I'd volunteer but it seems too tame. just kiddin. -----Original Message----- From: Ken Harris Sent: Friday, August 3, 2007 8:53 PM To: Utah Astronomy Subject: [Utah-astronomy] Exciting new adventure for PAW and Fuy ( & others?) Hey Y'all, Just saw this awesome article in the June 2007 issue of "Popular Mechanics" (if you can't find it at the store, try your local library). Seems some (maniac) entrepenuer and his partner are trying to develop a thermal-rated pressure suit that will allow people (crazies) to free-fall from 60 miles in space. They'll get to that height aboard a privately-run open-cockpit rocket that will then fall back and be recovered behind them somewhere. This "ultimate extreme-sport diver will reach a speed of 2500 mph before entering heavy air at around 100,000 ft altitude, and then make a normal parachute landing some 10 minutes after bailing out at +/- 300,000 ft. Sounds like fun! Any takers? Ken ----- Original Message ----- From: "Chuck Hards" <chuck.hards@gmail.com> To: "Utah Astronomy" <utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com> Sent: Friday, August 03, 2007 5:53 PM Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Telescope generators (was: Mobile Phones)

You're right, Joe, if your generator isnt connected to the house wiring, you don't need the transfer switch.

Unfortunately, furnaces don't plug into the wall- they are hard-wired. Thus the transfer switch. It's also difficult to reach the refrigerator plug in many instances, without moving a heavy fridge.

If you use an under-rated extension cord(s), you risk overheating the cord.

You won't harm the power system if you accidentally energize the grid, though you could damage your generator. The concern is that you could electrocute a Rocky Mtn. Power technician if he's working on a line that he thinks isn't energized.

On 8/3/07, Joe Bauman <bau@desnews.com> wrote:

...

If you intend to hook individual appliances to your generator, such as via power strip, I suspect you don't need a fancy switch. Couldn't you have a light, TV and furnace or some such combination, on a power strip that is connected only to the generator? I don't understand how that could harm the power system. When the electricity is restored, just unhook these items from the power strip and plug them into the household current again. Or am I missing something? Thanks, Joe

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