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It's interesting to think about a few code changes to reduce the cost of a house too. What if you removed the 120V outlets and wiring from bedrooms and went to
by nickhalfasleep 9y ago
It's interesting to think about a few code changes to reduce the cost of a house too. What if you removed the 120V outlets and wiring from bedrooms and went to just 12V, or USB, or Power over Ethernet) for lighting and small appliance power? A smart "Home Computer" that was the whole home. With more efficient lighting, entertainment, you could cut down on the amount of copper in the building, and the expectation of energy usage.
Of course keep the power places you need it, like the kitchen, bathroom, or entertainment center.
- brians 9y agoHow do you vacuum? When you need to use power tools, just run cords or stick to batteries?
- jlebrech 9y agoyou can get a roomba, i'm sure those run off batteries.
- nsxwolf 9y agoThey're fine for daily maintenance, but sometimes you need to go in with the heavy hitter.
- agumonkey 9y agoI wonder if there are low power alternative to vacuum, depending on the surface of course. For actual power tools well.. I help my kids like indoor biking :heh:
- ashark 9y ago> I wonder if there are low power alternative to vacuum, depending on the surface of course. If the famous vacuum cleaner repairman Reddit AMA is to be believed, the overwhelming majority of vacuums purchased are so in name only, producing far too weak a vacuum to do any good and relying on carpet-damaging powerful brushes to do the cleaning. So we don't even have working light-ish vacuums, let alone low-power ones, let alone affordable light and low power ones. The ones that actually do what they're supposed to are still heavy and expensive (and, I assume, power hungry).
- agumonkey 9y agoThanks a lot for the return, but I really meant "alternative to vacuum" as in not using air (lack of)pressure to carry particles away.
- njarboe 9y agoVacuums are a much more recent invention than rugs/carpets. Take rug outside. Shake or beat out dirt. Put back in house.
- noir_lord 9y agoI have one of the first generation Dysons that just won't die, it definitely works as a vacuum cleaner, never use the rotary attachment. GF has a German brand hoover I always forget that has insane suction.
- njarboe 9y agoHave had a Miele vacuum for over 25 years. Still works great, rarely use the rotary attachment. It was about $700 though.
- noir_lord 9y agoMiele! that's the one, that thing is an engineering marvel. Controllable suction, attachments that clip together with incredible precision, the thing feels put together rather than slapped together.
- deleted 9y ago[deleted]
- maxerickson 9y agoYou are talking about saving something like $100 of material there, and loads that are already small (for example, 120V LED bulbs work fine).
- brudgers 9y agoWhen 120v (or the equivalent standard power outlet in other countries) recepticals are unavailable, people use extension cords. [1] The building codes are not written for the happy path. They are not just written for new construction. That said, I think there is a role for an additional low voltage power system in dwellings. But it would run alongside the existing system just like POTS, CAT5, and coax because that makes it practical to upgrade existing buildings. What is missing is a standard, but USB C seems to be heading that direction. The problem with USB C currently is that of all standards, there are so many USB C's to choose from. [1]: http://www.fireengineering.com/content/dam/fe/online-articles/documents/2017/oakland-ca-ghost-ship.pdf http://www.fireengineering.com/content/dam/fe/online-article...
- PoachedSausage 9y agoI've seen mains power outlets with USB connects for charging in hotels recently.
- gwbas1c 9y ago12v runs are highly impractical in developed world home. Too much current is lost once you have a 10-20 foot run. Ironically, a better cost-saving measure would be to increase voltage.
- mmagin 9y agoI suspect the safety advantage of 120V over 240V is probably mitigated with widely used GFCI/RCD devices. Also if the 240 was done split-phase style as in the USA, then touching a single conductor is no worse than what we have already. I would be happy if the default was a 3 prong outlet with line1/line2/ground. NEMA 6-15 outlets for say kitchen use (would be lovely to have powerful UK-style electric hot water kettles.) Maybe some new 10 amp version for regular living spaces (that still gives you 1920 watts with the recommended 80% maximum load) But back to the original topic, we don't really waste that much power with wall-warts and such. Better to look at refrigerators, clothes/dish washing, HVAC.
- nsxwolf 9y agoThe first time I used one of those kettles in Australia I was blown away. Wondered why they weren't popular in the states. Basic ohms law problem.