Guinness
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| posted on 24/4/11 at 08:26 AM |
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Frikin lasers
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-13160950
Interesting tech, but imagine the replacement cost when they fail.
Anyone started work on a laser driver for Megasquirt?
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David Jenkins
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| posted on 24/4/11 at 08:33 AM |
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I saw that - and my first thought was "another expensive bit of kit to go wrong" together with "how much will they cost to replace
when they go wrong?"
A lot of the technology used in modern cars is amazing - but often it's way too complicated, liable to breakdowns, and horrendously expensive to
repair (e.g. dual-mass flywheels).
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Mr Whippy
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| posted on 24/4/11 at 08:42 AM |
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yeah what's if they want a better burn then just have more spark plugs like piston aircraft have had for decades, then you have increased
reliability too
I seem to be seeing more and more modern cars broken down at the roadside now, not less
[Edited on 24/4/11 by Mr Whippy]
Fame is when your old car is plastered all over the internet
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MakeEverything
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| posted on 24/4/11 at 08:51 AM |
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Well, with everything on cars going digital (More computers than ever, and now ignition) it wont be long before were looking at cars that have very
few mechanical moving parts. How long that lasts, depends on reliability which (as Mr Whippy says) seems to be getting worse, after which we will be
looking at more old technology being re-manufactured. Look at the rotary engine for example.
Kindest Regards,
Richard.
...You can make it foolProof, but youll never make it Idiot Proof!...
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v8kid
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| posted on 24/4/11 at 08:53 AM |
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Yes but suppose it gave 20% extra power for free? Dunno if it does or not but there it usually a price customers are willing to pay for an
advantage.
I think modern cars are a godsend. true when they go wrong it can be a pain but the issue is they just don't go wrong as often. They are now a
bit like washing machines - they just work away in the background for ages and when they don't its a big surprise - and all those years of
faithful service are forgotten.
Old cars used to run points and capacitors - remember them? Pain in the butt and good riddance.
Remember changing oil and filters every 3k miles - pain in the but and good riddance.
What about carburetters - remember having to swap loads of jets and needles - pain in the butt - good riddance.
Need I rant any more 
Cheers!
David
You'd be surprised how quickly the sales people at B&Q try and assist you after ignoring you for the past 15 minutes when you try and start a
chainsaw
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RazMan
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| posted on 24/4/11 at 09:13 AM |
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If the technology can be regarded as a step forward, reducing fuel consumption, increasing power etc, then I am all for it. It is quite amazing that
the humble spark plug hasn't really changed in 150 years - isn't it due for an upgrade? 
Cheers,
Raz
When thinking outside the box doesn't work any more, it's time to build a new box
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Mr Whippy
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| posted on 24/4/11 at 09:14 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by v8kid
Yes but suppose it gave 20% extra power for free? Dunno if it does or not but there it usually a price customers are willing to pay for an
advantage.
I think modern cars are a godsend. true when they go wrong it can be a pain but the issue is they just don't go wrong as often. They are now a
bit like washing machines - they just work away in the background for ages and when they don't its a big surprise - and all those years of
faithful service are forgotten.
Old cars used to run points and capacitors - remember them? Pain in the butt and good riddance.
Remember changing oil and filters every 3k miles - pain in the but and good riddance.
What about carburetters - remember having to swap loads of jets and needles - pain in the butt - good riddance.
Need I rant any more
Cheers!
David
well being one who drives a 21 year old car that was old fashioned when it was new, I can say truthfully that it has never broken down or failed
it's MOT, it has a carb that needs nothing but a new air filter now and again. I have no CAT, fuel injection, Black box’s or ABS to worry about
and there is nothing on the car I can't fix or work on.
I feel blessed when I open the bonnet and see how much room there is around the engine and can count the number of pipes and hoses on one hand! I
still work on and drive modern cars and tbh I don't think I'm missing much, certainly if I'm going on a long journey I know which
car I'll be taking, the simple one!!
Fame is when your old car is plastered all over the internet
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Steve Hignett
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| posted on 24/4/11 at 09:16 AM |
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Oh come on - surely you cannot seriously be suggesting that they go wrong more often!!!
The problem nowadays is that very rarely when something is launched it has development problems not yet iron'ed out, but the obvious difference
between something going wrong on a 2011 Mondeo and 1971 Escort is the fact that me 'n my dad could fix the Escort - not that it went wrong
less......................
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Steve Hignett
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| posted on 24/4/11 at 09:18 AM |
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I wrote the above repy based on Whippy's first reply rather than second one which seems in line with my post and therefore a tad contradictory
to his first LOL
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MikeRJ
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| posted on 24/4/11 at 09:57 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Mr Whippy
yeah what's if they want a better burn then just have more spark plugs like piston aircraft have had for decades, then you have increased
reliability too
There simply isn't room to fit extra spark plugs into most 4 or 5 valve combustion chambers.
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David Jenkins
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| posted on 24/4/11 at 10:08 AM |
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I'm still waiting for cost-effective electric cars - mechanically very simple, even if the control gear isn't.
Mind you - manufacturers will probably manage to make it over-complicated...
(and before anyone says it - I know that electric cars just move the fuel/pollution problems elsewhere!)
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Ferg
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| posted on 24/4/11 at 11:34 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Mr Whippy
... if they want a better burn then just have more spark plugs
Quite. My father-in-law drilled and tapped a new hole into the head to double the spark on one of his cars.
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v8kid
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| posted on 24/4/11 at 02:22 PM |
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You're all a bunch of Luddites! :0
Get with the modern world or do you want to go back 20 years - no internet for you then!
Modern medicine? Pah you will just make do with a mouldy cheese skin I suppose.
Why do your old cars need to be easily repaired? Cos you're always repairing them thats why!
Cet a life and get a new car
Cheers!
David
You'd be surprised how quickly the sales people at B&Q try and assist you after ignoring you for the past 15 minutes when you try and start a
chainsaw
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blakep82
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| posted on 24/4/11 at 02:32 PM |
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mmm lasers
i know laser pointers can work off 2 watch batteries, and co2 lasers can burn through stuff, but i don't know what kind of voltage they go on.
less high voltage electronics must be a good think right? no charging of circuits before being able to fire the lasers etc? sounds good to me! but
then i love lasers
________________________
IVA manual link http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/detail?type=RESOURCES&itemId=1081997083
don't write OT on a new thread title, you're creating the topic, everything you write is very much ON topic!
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Ninehigh
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| posted on 24/4/11 at 09:46 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by David Jenkins
I'm still waiting for cost-effective electric cars - mechanically very simple, even if the control gear isn't.
Mind you - manufacturers will probably manage to make it over-complicated...
(and before anyone says it - I know that electric cars just move the fuel/pollution problems elsewhere!)
I'm waiting for them too, in fact I've been pestering various manufacturers for months about them
Ahhhhh frikin "laser" I just got it!
[Edited on 24/4/11 by Ninehigh]
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