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Publisher & Editor-in-Chief Leo Simpson, B.Bus. Editor Greg Swain, B.Sc.(Hons.) Technical Staff John Clarke, B.E.(Elec.) Robert Flynn Darren Yates, B.Sc. Reader Services Ann Jenkinson Sharon Macdonald Marketing Manager Sharon Lightner Phone (02) 979 5644 Mobile phone (018) 28 5532 Regular Contributors Brendan Akhurst Garry Cratt, VK2YBX Marque Crozman, VK2ZLZ John Hill Jim Lawler, MTETIA Bryan Maher, M.E., B.Sc. Philip Watson, MIREE, VK2ZPW Jim Yalden, VK2YGY Bob Young Photography Stuart Bryce SILICON CHIP is published 12 times a year by Silicon Chip Publications Pty Ltd. A.C.N. 003 205 490. All material copyright ©. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher. Printing: Macquarie Print, Dubbo, NSW. Distribution: Network Distribution Company. Subscription rates: $49 per year in Australia. For overseas rates, see the subscription page in this issue. Editorial & advertising offices: Unit 34, 1-3 Jubilee Avenue, Warrie­ wood, NSW 2102. Postal address: PO Box 139, Collaroy Beach, NSW 2097. Phone (02) 979 5644. Fax (02) 979 6503. ISSN 1030-2662 PUBLISHER'S LETTER Energy consumption: taking the long view So the Federal Opposition has decided to scrap its policy of supporting nuclear energy plants and has admitted that its former position had proved impractical. After at least a decade of espousing nuclear energy they have finally seen the light. Now what they need is an enlightened energy policy which attempts to change community attitudes rather than reacting to them. An enlightened energy policy from the Federal Opposition would seek to encourage conservation in all aspects of energy use, particularly with respect to electricity. Almost everywhere you look, whether in business or domestic consumption, there is huge energy waste. In commercial buildings, retail stores and industry, there is plenty of scope for reducing this waste. Most commercial and retail establishments, for example, have excessive and often ineffective lighting, and airconditioned buildings with no provision for reducing solar heat build-up. And even during the recent recession, these were fully lit up at all hours of the night. Domestic use of electricity is also extremely wasteful. Many people have excessive lighting inside and outside their homes; they often run two or three refrigerators when one would be adequate and when you add in the energy consumption associated with a swimming pool, their energy consumption over a year must run into many megawatt-hours. Now while you might think that more energy use equates to more employment, in the long run such waste of energy cannot do the economy, or the environment, any good. Excessive energy use means that more expensive power stations have to be constructed and paid for, more coal has to be mined (usually open cut), and then more work has to be done to restore the landscape after mining. Anyone who has seen the huge ash dumps associated with our power stations cannot fail to be awed by the extent of this problem. Clearly, any policy to encourage efficient use of energy will not be produced overnight and aspects of it are likely to be unpopular – higher tariffs or a carbon tax, for example. But as with other energy sources which are clearly running low, such as petroleum, Australia cannot afford to be profligate forever. Having said that, the Federal Opposition and indeed, the Government, should take a long hard look at their energy policy and, while they’re at it, make sure they encourage the develop­ment of solar energy – it’s our only inexhaustible energy re­source. Leo Simpson Please note our new address: Unit 34, 1-3 Jubilee Avenue, Warriewood, NSW 2102. Our telephone/fax numbers and postal address remain the same. WARNING! SILICON CHIP magazine regularly describes projects which employ a mains power supply or produce high voltage. All such projects should be considered dangerous or even lethal if not used safely. Readers are warned that high voltage wiring should be carried out according to the instructions in the articles. When working on these projects use extreme care to ensure that you do not accidentally come into contact with mains AC voltages or high voltage DC. If you are not confident about working with projects employing mains voltages or other high voltages, you are advised not to attempt work on them. Silicon Chip Publications Pty Ltd disclaims any liability for damages should anyone be killed or injured while working on a project or circuit described in any issue of SILICON CHIP magazine. Devices or circuits described in SILICON CHIP may be covered by patents. SILICON CHIP disclaims any liability for the infringement of such patents by the manufacturing or selling of any such equipment. SILICON CHIP also disclaims any liability for projects which are used in such a way as to infringe relevant government regulations and by-laws. Advertisers are warned that they are responsible for the content of all advertisements and that they must conform to the Trade Practices Act 1974 or as subsequently amended and to any governmental regulations which are applicable. 2  Silicon Chip