec 1992 05:38:26 GMT
Organization: University of Nebraska--Lincoln	
Distribution: world
NNTP-Posting-Host: unlinfo.unl.edu

Writes curt@oasys.dt.navy.mil (Curt Welch):

> Why are you so scared ...etc.?   Did your parents beat you with a 
> phone.... etc.?   Or is it just the thought of having a stranger 
> call you that scares you ...etc.?  You really should work on 
> overcoming your fears.

I had no fears when I posted my response, but I am beginning to have 
some, now that I read yours.  My post was strictly *apersonal*, and 
referred to the Caller ID problem that the Telephone Companies have 
unleashed on the public. 

Your reply, however, is directed mainly at my person, rather than my 
ideas.  You demean yourself (and your organization) by replying this 
way.

As I said before, the problem with Caller ID is not that it tells 
others who you are, but that it allows others to call when you never 
intended to allow that to happen. 

Caller ID is strictly a revenue-producing scheme for the Telephone
Companies - it either serves no *demonstrable* need or, if it serves 
any purpose at all, it does so at the extremely high cost of violating

people's privacy. This leaves the Telephone Companies totally 
unconcerned.

When you publish your telephone number, you are ASKING to be called.
By anyone.

When you DON'T publish your telephone number, you are saying you 
DON'T WANT to be called. By anyone except those you want.

You even paid the Telephone Company for the privilege.

Now the Telephone Companies are offering to the public the privilege 
of bypassing (AT A PRICE!) that privacy you are paying them for, and 
simultaneously they are telling subscribers that they must pay still
more to maintain the privacy they paid for in the first place! 

In this Caller ID matter, no matter who you are nor which way you 
turn, you end up paying more - to the Telephone Company!

Sure, money has nothing to do with it. It's a social service, right?
From: johna@psdcae1.gvg.tek.com (John Abt)
Newsgroups: sci.electronics
Subject: video genlock chips?
Date: 30 Dec 92 04:58:48 GMT
Organization: Grass Valley Group, Grass Valley, CA


I'm wondering if someone makes a chip which can create
a 14.3 mhz clock (4x NTSC subcarrier) and genlock to
an external reference. I know lots of fancy (expensive)
ways of doing it, but I'm assuming, with all the desktop 
video action, that there's a more economical way of doing
it now.

thanks,  John Abt
Newsgroups: sci.electronics,sci.energy,rec.autos.tech
From: pierson@empror.enet.dec.com (dave pierson)
Subject: Re: Flywheel batteries as EV power source
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation
Date: 30 DEC 92 08:32:57    

In article <30DEC199200153934@pierre.mit.edu>, chuck@pierre.mit.edu (Chuck
Parsons) writes, in part:

>  People have been considering this problem from the standpoint of
>how much energy a gas powered car uses and missing a few points.
> 
> First a car engin is only about 25% efficient under good running conditions.
>electric systems can be 95% efficient. 75% efficient should be redily 
>obtainable so divide gasoline_energy by three.

	uhmmmmm.  The 25% figure is FUEL IN to SHAFT HP OUT.  The commonly
	quoted figure for a combustion engine (VWs had 25 HP, Corvettes had
	300-400HP, etc, is SHAFT HP OUT)  (I am NOT getting into losses is
	gearing, tire friction, etc.)  So the comparision of 25 HP electric
	to 25 HP gasoline is correct, no 75% derating applies.

	The "only uses 25HP" we have seen going by over the past few days is
	_also_ valid, since the usual design approach leaves a substantial
	reserve between _average_ load and _peak_ available HP, for passing,
	etc.  Electric motors have a small advanatage, as they have, control
	gear permitting, substantial short time overload capacity.

	I reccomend "The Electrical Engineers Handbook", the one I have is
	Fink & Beatty, McGraw-Hill.  Handy graph of energy densities for
	various systems:
		NiCd peaks at 40WH/KG
		Lead Acid  at 50WH/KG
		NaS	   at 400WH/KG
		Combustion engines over 4000WH/KG
	Similar figures for a flywheel system should be available from
	proponents.  To each must be added containment figures.

	(At the risk of restarting the flame war, consider the collision risks
	of NaS...  A battery, tho, has an advantage ofver a flywheel:  since
	the storage is chemical/potential, rather than kinetic, once the battery
	has disassembled the release of the stored energy stops.  One then has
	lots of lead (perhaps) or sulphuric acid or maybe 500C mix of Na and S
	lying about the street.)
	
thanks
dave pierson			|the facts, as accurately as i can manage,
Digital Equipment Corporation	|the opinions, my own.
40 Old Bolton Rd		|I am the NRA.
Stow, Mass, USA	
01775				pierson@msd26.enet.dec.com
"He has read everything, and, to his credit, written nothing."  A J Raffles
Newsgroups: sci.electronics
From: dphelps@cbnewsf.cb.att.com (david.j.phelps)
Subject: Micro controller help
Organization: AT&T
Date: Mon, 21 Dec 1992 12:03:37 GMT


Hello all,

I don't know if this is the right place to post this, but here
goes. I am studying for a degree in Real-time computing in England
and I am looking at the subject of Micro controllers as a project. If
anyone has had any experience of micro controllers, could you please
answer the questions below ? I would be very grateful.

1. Which micro controllers have you used ?


2. Which micro controller do you prefer and why ?


3. Which do you find easiest to program/interface ?


4. Have you had any problems with a specific micro controller ?


5. Have you had satisfactory technical support ?


6. Do you find that software is easily available for your chosen
   micro controller ?


Thanks to anyone who can help. Could you please send your responses
to my mail address ? Thanks.


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Dave Phelps (Cheltenham & Gloucester College of Higher Education, England)

daphelps@mlsma.att.com
Xref: sparky sci.electronics:21440 sci.energy:6388 rec.autos:30373
From: mwilson@ncratl.AtlantaGA.NCR.COM (Mark Wilson)
Newsgroups: sci.electronics,sci.energy,rec.autos
Subject: Re: Flywheel batteries as EV power source
Date: 23 Dec 92 02:12:38 GMT
Organization: NCR Engineering and Manufacturing Atlanta -- Atlanta, GA

In <1992Dec22.214616.27043@fcom.cc.utah.edu> bbarkey@lark.utah.edu (Brian Barkey) writes:

|	And gasoline isn't explosive? 
|	I may be mistaken but any power source capable of propelling
|	a ton or more at speeds greater than 50 mph for hundreds of 
|	miles must have a significant amount of energy in it. 

It doesn't sound like you have been listening either.  In the event of
a catastrophic failure, gasoline burns, it does not explode.  The energy
contained in the tank is released over a period of 15 to 20 minutes.

The flywheel will try to dissipate it's energy over a span of milliseconds.

-- 
Mob rule doesn't become any prettier, just because the mob start to call itself
a government.
It ain't charity if you are using someone else's money.
Mark.Wilson@AtlantaGA.NCR.com
Xref: sparky sci.electronics:21662 sci.energy:6481 rec.autos.tech:17205
From: stead@skadi.CSS.GOV (Richard Stead)
Newsgroups: sci.electronics,sci.energy,rec.autos.tech
Subject: Re: Flywheel batteries as EV power source
Date: 29 Dec 92 01:04:51 GMT
Followup-To: sci.energy

In article <72306@cup.portal.com>, Ted_Eugene_Viens@cup.portal.com writes:
> Jim many people have brought this up with fantasies of cars failing to bank
> on corners and rolling wildly on hilly roads.  This rest on the ignored
> assumption that the housing is rigidly mounted on the car frame.  If the
> housing is mounted on flexible elastic mounts, the gyroscopic effects on 
> the car could be brought lower than the effects of a heavy set friend
> bopping to heavy metal in the back seat.

Ok, let's just check that.  Angular momentum (L) of the rotor is the energy
stored divided by the angular velocity.  The energy stored is about 92000 kCal.
The angular velocity is anywhere from 2775 radians/s to 40,000, given the
various designs posted.  At 2775, this gives about 140,000 J-s.
Now, let's say you take 5 seconds to make a 90 degree turn.  Torque is
the change in angular momentum over time.  The vector direction of the
change in torque is tangential to the curve, and the torque is 1.414*L/5
or about 40,000 N-m.  How about the bopper?  Let's say he's 200 kg (big),
and is able to swing his body back and forth (180 degree) once a second
and is 2 meters tall (we'll assume he's standing, and all his weight is in his
head).  That's a heck of a bopper.  Ok, L=200*2*2*pi = 2500 J-s, and torque
would be 5000 N-m, 1/8th of the slow-rotating big flywheel in a turn
(the flywheel was 100 kg and 1 meter radius).  A smaller flywheel would
exert less torque due to its higher velocity (this seems counter-intuitive,
but it is true since energy is constant and energy goes as v^2, while
momentum goes as v).  Of course, no one can bop like the bopper I proposed,
and most turns succeed in much less than 5 seconds, so it would be a very
small flywheel that would actually store the 92000 kCal and still exert
less torque than your bopping buddy.  However, such flywheels are beyond the
strength limits of any material, so they are figments of the imagination.


--
Richard Stead
Center for Seismic Studies
Arlington, VA
stead@seismo.css.gov
Newsgroups: sci.electronics
From: afpauls@lims02.lerc.nasa.gov (PAUL SCHWARTZ)
Subject: CATV Block Converter Wanted
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41    
Organization: NASA Lewis Research Center
Date: 30 Dec 1992 11:46 EST  

I would like to buy a cable TV block converter, the cable converter that 
translates the entire cable band the UHF band.  I want to get one to use it 
on a TV that channels 2-6 don't work but everything else is fine.  

These block converters were very common 10 years ago.  Does any one know of 
any surplus places that still have them?  Or does any one have an old one 
that they want to unload?
From: washer@sequent.com (Jim "Throw it over the wall" Washer)
Newsgroups: sci.electronics
Subject: Where to mount an outside temp probe on a car?
Date: 4 Jan 93 00:29:44 GMT
Article-I.D.: sequent.1993Jan4.002944.6494
Organization: Sequent Computer Systems, Inc.

I'd like to mount a temp probe on my car to sample the air temp. I'd like
to get as accurate a reading as possible (without exceeding some reasonable
cost).

My biggest concern is getting false reading if the probe gets wet, and reads
too low due to evaporation..

Has anyone done this? Where did you mount the probe... How did you protect it?

 - jim   washer@sequent.com
Newsgroups: sci.electronics
From: BrianW@SoundS.WA.com (Brian Willoughby)
Subject: Re: Couldn't control my own phone (Re: Caller ID block?)
Keywords: chips & circuits
Reply-To: BrianW@SoundS.WA.com
Organization: SoundSoftware, Bellevue, WA, USA
Date: Sat, 26 Dec 1992 10:34:14 GMT

Chad Helfenberger writes
| In article <BzJwtG.4pL@sounds.wa.com> BrianW@SoundS.WA.com writes:
| >Well, it wasn't as simple as "*poof* they're gone" for me!
[I was talking about an Alabama resident pestering me in Washington]
| 
| It may not be as simple as 'poof', but you CAN take legal action with 
| harassing phone callers.  No need for CNID either.

The policeman who showed up at the door regarding my complaint could not take  
any action.

| >...  And the police have  
| >no jurisdiction with out of state callers...
| 
| So you're saying that the person can get away with it legally, right?  
| Wrong.  You can have this person charged.

Sure, I filled out papers for a restraining order to prevent this person from  
trying to contact me in person, but they cannot be served until he crosses the  
state line into Washington.

| >...
| 
| At this point, you should have called the telephone company.

I did call the phone company first.  They sent me to the police, who sent an  
officer to explain how little legal recourse I had against someone currently in  
Alabama.

| >...
| 
| I don't think you can prove a case of harrassment calling with a CNID box.  
| You HAVE to contact the phone company.  CNID is NOT for tracing calls.

You're probably right.  I would have been happy just to program my  
computer/phone/anything to just ignore him instead even bothering with any  
legal action.

Hey, if you know anything which can be done with out-of-state phone harassment,  
please let me know the details.

Actually, I'm far more interested in hearing talk of chip numbers and circuit  
ideas for a quicky peripheral which can be plugged into my NeXT computer's  
serial ports which will disconnect my phone line (or at least prevent ringing)  
under program control (after CNID has been delivered to the computer).
-- 
Brian Willoughby	Software Design Engineer, BSEE NCSU
BrianW@SoundS.WA.com	Sound Consulting and Signal Processing Software
NeXTmail welcome	- NO EMAIL SOLICITATION without prior permission
Newsgroups: sci.electronics
From: tidedu@ariel.lerc.nasa.gov (William T. Dedula)
Subject: Inquiry: Need info on Integrated Circuit database software
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41    
Organization: NASA Lewis Research Center
Date:  2 Jan 1993 01:14 EST  

Hello;
I would like to know where I can locate a software package that
will provide IC chip pinouts and basic chip information on a 
given package. I know its out there ... I just need to know where
to locate it. 

Tim


W. Tim Dedula                        Internet: 
N.A.S.A. Lewis Research Center       tdedula@nasamail.nasa.gov
Mail Stop 77-3                       tidedu@mars.lerc.nasa.gov
21000 BrookPark Road                 aa252@cleveland.freenet.edu
Cleveland, Ohio 44135
Phone (216) 433-3668

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration: Science and
Technology ... for the Benefit of ALL Mankind !!!

Newsgroups: sci.electronics,sci.energy,rec.autos
From:  ()
Subject: Re: Flywheel batteries as EV power source
Date: Tue, 22 Dec 92 20:41:30 GMT

In article <51694@seismo.CSS.GOV>, stead@skadi.CSS.GOV (Richard Stead) writes:
> 
> Flame on.
> 
> The rampant idiocy on flywheels just continues.  How many ways do people have
> to be told about conservation of energy?

Conservation of energy exactly, where do you think you get the energy to 
turn a carbon carbon fly wheel into cotton candy from?  Before you start
flaming at others for not doing the math, do it yourself.

> Don't contribute to the discussion if you don't know anything and haven't
> at least read a few articles in it, for cryin' out loud.  I figure there's
> been about 1 post every 4 or 5 hours over the past week or so, on average,
> refuting this lunacy about "fluff".
> 
> Get it through your thick head - energy is conserved.  A flywheel that can power
> a car for 600 miles stores basically the same energy that gasoline to power it
> the same distance contains.  Do you know anything about fuel-air bombs?  Do you
> realize how big an explosion a few gallons of gas can make, when properly mixed
> with air?  Do you realize that a hyper speed flywheel fails in microseconds,
> releasing all that energy at once?

Wrong again, a hyper speed carbon carbon flywheel is not designed to fail at
once it is designed to fail a bit at a time, as cotton candy, using up a 
significant fraction of the energy stored in the disk over a period of time 
(although that time may be microseconds).  
 
> You think fluff is harmless?  Let's tie you down and hit you with "fluff"
> traveling at several km/s and at a temperature of a few thousand degrees.
> Let's see if we can find any teeny parts of you after the impact.

Obviously this fluff created by a failed flywheel is not exactly safe.  But
you contain this fluff inside another carbon carbon shell such that the
expanding hot fluff makes more fluff until the energy is such that it can
be contained by a container.  The object is not to stop the flywheel failure
at any given point, but to slow it down and cause it to loose energy.  

What I would like to see is a good treatment of the energy needed to turn a 
flywheel into cotton candy.  This gives everyone a better idea of how 
much energy is left yet to be contain by the next carbon carbon shell.

> I'm really tiring of this nonsense, so while I politely corrected the
> first posters in their misconceptions - you get flamed, boy.
> 
> > >My opinions are my own.
> 
> Good thing - they're pretty damned stupid for anyone else.

Gee thanks for your help in keeping this discussion open and moving forward.

> --
> Richard Stead
> Center for Seismic Studies
> Arlington, VA
> stead@seismo.css.gov
> 
Darin S. Olson
R&DD
LMSC
Palo Alto, CA