Nexus - 0107 - New Times Magazine-pages

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... PO(,QeF ;:;'(J/I( tkte P{Met ate with a commercial venture. Much of their time seems to be spent advising people -work­ Back in the '70's (or was it the '60's) alternative energy sources seemed a ing out the best possible system for each indi­trifle impractical -just another pie-in-the-sky hipp~e rave. Either too messy vidual's needs. (all that smelly pig-shit required for methane power) or just too expensive. The standard set-up that they offer is usu­But we're almost into the '90's now, and the Nimbin-based Rainbow Power ally a combination of solar and water or wind Company hasbeen producing andmarketing a number oflow-cost, reliable generated power. Depending on the sunlight alternative power set-ups for several years. NEIl. PIKE takes a closer look. A , you get, how regularly your creek dries up, whether ornotyouliveonahilletc. they design s that howling Nor'-Easterly blows out your candle for the a system thatlighlS your house, runs your ghetto-blaster and makes a umpteenth time just as you're about to put the kids to bed, it banana smoothie as well. Ifyou're really feeling degenerate (or just certainly would be much simpler just to flick a switch than too tired to meditate), whack on an extra solar panel and ballery, sit mess around in the dark trying to fmd matches, Yes. it's a tough life back and watch the latest videos on your 12 volt colour telly. on the farm. With a modular hi-fi system and a low-voltage washing machine Conversely (for all you urban dwellers or those close enough to in the offing. the Rainbow Power Company is atthe foreferont ofecol­ the power lines to plug into the machine), don't you sometimes wish ogically sane power creation. If we want to make a difference to the !Jut you could just stop paying the County Council its tri-monthly greenhouse effect we must reduce our reliance on the power grid um­ ransom andstillenjoy theluxury ofadaily carrot juice tothestrains bilical cord -inthecountry orthecity, wiring uptolow-voltage high­ of your latest ambient music tape (without the balleries on your performance power thatnature prov idesforyoumakes great sense en­ cassette player going flat)? virorunentally and economically. These systems work * "Sounds great" you may say. squinting at this article through candle-light. 'out who can afford that kind ofdecadence?" The simple truth of the maller is these days anyOfle can. For the last few years. (without the benefit ofgovern­ ment funding or multi-national backing) a small group of Rainbow Power Company Pty Ltd. dedicated techno-freaks on the New South Wales North ......,...~ p.o. Box 217Nimbin 248Coast has been manufacturing and selling a variety of al­ ternative power systems at an alarmingly cheap rate. For (066)89143roughly a grand the Rainbow Power Company in Nimbin offers us the option of kissing electricity bills goodbye • DEEP CYCLE BATTERI'ESwhile still enjoying the convenience of plug-in anything. Soone.r orlater ofcourse. thecoal companies willgetwind • RECliARCEABLE TORcHES of it, and that'll be the end of that. But meanwhile ... • SOLAR ELECTRIC SYSTEMS The Rainbow Power Company is the brain-child of • SPECtALISINC IN HICH­ long-term Nimbin resident, Peter Van der Wyck. More MUllifAdure Uld ul. EFFICIENCY UCHTINC widely known as Peter Pedals, he first came to the public of approprlae Rome enersY ay.tema eye when the Amerikan TV show That's Inaedible! ran a Illl"-'lIr,ID lll;It'feature on him and his various "pedal-powered" appli­A RtCltARC(R IASI ances. \ !J-.+::l. ~/ 0 I""PI;""! IPeter had hooked up a stationary bicycle to a genera­~"'" JAt·f·"'I!\·-]::i!. 1.IQl rili!c' .j ,i~,e (j­ tor and battery and through .a moder$:' amount of daily ~ . I \: s,o pedaling was able to power his home lighting system and t:.~lJ . a number of appliances including a juicer and grinder. cablos No. APIAlO2 Despite this international coverage, his resourceful and il2v rechargeableingenious inventions never quite captured the public A must for anyone spending time at night' out bush', imagination (due inpart, perhaps, tothe"raton atreadmill" mixer set arechargeable torch thatlasts thedistance and out· nature of many people's lives). • $35 SPECIAL. shines its rivals. Has a 4 amp-hour sealed lead-add battery which allows for l1'ouble free, safe operation But Peter continued to nurture his dream of low-cost, in any position. The built-in intelligent charging cir­ alternative power and proceedcd to gather acoterie oflike­ cuit prevents overchaging and protects against re­ Price list minded individuals around him. By 1987 this group, with verse polarity. It comes with a bright Krypton-gas fJlled light bulb and charging lead to plug into a 12 enough dedication, creativity and knowledge to make the available volt power source. Water resistant. dream a reality, had banded together. The Rainbow Power 240 Volt ChoUSer for the Rainbow LanternPOS.iKe & HandlinsCompany Pty Ltd was formed and set up shop in Nirnbin. c.flIlSll No. APX-003 The folks at Rainbow Power seem to have a certain We have decided to dlspatch all orders by C.O.D. to . avoid any unnecessary~nse and compllcation in dedication (even zealotry) that one doesn't usually associ­~ngona~ rates. NEXUS New Times Seven ~ Summer 1989 25