"The Natural Philosopher" wrote in message
...
Andy Hall wrote:

On 15 Aug 2004 15:22:26 -0700, (steve) wrote:


With reference to recent threads mostly about power tools and the
price
verses value issues that always seem to arise I thought I would put
down a
few words and it isn't pro or anti any one person just a few
observations in
general



The constant things in these threads is, is there a need to go for the
best
as in specs or best as in value for money


The answer is there isn't one simple answer


No there isn't.




If specs were the be all and end all then why do Makita/Dewalt still
sell
9.6 volt tools when there are higher spec'd 24 volt ones around. Why
do they
make different rated tools in each voltage band, why do some come with
1.3
ah batts when 3.3 ah batts are available



Because for some tools, 9.6v may be enough. For example, I have a
Makita angle driver which is highly geared. This does not need to
turn rapidly but does need good torque, so 9.6v through a gear box is
a suitable approach.


Look. Its all tosh. You can get as much power from a 3v motor as a 300v
motor. You just put less turns of thicker wire on it.

All this 'voltage' ******** comes from the days when you had crappo SUB
C cells that could do about 10 amps a piece at 1.1v roughly. So you HAD
to use more cells to get up the power. Now you can get - as has been
remarked - 3300 mA/h cells that have been clocked at a little short of
100A. So the voltage has become almost irrelevant. In terms of power
production. Of course in terms of competitive marketing to dimwits like
IMM its probably highly relevant. 'Goes up to 11' and all that. :-)

What are you babbling about? You have been drinking the afternoons again
haven't you?

As far as torque goes, that's why god gave us gearboxes.

I am not saying more.

Best not, as gearboxes are unnecesary with electric motors if the motor is
designed and sized for the work in hand. They are also energy consuming.
There is no need for them in cars if the 4 stoke engine is dropped and
eectronics take over the engine management. Using valves activated by
soleniods not a belt from the crank, on a 4-stoke, the timing can be so that
torque is delivered exactly where and when, eliminating a gearbox.

If the efficiency of the IC engine is improved enough, ior a Stirling used,
it may be used to power an alternator that powers small electric motors on
each wheel. The electric motors are then the "gearbox".