Idli/Dosa Batter: Expedite the Fermentation Process

(Picture Courtesy: Internet)

"Idli Sambar" or "Dosa Chutney" is the most sought after item for Breakfast especially in South Indian states.  For the preparation of soft and tasty Idli/Dosa, the fermentation of batter matters a lot!  A batter without adequate fermentation may spoil the taste of Idli/Dosa! right?

In Indian house holds, the batter is prepared the previous evening and is kept out (of the refrigerator) for the fermentation to occur over night.  However, for proper fermentation, the environment should be warmer.  In summer days sufficient the fermentation takes place over night.  But the problem is 'Rainy' or 'Winter' season. Due to cooler environment, adequate fermentation doesn't take place.  Isn't it?

So how to expedite the process of fermentation?

Here is an innovative idea!  If you have either a Convection Owen or a conventional (grill) Owen, then it is a matter of few simple steps:

1. Do the below steps, the previous night of preparing breakfast.
2. Pre-heat the Owen (Convection/ Conventional/ Grill) for 30-60 seconds.
3. Open the door and check if it is warmer in side the Owen.
4. Now place the pack/bowl containing batter inside the Owen and close the door.
5. Switch of the Owen.
6. The next day morning take out from the Owen and you have sufficiently fermented batter for making delightful "Dosa" or "Idli"!
7. The same process can be used to expedite the fermentation process of Curd/Yogurt

Pl note: Micro Owen can’t be used to expedite the process of the fermentation.

DCH - Direct Current Home

(Image Courtesy: Internet)

Have you ever looked at power ratings of the electronic appliances that you use daily.  One of the most common thing with many of the electronic gadgets is that they all have adapters.  Which means their power requirement is very low.  Earlier appliances used 220v directly, without any stepping down.  However, these days electronic gadgets work using Direct Current [DC], which is actually step-down from 220v!  So, what?

First lets look into energy consumption by typical electronic appliances in modern house hold:

Appliance	Input Voltage	Input Current	Output Voltage	Output Current
LED bulb	220V	5A	4.5V	2A
Mobile Charger	100-240v	0.15A	5V	1.0A
LED TV 32”	100-240v	1.4A	19.5	3.05A
Set-top Box	100-240v	0.8A	12V	2.0A
Emergency light charger	150V-270v	NA	8V	350mA
Piano keyboard Adapter	100-240v	0.3 A	12v	0.7A
Battery Charger (NiMH)	100-240v	NA	1.2v	200mA
Laptop Adapter	100-240v	1.4A	19.5v	3.05A

From the table it is evident that many of the devices use adapters to covert Alternating Current (AC) into Direct Current (DC), as well step down from 220V to 12v.  When there is conversion of energy from one type to another type, there is considerable loss of energy.  Isn't it possible to stop this loss and conserve energy?

Yes. It is possible to conserve energy!  

Many of the residential units or commercial buildings have Two separate electrical wiring system!  One power supply is from the Central Grid and the second one for the UPS.  Isn't?

Similarly why not have a another Wiring system exclusively for DC?  (Actually, UPS wiring can be  replaced by DC wiring system).  And for the DC wiring the power source can Roof top Solar Power panels!.  If DC current that is generated by 'solar power panel' is directly used for DC electronic devices, then the loss of energy can be prevented and energy conserved.

Electrification of Rural house holds

And now coming to electrification of rural house holds.  The DCH (Direct Current Home) can be a boon. How?
1. No need to install electric poles and pull wires from sub-station / central grid to each and every rural house holds.
2. Hundreds of crores of rupees can be saved.
3. Making DCH home is faster and cheaper.

Now, what could be the power requirement for rural households?

For a one BHK, house the maximum lighting required is at hall, kitchen, room, bathroom and toilet.  Total wattage of all the LED bulbs would be around 12+9+9+5+3 = 38w.

Now that mobile phones are ubiquitous (Thanks to Digital India Movement) and linked to government subsidy schemes. Lets assume that most of the house holds have Mobile phones and charger/adapter.  Mobile charger/adapter would hardly consume around 5W power.

So that total power requirement for lighting and mobile charging purpose would be around 50W (including any wastage).  If the house hold has a TV, then the the power requirement would be another 50-60W.  And another 20-25W requirement for setup box.  So the household requirement for basic lighting and LED TV would be around 125W.

Just for power requirement of 50-150w aren't we wasting resources by providing infrastructure and Wiring for 220V?  In the process of step-up and  step-down considerable amount of energy is wasted!

When most of the basic electric appliances require Direct Current, then why should the household have 220V wiring especially in RURAL/REMOTE areas?

So we have DC current, what about the appliances?

For basic lighting purpose, already LED bulbs are available which use DC current.
For mobile charging USB ports can be used.
Even 12V ceiling/Table fans are available in market.
There are lot of DC appliances available on the Internet.

Lets not waste electric energy produced by solar panels, by converting to AC current.  And once again convert back AC to DC at house holds(for basic needs).  Lets conserve energy by designing DC wired Home and DC appliances

DCH is could be a gaint leap in conserving home and reducing Global warming effects!!