Make battery-powered remote controlled devices that plug into your outlets, so you can 'unplug' your appliances all at once during energy crises in CA...-- mhh5, Feb 17 2001 X-10.com Appliance Module http://www.x10.com/products/x10_am466.htmBaked. [MuddDog, Feb 17 2001, last modified Oct 04 2004] That's almost as wrong as it is simplistic, UnaBubba, though I presume your tongue is in your cheek. (What do these Californians "wanna be", anyway?)
Anyway, I think the power company's Baked this one for you. They call it a "rolling blackout". Isn't that nice of them to provide the service?-- egnor, Feb 17 2001 Don't get me ranting. You couldn't successfully get me to move to California even if you put a gun to my head. I would say, "I waiting for you to pull the trigger. There is no way I am going to try to live in California. I would rather starve in Ethiopia." With wildfires, riots, earthquakes and now rolling blackouts, you couldn't pay me any sum to live in that 37047734.-- Amishman35, Dec 18 2001 And what advantage would this have over a fuse box?-- pottedstu, Dec 18 2001 America uses the most amount of electricity ever. Like electric can openers. WTF is the point in those??? Its actually quicker to use a manual tin opener. Adn this would give you more exercise. Be more energy efficient you juice gargling fiends!-- eddidaz, Apr 07 2002 [eddidaz] So what.-- bristolz, Apr 07 2002 Pay attention, ladies and gentlemen. This is a good idea. The purpose of it would be to prevent regional blackouts like the one in 2003.-- Mogo, Aug 22 2003 I can't agree with this. It's retroactive, kicking in only after the problem has already begun, and of all things, pulls even a little more power. How about training all those power hogs to turn things off, instead? Sorry, bone.-- elhigh, Jun 20 2005 When power demand gets too high, one effect is that the generators begin to slow down (if circuit breakers don't trip).
The result is that anyone with the right tool can check the frequency of supply. If the frequency starts to drop, then this can be used to shed load.
We implemented this in a steelworks in the UK, which has arc furnaces running at 90MW each. Arc furnaces can be switched off within a few seconds.
A contract with the power distribution company can compensate for the inconvenience.-- Ling, Jun 20 2005 random, halfbakery