Effective use of natural sunlight in a habitat.

--- In spacesettlers, "ANTIcarrot" wrote:

>> 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.

Well, yeah, if it ALL goes pear shaped. I really don't know a lot
about exactly how things would be done. I'm throwing it out there and
seeing if any optical spaghetti sticks to the wall.

> How much will these fancy nano-switches cost?

MEMS should be small enough. Though now that I think about it, it
could be a simple as a shade at the supply end that moves to cover the
input of half the fibers. It might not be necessary for each fiber to
have it's own switch after all. This needs more thought.

> How will you open the million micro switches without a secondary
> source of electricity?

Why can't you have a secondary source of electricity? Opening and
closing a microswitch should be more stingy of electricity than
providing a continuous 0.1 watt of broad-spectrum light.

> I mentioned common elements earlier, but cost is also a factor. Is
> this really going to be cheaper?

I don't know. I think it might be.

>>> 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? ;)

In other words I don't know how it might be done. Again, I'm just
adding it to the soup of ideas.

> 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.

Probably true. Is it a reasonable problem to expect a solution to?
Habitats have several engineering challenges, and this might be a
small one compared to some others.

>>> 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?

idk
Maybe have ten 1 Kw wires that meet where they are needed? Maybe a
thicker insulation coat on those two?

And even if it turns out to be the dumbest idea ever for cooking,
household heating, and heating water, I still think it could have a
place in simply brightening up a room... or a greenhouse.