An HID kit, or high intensity discharge kit, can vastly improve the function of your vehicle's aftermarket halo headlights. Halo headlights have a "ring" of light around the main light. This type of projector headlight focuses a beam of light onto the road so that you can see while driving at night. HID kits are available from most auto parts stores and aftermarket specialty shops (sometimes referred to as "speed shops"). When purchasing an HID kit for your vehicle, choose an HID bulb with a brightness between 8,000K and 10,000K for your halo projector headlights.
1 Open the hood of your vehicle and unplug the electrical connector from the back of your halo headlight ballast.
2 Plug the factory electrical plug into the HID kit's ballast,HID xenon kit.
3 Turn the halo halogen bulb counterclockwise and pull it out of the headlight assembly.
4 Align the tabs on the HID bulb with the notches cut in the halo headlight housing.
5 Press the HID bulb into the housing and turn it clockwise to lock it to the housing.
6 Plug the HID ballast into the back of the HID bulb.
2012年2月24日星期五
The Best Parts of a Street Bike
Street bikes, also known as naked bikes, are a very basic type of motorcycle. They resemble dirt bikes but feature parts designed for street driving rather than off-road use. Street bikes also feature smaller engines and fewer accessories than sport bikes or long-distance cruisers, making them among the least-expensive motorcycle options.
Frame
The center of a street bike is its frame. Motorcycle frames are made from welded metal, and street bikes use lightweight construction to achieve a strong frame at a low cost. A street bike's frame includes connecting points for many of its other parts, including the seat, front forks, handlebars and engine mount.
Engine
Street bikes usually employ a dual-cylinder internal combustion gasoline engine. A four-stroke engine is the most common configuration, operating much like a typical car engine with intake, compression, ignition and exhaust cycles. The engine uses one spark plug for each cylinder and two or more valves per cylinder for intake and exhaust. Street bikes may feature either an air-cooled engine, with fins on its cylinders to create more surface area and keep the engine cool while driving, or liquid-cooled engines, with a front radiator and pump system like that found in a car.
Fuel Tank
The fuel tank on a street bike is positioned directly above the engine, in front of the rider. Street bikes feature small fuel tanks that may only hold a few gallons. However, this may give the rider an even greater effective range than the rider of a larger, heavier bike with a larger fuel tank but poorer fuel economy.
Wheels
Street bikes use wheels in the 15-inch to 18-inch range. Wheels may be forged, cast or spoked, and carry rubber tires with rubber inner tubes and a mild tread pattern for on-road driving. So-called hybrid street bikes may come with a more aggressive tread pattern for off-road performance. Each wheel includes a disc brake with a single caliper for slowing the bike.
Seat
A street bike's saddle is usually designed for a single rider, though dual-rider saddles are also available. The seat-and-handlebar configuration place the rider in an upright position with foot pegs directly below the seat. Street-bike seats may include a storage space for tools and often conceal the battery, which powers the onboard electrical system.
Driveline
A street bike uses a chain for its final drive, and a manual transmission with a pedal shifter and handlebar clutch lever. The transmission may include anywhere between three and six gears. The chain drive attaches the transmission, located near the center of the frame, to the rear wheel, which is the drive wheel.
Controls
A street-bike rider has access to a number of controls. These include a foot brake, a hand brake, the pedal shifter and hand clutch. Street bikes also include switches for engaging the headlight and turn signals. Some models may come equipped with a radio, but such amenities are not common on street bikes.
Frame
The center of a street bike is its frame. Motorcycle frames are made from welded metal, and street bikes use lightweight construction to achieve a strong frame at a low cost. A street bike's frame includes connecting points for many of its other parts, including the seat, front forks, handlebars and engine mount.
Engine
Street bikes usually employ a dual-cylinder internal combustion gasoline engine. A four-stroke engine is the most common configuration, operating much like a typical car engine with intake, compression, ignition and exhaust cycles. The engine uses one spark plug for each cylinder and two or more valves per cylinder for intake and exhaust. Street bikes may feature either an air-cooled engine, with fins on its cylinders to create more surface area and keep the engine cool while driving, or liquid-cooled engines, with a front radiator and pump system like that found in a car.
Fuel Tank
The fuel tank on a street bike is positioned directly above the engine, in front of the rider. Street bikes feature small fuel tanks that may only hold a few gallons. However, this may give the rider an even greater effective range than the rider of a larger, heavier bike with a larger fuel tank but poorer fuel economy.
Wheels
Street bikes use wheels in the 15-inch to 18-inch range. Wheels may be forged, cast or spoked, and carry rubber tires with rubber inner tubes and a mild tread pattern for on-road driving. So-called hybrid street bikes may come with a more aggressive tread pattern for off-road performance. Each wheel includes a disc brake with a single caliper for slowing the bike.
Seat
A street bike's saddle is usually designed for a single rider, though dual-rider saddles are also available. The seat-and-handlebar configuration place the rider in an upright position with foot pegs directly below the seat. Street-bike seats may include a storage space for tools and often conceal the battery, which powers the onboard electrical system.
Driveline
A street bike uses a chain for its final drive, and a manual transmission with a pedal shifter and handlebar clutch lever. The transmission may include anywhere between three and six gears. The chain drive attaches the transmission, located near the center of the frame, to the rear wheel, which is the drive wheel.
Controls
A street-bike rider has access to a number of controls. These include a foot brake, a hand brake, the pedal shifter and hand clutch. Street bikes also include switches for engaging the headlight and turn signals. Some models may come equipped with a radio, but such amenities are not common on street bikes.
The Uses of Cranberry Fruit Extract
H. Pylori Infection
H. Pylori is a bacteria that lives in the stomach; sometimes it lives there without causing problems. Other times, people end up developing ulcers because of it, among other stomach issues. The Mayo Clinic explains that early research shows that cranberry might aid in the reduction of the Helicobacter pylori bacteria that live in the stomach, thereby decreasing the chance for ulcers. The use of cranberry fruit extract for this condition also receives a grade of "good" from MayoClinic.com.
Other Uses
MayoClinic.com gives the following uses for cranberry fruit extract a grade of "unclear" as far as evidential proof is concerned; research is being conducted and the extract is being used, however, as a potential treatment: cranberry extract may be used as an antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal. Based on research, cranberry has been recommended as being an option to prevent cancer. There is a possibility that cranberry fruit extract might contribute to preventing the formation of kidney stones. Also, cranberry may not be able to work alone to treat urinary tract infections, but in conjunction with other treatment like antibiotics, it may be helpful.
Role of Silymarin in Diabetes
Improved Liver function leads to improved Diabetes Control
The liver is the first and most important tissue involved with insulin utilization. In secondary diabetes due to liver damage, insulin resistance in particularly pronounced. The reduction in lipid per oxidation produced by silymarin can lead to improved metabolic control and a reduced requirement for endogenous insulin in such patients, as demonstrated by this investigation conducted in Italy.
METHODS
A homogeneous group of 60 patients with diabetes caused by liver cirrhosis who were being traded with insulin were randomly assigned to receive silymarin 600 mg/day or no silymarin for 6 months; all were receiving insulin therapy and had elevated endogenous insulin secretion suggestive on insulin resistance. Additional criteria for inclusion were; age between 45 and 70 year; insulin therapy stable for at least 2 years; negative markers for hepatitis A, B and C; alcohol abstinence for at least 2 years; liver cirrhosis determined on biopsy no earlier than 4 years previously; and class 2 according to the Child classification of cirrhosis. Ranges of measurements were conducted to assess metabolic control, serum lipid levels and liver function throughout the treatment period.
H. Pylori is a bacteria that lives in the stomach; sometimes it lives there without causing problems. Other times, people end up developing ulcers because of it, among other stomach issues. The Mayo Clinic explains that early research shows that cranberry might aid in the reduction of the Helicobacter pylori bacteria that live in the stomach, thereby decreasing the chance for ulcers. The use of cranberry fruit extract for this condition also receives a grade of "good" from MayoClinic.com.
Other Uses
MayoClinic.com gives the following uses for cranberry fruit extract a grade of "unclear" as far as evidential proof is concerned; research is being conducted and the extract is being used, however, as a potential treatment: cranberry extract may be used as an antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal. Based on research, cranberry has been recommended as being an option to prevent cancer. There is a possibility that cranberry fruit extract might contribute to preventing the formation of kidney stones. Also, cranberry may not be able to work alone to treat urinary tract infections, but in conjunction with other treatment like antibiotics, it may be helpful.
Role of Silymarin in Diabetes
Improved Liver function leads to improved Diabetes Control
The liver is the first and most important tissue involved with insulin utilization. In secondary diabetes due to liver damage, insulin resistance in particularly pronounced. The reduction in lipid per oxidation produced by silymarin can lead to improved metabolic control and a reduced requirement for endogenous insulin in such patients, as demonstrated by this investigation conducted in Italy.
METHODS
A homogeneous group of 60 patients with diabetes caused by liver cirrhosis who were being traded with insulin were randomly assigned to receive silymarin 600 mg/day or no silymarin for 6 months; all were receiving insulin therapy and had elevated endogenous insulin secretion suggestive on insulin resistance. Additional criteria for inclusion were; age between 45 and 70 year; insulin therapy stable for at least 2 years; negative markers for hepatitis A, B and C; alcohol abstinence for at least 2 years; liver cirrhosis determined on biopsy no earlier than 4 years previously; and class 2 according to the Child classification of cirrhosis. Ranges of measurements were conducted to assess metabolic control, serum lipid levels and liver function throughout the treatment period.
Silymarin and Liver Disease
Silymarin provided protection against the toxic effects of long-term treatment with psychotropic drugs (used in mental illness) in a randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled clinical study of 60 people. Before the study began, all of the participants had been taking the psychotropic drugs phenothiazine or butyrophenone, or both, for at least 5 years. Subjects were divided into four groups for the 3-month trial: group I took psychotropic drugs and a high dose of silymarin (800 mg per day), group 11 took psychotropics with placebo, group III took silymarin only (800 mg per day), and group IV took placebo. Silymarin provided liver protection to group I by reducing blood levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), an indicator of liver damage that increases during long-term treatment with psychotropics. Not surprisingly, the decrease in MDA levels was even greater in the group taking silymarin alone (group III ). Patients in group II continued to experience rising levels of MDA, whereas those who took placebo had declining MDA levels until the psychotropics were reinstated. There were no adverse effects associated with Milk Thistle treatment.
Alcoholic Liver Disease
A 1981 double-blind study followed 106 Finnish soldiers with mild alcoholic liver disease. In the treated group, there was a significant improvement in liver function as measured by blood tests and biopsy. 19 Another study reported similar results.20 However, a study of 116 participants showed little to no benefit,21 as did another study of 72 people followed for 15 months.
The cranberry extract.
The Uses of Cranberry Extract
The uses of cranberry fruit extract, according to MayoClinic.com, are not limited to the well-known use of treating urinary tract infections in conjunction with other treatment like antibiotics; there are many other uses for which cranberry has been studied. The Mayo Clinic recommends use of cranberry to prevent urinary tract infections; MayoClinic.com also provides information on other medical uses that are still in the process of being researched, but that have shown unclear to good scientifically sound results.
Urinary Tract Infection Prevention
The uses of cranberry fruit extract includes preventing urinary tract infections; according to MayoClinic.com, "the sum total of favorable evidence combined with laboratory research tends to support this use." Though the Mayo Clinic does not specify a particular dose for optimal use, they do know that the extract seems to function by keeping bacteria from sticking to cells that line the bladder. The Mayo Clinic considers the scientific evidence for this use to be "good."
Alcoholic Liver Disease
A 1981 double-blind study followed 106 Finnish soldiers with mild alcoholic liver disease. In the treated group, there was a significant improvement in liver function as measured by blood tests and biopsy. 19 Another study reported similar results.20 However, a study of 116 participants showed little to no benefit,21 as did another study of 72 people followed for 15 months.
The cranberry extract.
The Uses of Cranberry Extract
The uses of cranberry fruit extract, according to MayoClinic.com, are not limited to the well-known use of treating urinary tract infections in conjunction with other treatment like antibiotics; there are many other uses for which cranberry has been studied. The Mayo Clinic recommends use of cranberry to prevent urinary tract infections; MayoClinic.com also provides information on other medical uses that are still in the process of being researched, but that have shown unclear to good scientifically sound results.
Urinary Tract Infection Prevention
The uses of cranberry fruit extract includes preventing urinary tract infections; according to MayoClinic.com, "the sum total of favorable evidence combined with laboratory research tends to support this use." Though the Mayo Clinic does not specify a particular dose for optimal use, they do know that the extract seems to function by keeping bacteria from sticking to cells that line the bladder. The Mayo Clinic considers the scientific evidence for this use to be "good."
Silymarin benefits of milk thistle cleasing
kidney.silymarin Silybin has also been tested in animals for its ability to protect the kidney from damage due to drugs such as the chemotherapeutic agent cisplatin. Results of this research were promising and should be confirmed by clinical studies in humans.
Silybin reduces oxidative damage to kidney cells in vitro. In rats, silybin prevented cisplatin induced nephrotoxicity, but did not prevent cyclosporine-induced glomerular damage except for lipid peroxidation.
What Is Citrus Aurantium Extract?
Citrus aurantium, also known as Bitter Orange or Seville Orange, is a plant used for medicinal purposes in China, South America, India and North America. The leaves, flowers, dried fruit and dried peel are all used for aiding stomach ailments, constipation and supporting the nervous system. Currently, citrus aurantium is used in many weight loss products.
Weight Loss
Citrus aurantium contains the plant chemical, synephrine, which is similar to epinephrine in its chemical structure, and is the reason citrus aurantium has been used in weight loss products after Ephedra was taken off the market. Synephrine stimulates the nervous system, and is used to decrease appetite.
Digestion
Citrus aurantium is used in herbal medicines as a general digestive tonic and can be prescribed for indigestion, constipation, low stomach acid, nausea, flatulence and stomach cramps.
Essential Oil
Citrus aurantium is one of many plants that can be used for the extraction of Orange Blossom oil and Orange Flower water. It also can be found under the name Neroli petalae, though it is far less fragrant than true Neroli oil.
Silybin reduces oxidative damage to kidney cells in vitro. In rats, silybin prevented cisplatin induced nephrotoxicity, but did not prevent cyclosporine-induced glomerular damage except for lipid peroxidation.
What Is Citrus Aurantium Extract?
Citrus aurantium, also known as Bitter Orange or Seville Orange, is a plant used for medicinal purposes in China, South America, India and North America. The leaves, flowers, dried fruit and dried peel are all used for aiding stomach ailments, constipation and supporting the nervous system. Currently, citrus aurantium is used in many weight loss products.
Weight Loss
Citrus aurantium contains the plant chemical, synephrine, which is similar to epinephrine in its chemical structure, and is the reason citrus aurantium has been used in weight loss products after Ephedra was taken off the market. Synephrine stimulates the nervous system, and is used to decrease appetite.
Digestion
Citrus aurantium is used in herbal medicines as a general digestive tonic and can be prescribed for indigestion, constipation, low stomach acid, nausea, flatulence and stomach cramps.
Essential Oil
Citrus aurantium is one of many plants that can be used for the extraction of Orange Blossom oil and Orange Flower water. It also can be found under the name Neroli petalae, though it is far less fragrant than true Neroli oil.
2012年2月16日星期四
Atmel Introduces LED Driver That Enhances LCD TV Picture Quality
SAN JOSE, Calif., Feb. 13, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Atmel? Corporation (Nasdaq: ATML), a leader in microcontroller and touch technology solutions, today announced a new high-performance family of 16-string LED drivers with integrated timing algorithms that improve picture quality of LCD TVs by eliminating 3D ghosting and flickering effects. With these capabilities, the Atmel MSL2164 and Atmel MSL2166 devices are ideal for delivering the most compelling viewing and video gaming experience via new 3D and 2D scrolling backlight TVs.
The LED drivers work seamlessly with Atmel AVR? microcontrollers (MCUs), including the Atmel tinyAVR?, Atmel megaAVR? and Atmel AVR XMEGA? devices. The microcontrollers process timing and dimming instructions, sending this data to the MSL2164 and MSL2166 devices. The AVR devices, along with firmware, provide a total solution that optimizes the entire backlight design, delivering superior performance compared to competitive solutions.
Featuring highest efficiency power management and backlight control along with multiple dimming modes for 3D, scanning and zone dimming edge-lit LCD TVs, the MSL2164 and MSL2166 devices drive up to 16 parallel strings of LEDs and offer comprehensive system and fault management to support high-performance backlight design. With this new driver family, high-end TV OEMs can deliver high screen resolution and greatly enhance picture quality using internal lighting timing algorithms that improve the backlight timing accuracy, with higher resolution vs. other solutions on the market today. At the same time, since OEMs will be able to choose from smaller form factor MCUs, such as tinyAVR devices, they can lower their system overhead.
Historically, TV OEMs have had to calculate the appropriate parameters to effectively illuminate a desired area in the backlight of a display. LED drivers would generate algorithms to set the appropriate string phase to optimize synchronization of the backlight to the LCD panel. Often, OEMs had to perform additional calculations to adjust the string phrase to ensure that the backlight was properly synchronized within the frame refresh. The MSL2164 and the MSL2166, with multiple pulse width modulation (PWM) modes—including forward, inverse, trailing and center—reduce design complexity because the timing algorithms are integrated into the devices. This ensures that the backlight is illuminated at the most optimal moment, when all of the LCD pixels have settled.
"Next-generation TVs, particularly those with 3D displays, demand a different approach towards local dimming," said Girish Ramesh, marketing manager of smart power products at Atmel Corporation. "Our newest LED drivers, the MSL2164 and the MSL2166, with their smart timing algorithms and programmable PWM modes, give OEMs who are developing LED edge-lit TVs a clear advantage in performance, design time and cost."
Minimize Power, Maximize Backlight Performance
The MSL2164 and MSL2166 devices drive external MOSFETs with high current accuracy and string matching. By offering the widest dimming resolution in Atmel's LED driver product family, the devices increase the contrast ratio and reduce power consumption by at least 20% compared to other available solutions.
12-bit PWM string dimming, which allows 4,096 gray scales for an enhanced image
8-bit global intensity dimming
12-bit PWM string phrasing
10-bit digital-to-analog converter (DAC) current control, which increases dimming LED driver control in lower light conditions
8-bit adaptive power correction, which maximizes efficiency of up to 3 string power supplies
An on-chip EEPROM allows OEMs to pre-program key system parameters to allow multiple subframes and reduce overall system design complexity and cost. The LED drivers feature Efficiency Optimizers that adaptively control up to three DC-DC converters that power the LED strings, minimizing power while maintaining LED current accuracy.
Availability and Pricing
Production volumes of the MSL2164 and the MSL2166 are available now, with prices at $5.95 for quantities of 1K.
About Atmel
Atmel Corporation (Nasdaq: ATML) is a worldwide leader in the design and manufacture of microcontrollers, capacitive touch solutions, advanced logic, mixed-signal, nonvolatile memory and radio frequency (RF) components. Leveraging one of the industry's broadest intellectual property (IP) technology portfolios, Atmel is able to provide the electronics industry with complete system solutions focused on industrial, consumer, communications, computing and automotive markets.
The FL7730 is an active PFC controller for single-stage flyback topology application. The device supports both TRIAC and analog dimming. Implemented with Fairchild's unique analog sensing technology, the device can achieve TRIAC dimming control without flicker over the full range of 0 to 100% light output.
The FL7730 and FL7732 combine primary-side regulation and a single-stage PFC topology to minimize total bill-of-material (BOM) count, such as an input electrolytic capacitor and feedback circuitry.
To improve power factor and THD, both devices feature constant on-time control with an internal error amplifier and low bandwidth compensator. Precise Constant Current accuracy/control (± 5 percent) regulates accurate output current, independent of input and output voltage, allowing designers to achieve high and improved lighting quality. Operating frequency is proportionally adjusted by output voltage in both devices to guarantee DCM operation with optimized PF/THD and simpler design.
PF (=0.9), low total harmonic distortion (THD) (Class C) and power efficiency of up to 85 percent for the FL7730 - greater than 85 percent for the FL7732 in non-dimming applications - allows these devices to meet worldwide energy saving regulations.
The LED drivers work seamlessly with Atmel AVR? microcontrollers (MCUs), including the Atmel tinyAVR?, Atmel megaAVR? and Atmel AVR XMEGA? devices. The microcontrollers process timing and dimming instructions, sending this data to the MSL2164 and MSL2166 devices. The AVR devices, along with firmware, provide a total solution that optimizes the entire backlight design, delivering superior performance compared to competitive solutions.
Featuring highest efficiency power management and backlight control along with multiple dimming modes for 3D, scanning and zone dimming edge-lit LCD TVs, the MSL2164 and MSL2166 devices drive up to 16 parallel strings of LEDs and offer comprehensive system and fault management to support high-performance backlight design. With this new driver family, high-end TV OEMs can deliver high screen resolution and greatly enhance picture quality using internal lighting timing algorithms that improve the backlight timing accuracy, with higher resolution vs. other solutions on the market today. At the same time, since OEMs will be able to choose from smaller form factor MCUs, such as tinyAVR devices, they can lower their system overhead.
Historically, TV OEMs have had to calculate the appropriate parameters to effectively illuminate a desired area in the backlight of a display. LED drivers would generate algorithms to set the appropriate string phase to optimize synchronization of the backlight to the LCD panel. Often, OEMs had to perform additional calculations to adjust the string phrase to ensure that the backlight was properly synchronized within the frame refresh. The MSL2164 and the MSL2166, with multiple pulse width modulation (PWM) modes—including forward, inverse, trailing and center—reduce design complexity because the timing algorithms are integrated into the devices. This ensures that the backlight is illuminated at the most optimal moment, when all of the LCD pixels have settled.
"Next-generation TVs, particularly those with 3D displays, demand a different approach towards local dimming," said Girish Ramesh, marketing manager of smart power products at Atmel Corporation. "Our newest LED drivers, the MSL2164 and the MSL2166, with their smart timing algorithms and programmable PWM modes, give OEMs who are developing LED edge-lit TVs a clear advantage in performance, design time and cost."
Minimize Power, Maximize Backlight Performance
The MSL2164 and MSL2166 devices drive external MOSFETs with high current accuracy and string matching. By offering the widest dimming resolution in Atmel's LED driver product family, the devices increase the contrast ratio and reduce power consumption by at least 20% compared to other available solutions.
12-bit PWM string dimming, which allows 4,096 gray scales for an enhanced image
8-bit global intensity dimming
12-bit PWM string phrasing
10-bit digital-to-analog converter (DAC) current control, which increases dimming LED driver control in lower light conditions
8-bit adaptive power correction, which maximizes efficiency of up to 3 string power supplies
An on-chip EEPROM allows OEMs to pre-program key system parameters to allow multiple subframes and reduce overall system design complexity and cost. The LED drivers feature Efficiency Optimizers that adaptively control up to three DC-DC converters that power the LED strings, minimizing power while maintaining LED current accuracy.
Availability and Pricing
Production volumes of the MSL2164 and the MSL2166 are available now, with prices at $5.95 for quantities of 1K.
About Atmel
Atmel Corporation (Nasdaq: ATML) is a worldwide leader in the design and manufacture of microcontrollers, capacitive touch solutions, advanced logic, mixed-signal, nonvolatile memory and radio frequency (RF) components. Leveraging one of the industry's broadest intellectual property (IP) technology portfolios, Atmel is able to provide the electronics industry with complete system solutions focused on industrial, consumer, communications, computing and automotive markets.
LED driver compatible with triac dimming
Fairchild Semiconductor has developed the FL7730 single-stage primary side regulation (PSR) controller with power factor correction (PFC), TRIAC and analog dimming compatibility, as well as the FL7732 for non-dimming applications.The FL7730 is an active PFC controller for single-stage flyback topology application. The device supports both TRIAC and analog dimming. Implemented with Fairchild's unique analog sensing technology, the device can achieve TRIAC dimming control without flicker over the full range of 0 to 100% light output.
The FL7730 and FL7732 combine primary-side regulation and a single-stage PFC topology to minimize total bill-of-material (BOM) count, such as an input electrolytic capacitor and feedback circuitry.
To improve power factor and THD, both devices feature constant on-time control with an internal error amplifier and low bandwidth compensator. Precise Constant Current accuracy/control (± 5 percent) regulates accurate output current, independent of input and output voltage, allowing designers to achieve high and improved lighting quality. Operating frequency is proportionally adjusted by output voltage in both devices to guarantee DCM operation with optimized PF/THD and simpler design.
PF (=0.9), low total harmonic distortion (THD) (Class C) and power efficiency of up to 85 percent for the FL7730 - greater than 85 percent for the FL7732 in non-dimming applications - allows these devices to meet worldwide energy saving regulations.
The finest motorcycles of 2012
Best Cruiser: Harley- Davidson FXS Blackline
Harleys Softail range has long been a favourite, not just of mine, but a vast mob of Kiwi riders in this country. The Blackline is a new version that is arguably the best-looking American bike ever, and it weighs in 30kg lighter thanks to a new frame that better isolates the rider from engine vibration. However, what really makes the Blackie stand out from the Softail pack is the way the rear indicators also do triple-duty as taillights and brake lights. It is an innovative design feature that cleans up the look of the bike along with the paint-it-black-then- lacquer-it theme of the powertrain and other components. If a cruiser's appeal is always to be judged on its looks first and foremost, the $28,300 Blackline will never disappoint.
Best Tourer: BMW R1200GS
BMW might have added a new fully-equipped 1.6 litre, six- cylinder tourer to its catalogue in 2011, but the twin-cylinder R1200GS would still be my first choice for any inter-island trip around this country. Lighter, more agile, and more tolerant of variations in road surfaces, it still is capable of carting lots of stuff with its well-designed hard luggage, and the weather protection bears comparison with its more expensive new showroom rival. Adaptable electronic suspension, a revised boxer-twin engine that both sounds and performs better, and a long list of options (sat-nav, spotlights, kitchen sink and so on) make the $28,302 R1200GS a bike capable of performing a wide range of exploration duties with considerable verve.
Best Sportsbike: Kawasaki ZX-10R
The Japanese fightback for sportsbike supremacy starts here, with a resurgent ZX-10R that is as rideable and refined as its forebears were vicious, demanding and treacherous. The complete about face in the manners of Kawasaki's flagship sportsbike hasn't come at any loss in performance however.
The Ten is faster than ever, with a 190+bhp engine to propel its reduced mass, and terrific brakes and suspension to match. However, the real progress is found in the increased ease with which the rider can extract the Kawasaki's performance.
Best of the best?
The little Honda, for the CBR250R brings some much- needed spark to a sector of the bike market, where mediocrity and stodginess have become the accepted norm.
Frame
The center of a street bike is its frame. Motorcycle frames are made from welded metal, and street bikes use lightweight construction to achieve a strong frame at a low cost. A street bike's frame includes connecting points for many of its other parts, including the seat, front forks, handlebars and engine mount.
Engine
Street bikes usually employ a dual-cylinder internal combustion gasoline engine. A four-stroke engine is the most common configuration, operating much like a typical car engine with intake, compression, ignition and exhaust cycles. The engine uses one spark plug for each cylinder and two or more valves per cylinder for intake and exhaust. Street bikes may feature either an air-cooled engine, with fins on its cylinders to create more surface area and keep the engine cool while driving, or liquid-cooled engines, with a front radiator and pump system like that found in a car.
Fuel Tank
The fuel tank on a street bike is positioned directly above the engine, in front of the rider. Street bikes feature small fuel tanks that may only hold a few gallons. However, this may give the rider an even greater effective range than the rider of a larger, heavier bike with a larger fuel tank but poorer fuel economy.
Wheels
Street bikes use wheels in the 15-inch to 18-inch range. Wheels may be forged, cast or spoked, and carry rubber tires with rubber inner tubes and a mild tread pattern for on-road driving. So-called hybrid street bikes may come with a more aggressive tread pattern for off-road performance. Each wheel includes a disc brake with a single caliper for slowing the bike.
Seat
A street bike's saddle is usually designed for a single rider, though dual-rider saddles are also available. The seat-and-handlebar configuration place the rider in an upright position with foot pegs directly below the seat. Street-bike seats may include a storage space for tools and often conceal the battery, which powers the onboard electrical system.
Driveline
A street bike uses a chain for its final drive, and a manual transmission with a pedal shifter and handlebar clutch lever. The transmission may include anywhere between three and six gears. The chain drive attaches the transmission, located near the center of the frame, to the rear wheel, which is the drive wheel.
Controls
A street-bike rider has access to a number of controls. These include a foot brake, a hand brake, the pedal shifter and hand clutch. Street bikes also include switches for engaging the headlight and turn signals. Some models may come equipped with a radio, but such amenities are not common on street bikes.
Harleys Softail range has long been a favourite, not just of mine, but a vast mob of Kiwi riders in this country. The Blackline is a new version that is arguably the best-looking American bike ever, and it weighs in 30kg lighter thanks to a new frame that better isolates the rider from engine vibration. However, what really makes the Blackie stand out from the Softail pack is the way the rear indicators also do triple-duty as taillights and brake lights. It is an innovative design feature that cleans up the look of the bike along with the paint-it-black-then- lacquer-it theme of the powertrain and other components. If a cruiser's appeal is always to be judged on its looks first and foremost, the $28,300 Blackline will never disappoint.
Best Tourer: BMW R1200GS
BMW might have added a new fully-equipped 1.6 litre, six- cylinder tourer to its catalogue in 2011, but the twin-cylinder R1200GS would still be my first choice for any inter-island trip around this country. Lighter, more agile, and more tolerant of variations in road surfaces, it still is capable of carting lots of stuff with its well-designed hard luggage, and the weather protection bears comparison with its more expensive new showroom rival. Adaptable electronic suspension, a revised boxer-twin engine that both sounds and performs better, and a long list of options (sat-nav, spotlights, kitchen sink and so on) make the $28,302 R1200GS a bike capable of performing a wide range of exploration duties with considerable verve.
Best Sportsbike: Kawasaki ZX-10R
The Japanese fightback for sportsbike supremacy starts here, with a resurgent ZX-10R that is as rideable and refined as its forebears were vicious, demanding and treacherous. The complete about face in the manners of Kawasaki's flagship sportsbike hasn't come at any loss in performance however.
The Ten is faster than ever, with a 190+bhp engine to propel its reduced mass, and terrific brakes and suspension to match. However, the real progress is found in the increased ease with which the rider can extract the Kawasaki's performance.
Best of the best?
The little Honda, for the CBR250R brings some much- needed spark to a sector of the bike market, where mediocrity and stodginess have become the accepted norm.
Parts of a Street Bike
Street bike, also known as naked bikes, are a very basic type of motorcycle. They resemble dirt bikes but feature parts designed for street driving rather than off-road use. Street bikes also feature smaller engines and fewer accessories than sport bikes or long-distance cruisers, making them among the least-expensive motorcycle options.Frame
The center of a street bike is its frame. Motorcycle frames are made from welded metal, and street bikes use lightweight construction to achieve a strong frame at a low cost. A street bike's frame includes connecting points for many of its other parts, including the seat, front forks, handlebars and engine mount.
Engine
Street bikes usually employ a dual-cylinder internal combustion gasoline engine. A four-stroke engine is the most common configuration, operating much like a typical car engine with intake, compression, ignition and exhaust cycles. The engine uses one spark plug for each cylinder and two or more valves per cylinder for intake and exhaust. Street bikes may feature either an air-cooled engine, with fins on its cylinders to create more surface area and keep the engine cool while driving, or liquid-cooled engines, with a front radiator and pump system like that found in a car.
Fuel Tank
The fuel tank on a street bike is positioned directly above the engine, in front of the rider. Street bikes feature small fuel tanks that may only hold a few gallons. However, this may give the rider an even greater effective range than the rider of a larger, heavier bike with a larger fuel tank but poorer fuel economy.
Wheels
Street bikes use wheels in the 15-inch to 18-inch range. Wheels may be forged, cast or spoked, and carry rubber tires with rubber inner tubes and a mild tread pattern for on-road driving. So-called hybrid street bikes may come with a more aggressive tread pattern for off-road performance. Each wheel includes a disc brake with a single caliper for slowing the bike.
Seat
A street bike's saddle is usually designed for a single rider, though dual-rider saddles are also available. The seat-and-handlebar configuration place the rider in an upright position with foot pegs directly below the seat. Street-bike seats may include a storage space for tools and often conceal the battery, which powers the onboard electrical system.
Driveline
A street bike uses a chain for its final drive, and a manual transmission with a pedal shifter and handlebar clutch lever. The transmission may include anywhere between three and six gears. The chain drive attaches the transmission, located near the center of the frame, to the rear wheel, which is the drive wheel.
Controls
A street-bike rider has access to a number of controls. These include a foot brake, a hand brake, the pedal shifter and hand clutch. Street bikes also include switches for engaging the headlight and turn signals. Some models may come equipped with a radio, but such amenities are not common on street bikes.
The humble light bulb has never been so confusing
Behold the humble light bulb: it doesn’t look revolutionary but its invention, refinement and adoption triggered mass literacy and shift work, forever changing our culture and propelling us towards the digital age
It’s also causing us a lot of confusion. Walk down the aisle of your local big box hardware retailer and you’ll find a bewildering selection of bulbs. There’s incandescent, compact-florescent (CFL), florescent, halogen, LED and, coming soon, a new, improved and energy efficient incandescent, just to name a few.
So, which bulb is right for what space in your house? Do the higher costs of the CFL or LED lights pay off in reduced energy costs over their lifetime? What about the health risks posed by the mercury inside CFLs?
Let’s see if we can, er, cast some light on all these and other questions.
The venerable incandescent light bulb is the probably the one most people are most familiar with. Incidentally, it wasn’t invented by Thomas Edison in the late 1800s. He merely refined the design that had been around for 75 years or so and created a distribution system for electricity and lighting which made it more practical and desirable.
The result is a simple design found all over the world, but it’s a notorious energy pig.
The bulbs are cheap to buy but over their lifetime 90 per cent of the energy they consume will be lost as heat, which is why the federal government has been trying to ban them since 2007 and why, as of Jan. 1, they’re been banned in the U.S., China and Europe.
The shock for consumers, however, is that their replacements — compact florescent and LED bulbs — are much more expensive, though they do pay for themselves by consuming less energy over a longer life span.
First, if you’re still buying old bulbs, you’re not breaking any laws. The Canadian federal government has now pushed back the deadline to ban incandescent importation to 2014 and Ontario announced in December it will shelve its own legislation to ban stores from selling them this year.
This shift has also contributed to consumer confusion because there’s an expectation incandescents are about to vanish and some folks are even hoarding supplies.
“It is confusing,” admits Pierrette Leblanc, senior standards engineer at the Office of Energy Efficiency at the National Research Council Canada. “And one of the reasons the government delayed barring imports of incandescent bulbs is so we can bring in a new labelling system which will made it easy for consumers to be informed and clear up the confusion.”
Like food labels, the new labels will have easy-to-read graphics listing the type of bulb, strength of light in lumens (a more practical measurement than watts) and how efficiently it turns power into light and colour balance indexed by a number.
The labels will also note whether the bulb is EnergyStar rated, which will go a long way to illuminating consumer choices, she said. Incidentally, those low wattage bulbs for appliances like fridges and ovens are unaffected.
Currently, the most efficient bulbs on the market are LED Light Emitting Diodes — which are miserly consumers of power but hard on the pocket book, costing $30 or more.
“But they are coming down in price as manufacturers work on them,” said LeBlanc. “And the quality is also improving.”
Still, changing 30 or 40 light bulbs in the average home to LEDs will be an expensive proposition, even with the power savings. The other drawback to LEDs is that while some versions will retrofit to a standard light socket, they are better off in a specifically designed fixture, one that better dissipates the heat, she said.
“The heat and how it is dissipated is what will determine the life cycle of the LED bulb,” she said.
LEDs can last as long as 25,000 hours (that’s about 20 years or more of usage) compared to CFLs at about 10,000, both well ahead of the 1,000 hours the incandescent lasts.
The technology is still developing and what’s in the laboratories now bodes well for the future, she said.
A word of caution, however; Those thinking about switching to LEDs should stick with big brand names, says Rhomney Forbes who runs Light Brigade, a Toronto commercial and residential light designing company.
“I’ve been offered ‘deals’ on LEDs but they just don’t last and the consistency (of colour) isn’t there,” she said.
Forbes said what kind of bulbs we choose and where we use them will determine what kind of light we get. What consumers want is also a matter of taste, adding some of the resistance to replacing incandescent bulbs was that newer bulbs didn’t give off the same warmth.
That’s changing as technologies develop, she said, and the colour temperatures are much better for home lighting but still not to everyone’s taste.
“There’s a difference in how you’d light a contemporary home as opposed to a century home,” he said, noting in the latter there would be more light in the range of fireplaces and candles for a warmer effect.
Our preferences for the “warmth” of incandescents is likely rooted in our cultural reference to the comfort and romanticism of hearth fires and candlelight, not any biological need, she said.
Kitchens, for example, need strong clear lights that render true colours for food preparations, Forbes said. For the most part, we put track lighting or pot lights in but it creates shadows right where the cook is working and that’s where under cabinet lights and LEDs do well.
That said, the CFL remains the most viable option on the market in terms of price and value for most homeowners in most situations, she said.
“Generally, CFLs probably provide the best value (right now),” she said. “Given their cost and energy use and life cycle, they are much more affordable than LEDs and while they may have a shorter life cycle, it’s not so great that the extra cost for LEDs is justified.”
Indeed, CFLs have come a long way. They’ve shed their “scrunched spaghetti” look and are contained in a sphere, are dimmable and generate more lumens, making them an obvious choice for incandescent replacement. They’re a little more expensive but last longer and use less power.
The one drawback is that they contain trace amounts of mercury, which require careful handling if one gets broken. NRC recommends opening a window in the room the clear any vapour and then carefully clean up the broken glass using duct tape or other sticky tape to get small pieces. Broken or burned-out bulbs should be put in a plastic bag. The bag can be disposed off at your local hardware retailer if they have a hazardous materials disposal program, or through your municipal hazardous materials program.
There are still a few other options on the market and newer technologies in the works. halogen bulbs, for example, burn hot but are more energy efficient than incandescent bulbs and popular for track lighting and other specific installation. Even so, manufacturers are developing LED replacements for them along with those for mini floods, known as PAR (parabolic aluminized reflector lamps), which are also common in recessed and track lighting fixtures in bathrooms and kitchens.
In the next couple of years, as the incandescent importation ban takes effect, manufacturers are gearing up to meet the new energy standards —but don’t write off incandescent as defunct.
Philips Lighting last year introduced a high-efficiency incandescent halogen — the Halogena — which employs halogen gas and a better filament and sold for about $5, making them competitive with CFLs. They were only sold in the U.S. but there’s a new line on its way, the Ecovantage, which will replace the Halogena and will be available in Canada. They’re an energy-efficient incandescent and, while more costly than a standard incandescent, they’re cheaper than the Halogena, contain no mercury but have a shorter life cycle of about 1,000 hours.
You’ll also hear more about new technologies gaining traction, like ESL — electron stimulated luminescence — which will replace floodlights and pot lights.
Regardless of which type of lighting and what type of bulbs you choose for your home, energy efficient design is only part of the battle.
Replacing 60 watt bulbs with lower-rate bulbs where possible will cut down power usage, as will turning off the lights when they’re not needed.
“And use dimmer switches where ever you can to lower the lights,” says Forbes.
It’s also causing us a lot of confusion. Walk down the aisle of your local big box hardware retailer and you’ll find a bewildering selection of bulbs. There’s incandescent, compact-florescent (CFL), florescent, halogen, LED and, coming soon, a new, improved and energy efficient incandescent, just to name a few.
So, which bulb is right for what space in your house? Do the higher costs of the CFL or LED lights pay off in reduced energy costs over their lifetime? What about the health risks posed by the mercury inside CFLs?
Let’s see if we can, er, cast some light on all these and other questions.
The venerable incandescent light bulb is the probably the one most people are most familiar with. Incidentally, it wasn’t invented by Thomas Edison in the late 1800s. He merely refined the design that had been around for 75 years or so and created a distribution system for electricity and lighting which made it more practical and desirable.
The result is a simple design found all over the world, but it’s a notorious energy pig.
The bulbs are cheap to buy but over their lifetime 90 per cent of the energy they consume will be lost as heat, which is why the federal government has been trying to ban them since 2007 and why, as of Jan. 1, they’re been banned in the U.S., China and Europe.
The shock for consumers, however, is that their replacements — compact florescent and LED bulbs — are much more expensive, though they do pay for themselves by consuming less energy over a longer life span.
First, if you’re still buying old bulbs, you’re not breaking any laws. The Canadian federal government has now pushed back the deadline to ban incandescent importation to 2014 and Ontario announced in December it will shelve its own legislation to ban stores from selling them this year.
This shift has also contributed to consumer confusion because there’s an expectation incandescents are about to vanish and some folks are even hoarding supplies.
“It is confusing,” admits Pierrette Leblanc, senior standards engineer at the Office of Energy Efficiency at the National Research Council Canada. “And one of the reasons the government delayed barring imports of incandescent bulbs is so we can bring in a new labelling system which will made it easy for consumers to be informed and clear up the confusion.”
Like food labels, the new labels will have easy-to-read graphics listing the type of bulb, strength of light in lumens (a more practical measurement than watts) and how efficiently it turns power into light and colour balance indexed by a number.
The labels will also note whether the bulb is EnergyStar rated, which will go a long way to illuminating consumer choices, she said. Incidentally, those low wattage bulbs for appliances like fridges and ovens are unaffected.
Currently, the most efficient bulbs on the market are LED Light Emitting Diodes — which are miserly consumers of power but hard on the pocket book, costing $30 or more.
“But they are coming down in price as manufacturers work on them,” said LeBlanc. “And the quality is also improving.”
Still, changing 30 or 40 light bulbs in the average home to LEDs will be an expensive proposition, even with the power savings. The other drawback to LEDs is that while some versions will retrofit to a standard light socket, they are better off in a specifically designed fixture, one that better dissipates the heat, she said.
“The heat and how it is dissipated is what will determine the life cycle of the LED bulb,” she said.
LEDs can last as long as 25,000 hours (that’s about 20 years or more of usage) compared to CFLs at about 10,000, both well ahead of the 1,000 hours the incandescent lasts.
The technology is still developing and what’s in the laboratories now bodes well for the future, she said.
A word of caution, however; Those thinking about switching to LEDs should stick with big brand names, says Rhomney Forbes who runs Light Brigade, a Toronto commercial and residential light designing company.
“I’ve been offered ‘deals’ on LEDs but they just don’t last and the consistency (of colour) isn’t there,” she said.
Forbes said what kind of bulbs we choose and where we use them will determine what kind of light we get. What consumers want is also a matter of taste, adding some of the resistance to replacing incandescent bulbs was that newer bulbs didn’t give off the same warmth.
That’s changing as technologies develop, she said, and the colour temperatures are much better for home lighting but still not to everyone’s taste.
“There’s a difference in how you’d light a contemporary home as opposed to a century home,” he said, noting in the latter there would be more light in the range of fireplaces and candles for a warmer effect.
Our preferences for the “warmth” of incandescents is likely rooted in our cultural reference to the comfort and romanticism of hearth fires and candlelight, not any biological need, she said.
Kitchens, for example, need strong clear lights that render true colours for food preparations, Forbes said. For the most part, we put track lighting or pot lights in but it creates shadows right where the cook is working and that’s where under cabinet lights and LEDs do well.
That said, the CFL remains the most viable option on the market in terms of price and value for most homeowners in most situations, she said.
“Generally, CFLs probably provide the best value (right now),” she said. “Given their cost and energy use and life cycle, they are much more affordable than LEDs and while they may have a shorter life cycle, it’s not so great that the extra cost for LEDs is justified.”
Indeed, CFLs have come a long way. They’ve shed their “scrunched spaghetti” look and are contained in a sphere, are dimmable and generate more lumens, making them an obvious choice for incandescent replacement. They’re a little more expensive but last longer and use less power.
The one drawback is that they contain trace amounts of mercury, which require careful handling if one gets broken. NRC recommends opening a window in the room the clear any vapour and then carefully clean up the broken glass using duct tape or other sticky tape to get small pieces. Broken or burned-out bulbs should be put in a plastic bag. The bag can be disposed off at your local hardware retailer if they have a hazardous materials disposal program, or through your municipal hazardous materials program.
There are still a few other options on the market and newer technologies in the works. halogen bulbs, for example, burn hot but are more energy efficient than incandescent bulbs and popular for track lighting and other specific installation. Even so, manufacturers are developing LED replacements for them along with those for mini floods, known as PAR (parabolic aluminized reflector lamps), which are also common in recessed and track lighting fixtures in bathrooms and kitchens.
In the next couple of years, as the incandescent importation ban takes effect, manufacturers are gearing up to meet the new energy standards —but don’t write off incandescent as defunct.
Philips Lighting last year introduced a high-efficiency incandescent halogen — the Halogena — which employs halogen gas and a better filament and sold for about $5, making them competitive with CFLs. They were only sold in the U.S. but there’s a new line on its way, the Ecovantage, which will replace the Halogena and will be available in Canada. They’re an energy-efficient incandescent and, while more costly than a standard incandescent, they’re cheaper than the Halogena, contain no mercury but have a shorter life cycle of about 1,000 hours.
You’ll also hear more about new technologies gaining traction, like ESL — electron stimulated luminescence — which will replace floodlights and pot lights.
Regardless of which type of lighting and what type of bulbs you choose for your home, energy efficient design is only part of the battle.
Replacing 60 watt bulbs with lower-rate bulbs where possible will cut down power usage, as will turning off the lights when they’re not needed.
“And use dimmer switches where ever you can to lower the lights,” says Forbes.
Supercross returns to Anaheim on Saturday
Four races. Four winners. All former champions.
Parity prevails among supercross racing's top riders as the series makes its second and final season stop at Angel Stadium on Saturday night.
After reigning champion Ryan Villopoto won the season opener Jan. 7 at Angel Stadium, 2010 champion Ryan Dungey won in Phoenix, two-time champ Chad Reed captured the Dodger Stadium race and another two-time title winner, James Stewart, won last weekend in Oakland.
The sport knew it had one of the deepest fields in history this year, but the early results still have surprised. The last time there were four different winners through four races was in 1976, before any of the current top riders was born.
As a result, all four are in contention again for this year's championship in the 17-race Monster Energy AMA Supercross series, the stadium version of motocross, or off road motorcycle racing.
Dungey and Reed are tied for the lead with 85 points each, while Villopoto is only two points behind and Stewart — who posted mostly mediocre finishes in the first three races — is now 12 points behind.
"We'll just keep building from here," Stewart said. "It was a rough three weeks for us but it was definitely good to come back at Oakland and get a victory."
Stewart's win in Oakland was his first since the 26-year-old Floridian moved this year to the Yamaha motorcycle team at Joe Gibbs Racing of NASCAR fame.
Stewart also will have extra incentive Saturday night. He's currently tied for the most career wins in Anaheim, eight, with seven-time supercross champion Jeremy McGrath and another victory would give Stewart the record outright.
McGrath also holds the career record for total supercross wins, 72, followed by Ricky Carmichael's 48 and Stewart's 43.
Villopoto, meanwhile, hopes for a repeat of his Anaheim win last month, when the 23-year-old Kawasaki rider from the Seattle area cruised to a 12-second victory over the second-place Reed.
Parity prevails among supercross racing's top riders as the series makes its second and final season stop at Angel Stadium on Saturday night.
After reigning champion Ryan Villopoto won the season opener Jan. 7 at Angel Stadium, 2010 champion Ryan Dungey won in Phoenix, two-time champ Chad Reed captured the Dodger Stadium race and another two-time title winner, James Stewart, won last weekend in Oakland.
The sport knew it had one of the deepest fields in history this year, but the early results still have surprised. The last time there were four different winners through four races was in 1976, before any of the current top riders was born.
As a result, all four are in contention again for this year's championship in the 17-race Monster Energy AMA Supercross series, the stadium version of motocross, or off road motorcycle racing.
Dungey and Reed are tied for the lead with 85 points each, while Villopoto is only two points behind and Stewart — who posted mostly mediocre finishes in the first three races — is now 12 points behind.
"We'll just keep building from here," Stewart said. "It was a rough three weeks for us but it was definitely good to come back at Oakland and get a victory."
Stewart's win in Oakland was his first since the 26-year-old Floridian moved this year to the Yamaha motorcycle team at Joe Gibbs Racing of NASCAR fame.
Stewart also will have extra incentive Saturday night. He's currently tied for the most career wins in Anaheim, eight, with seven-time supercross champion Jeremy McGrath and another victory would give Stewart the record outright.
McGrath also holds the career record for total supercross wins, 72, followed by Ricky Carmichael's 48 and Stewart's 43.
Villopoto, meanwhile, hopes for a repeat of his Anaheim win last month, when the 23-year-old Kawasaki rider from the Seattle area cruised to a 12-second victory over the second-place Reed.
2012年2月6日星期一
Old light bulbs fading, but what will replace them?
ELGIN — There’s one trend we usually can count on in electrical equipment, from TV sets and radios to music players and telephones: As the years pass, it will become cheaper and cheaper, and more and more disposable.
But as a five-year-old federal law takes effect this month, Americans may have to get used to just the opposite when it comes to the light bulb.
The bulbs of the future will cost much more than the cheap, disposable incandescent bulbs we have been using since Thomas Edison figured out how to make one way back in 1879. But they also will last much longer — maybe even to the point of becoming built-in pieces of each lamp that last as long as the lamp does. And they will reduce our electric bills.
On New Year’s Day, the light-bulb business felt the first impact of the Energy Independence and Security Act, which had been passed by Congress and signed into law by President George W. Bush in 2007. The law was backed by an alliance of congressmen who wanted to reduce foreign energy imports and cut greenhouse gas emissions from making electricity.
The act aims to force consumers to switch over three years from their cherished, good-looking, cheap old incandescent bulbs and start using newfangled bulbs that consume less energy.
Beginning this past Jan. 1, the act forbids manufacturing or importing 100-watt and higher bulbs unless they put out at least 25 percent more light than the current incandescents. That rule expands to cover 75-watt bulbs in 2013, then 60- and 40-watt bulbs in 2014. Similar rules about specialized types of bulbs also go into effect in 2013 and 2014.
“Big changes are coming in lighting,” said Dave Stokes, a manager at the Ziegler’s Ace Hardware store in Huntley. “People have to start thinking in terms of lumens, the amount of light given off by a bulb, instead of just watts, the amount of power used by the bulb. People will start thinking in terms of lumens per watt the way they think now about miles per gallon. And just like the government used miles-per-gallon rules to force carmakers to make energy-efficient products, the lumens-per-watt rules are forcing manufacturers to make more efficient light bulbs.”
Political remorse
In mid-December Congress, stirred by complaints from consumers and rage against government controls, attacked the new bulb rules. When they passed a new omnibus spending bill, they didn’t include any money for the U.S. Department of Energy to enforce the new light-bulb rules.
“Let there be incandescent light and freedom. That’s the American way,” declared conservative radio commentator Rush Limbaugh.
But spokespersons for the lighting industry said the enforcement defunding will make no difference in their plans to phase out the old incandescents.
General Electric spokesman David A. Schuellerman told the Washington Post that the industry has already spent millions gearing up to build only new kinds of bulbs and that the December vote does not repeal the 2007 law.
“We still are required to abide by the (new) standards, and of course we intend to comply with our legal obligation,” he said.
“There is a lot of misinformation,” said Kateri Callahan, president of the Alliance to Save Energy. “Retailers don’t have to take inventories of old bulbs off the shelves. The government is not going to come into homes to check. ... You’re still going to be able to buy incandescent bulbs. They’re just going to be 28 to 30 percent more efficient.”
Choose carefully
Well, that’s not quite the only difference between the old bulbs and their replacements, notes Steve Walker, manager of the Batteries Plus store in Elgin. The store’s owner decided a few weeks ago that this would be an opportune time to start selling a large selection of light bulbs in addition to its line of batteries.
Yes, the new styles will use less electricity and save big on your ComEd bill, Walker notes. But they also will cost more up front. They don’t all provide the same kind of warm-feeling, all-around colors we have gotten used to. And some types have enough mercury to require them to be recycled as semi-hazardous waste rather than just being tossed into the trash.
Walker said there are three types of bulbs competing to replace your old incandescents:
Halogen incandescent bulbs, which also use a material that glows hot and bright when an electric current passes through it but use a different kind of material than the tungsten filaments typically used in old-style bulbs. These use less power than the old bulbs but more than the other alternatives. For example, one halogen bulb offered for sale at Batteries Plus gives the same amount of light as an old-style 75-watter but draws only 53 watts.
Compact fluorescent lights, or CFLs, which are similar to the long tubes used for decades in office and store lighting and use hot gases to generate their light. The compact ones typically have a small tube wrapped into a spiral shape. If you think that’s ugly, or you have a lampshade designed to snap onto the old-style incandescent, CFLs now also come in a rounded shape that looks much like the old-style bulbs on the outside.
CFLs use less power than halogen incandescents. The one equivalent to an old-style 75 uses just 20 watts, in effect cutting your electric bill for using it by three-fourths. CFLs are the type that contain a small amount of mercury, an environmental hazard, but hardware stores and Batteries Plus will accept them for recycling.
LED light-emitting diode) bulbs, which are the most high tech bulbs of all. They are similar to the LEDs used in electronic dials and some brake lights, flashlights and traffic signals.
They’re the most efficient type of all from the standpoint of power use, but also are the least well developed at this point. Remember how dim those LED Christmas decorations seem to be? LEDs strain to achieve the same kind of brightness as a living-room lamp, and in fact the brightest LED available at Batteries Plus puts out only one-third as much light as a 75-watt incandescent bulb.
Varying prices
Prices, colors and life expectancies also vary considerably among the four types. At Batteries Plus, 75-watt incandescents can be had for 50 cents apiece if you buy them in a four-pack. The equivalent halogen fluorescent will cost you four times as much, or about $2 a bulb. The CFL equivalent is about $3.99, or twice as expensive as the halogen and eight times as much as the old-style incandescent.
And the LEDs? Don’t ask. At Batteries Plus, that biggest LED that produces only a third as much light as a 75-watt incandescent will set you back a whopping $34.99.
But the new styles may last so long that over the life of a lamp, the purchase price looks more reasonable. According to the website of Phillips Electronics, if an old-style bulb burns out in a given usage in one year, a halogen bulb in the same usage will last two years, a CFL will last seven to 11 years, and an LED bulb will burn on and on and on for at least 15 years.
Walker said some users have complained that CFLs burn out sooner than that, but he thinks that depends on how the bulb is being used.
“You need the right bulb for the right application,” Walker said. “If someone has a closet light that they switch on and off all the time for just a few seconds at a time, that will be hard on a CFL. But for a porch light that turns on once a day and stays on for hours, a CFL will last a long, long time.”
Add in the savings on your electric bill, and ComEd and the Alliance to Save Energy argue that using the newfangled, expensive-to-buy bulbs usually ends up saving money over the long run.
Also, ComEd will help you some with the purchase cost. Just a few years ago, the utility would provide its customers with free replacement bulbs that they could pick up at grocery stores such as Gromer’s in return for paying just a few dollars a year more on their power bills.
Now ComEd will provide a $1.25 rebate on each new bulb that qualifies for the Energy Star rating, up to 10 bulbs per customer. The customer fills out a rebate slip while purchasing the bulbs and the store even handles the chore of sending the forms in after giving the customer the instant rebate at the cash register.
One of the main customer complaints about the new bulbs is that they don’t duplicate the warm, homey colors of the old-style incandescents, which generate about the same color spectrum as a gas fire or a camp fire. Halogens and fluorescent lights often are described as too blue-ish or too green-ish or too glaring. But Walker said developers are rapidly improving the looks of the new light.
For example, CFLs now come in three color spectrums — “soft white,” “bright white” and “daylight.” Walker advises buyers to ask a store employee for advice on what looks best in a given situation.
Super bulb
Despite their current high price and limited intensity, Ziegler’s Stokes is convinced LEDs will be the bulb of the future. A retired Air Force officer, Stokes is familiar with the technology because he is both a hardware store manager and an amateur pilot.
“The first thing we’ll see is most people switching to halogen incandescents,” Stokes said. “Then they will go to compact fluorescents. But eventually everybody will be using LEDs. We just got one in (at ACE) that can replace a 40- or 60-watt incandescent and uses only 2 watts of power.”
Researchers are figuring out how to make LEDs brighter and brighter, Stokes said. “The FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) has now approved airplane landing lights made of LEDs. Of course, for my plane a new incandescent bulb costs $10, while to replace it with an LED would cost $280. But that price will go down.”
Walker said the Rockford Airport recently replaced its runway lights with LEDs, too — but then ran into an unexpected problem.
The reason incandescent bulbs use so much power is that they convert most of the electrical energy into heat instead of light.
“They found out the LEDs were so efficient and burn so cool that snow just piled up on the runway lights without melting until you couldn’t see the light anymore,” Walker said.
But as a five-year-old federal law takes effect this month, Americans may have to get used to just the opposite when it comes to the light bulb.
The bulbs of the future will cost much more than the cheap, disposable incandescent bulbs we have been using since Thomas Edison figured out how to make one way back in 1879. But they also will last much longer — maybe even to the point of becoming built-in pieces of each lamp that last as long as the lamp does. And they will reduce our electric bills.
On New Year’s Day, the light-bulb business felt the first impact of the Energy Independence and Security Act, which had been passed by Congress and signed into law by President George W. Bush in 2007. The law was backed by an alliance of congressmen who wanted to reduce foreign energy imports and cut greenhouse gas emissions from making electricity.
The act aims to force consumers to switch over three years from their cherished, good-looking, cheap old incandescent bulbs and start using newfangled bulbs that consume less energy.
Beginning this past Jan. 1, the act forbids manufacturing or importing 100-watt and higher bulbs unless they put out at least 25 percent more light than the current incandescents. That rule expands to cover 75-watt bulbs in 2013, then 60- and 40-watt bulbs in 2014. Similar rules about specialized types of bulbs also go into effect in 2013 and 2014.
“Big changes are coming in lighting,” said Dave Stokes, a manager at the Ziegler’s Ace Hardware store in Huntley. “People have to start thinking in terms of lumens, the amount of light given off by a bulb, instead of just watts, the amount of power used by the bulb. People will start thinking in terms of lumens per watt the way they think now about miles per gallon. And just like the government used miles-per-gallon rules to force carmakers to make energy-efficient products, the lumens-per-watt rules are forcing manufacturers to make more efficient light bulbs.”
Political remorse
In mid-December Congress, stirred by complaints from consumers and rage against government controls, attacked the new bulb rules. When they passed a new omnibus spending bill, they didn’t include any money for the U.S. Department of Energy to enforce the new light-bulb rules.
“Let there be incandescent light and freedom. That’s the American way,” declared conservative radio commentator Rush Limbaugh.
But spokespersons for the lighting industry said the enforcement defunding will make no difference in their plans to phase out the old incandescents.
General Electric spokesman David A. Schuellerman told the Washington Post that the industry has already spent millions gearing up to build only new kinds of bulbs and that the December vote does not repeal the 2007 law.
“We still are required to abide by the (new) standards, and of course we intend to comply with our legal obligation,” he said.
“There is a lot of misinformation,” said Kateri Callahan, president of the Alliance to Save Energy. “Retailers don’t have to take inventories of old bulbs off the shelves. The government is not going to come into homes to check. ... You’re still going to be able to buy incandescent bulbs. They’re just going to be 28 to 30 percent more efficient.”
Choose carefully
Well, that’s not quite the only difference between the old bulbs and their replacements, notes Steve Walker, manager of the Batteries Plus store in Elgin. The store’s owner decided a few weeks ago that this would be an opportune time to start selling a large selection of light bulbs in addition to its line of batteries.
Yes, the new styles will use less electricity and save big on your ComEd bill, Walker notes. But they also will cost more up front. They don’t all provide the same kind of warm-feeling, all-around colors we have gotten used to. And some types have enough mercury to require them to be recycled as semi-hazardous waste rather than just being tossed into the trash.
Walker said there are three types of bulbs competing to replace your old incandescents:
Halogen incandescent bulbs, which also use a material that glows hot and bright when an electric current passes through it but use a different kind of material than the tungsten filaments typically used in old-style bulbs. These use less power than the old bulbs but more than the other alternatives. For example, one halogen bulb offered for sale at Batteries Plus gives the same amount of light as an old-style 75-watter but draws only 53 watts.
Compact fluorescent lights, or CFLs, which are similar to the long tubes used for decades in office and store lighting and use hot gases to generate their light. The compact ones typically have a small tube wrapped into a spiral shape. If you think that’s ugly, or you have a lampshade designed to snap onto the old-style incandescent, CFLs now also come in a rounded shape that looks much like the old-style bulbs on the outside.
CFLs use less power than halogen incandescents. The one equivalent to an old-style 75 uses just 20 watts, in effect cutting your electric bill for using it by three-fourths. CFLs are the type that contain a small amount of mercury, an environmental hazard, but hardware stores and Batteries Plus will accept them for recycling.
LED light-emitting diode) bulbs, which are the most high tech bulbs of all. They are similar to the LEDs used in electronic dials and some brake lights, flashlights and traffic signals.
They’re the most efficient type of all from the standpoint of power use, but also are the least well developed at this point. Remember how dim those LED Christmas decorations seem to be? LEDs strain to achieve the same kind of brightness as a living-room lamp, and in fact the brightest LED available at Batteries Plus puts out only one-third as much light as a 75-watt incandescent bulb.
Varying prices
Prices, colors and life expectancies also vary considerably among the four types. At Batteries Plus, 75-watt incandescents can be had for 50 cents apiece if you buy them in a four-pack. The equivalent halogen fluorescent will cost you four times as much, or about $2 a bulb. The CFL equivalent is about $3.99, or twice as expensive as the halogen and eight times as much as the old-style incandescent.
And the LEDs? Don’t ask. At Batteries Plus, that biggest LED that produces only a third as much light as a 75-watt incandescent will set you back a whopping $34.99.
But the new styles may last so long that over the life of a lamp, the purchase price looks more reasonable. According to the website of Phillips Electronics, if an old-style bulb burns out in a given usage in one year, a halogen bulb in the same usage will last two years, a CFL will last seven to 11 years, and an LED bulb will burn on and on and on for at least 15 years.
Walker said some users have complained that CFLs burn out sooner than that, but he thinks that depends on how the bulb is being used.
“You need the right bulb for the right application,” Walker said. “If someone has a closet light that they switch on and off all the time for just a few seconds at a time, that will be hard on a CFL. But for a porch light that turns on once a day and stays on for hours, a CFL will last a long, long time.”
Add in the savings on your electric bill, and ComEd and the Alliance to Save Energy argue that using the newfangled, expensive-to-buy bulbs usually ends up saving money over the long run.
Also, ComEd will help you some with the purchase cost. Just a few years ago, the utility would provide its customers with free replacement bulbs that they could pick up at grocery stores such as Gromer’s in return for paying just a few dollars a year more on their power bills.
Now ComEd will provide a $1.25 rebate on each new bulb that qualifies for the Energy Star rating, up to 10 bulbs per customer. The customer fills out a rebate slip while purchasing the bulbs and the store even handles the chore of sending the forms in after giving the customer the instant rebate at the cash register.
One of the main customer complaints about the new bulbs is that they don’t duplicate the warm, homey colors of the old-style incandescents, which generate about the same color spectrum as a gas fire or a camp fire. Halogens and fluorescent lights often are described as too blue-ish or too green-ish or too glaring. But Walker said developers are rapidly improving the looks of the new light.
For example, CFLs now come in three color spectrums — “soft white,” “bright white” and “daylight.” Walker advises buyers to ask a store employee for advice on what looks best in a given situation.
Super bulb
Despite their current high price and limited intensity, Ziegler’s Stokes is convinced LEDs will be the bulb of the future. A retired Air Force officer, Stokes is familiar with the technology because he is both a hardware store manager and an amateur pilot.
“The first thing we’ll see is most people switching to halogen incandescents,” Stokes said. “Then they will go to compact fluorescents. But eventually everybody will be using LEDs. We just got one in (at ACE) that can replace a 40- or 60-watt incandescent and uses only 2 watts of power.”
Researchers are figuring out how to make LEDs brighter and brighter, Stokes said. “The FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) has now approved airplane landing lights made of LEDs. Of course, for my plane a new incandescent bulb costs $10, while to replace it with an LED would cost $280. But that price will go down.”
Walker said the Rockford Airport recently replaced its runway lights with LEDs, too — but then ran into an unexpected problem.
The reason incandescent bulbs use so much power is that they convert most of the electrical energy into heat instead of light.
“They found out the LEDs were so efficient and burn so cool that snow just piled up on the runway lights without melting until you couldn’t see the light anymore,” Walker said.
NXP Extends LED Driver ICs for Compact-Non-Dimmable Lamps
EINDHOVEN, THE NETHERLANDS, Jan 26, 2012 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) -- NXP Semiconductors N.V. NXPI +1.41% today announced the availability of several new LED driver ICs in its SSL2108x family for compact, non-dimmable retrofit lamps, following the success of the SSL21081. With the addition of the SSL21082, SSL21083 and SSL21084, NXP now provides a single platform for lamp designers developing for 100V - 120V and 230V mains voltages, as well as all power ranges up to 25 W. Based on GreenChip(TM) technology, the SSL2108x family has been optimized for non-isolated topologies with high output voltages, and for applications in which compatibility with triac dimmers is not required.
Compact, non-dimmable LED lamps are growing in popularity, particularly in markets such as Japan, The SSL2108x family offers a best-in-class solution for these markets, with a high level of efficiency (up to 95% as measured on reference boards); a high level of integration (enabling easy design-in of a full application with only 14 components and a very small PCB area of 18 x 22 mm); and a very low electronic bill of materials (eBoM). The NXP SSL2108x family of devices also delivers tight LED current regulation (better than 5%); a full set of protections, including built-in LED temperature protection via input from an NTC temperature sensor; and an integrated MOSFET.
NXP will showcase the SSL2108x family at Strategies in Light in Santa Clara, California from February 7-9, 2012 (booth 511).
Compact, non-dimmable LED lamps are growing in popularity, particularly in markets such as Japan, The SSL2108x family offers a best-in-class solution for these markets, with a high level of efficiency (up to 95% as measured on reference boards); a high level of integration (enabling easy design-in of a full application with only 14 components and a very small PCB area of 18 x 22 mm); and a very low electronic bill of materials (eBoM). The NXP SSL2108x family of devices also delivers tight LED current regulation (better than 5%); a full set of protections, including built-in LED temperature protection via input from an NTC temperature sensor; and an integrated MOSFET.
NXP will showcase the SSL2108x family at Strategies in Light in Santa Clara, California from February 7-9, 2012 (booth 511).
How to Install an HID Conversion KIt
HID automotive lighting provides superior light output to standard tungsten filament bulbs, and HID bulbs are rated to last up to eight times longer than their conventional counterparts. These reasons, and the fact that they are available in a number of different colors, have made HID conversions a popular aftermarket upgrade. HID bulbs are available in most factory bulb sizes and may be installed in almost any vehicle. Before installing HID lighting, check with your local authorities as many communities have laws prohibiting HID lighting for on-road use.
1 Remove the factory headlight bulbs. If necessary, remove the factory headlight bezel as well.
2 Replace the factory headlight bulbs with HID bulbs. Be careful not to touch the HID bulb glass with bare hands, as the oils on human skin will heat up and damage to the bulb may occur.
3 Plug the HID bulbs into the ballasts provided with the HID kit. Test the HID ballast wiring for length, as HID lights use special wiring that cannot be extended.
4 Mount the ballasts as close to the headlight bulbs as possible. Use self-tapping screws and nylon wire ties to mount the ballasts securely to the vehicle. Do not mount the ballasts where they will be exposed to excessive amounts of moisture or heat. Once mounted, connect the factory headlight harness to the ballast to trigger the HIDs.
5 Test the HID xenon kit for proper operation. It may take up to 10 seconds for the bulbs to illuminate completely. Once correct operation is verified replace the headlight bezel.
1 Remove the factory headlight bulbs. If necessary, remove the factory headlight bezel as well.
2 Replace the factory headlight bulbs with HID bulbs. Be careful not to touch the HID bulb glass with bare hands, as the oils on human skin will heat up and damage to the bulb may occur.
3 Plug the HID bulbs into the ballasts provided with the HID kit. Test the HID ballast wiring for length, as HID lights use special wiring that cannot be extended.
4 Mount the ballasts as close to the headlight bulbs as possible. Use self-tapping screws and nylon wire ties to mount the ballasts securely to the vehicle. Do not mount the ballasts where they will be exposed to excessive amounts of moisture or heat. Once mounted, connect the factory headlight harness to the ballast to trigger the HIDs.
5 Test the HID xenon kit for proper operation. It may take up to 10 seconds for the bulbs to illuminate completely. Once correct operation is verified replace the headlight bezel.
Off-Road Funding Set For Approval
Renewed funding for motorized trails and a ban on funding for motorcycle-only checkpoints are included in a major federal transportation bill being considered by a key U.S. House committee, according to the AMA.
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee is expected to vote tomorrow on a transportation funding authorization bill - H.R. 7, the "American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Act of 2012." If approved, the measure would go to the full House for a vote before moving to the Senate for consideration.
Since the Senate has its own version of the bill, the spending plan would eventually end up in a House-Senate conference committee where differences would be worked out before going back to both chambers for final approval, the AMA says.
The House measure includes $85 million a year through fiscal year 2016 for the Recreational Trails Program (RTP), which provides money to states to develop and maintain trails. Federal lawmakers had been looking at eliminating the dedicated funding for the program, which threatened to end the RTP.
"Motorcyclists and all-terrain vehicle riders by the thousands spoke, and federal lawmakers listened," said Wayne Allard, AMA vice president for government relations. "We want to thank the members of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee for their hard work in putting together this massive transportation bill, and for including provisions that benefit our members."
Funds for the RTP come from the federal Highway Trust Fund and represent a portion of the federal motor fuel excise tax collected from non-highway recreational fuel use. In other words, taxes generated by fuel used for off-highway vehicle recreation - by snowmobiles, ATVs, off-highway motorcycles and off-highway light trucks - fund the RTP.
The RTP provides funds to the states to develop and maintain recreational trails and trail-related facilities for both non-motorized and motorized recreational trail uses. The RTP is an assistance program of the U.S. Transportation Department's Federal Highway Administration. The RTP program benefits hiking, bicycling, in-line skating, equestrian use, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, off-road motorcycling, ATV riding, four-wheel driving, or using other off road motorcycle motorized vehicles.
Besides including RTP funding, the House measure bars the U.S. transportation secretary from providing grants to states and local governments for motorcycle-only checkpoints, which are opposed by the AMA. The AMA has been tracking the disturbing development of motorcycle-only checkpoints since they first appeared in New York several years ago.
"The AMA believes that strategies to promote motorcycle safety must be rooted in motorcycle crash prevention, and don't include arbitrarily pulling over riders and randomly subjecting them to roadside inspections," Allard said.
The House bill also provides funding for state motorcycle safety programs. The AMA has long promoted motorcycle rider education and motorist awareness programs as essential strategies to prevent cub motorcycle crashes.
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee is expected to vote tomorrow on a transportation funding authorization bill - H.R. 7, the "American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Act of 2012." If approved, the measure would go to the full House for a vote before moving to the Senate for consideration.
Since the Senate has its own version of the bill, the spending plan would eventually end up in a House-Senate conference committee where differences would be worked out before going back to both chambers for final approval, the AMA says.
The House measure includes $85 million a year through fiscal year 2016 for the Recreational Trails Program (RTP), which provides money to states to develop and maintain trails. Federal lawmakers had been looking at eliminating the dedicated funding for the program, which threatened to end the RTP.
"Motorcyclists and all-terrain vehicle riders by the thousands spoke, and federal lawmakers listened," said Wayne Allard, AMA vice president for government relations. "We want to thank the members of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee for their hard work in putting together this massive transportation bill, and for including provisions that benefit our members."
Funds for the RTP come from the federal Highway Trust Fund and represent a portion of the federal motor fuel excise tax collected from non-highway recreational fuel use. In other words, taxes generated by fuel used for off-highway vehicle recreation - by snowmobiles, ATVs, off-highway motorcycles and off-highway light trucks - fund the RTP.
The RTP provides funds to the states to develop and maintain recreational trails and trail-related facilities for both non-motorized and motorized recreational trail uses. The RTP is an assistance program of the U.S. Transportation Department's Federal Highway Administration. The RTP program benefits hiking, bicycling, in-line skating, equestrian use, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, off-road motorcycling, ATV riding, four-wheel driving, or using other off road motorcycle motorized vehicles.
Besides including RTP funding, the House measure bars the U.S. transportation secretary from providing grants to states and local governments for motorcycle-only checkpoints, which are opposed by the AMA. The AMA has been tracking the disturbing development of motorcycle-only checkpoints since they first appeared in New York several years ago.
"The AMA believes that strategies to promote motorcycle safety must be rooted in motorcycle crash prevention, and don't include arbitrarily pulling over riders and randomly subjecting them to roadside inspections," Allard said.
The House bill also provides funding for state motorcycle safety programs. The AMA has long promoted motorcycle rider education and motorist awareness programs as essential strategies to prevent cub motorcycle crashes.
2012年2月1日星期三
2012 Yamaha AORC dates announced
Yamaha Motor Australia has continued its support of off road motorcycle Sport for another year, returning as the naming rights sponsor for the 2012 Yamaha Australian Off-Road Championship (AORC).
Yamaha Motor Australia's Motorsport Manager Ray Howard said he was looking forward to being a part of the AORC again in 2012.
"Yamaha Motor Australia (YMA) is pleased to be able to support the Australian Off-Road Championships," Howard said.
"The AORC is a cornerstone of the national dirt bike motorcycle calendar, and we believe that our sponsorship of the event plays an important role in nurturing Off-Road sport.
"2012 is a key year for Yamaha due to the release of the new WR450F. This model was the first modern era four-stroke Enduro bike and has built up a loyal following and YMA will be supporting two teams who will showcase the new model."
Series Coordinator Denise Hore is thrilled to have Yamaha on-board for the 2012 Championship.
"Yamaha's support of the AORC has been, and continues to be, outstanding," Ms Hore said.
"The support of Yamaha made the 2011 Series a reality in the face of tough times, and allowed our riders to get out there and do what they do best.
"Yamaha's ongoing support in 2012 will ensure our Championship and our sport remains strong."
Motorcycling Australia (MA) CEO David White is pleased to welcome Yamaha back for another year.
"I would like to thank Yamaha for their continued support of the AORC and their commitment to the development and continuation of Off-Road competition in Australia," White said.
"Yamaha has been an integral supporter of our Championship for many years, and we are excited they have chosen to get behind the Series again in 2012.
"We look forward to working with Yamaha throughout the year to deliver the 2012 Series for the Australian Enduro community."
The AORC is an annual epic battle, bringing hundreds of Enduro riders and their bikes face-to-face with the best and worst of the tough Aussie elements to race against the conditions and the clock.
2012 is shaping up to be a bumper year for the AORC, with the Championship given the green light to run as an expanded 12-round Series across four Aussie states.
The AORC caravan will travel to the traditional haunts of New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia, and make a return to Queensland after weather conditions in 2011 caused the Queensland rounds to be abandoned.
2012 will bring the challenge to the riders, with a spicy mix of Enduro, Cross Country and Sprint format rounds to be battled out on some of Australia's best terrain.
The 2012 Series will carry on the successful 2011 National and State combo, with all 12 Australian rounds to be run in conjunction with host State Championships.
The dates, venues and formats for the 2012 AORC can be found below.
Rd 1 and 2 - 25-26 Feb - Dungog - NSW - Enduro - Dungog MCC
Rd 3 and 4 - 31 May- 1 April - Wonthaggi - VIC - Cross Country/Sprint - Dandenong MCC
Rd 5 and 6 - 28-29 April - Coonabarabran - NSW - Cross Country/ - Sprint
Rd 7 and 8 - 19-20 May - Broadford - VIC - Cross Country/ - Sprint - MCRCV
Rd 9 and 10 - 28-29 July - Conondale - - Sprint/Sprint - Sunshine Coast MCC
Rd 11 and 12 - 25-26 August - Kapunda - SA - Cross Country/Sprint - Gawler MCC
Presentation - 26 August - Nurioopta - SA - Vines Hotel
Yamaha Motor Australia's Motorsport Manager Ray Howard said he was looking forward to being a part of the AORC again in 2012.
"Yamaha Motor Australia (YMA) is pleased to be able to support the Australian Off-Road Championships," Howard said.
"The AORC is a cornerstone of the national dirt bike motorcycle calendar, and we believe that our sponsorship of the event plays an important role in nurturing Off-Road sport.
"2012 is a key year for Yamaha due to the release of the new WR450F. This model was the first modern era four-stroke Enduro bike and has built up a loyal following and YMA will be supporting two teams who will showcase the new model."
Series Coordinator Denise Hore is thrilled to have Yamaha on-board for the 2012 Championship.
"Yamaha's support of the AORC has been, and continues to be, outstanding," Ms Hore said.
"The support of Yamaha made the 2011 Series a reality in the face of tough times, and allowed our riders to get out there and do what they do best.
"Yamaha's ongoing support in 2012 will ensure our Championship and our sport remains strong."
Motorcycling Australia (MA) CEO David White is pleased to welcome Yamaha back for another year.
"I would like to thank Yamaha for their continued support of the AORC and their commitment to the development and continuation of Off-Road competition in Australia," White said.
"Yamaha has been an integral supporter of our Championship for many years, and we are excited they have chosen to get behind the Series again in 2012.
"We look forward to working with Yamaha throughout the year to deliver the 2012 Series for the Australian Enduro community."
The AORC is an annual epic battle, bringing hundreds of Enduro riders and their bikes face-to-face with the best and worst of the tough Aussie elements to race against the conditions and the clock.
2012 is shaping up to be a bumper year for the AORC, with the Championship given the green light to run as an expanded 12-round Series across four Aussie states.
The AORC caravan will travel to the traditional haunts of New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia, and make a return to Queensland after weather conditions in 2011 caused the Queensland rounds to be abandoned.
2012 will bring the challenge to the riders, with a spicy mix of Enduro, Cross Country and Sprint format rounds to be battled out on some of Australia's best terrain.
The 2012 Series will carry on the successful 2011 National and State combo, with all 12 Australian rounds to be run in conjunction with host State Championships.
The dates, venues and formats for the 2012 AORC can be found below.
Rd 1 and 2 - 25-26 Feb - Dungog - NSW - Enduro - Dungog MCC
Rd 3 and 4 - 31 May- 1 April - Wonthaggi - VIC - Cross Country/Sprint - Dandenong MCC
Rd 5 and 6 - 28-29 April - Coonabarabran - NSW - Cross Country/ - Sprint
Rd 7 and 8 - 19-20 May - Broadford - VIC - Cross Country/ - Sprint - MCRCV
Rd 9 and 10 - 28-29 July - Conondale - - Sprint/Sprint - Sunshine Coast MCC
Rd 11 and 12 - 25-26 August - Kapunda - SA - Cross Country/Sprint - Gawler MCC
Presentation - 26 August - Nurioopta - SA - Vines Hotel
How to Install a Wireless Parking Sensor
All cars have a blind spot, and when backing out of a parking spot, something in this blind spot could be hit. Such a scenario has been tragically repeated when small children stand behind a car as it is backed out of a garage. The solution to this is a parking sensor. These increase your field of vision by detecting if there is something behind your car which you might hit backing out. The installation is simple, and it can take just one hour to do from start to finish.
1 Measure the center of your bumper with the measuring tape and mark it with the grease pencil.
2 Measure and mark two places between 12" and 24" to the left and right of the center of the bumper. These will be where the sensors will be mounted. The sensors need to be between 18" - 30" off the ground. It is best to put the sensors 24" off the ground.
3 Drag the plug with the display panel to where you want to mount the display panel. Attach the panel with the included double sided tape.
4 Look for holes made in your car that feed the wires from the lights into the rear of your car or the trunk. Fish the sensor wires through these holes. Enlarge the hole and line the edges with Zinc Galvanize if needed.
5 Place a piece of electrical tape over the spots marked with the grease pencil on the bumper for the sensors. Use the specialty drill bit included with the parking sensor kit to drill holes at these sites. Remove rough edges with a drill buffing bit and coat the edges of the holes with Zinc Galvanize if the bumper is metal.
6 Push the sensors from the back of the bumper until they are flush with the front.
7 Plug the wires from the display, sensors, and the power supply into the control box. Test the unit according to your manufacturer's instructions.
8 Choose a site to mount the control box, and attach it there with the double sided tape included.
1 Measure the center of your bumper with the measuring tape and mark it with the grease pencil.
2 Measure and mark two places between 12" and 24" to the left and right of the center of the bumper. These will be where the sensors will be mounted. The sensors need to be between 18" - 30" off the ground. It is best to put the sensors 24" off the ground.
3 Drag the plug with the display panel to where you want to mount the display panel. Attach the panel with the included double sided tape.
4 Look for holes made in your car that feed the wires from the lights into the rear of your car or the trunk. Fish the sensor wires through these holes. Enlarge the hole and line the edges with Zinc Galvanize if needed.
5 Place a piece of electrical tape over the spots marked with the grease pencil on the bumper for the sensors. Use the specialty drill bit included with the parking sensor kit to drill holes at these sites. Remove rough edges with a drill buffing bit and coat the edges of the holes with Zinc Galvanize if the bumper is metal.
6 Push the sensors from the back of the bumper until they are flush with the front.
7 Plug the wires from the display, sensors, and the power supply into the control box. Test the unit according to your manufacturer's instructions.
8 Choose a site to mount the control box, and attach it there with the double sided tape included.
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