This is a new topic for people to record their comments, questions and participation in the new charging station proposed December 2010. Feel free to post a reply.

Clive

By the way, we already have commitments from Clive, Peter, Stephen...

I agree with Lonz about the user pays bit....
Surely we are big enough to provide facilities that a latge proportion of our members will use. We create division with the current proposal. If it is a club supplied and maintained facility all the hassles about who can use it and who has to pay will all go away.
Remember that we are not in existence to make profit but to enjoy flying model aircraft at WRCS. If we enhance the ability of members to do this we are making the right decisions.

How many outlets are planned to be installed. Also, I should be okay to participate in the installation and possibly the donation.

To reply to Lonz - "we" in this instance, is Peter, Clive and Stephen (although we have canvassed opinion more widely). Since the committee decision that you refer to, we have put an alternative proposal based on funding by the members that want the facility. This has been accepted.

To reply to Andrew - the number of outlets will be driven by a best estimate of number of concurrent users, with a bit of spare capacity hopefully. This will also drive the capacity requirements.

Clive

I don't agree with the concept of access being available only via a smart card or some other system to only those who have contributed to the cost. I'm surprised the club won't pick up the tab - on the grounds that the charging station will only benefit a small percentage of the members. I can think of a number of expenditure items which the club has paid for but which are used only by a few - the new gas barbeque for one. However if that's the decision I hate to see a good idea fail through lack of funds. Therefore I will offer to match -dollar for dollar- the amount subscribed by the other members. So if they put in a total of $400, then I will put in $400. The only proviso is that the charging station - when it happens - is available for every club member to use.

fearless

P40 & fearless - It would be nice if the club would take over the costs but the committee has decided not to do it. Also I don't necessarily agree with this decision, that's the way it is and therefore we were looking for an alternative. Maybe over time this will change and it will be taken over by the club but we don't really want to wait that long

The drawback of our private alternative is obviously the funding. 150 or 15 paying contributors does make a difference!
That's the reason we cannot go big enough to just open it for all to use. At the same time we certainly don't want to police usage and our thinking is that the paying members get the key to unlock it and that will give us some control to prevent abuse.
I (and I'm sure Clive and Stephen agree) have no problem with non-paying members occasionally charging their batteries there but if the occasional becomes very regular then we may ask this person to join in.

As for the technical part, current planning is to have 4 separate banks of 2 outlets each (= 8 simultaneous chargers).
Each bank should be able to deliver up to 30A. This will be enough to recharge a few bigger LiPo packs and a lot of smaller packs together.
Obviously the more people join in, the more capacity we can provide with the initial system.
The complete system is expandable by adding more batteries and more solar cells in case the demand is growing over time.

The charging station will go ahead but we really would like to get a feeling of the number of people who want to join. So if you are interested please let us know!
An expression of interest requires no payment and we won't rip off your head if you change your mind so please don't wait too long


Fearless - just seen your post....
That's a generous offer and puts a new spin on the subject. As I said, the project will definitely go ahead but you have added a few more variables...

Peter

Quick thing, shouldn't this be under the club discussion page?

I decided not to, Andrew. Not everyone can easily access club discussions yet so, whilst we sort out the individual sign-in issues (usually driven by the browser being too smart for its own good) I thought this could live in the electric forum.

Clive

I have read all these extracts with interest. I agree with both Peter and Clive that whilst we did not agree with the committe's decision, we have to accept it. Lonz's comment about all the transmitters in the pound is somewhat inaccurate as it is now very rare to see any transmitters in the pound except those on 36 Meg. Most are now on 2.4Ghz. In the days gone by, the pound was full on a Saturday; today, you would be lucky to see one or two:-)
I do agree, for OH and S, the committe should address fire safety hazards for the shed that contains this unit.
It is great to see a diversity of comments but like all good ideas, I would like all the procrastinators to put up quickly their expression of interest so we can look to finalising a unit to cope with the demand. My concern about the "would-be's" that express interest and dont committ despite the fact we increase the capacity to cope with the proposed demand and hence cost.
StephenMM