Julia Thompson wrote:
...
> > > I don't think that is true anymore. You can see solar cells in
> > > applications out on the street these days. A good example is the
> > > "School Zone" flashers (Hush Ronn! <G>) where using a solar panel to
> > > charge a battery is almost universal around here.
> >
> > Satellites, flashers, what's the difference? If it takes too
> > long an extension cord to get power to it, the device should
> > make its own.
>
> But some of the flashers I see (and I imagine that at least some of the
> flashers Rob sees) are in spots where it wouldn't be that big a deal to
> run a power line underground to them. I mean, they're 20 feet from
> actual traffic lights, some of them, and *those* are being powered off
> the grid. And the ones that aren't that close to actual traffic lights,
> I still don't think it would be that big a deal to power them off the
> grid -- but there they are, with solar cells on the top.
>
> So maybe the tech is improving to where it's economically viable to put
> solar cells on other things.
What do you mean, "not that big a deal to run a power line
underground"? I need some lights by the front walk, does anybody
want to come over with a shovel and help dig a trench for the
conduit?
...
...
...
Right. I thought not. So they're going to be solar
powered. A city has better digging equipment, but also pays
more than I do in employment costs, so I bet it comes out
about the same.
---David
Who was not arguing that the technology was poor.
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