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From Power the . Power From the Planet ate with a commercial venture. Much of their 'Back in the ‘70's (or was it the '60’s) alternative energy sources seemed a ff timeseems tobe spent advising people - work- trifle impractical - just another pie-in-the-sky hippie rave. Either too messy (all that smelly pig-shit required for methane power) or just too expensive. ing out the best possible system for each indi- vidual's needs. The standard set-up that they offer is usu- ally a combination of solar and water or wind generated power. Depending on the sunlight you get, how regularly your creek dries up, whether or not you live on a hill etc, they design But we're almost into the '90's now, and the Nimbin-based Rainbow Power Company has been producing and marketing a number of low-cost, reliable alternative power set-ups for several years. NEIL PIKE takes a closer look. s that howling Nor'-Easterly blows out your candle for the a system that lights 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. If you'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 battery, sit mess around in the dark trying to find 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 at the foreferontof ecol- 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 that you could just stop paying the County Council its tri-monthly greenhouse effect we must reduce our reliance on the power grid um- ransom and still enjoy the luxury of a daily carrot juice to the strains bilical cord - in the country or the city, wiring up to low-voltage high- of your latest ambient music tape (without the batteries on your performance power that nature provides for you makes great sense en- cassette player going flat)? vironmentally and economically. These systems work ¥ "Sounds great" you may say, squinting at this article through candle-light. "but who can afford that kind of decadence?" The simple truth of the matter is these days anyone can. For the last few years, (without the benefit of govern- ment funding or multi-national backing) a small group of Rainbow Power Compa ny Pty Ltd. dedicated techno-freaks on the New South Wales North . Coast has been manufacturing and selling a variety of al- ey PO. Box 2 ] la Ni mbi n 248 ternative power systems at an alarmingly cheap rate. For ‘My vay roughly a grand the Rambow Power Company in Nimbin f “ (0 66) 89 ] 43 ¢ offers us the option of kissing electricity bills goodbye * while still enjoying the convenience of plug-in anything. DEEP CYCLE BATTERIES Sooner or later of course, the coal companies will get wind * RECHARGEABLE 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 4 * SPECIALISING IN HIGH- long-term Nimbin resident, Peter Van der Wyck. More Manufacture and sales EFFICIENCY LIGHTING widely known as Peter Pedals, he first came to the public of appropriate eye when the Amerikan TV show That's Incredible! ran a Eat CnaRy S7ntaae feature on him and his various "pedal-powered" appli- oe ae ances. Cumann Peter had hooked up a stationary bicycle to a genera- {i BAW CL tor and battery and through a moderate amount of daily ay = pedaling was able to power his home lighting system and A) a number of appliances including a juicer and grinder. Catalog No. APL-002 Despite this international coverage, his resourceful and ingenious inventions never quite captured the public Iv rechargeable A must for anyone spending time at night ‘out bush’, imagination (due in part, perhaps, to the “raton a treadmill" mixer set a rechargeable torch that lasts the distance and out- nature of many people's lives). *S 35 SPECIAL * a ade a a pe eon eee But Peter continued to nurture his dream of low-cost, A 4 = “ype: The built-in hnigiiteest oe pa alternative power and proceeded to gather a coterie of like- Price list cuit prevents overchaging and protects against re- minded individuals around him. By 1987 this group, with . verse polarity. It comes with a bright Krypton-gas enough dedication, creativity and knowledge to make the available er Sp ey wena ee are le dreain a reality, had banded together. The Rainbow Power 240 Spe Gargor aoe Rainier Lassen Company Pty Ltd was formed and set up shop in Nimbin. Postage & Handling Catalog No. APX-003 $ 17 The folks at Rainbow Power seem to have a certain J We have decided to dispatch all orders by C.O.D. to * avoid any unnecessary expense and complication in deciding on appropriate rates. dedication (even zealotry) that one doesn't usually associ- NEXUS New es Seven - Summer 1989 ate with a commercial venture. Much of their Back in the '70’s (or was it the '60’s) alternative energy sources seemed a [f_timeseemstobe spent advising people - work- trifle impractical - just another pie-in-the-sky hippie rave. Either too messy (all that smelly pig-shit required for methane power) or just too expensive. ing out the best possible system for each indi- vidual's needs. The standard set-up that they offer is usu- ally a combination of solar and water or wind generated power. Depending on the sunlight you get, how regularly your creek dries up, whether or not you live on a hill etc, they design But we're almost into the '90's now, and the Nimbin-based Rainbow Power Company has been producing and marketing a number of low-cost, reliable alternative power set-ups for several years. NEIL PIKE takes a closer look. s that howling Nor'-Easterly blows out your candle for the a system that lights 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. If you'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 battery, sit mess around in the dark trying to find 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 at the foreferontof ecol- 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 that you could just stop paying the County Council its tri-monthly greenhouse effect we must reduce our reliance on the power grid um- ransom and still enjoy the luxury of a daily carrot juice to the strains bilical cord - in the country or the city, wiring up to low-voltage high- of your latest ambient music tape (without the batteries on your performance power that nature provides for you makes great sense en- cassette player going fl vironmentally and economically. These systems work ¥ Wnnoea din os i eee ee ee s that howling Nor'-Easterly blows out your candle for the a system that lights 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. If you'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 battery, sit mess around in the dark trying to find 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 at the foreferontof ecol- 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 that you could just stop paying the County Council its tri-monthly greenhouse effect we must reduce our reliance on the power grid um- ransom and still enjoy the luxury of a daily carrot juice to the strains bilical cord - in the country or the city, wiring up to low-voltage high- of your latest ambient music tape (without the batteries on your performance power that nature provides for you makes great sense en- cassette player going flat)? vironmentally and economically. These systems work ¥ "Sounds great" you may say, squinting at this article through candle-light. "but who can afford that kind of decadence?" The simple truth of the matter is these days anyone can. For the last few years, (without the benefit of govern- : ment funding or multi-national backing) a small group of Rainbow Power Compa ny Pty Ltd. dedicated techno-freaks on the New South Wales North = > ‘ e Coast has been manufacturing and selling a variety of al- aE SS PO. Box 2: ] i Ni mbi n 248 ternative power systems at an alarmingly cheap rate. For aan, (0 66) 89 i 4 3 0) roughly a grand the Rambow Power Company in Nimbin offers us the option of kissing electricity bills goodbye while still enjoying the convenience of plug-in anything. * DEEP CYCLE BATTERIES Sooner or later of course, the coal companies will get wind is * RECHARGEABLE 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 4 * SPECIALISING IN HIGH- long-term Nimbin resident, Peter Van der Wyck. More Manufacture and sales EFFICIENCY LIGHTING widely known as Peter Pedals, he first came to the public of appropriate eye when the Amerikan TV show That's Incredible! ran a Eat CnaRy S7ntaae feature on him and his various "pedal-powered" appli- oe ae ances. tousnceame | yg Peter had hooked up a stationary bicycle to a genera- Sag si) ep cle tor and battery and through a moderate amount of daily et } pedaling was able to power his home lighting system and gat a number of appliances including a juicer and grinder. Catalog No. APL-002 Despite this international coverage, his resourceful and ingenious inventions never quite captured the public Iv rechargeable A must for anyone spending time at night ‘out bush’, imagination (due in part, perhaps, to the “raton a treadmill" mixer set a rechargeable torch that lasts the distance and out- nature of many people's lives). *S 35 SPECIAL * a ade a a pe eon eee But Peter continued to nurture his dream of low-cost, A 4 = “ype: The built-in hnigiiteest oe pa alternative power and proceeded to gather a coterie of like- Price list cuit prevents overchaging and protects against re- minded individuals around him. By 1987 this group, with . verse polarity. It comes with a bright Krypton-gas enough dedication, creativity and knowledge to make the availab le pr ce ee are le dreain a reality, had banded together. The Rainbow Power a : Company Pty Ltd was formed and set up shop in Nimbin. Postage & Handling .. pe on: $ 17 The folks at Rainbow Power seem to have a certain J We have decided to dispatch all orders by C.O.D. to * Ly. ‘ A avoid any unnecessary expense and complication in dedication (even zealotry) that one doesn't usually associ- deciding on appropriate rates. NEXUS New es Seven - Summer 1989 * DEEP CYCLE BATTERIES * RECHARGEABLE TORCHES * SOLAR ELECTRIC SYSTEMS * SPECIALISING IN HIGH- Price list available SE EFFICIENCY LIGHTING Postage & Handling