A 900w microwave uses about 1500w of power - but like doubleup says, it will use that 900w (of microwave power) very efficiently.

I think some empirical research is required Tom - get experimenting and tell us your findings!

An engine generator is typically around 60% efficient, so combined with the microwave, you end up with about 35% of the combustion energy of the propane going into your soup.

Now, how efficient is lighting a flame under your bowl? A quick google gives a number of 50% efficiency for a gas hob. That's one number off one site and I suspect there are several variables. However, I think that probably answers the question.

I'm going to correct myself - the generator % was for a diesel generator; it's quite hard to get numbers, but a propane generator runs at <30% efficiency from what I can find. Which makes the case for a gas hob even more convincing.

I wonder.

If we could route the hot exhaust gasses from the generator through the cooking compartment of the microwave, would that redress the balance?

Would certainly help, although given the volume of exhaust gases produced, the average residence time in the microwave chamber would be small.

Say it's a 50cc 4stroke engine, running at 3000rpm (pure guesses), that's 50cc*1500 / min = 1.25 litres of gas per second (assuming 100% volumetric efficiency, quite likely). Say microwave is about 25 litres (typical), that means your exhaust passes through the oven in about 20s. Actually, that's not bad, you'd get reasonable heat exchange in that time.

But your soup may taste a bit funny.

Just to return to this for a moment, have we taken into consideration the fact that the gas hob has to heat the container before it can heat the soup?

I'm not sure what the 50% number includes, to be honest. But the microwave will the heat the container to a certain degree, just not so much. And the heat required to heat a metal saucepan is fairly low compared to the liquid contents (factor of 10 by weight - water has a huge specific heat capacity compared to most other things, especially heavyish metals).

A 900w microwave uses about 1500w of power - but like doubleup says, it will use that 900w (of microwave power) very efficiently.

I think some empirical research is required Tom - get experimenting and tell us your findings!

An engine generator is typically around 60% efficient, so combined with the microwave, you end up with about 35% of the combustion energy of the propane going into your soup.

Now, how efficient is lighting a flame under your bowl? A quick google gives a number of 50% efficiency for a gas hob. That's one number off one site and I suspect there are several variables. However, I think that probably answers the question.

I'm going to correct myself - the generator % was for a diesel generator; it's quite hard to get numbers, but a propane generator runs at <30% efficiency from what I can find. Which makes the case for a gas hob even more convincing.

I wonder.

If we could route the hot exhaust gasses from the generator through the cooking compartment of the microwave, would that redress the balance?

Would certainly help, although given the volume of exhaust gases produced, the average residence time in the microwave chamber would be small.

Say it's a 50cc 4stroke engine, running at 3000rpm (pure guesses), that's 50cc*1500 / min = 1.25 litres of gas per second (assuming 100% volumetric efficiency, quite likely). Say microwave is about 25 litres (typical), that means your exhaust passes through the oven in about 20s. Actually, that's not bad, you'd get reasonable heat exchange in that time.

But your soup may taste a bit funny.

A 900w microwave uses about 1500w of power - but like doubleup says, it will use that 900w (of microwave power) very efficiently.

I think some empirical research is required Tom - get experimenting and tell us your findings!

An engine generator is typically around 60% efficient, so combined with the microwave, you end up with about 35% of the combustion energy of the propane going into your soup.

Now, how efficient is lighting a flame under your bowl? A quick google gives a number of 50% efficiency for a gas hob. That's one number off one site and I suspect there are several variables. However, I think that probably answers the question.

I'm going to correct myself - the generator % was for a diesel generator; it's quite hard to get numbers, but a propane generator runs at <30% efficiency from what I can find. Which makes the case for a gas hob even more convincing.

A 900w microwave uses about 1500w of power - but like doubleup says, it will use that 900w (of microwave power) very efficiently.

I think some empirical research is required Tom - get experimenting and tell us your findings!

An engine generator is typically around 60% efficient, so combined with the microwave, you end up with about 35% of the combustion energy of the propane going into your soup.

Now, how efficient is lighting a flame under your bowl? A quick google gives a number of 50% efficiency for a gas hob. That's one number off one site and I suspect there are several variables. However, I think that probably answers the question.

When I heat my soup in the microwave, why does the dish get hotter than the food?

One for the 'don't get it' thread I think Tom. The funny thing is the microwaves don't significantly heat the dish, it's the heat from the food transferring to the dish. Which raises the question, how can the dish be hotter than the food when the dish gets its heat from the food?

Your post has got me thinking Andrew.

If the soup conducts heat better than the bowl, does that mean the soup will pass it's heat on quickly, while the bowl will retain it, thereby becoming hotter?

It's not impossible that the microwaves are heating the bowl. Microwave ovens work because water is a dipolar molecule - each molecule effectively has an electrical imbalance, which the microwaves vibrate, which causes heat. It's not impossible that the material in the bowl has some dipolar bits trapped in the crystal lattice structure, which could also cause it to heat up. Given that water has a very large heat capacity compared to most solids, even a small amount of energy absorbed by the bowl could cause it's temperature to rise higher than the soup.

The second question doesn't make much sense if there is no microwave heating of the bowl. The bowl could be hotter than the soup now due to differential heat loss, but it could never be hotter than the maximum temperature the soup reached. That would break the second law of thermodynamics.

Your final point is sort of correct, except it's more likely to be the other way round - the bowl will lose energy at a similar rate to the soup, but because of specific heat capacity difference (soup > bowl), the soup is likely to lose temperature slower than the bowl. And neither of them will become hotter, unless there is another external source of heat.

Is your baby nearly here. Pretty sure you must have other concerns right now

Lolol, i still have a job to do, they don't just say put your feet up as your baby is nearly here..

Yea, now officially overdue, they let you go upto 2 weeks. It's ace as the missus wants a curry nearly every night! 

Is that a euphemism? You do know the other way you can bring labour on, right? Or has she not told you about that one?

Good luck with it! Just celebrated 10th and 9th birthday of my 2 boys. Won't tell labour stories, but the first one was NOT pretty.

You guys realise those charts are made and published by casinos?

And the pause before the river online is so the software can find the card that screws you over?

Casinos might print a copy, why not. They're still going to win in the long run. But you can use relatively basic maths skills to work out what the correct action in each position is. It's not rocket science. WizardofOdds is certainly not "a casino". Casino edge is between 0.4% and about 2% depending on the rules (hit soft 17, resplit aces, etc). Only way to beat that is to count (I don't have the discipline, frankly). I play because I quite enjoy it, not because I expect to win long term. But trying to play according to best ev makes it more fun to me, and loses me money slower.

[9]

As in I knew I had 10 but not what the dealer had, then the dealer turns over his first card, so if its 2-97 then I have to double.

Back home safe, house ridden with fleas sigh! So gross!

FYP. See:

Click to see full-size image.

Maths, IS IT.

Ouch about the fleas. Not pleasant.

Surprised by that splitting 9's bit, I can see the logic into 4-6 as bust cards but 2-3 must be pretty close with a "made hand" you will certainly get annoyed ill advised comments for "upsetting the shoe" cause that shoe is pretty sensitive apparently, always getting upset

If you really want your mind blown, check this calculator:
http://wizardofodds.com/games/blackjack/strategy/calculator/
Note how the tables change around depending on the number of decks.

Blackjack is a perfectly solvable game statistically, so yes the edges may be incredibly tiny, but if the edge is there, there's no disputing it. Of course risking the bust when you've got your entire stack in the box may be +ev in the long run, but heart-stopping at that point in time, and I've been known to stand my 12 against a dealer 3 despite knowing the odds favour the hit. Just!

Orly. Yeh I probs don't dbl in some spots where you should. not sure when to dbl with Ax vs certain dealer cards.

Might learn that basic strat chart.

Or just forget about blackjack until I go back to Vegas probably a wiser plan!

Worth doing. Although you get some funny looks. Soooo many people don't double 11 vs a dealer 10. I've had several people berate me in DTD about my "weird" strategy. I still miss some spots - hitting on soft 18 I often forget about, which soft 12-16 to double against what, some of the lines on what to split... But then I'm not one of those who thinks that mistakes at the table change the ev of anyone else, and get angry about it. While playing blackjack with mates is fun, it's most definitely not a team game.

Once had a long argument with grumpy pit boss guy in DTD about how a Surrender option is +ev for the player. He didn't believe me and wanted to bet me my stack at the time (about £90). Wish I'd been more confident to take him up!

[9]

As in I knew I had 10 but not what the dealer had, then the dealer turns over his first card, so if its 2-97 then I have to double.

Back home safe, house ridden with fleas sigh! So gross!

FYP. See:

Click to see full-size image.

Maths, IS IT.

Ouch about the fleas. Not pleasant.

He is in Sheffield, part of the people's democratic republic of Yorkshire.

Always a surprise to be reminded that Sheffield is in Yorkshire. I think of it as being part of The Midlands these days.

Sarf Yorkshire tho innit. May as well be in Kent.

Great excuse to post this.

Genius

This is another pretty good explanation of what it is and why they need to make lots of measurements. In cartoon form.

http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap120501.html

It's a 48 runner 8 handed comp paying 9 places. Not surprised it was fairly flat up to 3rd. Especially when 1st got 43% of prizepool (which seems high).

If Virgin are offering you speeds like that, it can't be a cabled area, and they'll be effectively reselling a BT line. It might be worth going around other providers. Best bet is to go here:

http://www.samknows.com/broadband/exchange_search

Stick in your postcode, click on the exchange, and look down the LLU list. Have a shop around from the providers on the list. Probably worth checking with BT whether you can get Infinity or anything else quicker.

Or just go with MrT's advice.