Apr 2012 Lecture - Electrical & Mechanical Suspension Systems

The lecture was given by Peter Moore & Joe Cameron-Wallace from Gripple Ltd

Gripple manufacture suspension systems for the Electrical & Mechanical Industry and is a British Company with its design and manufacturing base in Sheffield. They offer a take-off / drawing mark-up service and will advise what you need for a particular project. The Gripple system is a wire rope suspension system and offers a significant reduction in labour cost in cutting rods and uni strut. The system has been used in many schools, shopping centres, television studios and DIY warehouse projects. The system is used world wide and you purchase the various suspensions as kits or bulk quantities of each item. The wire comes in various gauges and can be used to span large areas. They now have a range of over 1,000 product solutions. It was a most interesting lecture and the members showed their appreciation in the normal manner.


Mar 2012 Lecture - Introducing Intelligent Street Lighting in Suffolk

The lecture was given by Richard Webster - Electrical Services Manager, SCC

Richard started his career with Eastern Electricity Board in 1990 and was seconded to the street lighting divsion for a week and has been involved with street lights since then.

SCC is now moving to having LED street lighting which cuts down on running and maintenance costs. The A1120 ‘Cedars Link' road on the outskirts of Stowmarket is now illuminated by LED fittings which will reduce energy consumption over 25 years by 63%.

Each new intelligent street lighting control within Ipswich and surrounding areas has an addressable sensor which can be turned on and off by a wireless signal. Some of the street lights now go off from 12.30 am until 5.30am. If the police, fire or ambulance service are called to an incident and require the lights to be turned on they call a hot line and the on-call controller can, with the use of a lap top, turn the lights back on in the area required.

It was a most interesting lecture and the members showed their appreciation in the normal manner.


Feb 2012 Lecture - Power Management & Control

The lecture was given by Lee Gardner from Power Management & Control.

DSC1869.JPGLee is a past member of the Association having joined in 1990 whilst working for Merlin Gerin.

In the UK the target voltage is 230 volts -6% + 10%, or a working range of 216.2 volts to 253 volts on single phase circuits and 358volts to 438.2 volts on three phase circuits. The European standard sets the target voltage at 230 volts +/- 10%. The working range is therefore 207 volts to 253 volts on single phase circuits and 358 volts on three phase. In effect, voltages have not changed: the UK still has a nominal 240 volt supply and European countries still have the 220 and 230 volt supplies they always had. It is clear that a manufacturer wishing to supply goods across the whole of the European market needs to provide equipment suitable for operation from 207 volts to 253 volts or between 358 and 438.2 if they are three phase. This is where the use of voltage optimisers to reduce the over voltage can be used. Savings of up to 35% can be made on fluorescent lighting, 30% for HID lighting and 25% on street lighting. The major savings are made in the Industrial and Commercial sector and not so much in the domestic market. Although you can buy off the shelf units it is better to have a unit designed to your site needs.

It was a most interesting lecture and the members showed their appreciation in the normal manner.


Jan 2012 Lecture - Being a Member of Parliment

The lecture was given by Chris Mole the former Labour MP for Ipswich from 2001 until May 2010.

Chris was working as Research Electronics Engineer at BT Martlesham when he decided to enter local politics as a Labour County Councillor for Suffolk County Council in 1985. He became leader of the Labour Councillors in 1993 and led the coalition at SCC for a number of years. After entering parliament in 2001 he became a Government whip and eventually a minister for transport. He told us that on entering the House of Commons he was surprised at how small the chamber was. In fact there is not enough room to sit all 625 MPs and this makes for a unique debating environment. Speaking as a minister at the dispatch box was the most nerve-racking thing that he has ever done. Fridays are the days that ordinary members can put forward their own bills for debate. There followed a very interesting question and answer session. It was a most interesting lecture and the members showed their appreciation in the normal manner.


Nov 2011 Lecture - Future Hybrid Transport

The lecture was given by Prof. John Midwinter O.B.E F.R.S. F.R.ENG

The evenings lecture was on the future of Hybrid Transport. As we all know we must wean ourselves off the use of fossil fuels. Since 1980 we have been extracting oil at greater rate than that of finding new oil fields. Oil production has just about peaked at the present time. We must drastically improve fuel efficiency and drive more slowly and smoothly in the future. Bio fuel is not really the answer when you take into account the cost of land preparation, planting, chemicals, harvesting and transport. Most of the major motor manufactures are now producing or developing hybrid petrol/electric cars but some of the mileage claims are not as achievable as they would like us to believe. The Hybrid Prius brochure claims a combined urban range of 65/70 mpg Magazine testing has only achieved 47mpg which you can also get from a basic Micra costing a lot less than the hybrid. Battery size and range is still a problem with some manufacturers only leasing you the battery which they will change at set intervals. Manufactures are now starting to produce battery only cars but some of these still only have a range of 30/40 miles. It was a most interesting lecture and the members showed their appreciation in the normal manner.


Oct 2011 Lecture - PV Installations

The lecture was given by Member Chris Powell & John Eley

DSC1471.JPGThe evening's lecture was on Solar PV installations. We are aware of the need to conserve energy sources and the use of solar pv is one way in which this can be achieved. Renewable energy is a must have within the building regulations. The UK must have a reduction of 15% in energy use by 2025. The use of Solar Cells is not new technology; they were first invented in 1889. Solar panels are made from semi conductors which produce a DC voltage which is converted to AC with the use of an inverter. Manufacturers guarantee the solar panels to still be 80% efficient after 25 years. Solar pv installers must be MSC accredited (Microgeneration Certification Scheme). If you install PV Solar panels on an existing roof and generate electricity you will be entitled to claim the Government backed feed in tariffs for the next 25 years. At the present time you will receive 43.3p for every kWh of electricity generated. The electricity you generate can be used for free and electricity not used will be exported to the national grid for which you will receive an additional payment. The feed in tariff will be reviewed by the Government next April and could well be reduced. Providing you have a system installed by April 2012 you will be guaranteed the 43.3 per unit and this will be indexed linked. The installations are subject to VAT at 5% only. It was a most informative lecture with members asking questions as the talk went on. The Chairman thanked Chris and John and the members showed their appreciation in the normal manner.


Sep 2011 Lecture - Life as an RAF Chaplin
The lecture was given by Rev (Wg.Cdr) Andrew Turner Senior Chaplain at RAF Honington
.

Andrew has been a friend of the Chairman for forty years and said he was pleased to give a talk on his life in the RAF. Andrew was born on the Rivers estate Ipswich and joined the RAF in 1991. His RAF service has taken him all over the UK as well as the Falklands, Iraq and Afghanistan. He has taken services in some very strange locations such as Offices, Airport Arrivals Halls, Tents and Portakabins. In Iraq it is quite supprising at the size of the city of Basra. You have to be flown every where in Afghanistan because of the security risk. It was a most interesting lecture and at the end the Chairman asked the members to show their appreciation in the normal manner..