Effective use of natural sunlight in a habitat.

> From: Xenophile
> You wouldn't have a 10 Kw switch. You'd have 10,000 one-watt
> switches. Or, if we use the micron fibers Ian Wollard has me thinking
> about now, you'd have a million 0.001 watt switches.

But it will all take place in the same four inch square box, which has to
contain the heat if it all goes pear shaped. How much will these fancy
nano-switches cost? How will you open the million micro switches without a
secondary source of electricity? I mentioned common elements earlier, but
cost is also a factor. Is this really going to be cheaper?

> > How would it function safely and effectively?
>
> The best engineering the private and public sectors together can come
> up with.

In other words no one has any ideas how it might be done? ;)
High power switching gear is needed for any kinds of mains supply though. To
say nothing of low power switches and fuse substitutes. Until that is
solved, I feel the optical approach (in domestic and many industrial
applications) is a complete non starter.

> > What engineering would be required to run a 10kW optic-wire through
> > a room with humans (or other flammable material) in it, with the
> > same level of safety they'd gain from the current method of 'dual
> > 10mm2 + earth'?
>
> Well, in most cases

Given. But I was not asking about 'most cases'.

> The 10 Kw wire would be a rare and special thing, and thus
> could use more expensive safety features.

Most houses have two 10kW suplies, for hobs or ovens, and for the shower.
How could this be safely installed? Or possible *could* this be safely
installed?

John