For those interested in big moves.

[boxhead]

I just got sent these pics from Darwin.
They are replacing the power generators in Alice Springs, they where built and assembled in Darwin and the first one has left for its trip, there are 2 more coming next month.
Three prime movers, 2 pulling and one pushing.
Generator weighs 360 - 370 tonnes.
Trailer 70m long 18 axles x 12 tyres each row.
News paper reported it as 5 metres wide and will average 40 - 80kph.

[iva bigan]

Thanks Boxhead.
I love this sort of stuff. i watched this monster make its way from the williamstown football ground to the altona refinery.http://www.exxonmobil.com/Australia-...60th_anniv.pdf
Back in the days of film cameras, see if i can upload photos somehow.
It was built in japan and somehow unloaded onto a wharf and onto the low loader.
It was secured at the front of the low loader and at the rear it was balanced on a large ball to allow the low loader drive over roundabouts and curbs.

[Merv and Sharon]

I'll bet that they don't get speeding tickets!

[Modena]

I saw something exactly like this on the way back from Shelbyfest on the Saturday - caused havoc with traffic on the Hume. I dont know if it was the same move, I would guess not, but I remember even more trucks pushing and pulling. Didn't get any pics unfortunately.

I wondered at the time what the hell could be so big and heavy, now I know, thanks Boxhead!

[Mrs flatchat]

I think it's a stroker, probably a 347--thousand cubic inches

[*Cobber*]

Thanks for posting, your going to need a fair old chassis in the cobra to bolt one of those suckers in. But on the scale of marine power plants these are babies and would hardly rate as the starter motor.

MAN 10 megawatt units by the looks of it. I hope you are going to run them on Ngas or the old fuel bowser will get a work out.

I'm surprised Alice doesn't have a solar steam power plant, I couldn't think of a better place to build one.

[boxhead]

Originally Posted by *Cobber*

Thanks for posting, your going to need a fair old chassis in the cobra to bolt one of those suckers in. But on the scale of marine power plants these are babies and would hardly rate as the starter motor.

MAN 10 megawatt units by the looks of it. I hope you are going to run them on Ngas or the old fuel bowser will get a work out.

I'm surprised Alice doesn't have a solar steam power plant, I couldn't think of a better place to build one.

They are installing 3 of these south of town.
Radio reports said they may arrive in town later today, but most likely tomorrow morning.
They have advised it will take 4 hours to drive from north end of town and through the gap.

Yes solar would be the smartest way to go, and there are huge insentives to go solar at home. I am close to signing on the dotted line.
And pricing seems very good (full house system is less than $2k)

[SoTxButler]

boxhead....tell us about the $2,000 whole house system. I would do that.

[boxhead]

Hi there Russ, not as straight forward as they make out on the radio.
The $2k units actually only supply 1/4 to 1/3 of the average house hold supply.
there are no batteries as the power is chanelled straight back into power grid.
There are different sized units at higher pricing, the pricing is set so that the average household will have paid for the cost of the unit after 8 years of power savings.
They come with a 25 year warranty on all parts including solar panels and invertors.

So it all depends on how long you plan on staying at the same location and not moving house.

My wife and I have been talking about it and the new radio adds spiked our intrest (as well as a spike in the last power bill we got.)
Last power bill was double normal usage.
The $2k unit at previous usage (all bills apart from last one) would cover 50% of my normal usage, so in theory would have paid for itself after 10 quarterly bills (4 years)
But I would still get a bill from Power and Water every quarter as I am only supplying half my normal needs.
And on top of all of that the "average usage" is calculated at the Australian average, which is 6.5 hours of sunlight each day each year.
In Alice Springs we are blessed with an average over 8.5 hours per day every year.

Hope I explained it.

[Rob. Smith]

G'Day Boxhead,
Who's the supplier ? I'd like to contact them for more info... our suppliers in the east (NSW) want something in the range of 30 to 50 grand for a system.

[boxhead]

This is the one I got my quote from.
http://www.conergy.com.au/

I have rung these guys.
http://www.eco-kinetics.com/alicesprings.html
but have not had a return call as promised.

[boxhead]

The generator made its way through town yesterday arvo, Sadly I was actually too busy to go and get some snaps.

Hope to catch the next 2.

[Towmaster]

Originally Posted by Mrs flatchat

I think it's a stroker, probably a 347--thousand cubic inches

Nice one Mr Possum!!!! Could be 363............ thousand cubic inches.....

[martrogers]

Solar:

I just had 1.5 kW installed for $4k. The feed in tariff for NSW is 66c /kwH so I reckon it will pay off including interest in 3 yrs. Too good to miss.


Loader:

Cant imagine what good al those wheels near the back are doing, cant imagine the chassis is stiff enough to transmit much load to them.

[Mrs flatchat]

It's a really nice road between Darwin and Alice --now it will be nicely padded down with all those rollers

hey Ash, was there something RED troubling your mirrors at the weekend with only .302 thousand tired cubic inches

[*13*]

Do they make it in an Aluminum version?

Where there's a will, there's a way! Cool to see these type of feats accomplished. Fun stuff!