Marc's editorial invitation

[Rene Schweitzer]

Hi Cliff,

Marc is having technical problems and asked me to post his response to you: 

Hello Cliff,

 

Thanks very much for your post on GR’s forum. Generally speaking, the best way to contact me is via e-mail at [e-mail]

 

Concerning your suggestions, I like some of your ideas. It would probably be best if you would contact me directly and we can discuss some options.

 

Thanks,

Marc Horovitz

[Greg Elmassian]

I guess it was the wrong place to respond

[CliffyJ]

I'm not sure if this is the proper place to respond to Marc's implicit invitation to potential article authors, but here goes.

Dear Marc,

Thanks for the authoring invitation in your last editorial. I’m a GR subscriber since ’08, and will continue to be. I’d like to suggest an ongoing section, to which I’d be a happy contributor and perhaps example, though by no means an authoritative one.

 

My topical suggestion here is toward "physical plant," or “facility,” the broader technical issues that wrap our layouts, and the things I’ve been dealing with since ’08. The topic potentially embraces utility power, path lighting, leaf / tree / weed management, conduit, alternative-energy power, drainage, earth moving / shaping / retention, watering, path and wall materials, surveillance / security, & etc.

 

If that’s too broad, I’d suggest a series of articles on “How do you light your layout?” For one example, I’m currently slogging thru the details of remote-op, dimmable, low-voltage, low-current (LED) lighting. Believe me, it’s an almost impossible combination; but I think I may be achieving some success. For what it’s worth, this is an experiment in progress that has the following requirements:

 

- Affordable components

- Low current (luminaires consuming the least amount of electricity practical, i.e., LED)

- Dimmable (that’s the tough point)

- Remotely controlled (not requiring, yet still permitting, computer involvement)

- Low voltage (only safe way)

Thanks for listening,

 Cliff