Silicon ChipSaving electrical energy is a question of tariffs - September 1989 SILICON CHIP
  1. Outer Front Cover
  2. Contents
  3. Publisher's Letter: Saving electrical energy is a question of tariffs
  4. Feature: Electronics For Everyone by Leo Simpson
  5. Subscriptions
  6. Vintage Radio: Valve portables - hard on batteries by John Hill
  7. Feature: Scopeman Video Microscope by Leo Simpson
  8. Project: 2-Chip Portable AM Stereo Radio by Steve Payor
  9. Project: Alarm-Triggered Telephone Dialler by Greg Swain
  10. Back Issues
  11. Serviceman's Log: It's a long way to trip a "rarery" by The TV Serviceman
  12. Project: High Or Low Level Fluid Detector by Peter Gray
  13. Project: Studio Series 20-Band Stereo Equaliser by Leo Simpson & Bob Flynn
  14. Feature: Amateur Radio by Garry Cratt, VK2YBX
  15. Feature: Computer Bits by Jennifer Bonnitcha
  16. Project: Null Your Amplifier's DC Output To Zero by John Clarke
  17. Feature: The Way I See It by Neville Williams
  18. Feature: The Evolution of Electric Railways by Bryan Maher
  19. Market Centre
  20. Outer Back Cover

This is only a preview of the September 1989 issue of Silicon Chip.

You can view 46 of the 112 pages in the full issue, including the advertisments.

For full access, purchase the issue for $10.00 or subscribe for access to the latest issues.

Articles in this series:
  • Electronics For Everyone (March 1989)
  • Electronics For Everyone (April 1989)
  • Electronics For Everyone (May 1989)
  • Electronics For Everyone (September 1989)
  • Electronics For Everyone (November 1989)
Articles in this series:
  • 2-Chip Portable AM Stereo Radio (September 1989)
  • 2-Chip Portable AM Stereo Radio (October 1989)
  • 2-Chip Portable AM Stereo Radio (November 1989)
Articles in this series:
  • Studio Series 20-Band Stereo Equaliser (August 1989)
  • Studio Series 20-Band Stereo Equaliser (September 1989)
Articles in this series:
  • Amateur Radio (November 1987)
  • Amateur Radio (December 1987)
  • Amateur Radio (February 1988)
  • Amateur Radio (March 1988)
  • Amateur Radio (April 1988)
  • Amateur Radio (May 1988)
  • Amateur Radio (June 1988)
  • Amateur Radio (July 1988)
  • Amateur Radio (August 1988)
  • Amateur Radio (September 1988)
  • Amateur Radio (October 1988)
  • Amateur Radio (November 1988)
  • Amateur Radio (December 1988)
  • Amateur Radio (January 1989)
  • Amateur Radio (April 1989)
  • Amateur Radio (May 1989)
  • Amateur Radio (June 1989)
  • Amateur Radio (July 1989)
  • Amateur Radio (August 1989)
  • Amateur Radio (September 1989)
  • Amateur Radio (October 1989)
  • Amateur Radio (November 1989)
  • Amateur Radio (December 1989)
  • Amateur Radio (February 1990)
  • Amateur Radio (March 1990)
  • Amateur Radio (April 1990)
  • Amateur Radio (May 1990)
  • Amateur Radio (June 1990)
  • Amateur Radio (July 1990)
  • The "Tube" vs. The Microchip (August 1990)
  • Amateur Radio (September 1990)
  • Amateur Radio (October 1990)
  • Amateur Radio (November 1990)
  • Amateur Radio (December 1990)
  • Amateur Radio (January 1991)
  • Amateur Radio (February 1991)
  • Amateur Radio (March 1991)
  • Amateur Radio (April 1991)
  • Amateur Radio (May 1991)
  • Amateur Radio (June 1991)
  • Amateur Radio (July 1991)
  • Amateur Radio (August 1991)
  • Amateur Radio (September 1991)
  • Amateur Radio (October 1991)
  • Amateur Radio (November 1991)
  • Amateur Radio (January 1992)
  • Amateur Radio (February 1992)
  • Amateur Radio (March 1992)
  • Amateur Radio (July 1992)
  • Amateur Radio (August 1992)
  • Amateur Radio (September 1992)
  • Amateur Radio (October 1992)
  • Amateur Radio (November 1992)
  • Amateur Radio (January 1993)
  • Amateur Radio (March 1993)
  • Amateur Radio (May 1993)
  • Amateur Radio (June 1993)
  • Amateur Radio (July 1993)
  • Amateur Radio (August 1993)
  • Amateur Radio (September 1993)
  • Amateur Radio (October 1993)
  • Amateur Radio (December 1993)
  • Amateur Radio (February 1994)
  • Amateur Radio (March 1994)
  • Amateur Radio (May 1994)
  • Amateur Radio (June 1994)
  • Amateur Radio (September 1994)
  • Amateur Radio (December 1994)
  • Amateur Radio (January 1995)
  • CB Radio Can Now Transmit Data (March 2001)
  • What's On Offer In "Walkie Talkies" (March 2001)
  • Stressless Wireless (October 2004)
  • “Degen” Synthesised HF Communications Receiver (January 2007)
  • WiNRADiO: Marrying A Radio Receiver To A PC (January 2007)
  • PICAXE-08M 433MHz Data Transceiver (October 2008)
  • Half-Duplex With HopeRF’s HM-TR UHF Transceivers (April 2009)
  • Dorji 433MHz Wireless Data Modules (January 2012)
Articles in this series:
  • Computer Bits (July 1989)
  • Computer Bits (August 1989)
  • Computer Bits (September 1989)
  • Computer Bits (October 1989)
  • Computer Bits (November 1989)
  • Computer Bits (January 1990)
  • Computer Bits (April 1990)
  • Computer Bits (October 1990)
  • Computer Bits (November 1990)
  • Computer Bits (December 1990)
  • Computer Bits (January 1991)
  • Computer Bits (February 1991)
  • Computer Bits (March 1991)
  • Computer Bits (April 1991)
  • Computer Bits (May 1991)
  • Computer Bits (June 1991)
  • Computer Bits (July 1991)
  • Computer Bits (August 1991)
  • Computer Bits (September 1991)
  • Computer Bits (October 1991)
  • Computer Bits (November 1991)
  • Computer Bits (December 1991)
  • Computer Bits (January 1992)
  • Computer Bits (February 1992)
  • Computer Bits (March 1992)
  • Computer Bits (May 1992)
  • Computer Bits (June 1992)
  • Computer Bits (July 1992)
  • Computer Bits (September 1992)
  • Computer Bits (October 1992)
  • Computer Bits (November 1992)
  • Computer Bits (December 1992)
  • Computer Bits (February 1993)
  • Computer Bits (April 1993)
  • Computer Bits (May 1993)
  • Computer Bits (June 1993)
  • Computer Bits (October 1993)
  • Computer Bits (March 1994)
  • Computer Bits (May 1994)
  • Computer Bits (June 1994)
  • Computer Bits (July 1994)
  • Computer Bits (October 1994)
  • Computer Bits (November 1994)
  • Computer Bits (December 1994)
  • Computer Bits (January 1995)
  • Computer Bits (February 1995)
  • Computer Bits (March 1995)
  • Computer Bits (April 1995)
  • CMOS Memory Settings - What To Do When The Battery Goes Flat (May 1995)
  • Computer Bits (July 1995)
  • Computer Bits (September 1995)
  • Computer Bits: Connecting To The Internet With WIndows 95 (October 1995)
  • Computer Bits (December 1995)
  • Computer Bits (January 1996)
  • Computer Bits (February 1996)
  • Computer Bits (March 1996)
  • Computer Bits (May 1996)
  • Computer Bits (June 1996)
  • Computer Bits (July 1996)
  • Computer Bits (August 1996)
  • Computer Bits (January 1997)
  • Computer Bits (April 1997)
  • Windows 95: The Hardware That's Required (May 1997)
  • Turning Up Your Hard Disc Drive (June 1997)
  • Computer Bits (July 1997)
  • Computer Bits: The Ins & Outs Of Sound Cards (August 1997)
  • Computer Bits (September 1997)
  • Computer Bits (October 1997)
  • Computer Bits (November 1997)
  • Computer Bits (April 1998)
  • Computer Bits (June 1998)
  • Computer Bits (July 1998)
  • Computer Bits (November 1998)
  • Computer Bits (December 1998)
  • Control Your World Using Linux (July 2011)
Articles in this series:
  • The Way I See It (November 1987)
  • The Way I See It (December 1987)
  • The Way I See It (January 1988)
  • The Way I See It (February 1988)
  • The Way I See It (March 1988)
  • The Way I See It (April 1988)
  • The Way I See It (May 1988)
  • The Way I See It (June 1988)
  • The Way I See it (July 1988)
  • The Way I See It (August 1988)
  • The Way I See It (September 1988)
  • The Way I See It (October 1988)
  • The Way I See It (November 1988)
  • The Way I See It (December 1988)
  • The Way I See It (January 1989)
  • The Way I See It (February 1989)
  • The Way I See It (March 1989)
  • The Way I See It (April 1989)
  • The Way I See It (May 1989)
  • The Way I See It (June 1989)
  • The Way I See It (July 1989)
  • The Way I See It (August 1989)
  • The Way I See It (September 1989)
  • The Way I See It (October 1989)
  • The Way I See It (November 1989)
  • The Way I See It (December 1989)
Articles in this series:
  • The Evolution of Electric Railways (November 1987)
  • The Evolution of Electric Railways (December 1987)
  • The Evolution of Electric Railways (January 1988)
  • The Evolution of Electric Railways (February 1988)
  • The Evolution of Electric Railways (March 1988)
  • The Evolution of Electric Railways (April 1988)
  • The Evolution of Electric Railways (May 1988)
  • The Evolution of Electric Railways (June 1988)
  • The Evolution of Electric Railways (July 1988)
  • The Evolution of Electric Railways (August 1988)
  • The Evolution of Electric Railways (September 1988)
  • The Evolution of Electric Railways (October 1988)
  • The Evolution of Electric Railways (November 1988)
  • The Evolution of Electric Railways (December 1988)
  • The Evolution of Electric Railways (January 1989)
  • The Evolution Of Electric Railways (February 1989)
  • The Evolution of Electric Railways (March 1989)
  • The Evolution of Electric Railways (April 1989)
  • The Evolution of Electric Railways (May 1989)
  • The Evolution of Electric Railways (June 1989)
  • The Evolution of Electric Railways (July 1989)
  • The Evolution of Electric Railways (August 1989)
  • The Evolution of Electric Railways (September 1989)
  • The Evolution of Electric Railways (October 1989)
  • The Evolution of Electric Railways (November 1989)
  • The Evolution Of Electric Railways (December 1989)
  • The Evolution of Electric Railways (January 1990)
  • The Evolution of Electric Railways (February 1990)
  • The Evolution of Electric Railways (March 1990)
SILICON CHIP Publisher & Editor-in-Chief Leo Simpson, 8.Bus. Editor Greg Swain, B.Sc.(Hons.) Technical Staff John Clarke, B.E.(Elec.) Robert Flynn Advenising Manager Paul Buchtmann (02) 982 9553 Regular Contributors Neville Williams, FIREE, VK2XV Bryan Maher, M.E. B.Sc. Jim Yalden, VK2YGY Garry Cratt, VK2YBX Jim Lawler, MTETIA John Hill Jennifer Bonnitcfia, B.A. Photography Bob Donaldson Editorial Advisory Panel Philip Watson, MIREE, VK2ZPW Norman Marks Steve Payor, B.Sc., B.E. SILICON CHIP is publishea 1 2 times a year by Silicon Chip Publications Pty Ltd. All material copyright (c) . No part of the contents of this publication may be reproduced witho1Jt pr,ior written consent of the publisher. Kitset suppliers may n<at>t photostat articles without written permissior,i of the publisher. Typesetting/makeup: Magazine Printers Pty Ltd, Rozelle, NSW 2039. Printing: Macquarie Pul'.llications Pty Ltd, Dubbo, NSW 2836. Distribution: Network Distribution Company. Subscription rates: currently $42 per year ( 1 2 issues) insiae Australia. For overseas rates, refer to the subscription page in this issue. Liability: Devices or eircuits described in SILICON C1,1Ip may be covered by patents. S1L1C©N C_HIP disclaims any liabilit)l for the infringement of sueh patents by the manufacturing or selling of any such equipment. Address all mail to: Silicon Chip Publieations Pty Ltd , PO Box 139, Collaroy Beach , NSW 2097. Phone (02) 982 3935. Fax (02) 982 9553. ISSN 1030-2662 2 SILICON CHIP PUBUSHER'S LE'l.l'E.R. Saving electrical energy is a question of tariffs Just recently an American expert was br ought out to Austr alia to show us how to save electrical energy. He was given a considerable amount of time to air his views on Sydney r adio stations and probably in most other State capital radio stations too. Most of what he said was so trivial as to be nonsense. One memorable example w as his claim that a n incandescent lamp was very wasteful because it was virtually a "short circuit in a vacuum" . That might have seemed plausible with some listeners but most people would be a ware that an incandescent lamp is definitely not a short circuit and neither is it in a vacuum. Incandescent lamps are filled with the inert gas Argon at low pressure. Another one of his erroneous statements was that fluorescent replacements for incandescent la mps are a very new and exciting innovation and should be used wher ever possible to save power in the home. Well, they are hardly new. BC fluorescent lamps such as the Philips SL series have been a round for at least 10 years. But they are quite expensive and the fact that they take at least 10 minutes to reach full brilliance makes them impractical for most home lighting applications. Nor are they practical in industry and offices where the fluorescent tube is king. What the " expert" should ·have emphasised is that we can make much bigger energy savings in domestic heating and cooking by using reverse-cycle air-conditioning and microwave ovens. Many people are doing that anyway, not to save power but for comfort and convenience. Big energy savings can also be provided by the new more energy-efficient r efrigerators. But all that pales into insignifica nce if you consider the energy used for domestic hot water. Solar hot water could give big energy savings here but the present generous tariffs for off-peak hot water presently make solar hot w ater systems an uneconomic proposition. Perhaps it is time those off-peak tariffs were looked at again. If we are serious about conserving coal and the cost of building more power stations, a change to the off-peak tariff and perhaps a subsidy to purchasers of solar hot water systems could make all the difference. Are we that serious about saving coal? I doubt it. Leo Simpson