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Chris Tarran

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    The climate change debate continues.

    in Science and Technology

    Posted · Edited by Chris Tarran

    It gets even better.  We have a company here (Cleve SA) that has just started a pilot project producing a cattle food supplement from a particular species of seaweed.  If we feed a golf ball size of the product to a cow every day it stops a particular process in the cow's rumen and reduces their methane output by up to 90 percent.  With a world population of 150B animals the potential of this is enormous.  Look up a company called CH4 Global or go to the link below.

     

    Cheers

     

    https://www.ch4global.com

     

    • Like 7
    • Informative 2
    • Popular Post
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    The climate change debate continues.

    in Science and Technology

    Posted

    Hi Guys,

     

    Solar and storage farms are becoming all the rage.  The link below talks about a facility near Cleve in SA which is supposed to be the largest in the world.  Its a little different in that it uses mirrors to focus the sun on space quality (small) PV panels on the top of towers.  It used ground water to cool the towers pumping the hot water into a pond.  It also uses some of the energy to cool water in another pond.

     

    It them uses the temperature difference to drive a turbine to generate power in the dark.  Some of the numbers for generation and storage capacity are staggering.  They suggest they can store enough dispatchable energy to power SA for 24 hours.

     

    DA process underway and no contribution required from any government for a build cost estimated at $750M.

     

    Cheers

     

    https://www.photonenergy.com/en/photon-energy/yadnarie-solar-farm.html

     

    • Like 3
    • Informative 4

    Silly Picture Thread.

    in Funnies

    Posted

    On 06/05/2022 at 1:02 PM, Old Koreelah said:

    I once overtook a red Ferrari Dino in heavy traffic in Sydney’s CBD. (I was walking).

    The heroic young driver was revving the V-12 regularly, perhaps because it wouldn’t idle, maybe to ensure everyone noticed his new toy. As the owner of Italian V-twin motorcycles, I love the sound of a good engine, but this expensive plaything was less appealing than a 2-stroke.

    If it was Dino it is a V6.  It is the same basic motor used in either the Lancia's or Alfa Romeo's, can't remember which.  They were originally just called Dino after Enzo's son, i.e. not Ferrari.  Mate of mine had one.  Beautiful to drive and pretty quick.  Not as quick as "real" Ferrari though.

    • Like 1
    • Informative 1

    You've got to keep reading the ADRs

    in Auto Discussions

    Posted · Edited by Chris Tarran

    My understanding of the national rules is that if the trailer is < 750kg no brakes are required.  Over this and up to 2000kg brakes are required and override brakes are OK.  Over 2000kg and electric brakes with a breakaway connection is required.  There are also all sorts of complicated rules dealing with Gross Vehicle Mass, tow ball weight, Aggregate Trailer Mass, Gross Trailer Mass & Gross Combination Mass and their relationship to each other.

     

    Interesting that the only variation I can find from the national rules is that WA impose a 100kmh maximum speed limit on any towing vehicle.

     

    What concerns me is anyone with a car license can buy a big 4WD and caravan and tow it anywhere with no training requirement.  In fact they can buy a light truck less than 4500kg, hang a 7000kg trailer off the back and tow it on a car license.

    • Agree 3

    I need your opinion, please.

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    Hi OME,

     

    I visit this site and RecFlying regularly but rarely post.  I prefer to just read what is going on.  I have to say that I have found many of your posts interesting and thought provoking and was disappointed when you went "missing" for a while as a result of the outcome of one of the "discussions".

     

    My thoughts?  Leave sleeping dogs lie.  I find the best way to circumvent an argument is to deprive it of oxygen.

     

    Cheers and I look forward to reading much more content from you.

     

    Chris

    • Like 2
    • Thanks 1

    Of all the cars you had.. which do you want back?

    in Auto Discussions

    Posted

    Only ever bought one vehicle brand new in 45 years of driving.  My list consists of:

     

    1965 VW beetle - Bought cheap by Dad and we did it up together

    1973 Chrysler (Mitsubishi) GB Galant wagon - bought it off Mum & Dad.  Traded in with 110,000 miles on the clock.

    1978 Ford Escort 2 litre 4 door - Only brand new car ever.  Absolute pocket rocket of a car but I killed it in 130,000 km.

    1980 Ford Falcon XD 4.9 litre V8 wagon - Base trim GL but V8, 4 wheel discs, LSD.

     

    Then we get into cars I "had" but didn't own.

     

    1985 (ish) Nissan Bluebird Twin Spark. First "company" car.

    1988 Falcon EA sedan.  Original one with the 3 speed auto.

    1986 Holden Commodore VK. Moved jobs and had a temporary car until the new one was delivered.

    1989 Falcon EA Sedan. Update with the 4 speed auto.

    1991 Falcon EB Sedan.

    1993 Falcon ED XR6.  First one with the quad headlights.

     

    Then I changed jobs and went back to having to buy my own. Bugger.

     

    1996 Falcon EF Fairmont.  With Tickford suspension and 6 cylinder engine.

    1998 Falcon EL XR8.  Last of the E series. Kept this one 8 years.

    2004 Mitsubishi NP Pajero GLX DID.

    1996 Falcon XH Longreach Ute.  Cheap hack bought as a work bus.

    2009 Mitsubishi NT Pajero VRX DID.  Still have this one.

    2018 VW Passat Highline Wagon 2.0 TDI.  You don't need a BMW or Mercedes any more.

     

    The best car I have ever owned is the Passat.  Quiet, comfortable, pretty torquey and ridiculously economical.  Try 4.8 l/100km on the open road.  Other favourites are the Escort which was a hoot on a dirt road and the two XRs.  The XR6 was quicker than the equivalent V8 Falcons and Commodores of the day.  The XR8 was great fun and they had sorted all the bugs out by this stage of that body series so I never had any trouble with it.

     

    Cheers

     

    Chris

     

    • Like 1

    The perfect towing vehicle?

    in Auto Discussions

    Posted

    But Chris, You know what Pajero means in spanish slang don' t you? :whisper:Not sayin' you are one, but...... I wouldn't want to be labeled one because of my car choice......spacer.png

    Careful. And yes I am aware of the meaning of Pajero.

     

    Cheeky bugger.

     

     

    The perfect towing vehicle?

    in Auto Discussions

    Posted

    I am now on my second Pajero. First was a 2004, current is a 2009. Both turbo diesel. Neither has caused the slightest problem and are quite economical (or were until I put a roof rack and awning on them). The new one is rated to tow 3 tonnes but I'd never hang that much off it. Very comfortable to drive and very capable off the beaten track. A few things to keep an eye on including suspension bushes that can flog out and cause alignment and tyre wear issues but overall I think they are good value for money.

     

    Cheers

     

    Chris

     

     

    Download speed

    in Science and Technology

    Posted

    Results from Cleve, SA on ADSL2+ (less than 100metres from the exchange building).

     

    Upload Test

     

    Test run on 29/09/2014 @ 05:21 PM (EST)

     

    Mirror: Internode

     

    Data: 22 MB

     

    Test Time: 10 seconds

     

    Your line speed is 18.1 Mbps (18105 kbps).

     

    Your download speed is 2.21 MB/s (2263 KB/s).

     

    Download Test

     

    You uploaded 1 MB bytes in 11.23 seconds.

     

    kbps: 747.76

     

    KB/s: 93.47

     

    Mbps: 0.75

     

    Results vary. I think the major limiting factor is the uphaul connection from the exchange. Whatever local speed we get we still have to share a DS3 uplink (45Mbps).

     

     

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