This is only a preview of the April 2001 issue of Silicon Chip. You can view 34 of the 96 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:
Items relevant to "A GPS Module For Your PC":
Items relevant to "Dr Video: An Easy-To-Build Video Stabiliser":
Items relevant to "A Tremolo Unit For Musicians":
Items relevant to "The Minimitter FM Stereo Transmitter":
Items relevant to "Intelligent Nicad Battery Charger":
Articles in this series:
Purchase a printed copy of this issue for $10.00. |
PUBLISHER’S LETTER
www.siliconchip.com.au
Publisher & Editor-in-Chief
Leo Simpson, B.Bus., FAICD
Production Manager
Greg Swain, B.Sc.(Hons.)
Technical Staff
John Clarke, B.E.(Elec.)
Peter Smith
Ross Tester
Rick Walters
Reader Services
Ann Jenkinson
Advertising Enquiries
Rick Winkler
Phone (02) 9979 5644
Fax (02) 9979 6503
Mobile: 0408 34 6669
Regular Contributors
Brendan Akhurst
Louis Challis
Rodney Champness
Julian Edgar, Dip.T.(Sec.), B.Ed
Jim Rowe, B.A., B.Sc, VK2ZLO
Mike Sheriff, B.Sc, VK2YFK
Philip Watson, MIREE, VK2ZPW
Bob Young
SILICON CHIP is published 12 times
a year by Silicon Chip Publications
Pty Ltd. ACN 003 205 490. ABN 49
003 205 490 All material copyright
©. No part of this publication may
be reproduced without the written
consent of the publisher.
Printing: Hannanprint, Dubbo,
NSW.
Distribution: Network Distribution
Company.
Subscription rates: $69.50 per
year in Australia. For overseas
rates, see the subscription page in
this issue.
Editorial & advertising offices:
Unit 8, 101 Darley St, Mona Vale,
NSW 2103. Postal address: PO Box
139, Collaroy Beach, NSW 2097.
Phone (02) 9979 5644.
Fax (02) 9979 6503.
E-mail: silchip<at>siliconchip.com.au
ISSN 1030-2662
* Recommended and maximum price only.
2 Silicon Chip
Time for a change in the
electrical wiring rules
As foreshadowed last month, we have
produced a petition to politicians throughout
Australia, to change the electrical wiring rules
in each state, to the system which has been
used in New Zealand since 1992. This allows
homeowners to do their own electrical wiring.
I appeal to all readers to check out pages
48 & 49 of this issue. Strictly speaking, you
will find that it is a “letter of will” rather
than a petition because petitions have a long
record of being ignored by politicians and
parliaments. Please fill in the form and send
it to us so we can send it on to the relevant politicians in each state. We
need your support.
Since it was raised back in June 2000, this issue has generated far more
heat, and more correspondence, than any other. More particularly, we have
been accused of producing a hate campaign against electricians and being
one-sided in our publication of the various letters.
Well, readers can draw their own conclusions on both aspects but it is
well to remember why the whole debate was triggered off in the first place:
because it is now illegal for anyone in Queensland to assemble or repair a
mains-powered project or appliance unless they are a licensed electrician.
This ludicrous situation applies to the repair of all electronic equipment,
whether it is a VCR, TV or exotic medical equipment such as CT scanners
- regardless of the fact that most (not all, I hasten to say) electricians have
very little knowledge of electronics.
Then a reader brought our attention to the fact that, in New Zealand and
other countries, homeowners can not only do repairs on electrical equipment,
they can also do their own home wiring. This situation in New Zealand has
been in place since 1992. And apparently, there has been no increase in
electrical fatalities since its inception.
Since we made this point, some readers have claimed that the New Zealand statistics are dodgy. Well, they’re not. We do not think there will be
an increase in deaths brought about by dodgy wiring, when homeowners
are eventually allowed to do their own wiring. Rather, we expect overall
safety to improve because the various electrical authorities will be forced
to carry out education campaigns on how wiring should be done. We look
forward to that.
Since this situation has blown up, NCP (National Competition Policy)
reviews of electrical safety related legislation have started in most states.
These reviews will impinge directly on this issue of home-wiring. Interested
readers are invited to make submissions but you will need to move quickly.
In Queensland, if you want to make a submission, you need to contact the
Queensland State Treasury by the end of this month (31st March 2001).
The same advice applies to Tasmania, Western Australia and New South
Wales. The legislation in each state should be changed. Let’s get it done.
Leo Simpson
|