WorldWide Drilling Resource

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall ~ Who’s the Cheapest of Them All? by Britt Storkson Owner, P2FlowLLC My vote for the cheapest products goes to the semicon- ductor industry. We complain of cheap cars, cheap (low-quality) food, cheap houses, and the like while paying relatively high prices for these items. I believe the semiconductor industry has them all beat. Using modern technology and manufacturing methods, semiconductor (computer) products are incredibly cheap to make in quantity (1000+). It’s the main reason they’re used almost everywhere. Suppose you want to make a “one-shot” timer. What it means is, when you press a switch the device will turn on for a given amount of time, and then turn off until you press the button again. These are useful for things like lights where you don’t want to walk off and forget you left it on. You want it to stop at some point. Amicroprocessor capable of doing this can be purchased for less than $1. A power supply that takes the 110-volt AC (alternating current) and turns into a low-voltage DC (direct current) can be bought for about $1. If you’re using 12-volt automotive battery voltages, you don’t even need it. For the printed circuit board to put it all on, a few needed resistors and capacitors, plus parts assembly, you can add another $1.00 to $1.50. Adding switch buttons on the inputs and relays on the output to switch the higher power and voltage will set you back another $2.00 to $5.00 depending on the quality and power rating. With semiconductors, like almost everything else, you get what you pay for and there are many choices available. Also, making four or eight of these “one-shot” timers would cost only slightly more. And the microprocessor can handle other tasks, as well. So why are electronic devices so much more expensive? 1. Enclosures. Often, the box to put the electronics in costs more than the elec- tronics. Well-designed and attractive enclosures often generate more sales. Rugged enclosures, such as cast aluminum, are needed for tough environments, such as automotive and outdoor applications. 2. Certifications/Listings/Legal/Liability. Unfortunately, this is getting to be a larger percentage of the purchase price, which the manufacturer must pass on to the consumer. If you add up what you pay just for insurance every year, you will know what I mean. “Cheap” doesn’t necessarily mean inferior or low quality. “Value” is what we get for what we pay and, again, I believe the semiconductor industry takes the lead here. Often adding well-designed computer controls results in a much better product at ultimately, a much lower price. One example of this is the variable frequency drive (VFD). The VFD eliminates pump panels, motor starters, phase converters and soft starts, and pressure-regulating valves. With deep well pumping applications using single-phase power, often the addition of a VFD will more than pay for the smaller wire sizes required for a given horsepower motor. In other words, the silicon and “smarts” are cheaper than the additional copper needed to service this motor. Add to it the fact it’s nearly impossible to “kill” a motor operated from VFD because of the high degree of monitoring, it does make the VFD a great value for just about every motor installation. So while I may be “cheap”, I look for value - and computer technology certainly has delivered in that department. Britt Britt Storkson may be contacted via e-mail to michele@worldwidedrillingresource.com &% ! "" * "(%$ ))) (" $( ' & $ %# # " (" $( $ ( " !" !! ! &% ! % ! (" $( & $ $ $ " ! $ $ ! ! $ ! $ # $ $ $ 29 WorldWide Drilling Resource ® JUNE 2016