12/15   I'm planning on traveling to Europe and I was wondering if there's
        any reason I shouldn't be able to use a US power tap/strip (no surge
        suppression) with just a plug adaptor (i.e., no voltage conversion).
        This would be for use with electronics that accept 100V-240V. While
        the power strip is intended for use at 120V, it's just wires, right?
        (Also, this power strip has no power LED or similar.) If anything,
	...

5/18    I'm looking for a good rechargeable AA battery system. What do you guys
        use? I'm thinking of getting a bunch of AA NiMH and a really good
        charger that can do a full drain/recharge cycle to reduce memory
        effect as well as battery tender since NiMH seems to lose 10% charge
        per week, or AA Li-Ion with normal chargers. What do you guys think?
        \_ http://www.steves-digicams.com/nimh_batteries.html
	...

11/9    this new fujitsu technology of monitors on standby
        that consumes no power is awesome!  go nippon!
        \_ I invented that technology long time ago. Go finger power!
           \_ huh are you sure?  I suspect that modern monitors consume
              power even when off, due to the big capacitors in the
              voltage transformer.  this is true of a lot of consumer
	...

7/24    http://news.com.com/Microsoft+vs.+Google+Whos+greener/2100-1022_3-6080297.html
        Microsoft vs. Google: Who's greener?
        \_ Hitler vs. Gandhi: who's the better vegetarian?
        \_ Silly question, do solar panels generate more power when it
           is hot? Or does it only depends on a clear sky?
           \_ I assume you mean photovoltaic panels.  Yes, it's a silly
	...

5/30    http://eed.llnl.gov/flow/02flow.php
        Excellent info on US Energy Flow Trends. 22.4 out of 27.9
        energy from petroleum for transportion is lost energy, which
        is expected given the inefficiency of modern internal combustion
        engine. However, 27.8 out of 40.3 electric power sector is
        electrical system energy losses, which is quite surprising to
	...

3/5     If an appliance is 220V, can I get an adapter or something for it
        because I have 120V? Thanks.
        \_ A transformer, yes.
        \_ I had a similar problem.  You need to be very careful about
           the actual wattage of your appliance.  A transformer that withstands
           large wattage tend to be very very big (size of couple bricks and
	...

3/1     Say I have a circuit breaker that says 20A. How many watts can I load
        on it before it pops? I'm asking because every time I have a space
        heater (1500W) and hair dryer (1850W) on, the circuit breaker pops.
        \_ P = VI  where P is power in watts, V is voltage in volts, I is current
           in amps (A).  Wall socket voltage is a max of 120V in the USA and is
           220V-240V in some places elsewhere.  Can you figure it out now or do
	...

9/3     I have AC adaptors for my cell phone and PDA that say the input
        should be 120VAC.  If I try to use them in Europe where the voltage
        is 220V, will I fry my PDA and cell?  Obviously, I'll have to use
        a plug adaptor to plug them in.
        \_ Yes, they will fry.  Get a transformer that goes 220V -> 110V.
           \- if you are in berkeley, you can get a little voltage and
	...

7/20    I have a 12V fan that takes 10W. If I power it using a 2000mA
        battery, how long does it take? Basically I don't have a good
        clue on the relationship between wattage, amp, and voltage. Thanks!
        \_ V = IR and P = VI. Didn't you take physics?
        \_ You probably have a 2000mAh battery.  That's 2000 milli-amp hours.
           Given that, you should be able to figure out how long the
	...