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 Posted: Fri Oct 13, 2006 5:53 am Post subject: Thinking things Electric |
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From: Speedy11(at)aol.com
Date: Tue, 10 Oct 2006 13:09:04 EDT
Subject: Re: Thinking things electic
To: aeroelectric-list(at)matronics.com
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I'm not sure if Dr. Dunham intended eclectic or electric
in the subject line, but both would have been appropriate.
I still am not convinced that we must all be so trained on electrics
as to be able to derive all electrical answers from our base knowledge.
Sometimes we don't need the huge foundation of knowledge. To use
Dr. Dunham's example, my grandmother knew how to treat a sore throat
(she completed the fourth grade), yet she had virtually no knowledge
of medical techniques.
Absolutely! There are no imperatives for the depth of
knowledge to which one should aspire in setting the course
for life beyond the minimum necessary for self-sufficiency.
I'm not trying to put down Dr. Dunham, I'm just saying we don't
always need to know everything in order to accomplish a relatively
simple task. But, occasionally, we need confirmation from someone
who has that knowledge.
Yup, virtually all of us use the services of folks who
specialize in certain talents and resources to support
our occasional need. I never used a mechanic much 20 years
ago but find it's not a good use of my time to do
the things my mechanic does for me today.
We need someone who will look at our electrical plans, and
instead of saying study Z-99 and come back tomorrow, give us
advice on how to best implement OUR desired plan.
And many do DESIRE that service . . . I get dozens of
packages in the mail and email every year from folks
who may or may not have studied any of the Z-figures
with the hope that I'll study his/her plan and suggest
places where the bugs are hiding.
In many cases, their understanding and skill of the
language and syntax (symbols and drawings) are such that
it would take a lot of hours to achieve a lucid understanding
of the proposed system.
After I do a load plan and draw my schematics I need someone trained
(large knowledge base) in electrics to analyze my concept and help
me find errors.
Say I were to purchase a little successful grocery store,
would it be wise to completely re-arrange the order
of things in the room . . . or would it be a good idea to
study and understand why things are placed where
they are? Some large retailers spend gazillions of
dollars in with human factors geeks studying the
ways to optimize product flow off the shelves. A
little mom-n-pop grocery store didn't have a big
marketing budget, but perhaps they fiddled with
changes and observed their effects over the years
so that when I came along at their retirement, the
business being offered had already benefited from
optimization.
EVERY time I begin a new design task, I've found
it useful to study and understand the history
of what's gone before. There are often times perfectly
good wheels that do not need re-inventing . . .
along with design features worthy of replacement
because of poor diligence on the part of earlier
designers and/or technology obsolescence.
This is why the z-figures were crafted. The notion
was that having selected an architecture for the
operational and redundancy features, then all that
remained was to specify appliances, wire sizes,
fuse/breaker sizes and what style of switches were
most attractive. Probability of intractable error
is small.
This is why my consistent suggestion to new builders
is to "pick a z-figure that most closely matches what
you believe your design goals to be . . . then let's
talk about modifications fix any perceived shortfalls."
More often than not, perceived shortfalls are not
founded on simple-ideas or useful operational
features and can be disregarded. The z-figures
were never intended to be a collection of dreams
pulled from where the sun don't shine. They've
evolved over the years and have become rather stable
today because "mom-n-pop have been making considered
re-arrangements of cans on the shelves". Further
decisions for changes are limited to what sizes of
cans and perhaps what brands to stock.
I am willing to pay for such advice and I suspect others are
willing to do the same. In many cases, builders don't have the
time or desire to learn it all.
Quite correct. And there was a time when I thought
it would be a nice adjunct to my business to offer
custom wirebook services. I hung out the shingle
and in a few months of minimal advertising, I had
a backlog of work that I'd never dig out of. Problem
was, the work was very much like that which many of
my contemporaries are occupied with . . . pushing
around large piles of paper. I can do it but it's
the last thing I want to do in spite of the fact
that it paid very well.
STILL, Dr. Dunham makes me think. His is the best argument
I've seen on this forum in favor of in-depth learning as opposed
to adequate knowledge.
I commend you for your thoughts.
I think I'll rethink my own thoughts and try to implement some of your
thoughts.
How's that for eclectic?
But, I am serious when I say that. I will strive to think more
instead of depending on others to do my electrical thinking.
Until I reach that level of learning (I may never reach it),
any electrical experts out there willing to help me analyze my
electrical?
I don't go into McDonalds expecting to order a t-bone
and I don't expect Subway to offer a cheesburger and fries.
But I patronize either on occasion . . . with fully
informed expectations of what is offered in exchange
for my $time$.
There are numerous folks here on the list who are
most capable and willing to offer good critical review
and advice. Scan your drawings and post them. I don't
take up any tasks that come in through my mail-boxes but
I will do tasks that come up in this forum . . . that
is what's offered on the menu in this intellectual restaurant.
I'll pay a 3 month electrical advice retainer such that I can call
and send emails for advice. Bob?
Save your money and instead invest the $time$ necessary
to communicate your ideas to the group. You're swapping
dollars expended to hire "expert" advice for $time$ to
exploit the collective talents of those who choose to
"dine" here. The end product (your airplane) will probably
be better and your participation will leave a legacy
of expanded understanding for those who participate
and observe . . . to my mind a MUCH better return on
investment.
Bob . . .
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