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SILICON SILIC CHIP www.siliconchip.com.au Publisher/Editor Nicholas Vinen Technical Editor John Clarke, B.E.(Elec.) Technical Staff Jim Rowe, B.A., B.Sc Bao Smith, B.Sc Tim Blythman, B.E., B.Sc Technical Contributor Duraid Madina, B.Sc, M.Sc, PhD Art Director & Production Manager Ross Tester Reader Services Ann Morris Advertising Enquiries Glyn Smith Phone (02) 9939 3295 Mobile 0431 792 293 glyn<at>siliconchip.com.au Regular Contributors Dave Thompson David Maddison B.App.Sc. (Hons 1), PhD, Grad.Dip.Entr.Innov. Geoff Graham Associate Professor Graham Parslow Ian Batty Cartoonist Brendan Akhurst Founding Editor (retired) Leo Simpson, B.Bus., FAICD Silicon Chip is published 12 times a year by Silicon Chip Publications Pty Ltd. ACN 626 922 870. ABN 20 880 526 923. All material is copyright ©. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher. Subscription rates (12 issues): $105.00 per year, post paid, in Australia. For overseas rates, see our website or email silicon<at>siliconchip.com.au Editorial office: Unit 1 (up ramp), 234 Harbord Rd, Brookvale, NSW 2100. Postal address: PO Box 139, Collaroy Beach, NSW 2097. Phone (02) 9939 3295. E-mail: silicon<at>siliconchip.com.au ISSN 1030-2662 * Recommended & maximum price only. Printing and Distribution: Editorial Viewpoint You need blackout and disaster plans Our feature article in this issue (page 10) is on the topic of domestic backup power systems. I actually wrote this a couple of months ago, but we didn’t have room to fit it until now. That’s a pity, because it could have helped tens of thousands of Sydneysiders who were without power for up to a week after the brief but destructive storm on the 26th of November. Our office is in the Northern Beaches area, where 1900 homes lost power, with some still blacked out a week later. Luckily we were spared. The office lights flickered a few times as the storm shot through, and I sensed that we could lose power at any time. We did not – but many others were not so lucky. This goes to show that even if you live in the heart of a major city, you are not immune from extended blackouts. Where a natural event causes widespread damage, repair crews (which may be insufficiently staffed due to cutbacks) end up spread too thin. That means that it can take a long time for them to get around to restoring power to your area. But in this case, without getting into the politics, surely there are many legitimate questions, deserving answers, regarding the length of time restoration has taken following what amounted to a fairly localised weather event in the nation’s largest city. And if the pundits are to be believed, we can expect significant load shedding this summer (particularly January and February) in the Eastern states as generating capacity continues to decline. You should have a plan to deal with power outages, in case it happens to you. And it could happen at any time. The backup power article attempts to cover a variety of ways that you can keep the lights on, and your fridge running – enough that you can live moreor-less normally with the power out; for some time, at least. Those who have a bit more time and money to spend on preparation could potentially come up with a plan to keep going for weeks, if necessary. And as recent events showed, it’s hardly far-fetched to expect that if the power does go out, it could be out for a long time, regardless of where you live. It’s also a good idea to keep plenty of water or other long-lived drinkable fluids on hand, along with food that won’t easily spoil. A severe disaster could prevent you from getting food and drink for some time due to supply problems. This will also help if you can’t keep your fridge cold during an extended blackout; at least you will still have food after the uneaten contents have spoiled. If you live in a bushfire-prone area, it would be an especially good idea to have large rainwater storage tanks along with pumps that will let you spray that water even without mains power. A petrol-powered water pump (and plenty of hose!) is ideal. But an electric pump with battery backup is better than nothing; at least you would be able to wet the area around your house. I hope it also goes without saying that if you are in a bushfire-prone area, you also need to have an escape plan. If the experts can’t stop a fire, you probably can’t either. Having said that, there are plenty of cases where homeowners – whether by good luck or good management – were able to save their properties (and in some cases, their neighbours’). The bottom line is that it’s better to be prepared. I hope that my article gives you some ideas as to what you might need to ‘ride out’ a blackout (or worse), and more importantly, spurs those who have not really thought about it deeply, to do something, before it’s too late! Nicholas Vinen 24-26 Lilian Fowler Pl, Marrickville 2204 2 Silicon Chip Australia’s electronics magazine siliconchip.com.au