|
|
 |
02-04-2006, 09:11 AM
|
#1 of 19 
|
|
Neil
Member
Join Date: Dec 2001
Local Time: 10:34 PM
Local Date: 08-29-2008
Posts: 3,319
|
Two inventions I'd love to see...
A few years ago, I came across a segment in a show that had Nasa engineers finding brilliant solutions toeveryday problems. Their task that day was to improve the hand dryer found in restrooms..
What I'd love to have, is something that makes the hot water in the shower last for at least a full hour(For those of us that like to take long 15 minute showers  ), and a Lithium Ion Battery for Desktops to use in case of power outages. A 3/6/12 hour version.
Or do any of these things already exist? |
|
|
|
02-04-2006, 10:10 AM
|
#2 of 19
|
|
Member
Location: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Join Date: Sep 2000
Local Time: 09:34 PM
Local Date: 08-29-2008
Posts: 994
|
Quote:
| What I'd love to have, is something that makes the hot water in the shower last for at least a full hour(For those of us that like to take long 15 minute showers ), |
This problem is solved with a tankless water heater. They are popular in many European & Asian nations. I had one installed last year & love it, but most of them are expensive.
Tankless Water Heater thread
"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic." - Arthur C. Clarke
|
|
|
|
|
02-04-2006, 12:38 PM
|
#3 of 19
|
|
John Williamson
Member
Location: On duty and takin' out the fullscreen trash.
Join Date: Mar 1999
Local Time: 10:34 PM
Local Date: 08-29-2008
Posts: 10,434
|
I'm waiting for Hoverboards and Lightsabers to get here. 
"I've been staring at Blu-ray for 48 hrs straight, I can't look away.
Can someone help me, please?"
|
|
|
|
|
02-04-2006, 03:22 PM
|
#4 of 19
|
|
Ricardo C
Member
Location: Venezuela
Join Date: Feb 2002
Local Time: 10:34 PM
Local Date: 08-29-2008
Posts: 5,142
|
Quote:
|
nd a Lithium Ion Battery for Desktops to use in case of power outages. A 3/6/12 hour version.
|
I'd buy two! |
|
|
|
|
02-04-2006, 03:33 PM
|
#5 of 19
|
|
Member
Location: Beautiful Fort Worth
Join Date: Feb 2004
Local Time: 09:34 PM
Local Date: 08-29-2008
Posts: 3,383
|
Well, you can get a UPS backup power system. Major businesses and so forth usually have them. They're kind of bulky and heavy, though, if you want 3/6/12 hours — and ou'd want to be running an LCD monitor, since CRTs take a lot of juice.
|
|
|
|
|
02-04-2006, 03:50 PM
|
#6 of 19
|
|
Member
Join Date: Jun 2000
Local Time: 10:34 PM
Local Date: 08-29-2008
Posts: 1,401
|
Rocketpacks! Where the hell are the rocketpacks we were promised?! 
MC
|
|
|
|
|
02-04-2006, 05:45 PM
|
#7 of 19
|
|
Member
Location: Puebla, Mexico
Join Date: Oct 2000
Local Time: 09:34 PM
Local Date: 08-29-2008
Posts: 1,699
|
Quote:
|
What I'd love to have, is something that makes the hot water in the shower last for at least a full hour
|
Move into an apartment or condo with a boiler system for the whole building, and you've got your wish. Hundreds of gallons of scalding hot water just waiting for you.
|
|
|
|
|
02-04-2006, 05:48 PM
|
#8 of 19
|
|
Member
Location: Augusta, GA
Join Date: Aug 1999
Local Time: 10:34 PM
Local Date: 08-29-2008
Posts: 1,431
|
Cherry 2000! We're already 6 years past the due date!
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
|
02-05-2006, 02:25 PM
|
#9 of 19
|
|
Member
Location: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Join Date: Sep 2000
Local Time: 09:34 PM
Local Date: 08-29-2008
Posts: 994
|
Quote:
| a Lithium Ion Battery for Desktops to use in case of power outages. A 3/6/12 hour version. |
As Christopher suggested using, we have several UPS power supplies at home & at work for our computers. We also have some communications equipment hooked up to a power inverter that is capable of long-term power backup. Unlike most UPS units, you connect as many 12V deep-cycle marine batteries as you desire for long-term power outages.
There are newer versions available, but here’s the one we bought about 5 years ago:
Tripp-Lite Model UPS-750, with an external BP-260 battery cabinet for two marine batteries.
The UPS-750 only weighs about 19 pounds, but the two marine batteries in the metal cabinet weigh about 140 pounds!
The UPS-750 keeps the batteries fully charged as long as you have power, and lead-acid batteries don’t develop a memory (Lithium Ion batteries also don’t develop a memory as readily as Ni-Cds). It’s also easy to find a store that sells marine deep-cycle batteries, whereas Lithium Ion batteries designed for a specific unit may be difficult to replace.
"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic." - Arthur C. Clarke
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
|
02-06-2006, 09:29 AM
|
#10 of 19
|
|
Member
Location: Michigan
Join Date: Dec 1998
Local Time: 10:34 PM
Local Date: 08-29-2008
Posts: 9,573
|
Add a generator to that UPS, and you can keep the computer up as long as you have fuel. For homes, you can get a backup power system that runs on natural gas (personally, I have an older gasoline-powered generator for home). I work in IT healthcare, and we have a diesel generator for our data center that could power several city blocks.
|
|
|
| |
