| Author |
 Topic  |
|
gotwind
Forum Admin
United Kingdom
1565 Posts |
 Posted - 08/06/2009 : 20:09:47
|
Bit of a rant. sorry.
My last 2 posts on the otherpower (fieldlines) forum have been simply deleted.
Just getting a bit peed off with a certain trigger happy moderator, starts with T.
Don't get me wrong, I love the Fieldlines forum, some real experience and knowledge to be learnt from.
However, my latest post, was a point towards a Treehugger article regarding the over dependency/ demand on rare earth neo magnets in wind turbines and electric cars e.t.c
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009/06/goodbye-fossil-fuel-dependence-hello-rare-earth-dependence.php
Seemed reasonable enough to me, worthy of discussion - it lasted 10 minutes before it was deleted.
Oh well, lucky we have our own forum with me moderating, hopefully with a little more tolerance.
Maybe, I suspect Fieldlines started out small like Gotwind and became too big to manage by one person, allowing many personalities to clash on opinions of what’s topical/ acceptable.
I feel better now 
Ben.
|
|
|
simfun
New Member
Greece
81 Posts |
Posted - 08/06/2009 : 22:42:15
|
Hello Ben,
they should give some explanations in my opinion. Have you seen where this link http://www.gotwind.co.uk/ points to? ;-)
Regards,
Mike |
 |
|
|
MattM
Junior Member
USA
216 Posts |
Posted - 09/06/2009 : 02:49:46
|
I've ranted about ---W before. Oh, wait, you said it was T--- not ---W :)
Go Huskers! |
|
|
|
Capt Slog
Junior Member
United Kingdom
262 Posts |
Posted - 09/06/2009 : 09:28:46
|
Perhaps someone dared to suggest that magnets could be bought cheaply from China rather than pay the over-inflated costs of those offered in the Fieldlines shop. (this forum REALLY needs a 'roll-eyes' smiley).
|
|
|
|
shawn
Average Member
United Kingdom
513 Posts |
Posted - 09/06/2009 : 15:50:42
|
I saw something similar the other day about a South American country, think it was Bolivia, they have vast quantities of Lithium and the big corporations are trying to tie that up for battery production.
This is what GM crops are all about as well I think,corporations trying to copyright all the fuel crops like,rapeseed and potatoes.Anything fuel can be made from.Every time there is a trial crop just look to see if fuel can be made from it.
I used to run my car on cooking oil years ago and I could get it from Tesco for 31p a litre, its the same price as petrol now. |
|
|
|
Fish4Fun
New Member
94 Posts |
Posted - 09/06/2009 : 17:51:03
|
No comment on fieldlines.
I generally question articles like the one on treehuggers. They smack of "conspiracy theory" wrapped up in "scare tactics". As an opposing view, you might read something like this article:
http://metaloreindustry.wordpress.com/category/neodymium/
Perhaps the world supply of neodymium will fall short of demand; if so the price of neodymium and goods containing neodymium will rise and production and production capacity will undoubtedly increase in the following years. As production outstrips demand the price will adjust accordingly. Ultimately "rare" is a relative term that does not necessarily imply "scarce"; much like Helium, Argon, Neon, Krypton and Xenon are relatively "rare" gasses when compared to Hydrogen, Oxygen and Nitrogen, the relative volume of these gasses in the Earth's Atmosphere does not imply that the Noble gasses are "scarce", only comparatively more difficult (read: expensive) to isolate than the more common gasses. This is the case with neodymium, it is a "rare metal", but it is certainly not "scarce".
Anyway, I wouldn't worry a lot about the "chicken little" article at TreeHuggers, the cost of electricity and fossil fuels are going to have a larger impact on the price of neodymium magnets than the relative supply of neodymium bearing ores.
Just My Opinion, LOL
Fish |
|
|
|
ghurd
Average Member
USA
546 Posts |
Posted - 10/06/2009 : 03:08:05
|
I was going to say something there, but it disappeared.
I expect a majority of a neo magnet's cost is profit for the factory, wholesaler, retailer, shipping companies, etc.
Then the costs of labor, manufacturing, packaging, etc.
If neo was to quadruple I doubt the cost of a finished neo in your hand would be much more.
Many products use neos because it results in a cheaper product. (such as reducing copper costs)
I am surprised at how little neo is used in more modern items.
The old "#29" surplus neo HD magnets were about 1.8 x 1.5 x 0.25", and there were 2 per HD. 1.35 cubic inches.
Newer HDs have one magnet about 1 x 0.4 x 0.1" average, and new production is probably smaller. About 0.04 cubic inches.
Laptop HDs have very tiny little neos.
It used to be a good day on ebay to find a 100 neos listed.
Today shows 2100.
And a lot cheaper than they were a couple years ago! And the strength is increased. Makes me cringe to think how much I paid for all these 100's of various "extra" (meaning unused) N35s, compared to how cheap the same sized N50s are today.
China is in it for the money. If there is a profitable demand, they will produce and mine faster!
At least that's my take on it.
G-
|
|
|
|
MattM
Junior Member
USA
216 Posts |
Posted - 11/06/2009 : 05:17:52
|
Sounds a lot like business. Lately as you all know the work is slowing down all across the U.S.A. and a lot of people are out of work. I spend a modest amount of time planning out job materials and laying out how to tackle projects. Its pretty normal that I can save our company (or the customer for that matter) some money on labor and put a little more material into a project at times. But since work is what it is today it keeps the guys on the crew working by using less material. Figure we can either pitch to the customer how much he or she saves in material, or the pitch could be about saving effort which is the real cost multiplier.
If work was stacking up I'd just as soon save a dime putting a nickel more of material into a piece than what I'd spend on an extra quarter man-hour. The guys just don't see why they get sent on jobs that require mindless repetitions when its easier doing things other ways; I'm keeping them busy when they could be sitting in an unemployment line instead.
Figure neos are one of those things that will scale rather uniformly with its cousin, enamel-coated electrical wire. If they fitter with one end then the other will have to hover at its price point. And vice versa. Fiddle with both costs and the demand will dry up.
Go Huskers! |
Edited by - MattM on 11/06/2009 05:18:57 |
|
|
|
Capt Slog
Junior Member
United Kingdom
262 Posts |
Posted - 26/06/2009 : 10:13:01
|
| I know just how you feel Ben. |
|
|
|
gotwind
Forum Admin
United Kingdom
1565 Posts |
Posted - 26/06/2009 : 16:53:51
|
Yes, sorry about deleting that topic Capt, I did email you an explaination - negative publicity of small wind power generation e.t.c
Ben. |
|
|
|
larrylawrencejr
New Member
USA
95 Posts |
Posted - 02/07/2009 : 21:38:56
|
quote:
Originally posted by gotwind
Bit of a rant. sorry.
My last 2 posts on the otherpower (fieldlines) forum have been simply deleted.
Just getting a bit peed off with a certain trigger happy moderator, starts with T.
Don't get me wrong, I love the Fieldlines forum, some real experience and knowledge to be learnt from.
However, my latest post, was a point towards a Treehugger article regarding the over dependency/ demand on rare earth neo magnets in wind turbines and electric cars e.t.c
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009/06/goodbye-fossil-fuel-dependence-hello-rare-earth-dependence.php
Seemed reasonable enough to me, worthy of discussion - it lasted 10 minutes before it was deleted.
Oh well, lucky we have our own forum with me moderating, hopefully with a little more tolerance.
Maybe, I suspect Fieldlines started out small like Gotwind and became too big to manage by one person, allowing many personalities to clash on opinions of what’s topical/ acceptable.
I feel better now
Ben.
You know I posted a couple of times also on that site and then the next day my posts were gone! At first I thought that maybe I hit the wrong button but nope someone is delete happy over there. That is okay with me. I will stick with GotWind.org. They can kiss my hairy white A** ;-)
http://larrylawrencejr.com
Taking One Day At A Time |
|
|
|
Fused
Starting Member
USA
2 Posts |
Posted - 06/07/2009 : 12:25:10
|
Fieldlines is a great site.
Its apparently not bad enough that it will stop people from asking questions when they need answers!
Fused
|
|
|
|
gotwind
Forum Admin
United Kingdom
1565 Posts |
Posted - 06/07/2009 : 21:58:13
|
Fused.
As I said at the top of this post.
'Don't get me wrong, I love the Fieldlines forum, some real experience and knowledge to be learnt from'.
I visit daily myself.
Ben. |
|
|
|
larrylawrencejr
New Member
USA
95 Posts |
Posted - 08/07/2009 : 04:04:11
|
quote:
Originally posted by Fused
Fieldlines is a great site.
Its apparently not bad enough that it will stop people from asking questions when they need answers!
Fused
Sounds like you got some personal interest in the site. I disagree with you! Since they have done this to me more them once I will no longer visit their site. In case you have not seen or looked there are other such forums......gotwind.org for example.
http://larrylawrencejr.com
Taking One Day At A Time |
|
|
|
Fused
Starting Member
USA
2 Posts |
Posted - 08/07/2009 : 12:36:06
|
I have personal interest in power generation, not a public site. Disagree all you like. Everything deleted at fieldlines has had a reason, you could even read why they did it. Most always, they tell you why. People ask questions they could simply look up for themselves.
"n case you have not seen or looked there are other such forums......gotwind.org for example."
Did you happen to notice that I posted here? I may have already found it.
Fact is, when you run into questions you cant find a answer to, head to fieldlines. Even Ben does, I guess you missed it, beings you dont read it. lol
Strikes me funny to bash a site then go there to ask questions.
But, like Ben says, he visits fieldlines daily.
When I need facts, I head to fieldlines myself.
Fused |
|
|
|
super windy
Junior Member
292 Posts |
Posted - 08/07/2009 : 18:32:43
|
Guys guys guys, lets put a stop to it, both sites have their own merits, I must admit that otherpower is more for the experienced; and I have also had stuff deleted, for no reason, but do consider it the "guru" for home made generators, mainly due to the people there, like ghurd, flux, etc..
Gotwind for me anyway is more like my local bar or pub, i came here because I like the easy attitude that bens has, and to see what old, and new members are up to?
If you can't reach a compromise you can always come to windchasers.eu .
super windy
|
|
|
|
Topic |
|
Pointless posting on Fieldlines - for me anyway
Topic Locked