FabSwingers.com > Forums > The Lounge > Who's taking part in the Big Power Off tonight?
Who's taking part in the Big Power Off tonight?
Jump to: Newest in thread
Basically a silent protest tonight at 10pm, everyone turns the power off for 10 minutes.
I like this idea and will take part, unfortunately our government doesn't care about us like the Spanish Government does, so I doubt it will have any effect, but its worth a shot. |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
 |
By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
|
I'm not quite sure how turning the power off would "make the government care"?
I'm not quite sure that any citizen will ever believe their government cares either? |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
|
By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
|
"If anything it'll just cause havoc with the grid system and hopefully piss off the share holders lol"
No as you be putting more money in to they pocket
This must have been dreamed up by people who don’t know how electronics work |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
"Basically a silent protest tonight at 10pm, everyone turns the power off for 10 minutes.
I like this idea and will take part, unfortunately our government doesn't care about us like the Spanish Government does, so I doubt it will have any effect, but its worth a shot."
why does the spanish govenment care about us??  |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
|
By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
|
"If anything it'll just cause havoc with the grid system and hopefully piss off the share holders lol"
And why would causing havoc achieve anything?
Sorry, don't get it. Am I dissatisfied with paying more? Yes. Do I think it's far more complex than the media report? Definitely. But if its what you feel you should do,good luck in your goal. |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
"Basically a silent protest tonight at 10pm, everyone turns the power off for 10 minutes.
I like this idea and will take part, unfortunately our government doesn't care about us like the Spanish Government does, so I doubt it will have any effect, but its worth a shot. why does the spanish govenment care about us?? "
The Spanish people did the same protest and got there energy bills reduced |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
|
By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
|
For people who don’t know most eclectics run on capacitors witch are basically mini batteries that can’t hold a charge
What happens power gose in charges the capacitors then gets distribute though the itume
It’s a trickle effect ones they full the itume will consume low power as it only needs to keep toping them up
Turn off the power will completely de charge them resulting in very high power draw when started back up agein
Resulting in higher cost than it would have to just keep it running for 10 minutes |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
|
By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
|
"Nope as it cost more to shut the power off than it will to keep it running
What's the mechanism that means it'll be more expensive to turn off than to keep on?"
You de charge the capacitors in everything take them all out off trickle charge low power mode
And in to high power draw restarting back up to full charge the capacitors |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
"Turn off the power will completely de charge them resulting in very high power draw when started back up agein
Resulting in higher cost than it would have to just keep it running for 10 minutes "
Electronics do use capacitors, and capacitors do discharge over time. This does indeed mean that there will be a large power draw when you turn the item back on again, but that (relatively) large current only lasts for a few milliseconds, and is equivalent to just a few seconds of use when the circuit is on.
"For people who don’t know most eclectics run on capacitors witch are basically mini batteries that can’t hold a charge"
Capacitors do in fact hold charge very well, and can be quite dangerous for the untrained person poking about in the back of mains powered appliances. For this reason capacitors often have a resistor wired across them to bleed off the power and make the capacitor safe. This resistor will be using a very small amount of power all the time the appliance is on.
Leaving household appliances on will definitely use more power than turning them off. |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
|
By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
|
"For people who don’t know most eclectics run on capacitors witch are basically mini batteries that can’t hold a charge
What happens power gose in charges the capacitors then gets distribute though the itume
It’s a trickle effect ones they full the itume will consume low power as it only needs to keep toping them up
Turn off the power will completely de charge them resulting in very high power draw when started back up agein
Resulting in higher cost than it would have to just keep it running for 10 minutes "
And this is how they balance the national grid to ensure that the system is in equilibrium between demand, generation, distribution load and wastage and supply?
Is it really? |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
|
By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
|
"Turn off the power will completely de charge them resulting in very high power draw when started back up agein
Resulting in higher cost than it would have to just keep it running for 10 minutes
Electronics do use capacitors, and capacitors do discharge over time. This does indeed mean that there will be a large power draw when you turn the item back on again, but that (relatively) large current only lasts for a few milliseconds, and is equivalent to just a few seconds of use when the circuit is on.
For people who don’t know most eclectics run on capacitors witch are basically mini batteries that can’t hold a charge
Capacitors do in fact hold charge very well, and can be quite dangerous for the untrained person poking about in the back of mains powered appliances. For this reason capacitors often have a resistor wired across them to bleed off the power and make the capacitor safe. This resistor will be using a very small amount of power all the time the appliance is on.
Leaving household appliances on will definitely use more power than turning them off."
Most house hold itumes are 30 seconds
Hence why in the manual for likes off modems and stuff it when restarting it tells you to turn them off for 30s to let them fully power down |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
I see what it's trying to achieve but I don't see how it will achieve it.
It's not exactly peak time, consumption won't drop massively and I doubt people will switch lots of things back on afterwards to "overload" the powerstations anyway.
The fact it's been well advertised just means the grid will be more monitored at that time and will be able to compensate accordingly. Exactly the same as the do at half time during an England match when there's a spike as a million kettles are turn on.
|
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
"Nope as it cost more to shut the power off than it will to keep it running
What's the mechanism that means it'll be more expensive to turn off than to keep on?
You de charge the capacitors in everything take them all out off trickle charge low power mode
And in to high power draw restarting back up to full charge the capacitors "
Interesting take, but unwittingly you are highlighting a not unfamiliar problem with modern consumer equipment using switched mode power supplies instead of transformers.
Many will function happily while left switched on indefinitely but won't restart after being switched off. This is because the capacitors dry out with heat and time. So, there is quite a possibility that some switch off protesters will end up wishing they hadn't switched off when their entertainment system goes phut.
There is also a potential problem of grid overload if everyone switches back on at exactly the same time. However, that might not happen if most people ignore this call to action. Let's see! |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
"Nope as it cost more to shut the power off than it will to keep it running
What's the mechanism that means it'll be more expensive to turn off than to keep on?
You de charge the capacitors in everything take them all out off trickle charge low power mode
And in to high power draw restarting back up to full charge the capacitors
Interesting take, but unwittingly you are highlighting a not unfamiliar problem with modern consumer equipment using switched mode power supplies instead of transformers.
Many will function happily while left switched on indefinitely but won't restart after being switched off. This is because the capacitors dry out with heat and time. So, there is quite a possibility that some switch off protesters will end up wishing they hadn't switched off when their entertainment system goes phut.
There is also a potential problem of grid overload if everyone switches back on at exactly the same time. However, that might not happen if most people ignore this call to action. Let's see!"
With the time of night, most will switch off and just go to bed. |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
"Basically a silent protest tonight at 10pm, everyone turns the power off for 10 minutes.
I like this idea and will take part, unfortunately our government doesn't care about us like the Spanish Government does, so I doubt it will have any effect, but its worth a shot."
Probably have a bigger effect if everyone boiled their kettles, stuck the electric hob on for 10 minutes and plugged their electric cars in to charge...
|
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
Some power stations have serious issues if the power generated exceeds that drawn by the system. Excess energy has to be dumped or systems wound down yet most cannot slow down fast enough. Only hydroelectric power stations can change quickly. If power demand suddenly drops it can be a real headache for most power stations, generators start to spin faster than intended and the standard 50hz mains frequency can be at risk of moving out of tolerance, some systems may be damaged too... |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
Voltage is potential energy.
If load isn't present it doesn't need to be dumped . It's just not used. Power generation systems are positive feedback so generation is dictated by demand . There isn't a generator going to spin out of control because 200 people turned their telly off.
Also capacitors are seen in load terms as capacitive reactance. Along with inductive reactance and resistance they form in simple terms impedance which is load for power consumption calculations.
Capacitive reactance of domestic appliance is pretty negligible. Turn stuff off if you want. Re charge would be minimal .
I think it's 1 over 2(3.142)FC times Voltage. |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
The BigPowerOff will cost energy companies £9 million if everybody in the UK switches off. Let’s assume only 50% (which is still generous) do, that’s £3.5 million.
Energy companies won’t be hurt by such a figure. The only way to win is at the ballot box |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
No it won’t
"The BigPowerOff will cost energy companies £9 million if everybody in the UK switches off. Let’s assume only 50% (which is still generous) do, that’s £3.5 million.
Energy companies won’t be hurt by such a figure. The only way to win is at the ballot box"
|
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
"The BigPowerOff will cost energy companies £9 million if everybody in the UK switches off. Let’s assume only 50% (which is still generous) do, that’s £3.5 million.
Energy companies won’t be hurt by such a figure. The only way to win is at the ballot box"
We vote for power companies? Who knew...? |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
"The BigPowerOff will cost energy companies £9 million if everybody in the UK switches off. Let’s assume only 50% (which is still generous) do, that’s £3.5 million.
Energy companies won’t be hurt by such a figure. The only way to win is at the ballot box"
Fantastic. I look forward to making up the deficit on my next bill. |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
You do understand the principle of generation right? A power station Burning gas to generate electricity and you half the load you decrease your fuel bill exponentially to demand. You pay for power by a kwh unit cost. I think they will probably just do some routine maintenance. I'm sure someone working in industry can clarify that. Long time since I worked in industry |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
|
By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
|
"The BigPowerOff will cost energy companies £9 million if everybody in the UK switches off. Let’s assume only 50% (which is still generous) do, that’s £3.5 million.
Energy companies won’t be hurt by such a figure. The only way to win is at the ballot box
Fantastic. I look forward to making up the deficit on my next bill. "
 |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
"Total waste of time.....only people who will suffer will be ourselves. 
It worked in Spain. But you're right, we should wait until October when it goes up another 50%"
We took part,, it can't actually hurt to try something |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
"If everyone used a bike to work would be useful not only the ozone layer but oxygen levels less pollution and saves money"
How does this work if you can't* cycle?
*As in, physically unable. Not CBA. |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
|
By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
|
"The BigPowerOff will cost energy companies £9 million if everybody in the UK switches off. Let’s assume only 50% (which is still generous) do, that’s £3.5 million.
Energy companies won’t be hurt by such a figure. The only way to win is at the ballot box
Fantastic. I look forward to making up the deficit on my next bill. "
 |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
|
By *ucka39Man
over a year ago
Newcastle |
"If everyone used a bike to work would be useful not only the ozone layer but oxygen levels less pollution and saves money
How does this work if you can't* cycle?
*As in, physically unable. Not CBA."
Use an electric car (taxis) |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
|
By *ucka39Man
over a year ago
Newcastle |
"If everyone used a bike to work would be useful not only the ozone layer but oxygen levels less pollution and saves money
Great. Can't wait for my daily 3hr20min commuting time. "
Just think of all the fitness you might even beat your best time record |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
|
By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
|
"If everyone used a bike to work would be useful not only the ozone layer but oxygen levels less pollution and saves money"
bugger that i go all bambi legged
|
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
"If everyone used a bike to work would be useful not only the ozone layer but oxygen levels less pollution and saves money
How does this work if you can't* cycle?
*As in, physically unable. Not CBA."
I used to cycle but it Hertz now. |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
"The BigPowerOff will cost energy companies £9 million if everybody in the UK switches off. Let’s assume only 50% (which is still generous) do, that’s £3.5 million.
Energy companies won’t be hurt by such a figure. The only way to win is at the ballot box"
I hope the engineers at the national grid don't use your calculator |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
"Basically a silent protest tonight at 10pm, everyone turns the power off for 10 minutes.
I like this idea and will take part, unfortunately our government doesn't care about us like the Spanish Government does, so I doubt it will have any effect, but its worth a shot."
Wooden spoons and pots and pans ringing out at 10 pm would be a better 10 minute protest.  |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
"If everyone used a bike to work would be useful not only the ozone layer but oxygen levels less pollution and saves money
How does this work if you can't* cycle?
*As in, physically unable. Not CBA.
Use an electric car (taxis)"
You mean like Toyota Prius ones that don't fit my wheelchair in the boot? Do you mean via the likes of Uber when the driver drives off and cancels the fare when they see the wheelchair, because they don't want to take (waste) the time to help you? Yeah, my boss will definitely understand  |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
"If everyone used a bike to work would be useful not only the ozone layer but oxygen levels less pollution and saves money
How does this work if you can't* cycle?
*As in, physically unable. Not CBA.
Use an electric car (taxis)"
When I worked taking a taxi every day would have cost more than I earned.  Public transport wasn't available to that destination.
Mr N used to sometimes do 500 to 1000 miles a week. That's some bike ride |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
|
By *ucka39Man
over a year ago
Newcastle |
"If everyone used a bike to work would be useful not only the ozone layer but oxygen levels less pollution and saves money
How does this work if you can't* cycle?
*As in, physically unable. Not CBA.
Use an electric car (taxis)
When I worked taking a taxi every day would have cost more than I earned. Public transport wasn't available to that destination.
Mr N used to sometimes do 500 to 1000 miles a week. That's some bike ride "
Well think about the fitness plus I'm sure everyone has these e-scooters |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
"If everyone used a bike to work would be useful not only the ozone layer but oxygen levels less pollution and saves money
How does this work if you can't* cycle?
*As in, physically unable. Not CBA.
Use an electric car (taxis)
When I worked taking a taxi every day would have cost more than I earned. Public transport wasn't available to that destination.
Mr N used to sometimes do 500 to 1000 miles a week. That's some bike ride
Well think about the fitness plus I'm sure everyone has these e-scooters "
Do they allow e-scooters on the M 20 ? |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
"If everyone used a bike to work would be useful not only the ozone layer but oxygen levels less pollution and saves money
How does this work if you can't* cycle?
*As in, physically unable. Not CBA.
Use an electric car (taxis)
When I worked taking a taxi every day would have cost more than I earned. Public transport wasn't available to that destination.
Mr N used to sometimes do 500 to 1000 miles a week. That's some bike ride
Well think about the fitness plus I'm sure everyone has these e-scooters "
E-scooters = standing up. Not everyone can do that either (or can't do it for very long, lack balance etc). |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
|
By *ucka39Man
over a year ago
Newcastle |
"If everyone used a bike to work would be useful not only the ozone layer but oxygen levels less pollution and saves money
How does this work if you can't* cycle?
*As in, physically unable. Not CBA.
Use an electric car (taxis)
When I worked taking a taxi every day would have cost more than I earned. Public transport wasn't available to that destination.
Mr N used to sometimes do 500 to 1000 miles a week. That's some bike ride
Well think about the fitness plus I'm sure everyone has these e-scooters
Do they allow e-scooters on the M 20 ? "
This goes back to people working closer to home so people whom live where the other person is going stealing their jobs  |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
|
By *ucka39Man
over a year ago
Newcastle |
"If everyone used a bike to work would be useful not only the ozone layer but oxygen levels less pollution and saves money
How does this work if you can't* cycle?
*As in, physically unable. Not CBA.
Use an electric car (taxis)
When I worked taking a taxi every day would have cost more than I earned. Public transport wasn't available to that destination.
Mr N used to sometimes do 500 to 1000 miles a week. That's some bike ride
Well think about the fitness plus I'm sure everyone has these e-scooters
E-scooters = standing up. Not everyone can do that either (or can't do it for very long, lack balance etc). "
I'm sure it's in the pipeline an invention with seats X3 wheels 4 if lucky |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
"If everyone used a bike to work would be useful not only the ozone layer but oxygen levels less pollution and saves money
How does this work if you can't* cycle?
*As in, physically unable. Not CBA.
Use an electric car (taxis)
When I worked taking a taxi every day would have cost more than I earned. Public transport wasn't available to that destination.
Mr N used to sometimes do 500 to 1000 miles a week. That's some bike ride
Well think about the fitness plus I'm sure everyone has these e-scooters
E-scooters = standing up. Not everyone can do that either (or can't do it for very long, lack balance etc).
I'm sure it's in the pipeline an invention with seats X3 wheels 4 if lucky"
Isn't that just a mobility scooter? You try commuting to work on one of those! You have a battery range just about enough to get around Sainsbury's. |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
Where does the electricity to charge batteries come from? Also the mining required to get Lithium is hugely controversial, I speak from the position of someone who works in the relevant industries (won’t be specific) and involved in development. It’s not from renewable, we need at least 8 nukes to get us up to speed for example.
Hydrogen is the way forward for transport but still fraught with difficulty |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
"Lol like this is going to make the slightest bit of difference we should all rip our smart meters out put our own metres in and charge Transco direct "
What is there to stop someone from becoming an energy supplier themself and buying direct from Transco? |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
"And at 10.01 pm everyone pops there kettle on..."
Lol that happens when commercial breaks appear in Coronation Street. The hydro power station at Dinorwig (Wales) very quickly kicks in to absorb the sudden drain on the grid. It then effectively uses economy7 electricity at night to pump the water back up to the lake above  |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
"Basically a silent protest tonight at 10pm, everyone turns the power off for 10 minutes.
I like this idea and will take part, unfortunately our government doesn't care about us like the Spanish Government does, so I doubt it will have any effect, but its worth a shot."
What does the Spanish government do for us? |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
Im going to switch off my vacusuckomax 2000 home blowjob emulator for 10 mins which means i might get to the fridge for a Crunchie on my hands and knees before The 10 mins is up!! Isn’t technology wonderful? |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
|
By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
|
"If anything it'll just cause havoc with the grid system and hopefully piss off the share holders lol
No as you be putting more money in to they pocket
This must have been dreamed up by people who don’t know how electronics work "
Of course it is. Probably dreamed up by the same people who protest dairy farming by going into super markets and buying all the milk ?? |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
"Did it actually achieve anything?"
It's hard to say. There was definitely a drop in demand from 26GW to 23GW at 22:00 last night, but that's about the same drop that happens every day.
If I was a cynic I'd wonder why they chose 22:00 instead of, say, 19:00. Could it be that they knew there was a drop at 22:00 every day, so they chose 22:00 so that they could claim success to the press? |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
|
By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
|
I got a letter this morning to say my gas & electric has come down by 35%
All because I turned my fish tank filter off.
My fish are all dead though.
Swings and roundabouts. |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
|
By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
|
"Wasn't it yesterday? Just seen a post for the protest on another social site, 10 minute blackout,, at 10pm on the 10th. "
Sorry, just seen the time of the original post  |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
"Wasn't it yesterday? Just seen a post for the protest on another social site, 10 minute blackout,, at 10pm on the 10th. "
Why not have a rerun tonight for eleven minutes at 11 pm?
Then we will see if there is always a drop in demand at 10 pm. |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
» Add a new message to this topic
