First, keep in mind that a problem with one part of an engine could well show up as a symptom elsewhere. What looks like a governor problem often turns out to be a balky carburetor. Take the diagnostics step by step all the way through, then evaluate whether the engine is worth the trouble to repair it, or whether it makes more sense to buy a repower kit and drop in a new, more powerful motor.
Problem: Engine will not start.
You can usually divide ‘won’t start’ problems into two causes: fuel or ignition.

1) Make sure the fuel is fresh, and the oil/gas mix is right. As basic as that sounds, bad gas is one of the most common causes of engine failure.
2) Make sure that there’s a spark. Remove a spark plug and ground the hex to bare metal on the motor, then spin the engine. You should see a blue spark jump the gap. If the spark is weak, or there is no spark, try the same thing with a new spark plug. If you still get no spark on an older machine, clean and set the points. On a newer machine, the electronic ignition may need to be replaced.
If you’ve got spark but no start, it’s time to check the carburetor.
1. Check fuel valve and lines to be sure that fresh gas is getting to the carburetor. Don’t forget to check the screens to be sure that they’re clear, and that the fuel cap vent is open.
2. Prime the carburetor with a shot of starting fluid and try to start ‘er up. If it runs for a couple of seconds but then quits, it’s a good bet that the carburetor needs to be rebuilt. A carb kit with quality parts is easy to install. Most dealers will carry a wide assortment of Toro parts and other quality brands.
3. It’s possible that there’s an air leak. Check all the mounting screws and bolts to be sure that they’re snug, and that the gaskets are intact.

 
Problem: Engine start but runs poorly. (Dies, surges, runs only on choke)
All or any of these could be symptoms of a carburetor problem. 90% of the time, a good cleaning will solve the problem. That means disassembling, cleaning and rebuilding – which will go much smoother if you use the engine manual as your guide.

MISC. ENGINE PROBLEMS
When your motor springs an oil leak or spouts smoke, it’s trying to tell you something. The color of the smoke and the location of the leak can point to problems that need fixing – or tell you that it’s time to repower the mower with a new Jacobsen Greens king.

Oil smoke or leak near the carburetor can mean the drain holes in the breather cover need to be cleaned. Don’t forget to replace the gasket with a new one picked up at any store that stocks Cushman, Kohler, or Jacobsen Engines.

Oil smoke through the muffler can mean worn rings or worn valve guides. Either one of those is a hint that it’s time to repower that piece of equipment with a new Kohler engine.

Keep in mind that worn-out engines may have more than one problem. If you’d rather not spend the next several months pulling that same piece of equipment back into the shop for yet another repair, your best option may be a complete repower using a remanufactured or new Cushman engine.

Regular gas generators are fine for running certain electrical appliances, such as lights and televisions.  However, for more sensitive equipment such as computers, they are usually not sufficient.  Computers, printers, and other sensitive electrical equipment need a constant, even electrical signal in order to work properly.  The electricity generated from regular gas generators can tend to fluctuate; not a problem for lights, televisions, or coffee pots, but a possible disaster for more sensitive equipment.

The Honda inverter generator is the solution to this problem.  Using inverter technology, Honda has created a generator that contains a microprocessor that regulates the flow of electricity from the generator, mimicking the flow that would come from a regular household outlet.  This regulated flow of electricity makes it perfectly safe for anyone to run a computer or printer using a Honda inverter generator, without worrying about fluctuations causing a crash in the equipment. 

Another benefit of using inverter technology is that Honda inverter generators need only be about half the size and weight of conventional generators, though they have every bit as much power.  The alternator is built right into the Honda inverter generator, making it much more compact and light, and giving it exceptional portability.  The fuel efficiency of the Honda inverter generator is unsurpassed; one small thirty-pound model can run up to eight hours on a single tank of gas, and a larger forty-six pound model can run up to fifteen hours on one single tank. As far as noise level, the Honda inverter generators run so softly that most people would not even notice that they were in use.

Though the Honda inverter generator is extremely efficient, you still want to choose the right model for your needs.  Even though Honda inverter generators are smaller and lighter than their conventional counterparts, there are still different sizes from which to choose.  The standard rule does apply with Honda inverter generators: the larger the model, the more work it will do.  When shopping for a Honda inverter generator, keep in mind the tasks that you will need it to perform, and buy accordingly.  The salespeople and technicians at Honda should be able to help you find the Honda inverter generator that suits your purposes.

Third World and Climate modification

By definition, climate modification impacts the globe as a whole. That being said, is it possible to predict specific results in certain regions of the world? While there is no definitive answer, the impact on third world countries in Asia and Africa has been the subject of much discussion. Let’s take a look.

Africa is considered a third world continent because a vast majority of the African countries have underdeveloped economies and living standards. Unfortunately, Africa is also believed to be one of the most heavily impacted areas when it comes to climate modification. More than half the people in Africa live in rural areas with agricultural economies. These communities rely heavily on naturally occurring rain resources, to wit, planned irrigation is minimal. This, of course, results in the horrific famines we see on television. Climate modification is predicted to devastate Africa because it is believed the greenhouse effect will reduce the amount of rain received on the continent. As the Sahara Desert expands, less land will be available for farming and the problem will grow worse. Malnutrition from famines will lead to weak immune systems and disease will be prevalent. If the predictions are accurate, Africa could become a living nightmare.

Climate modification could devastate Asia as well. You might be surprised to learn that over 60 percent of the human population lives in greater Asia. This mass of humanity has stretched agricultural and health resources to the maximum. To top it off, large population centers sit right on the coastline in flat areas only a few feet above sea level.

If climate modification trends continue, we will be saying goodbye to large chunks of Asia. Cities such as Jakarta, Tokyo and Bangkok sit at sea level. If the melting polar caps result in a three foot rise in sea levels as predicted, these cities will be underwater. Countries such as Vietnam, Indonesia and Bangladesh are expected to lose 37,000 square miles of coastline under a similar situation. Over 34 million people will suddenly have to move to already congested population centers. Economies, health care and food supplies will undoubtedly reach critical levels.

Is there any good news when discussing the third world and climate modification? Yes. The first step is to put regulations in place that reduce greenhouse gases. Second, proactive planning must be undertaken to account for these potential effects of third world climate modification.

Some suggest that the solution might be found by making innovative technological improvements to an existing source of energy- nuclear power. Currently, nuclear power supplies 16 percent of the world's energy.

Unlike coal, natural gas, or oil-all nonrenewable and subject to price volatility-nuclear power plants are fueled by uranium, a relatively abundant element that occurs naturally in the earth's crust. Plus, nuclear energy is the world's largest source of emission-free energy. Nuclear power plants produce no controlled air pollut-ants or greenhouse gases.

One of the latest developments in the production of nuclear energy comes from Westinghouse Electric Company. It has introduced what's been described as the safest and most economical nuclear power plant available in the worldwide commercial marketplace-the AP1000. It's the first reactor of its class to receive Design Certification from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Based on 20 years of research and development, the reactor builds on the proven technology of major components used in current Westinghouse-designed plants. These components include steam generators, digital instrumentation and controls, fuel, reactor coolant pumps and integrated engineering-and have years of reliable operating experience.

Using this established technology as a jumping-off point, the innovative design of the reactor is said to offer distinct advantages over other reactors-including unequaled safety, economic competitiveness and improved and more efficient operations.

The AP1000's innovative approach to safety reduces the need for human intervention and the potential for human error. Its simplified construction design can lead to significant savings in plant costs and an accelerated construction schedule.

If you live in California than this search page will help you connect with Contractors
and Retailers in California.
http://www.gosolarcalifornia.ca.gov/retailers/search-new.php

Outside of California you might want to check out this site that provides a broader nationwide database of certified solar panel installers and retailers. They also offer a great breakdown of cost and tax credits that help you fit your budget.
http://www.getsolar.com/

If you would like to read up on how solar panels work than here are some great sites to check out.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_cell
http://www.howstuffworks.com/solar-cell.htm

Now keep in mind that the solar panel industry has been making huge breakthroughs in the past few years and depending on your homes needs you might not need to put the big bulky pans of yesterday on your roof. New Nanosolar technology is here and we can now add solar panels to just about anything.
http://www.nanosolar.com/

If you’ve found other great resources for solar panels installation and technology please post a comment with the link.

The Union of Concerned Scientists has created a clean energy blueprint. One component of this blueprint is efficiency standards on furnaces and automobiles. The CAFE standards for automobiles stipulate that a company's cars must average a certain fuel mileage. The diagram below illustrates the effects of the new standards proposed in the blueprint. Look at the savings in millions of barrels per day and compare those values to our daily consumption of petroleum (175 million barrels for North America).

By looking at the diagram below and comparing current usage to savings under the clean energy blueprint there would be substantial savings of oil. With the current consumption of oil at 175 million barrels a day the clean energy blueprint would save an estimated 230 million barrels of oil in the year 2008.

The clean energy blueprint also finds that the US can meet at least 20 percent of its electricity needs by renewable energy sources-wind, biomass, geothermal, and solar-by 2020. This would reportedly save the US consumers $440 billion by the year 2020. By the clean energy blueprint this would also reduce the need for 975 new power plants and reduce the need for natural gas by 31% and coal by 60%.

The clean energy blueprint is a large undertaking and would require multiple industries to participate. This could be difficult due to the changes could eliminate the need for their industry.

References

ucsusa.org. Retrieved November 9, 2008, from www.ucsusa.org Web site: http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/solutions/big_picture_solutions/clean-energy-blueprint-a.html

Retrieved November 9, 2008, from ian.umces.edu Web site: http://ian.umces.edu/

I was up in Big Bear Lake california yesterday and it was really cool to see the city had put solar panels on top of their bus stops. I wonder if they have the bus shelters completely off the grid and what kind of power the two panels put out.