Monday, November 26, 2018

Inexpensive self installed PV

With careful shopping here is VERY cheap PV.  About $140 per panel or about $.55/watt.  This includes panels, microinverters, and micoinverter AC cabling.  Not included is labor (which is minimal) and the "hitching rail" ground mount which should be less than $5/panel.   Also not included is the 30% income tax credit for which these should be eligible.

I've now done two "hitching rails" with plans for a 3rd.  I have the steel roofing installed below the panels but have not yet done the needed grounding or the planned attachments of the panels to the rails.  The two rails have been operational for a couple of months.  Each rail supports 10-13 panels.  Each rail is supported by three steel posts driven into the ground with a tractor mounted post driver.  Rails welded to those posts.  Microinverters dangle from rails; up off the ground.

Payback on this type of system should be 2-3 years, not including tax credit.  My roof top professionally installed systems have paybacks of 10-15 years, including tax credit.


https://plus.google.com/+WillieMcKemie/posts/Fq1qykAv3Qc

Tuesday, November 20, 2018

Permian Highway Pipeline

https://www.braungresham.com/client-services/condemnation/active-pipeline-companies-texas/permian-highway-pipeline/

https://www.braungresham.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Caldwell-county-partial.jpg

Not related to the petroleum pipeline but here is something about the Carrizo/Wilcox water pipeline from Lee County to San Antonio:
https://www.saws.org/your_water/waterresources/projects/vistaridge/projectpage.cfm
I observed portions of it being buried through Caldwell County.  It appeared to be about 8' in diameter.

These pipelines got me to thinking about pipeline troubles I have had.  During the 1990s, when I was still trying to grow peach trees, I had a dead zone of about 50' width going through a peach planting.  With good healthy trees on each side of the zone.  Dead due to oil spills by Coffield Pipeline Company.  The company seems to have fallen off of Google.  Coffield did almost no maintenance; they only (eventually) repaired leaks.  Their leak rate was about once every six months on the ~2000' section that crossed my property.  Each leak in the range of 1 gallon to 100 gallons of crude oil.  They resisted burying the line to 3' as required by the lease/easement because that would make such frequent repairs more costly.  In several years of attempting to deal with the problem, I learned that the Texas Railroad Commission (who was supposed to enforce petroleum pipeline regulations) considered it their duty to keep irate land owners off the backs of the pipeline companies.

Saturday, November 17, 2018

Electric use musings

I have three electric meters.  Without a built up credit and with no net use, my monthly bills are about $25 for each, about $80 total.  My "connection fees".  My billing cycle ends about the 13th of each month.  Here, I am reviewing my likely bill that will come in a few days for 10/12/18-11/13/18.   On two of the meters, air conditioning is the big demand during much of the year.  On the other, pumping irrigation water.  I move my car charging from meter to meter to try to minimize my "from the grid" use.  Since it has been cool and wet, no water pumping and no air conditioning the previous month.  That is likely to continue for the next 4+ months.

My three meters all had net production: 209kwh, 208kwh, and 246kwh.  Total of about 650kwh.  At the end of the year, my electric supplier will issue a credit of about $.05/kwh.  So, last month's credit will be about $32.  That will not cover my "connect fees".  I hope to do much better in coming months.

Year to date (through about 10/14/2018) accumulated production has been 1435kwh, 4788kwh, and 1282kwh.  Those should yield a credit of about $375 after the end of the year.  I still have 2-3 months to add to that credit.

To escape any payment to my electric provider over a year, I have to average about 1600kwh of net production per month.



Wednesday, November 14, 2018

PV about 30 miles west of Ft Stockton, just north of IH10.


About a year ago, I noticed this place under construction with apparent piles of panels scattered over an estimated 100 acres.  Today, I could not find it on the car's map.  The "satellite" photo was apparently more than a year old.  But, not, it is easily noticeable from the highway.  It looks to be operational.
The entrance is at the grid connection stuff on the frontage road.  I was tempted to knock on the potable building office door and ask for a tour.

This is the old maps.google photo:
The entire cleared and maybe graded area is covered with panels.



The sign, should you be able to zoom in, says "AEP Texas, a unit of American Electric Power, Barrilla Jct."  I'll see what google says.
https://www.aeptexas.com/
Apparently, they are an electric retailer.  Nothing yet found on that project.  I seem to recall it was a FSLR project, perhaps recently sold.


SuperCharger in 29 Palms

I was surprised to find the 29 Palms SuperCharger at a casino.  This was the first time I had ever entered a casino.  Nature called.  Had to cut my way through the smoke to get to the head.  Amusingly, they had some "no smoking" slots.






PV at WalMart in Truth or Consequences

I was surprised to see PV covered parking at the WalMart near the Truth or Consequences SuperCharger.  Seven canopies over seven double parking rows, six had five inverters, a shorter row had four.  Each canopy had six 60 cell panels, placed long way, in the width.  I did not take the time to count total and make a total power estimate.  But it is a lot!  Canopies were supported by a single row of columns in the middles with two columns on the ends.

I asked a checker in the WalMart about the install.  He said the store was about 10 years old and the PV about 5.


 This from near the SuperCharger.  Look on my Google+ page if you wish to view higher resolution.

Near by, I saw a more traditional ground mount PV though not as large as the WalMart.

Monday, November 12, 2018

Unusually good fast Mexican food

http://alibertos.com/

Mostly in Arizona; I can vouch for the one in Payson.

Also in Payson, a very nice hotel with Destination Charger:
https://www.choicehotels.com/arizona/payson/quality-inn-hotels/az402?brand=QI

Modestly priced, nice amenities, well kept, large rooms.  "Good enough" breakfast.    On my first visit I arrived in the morning and did not wish to rent a room.  The management was a bit surly but I did charge for an hour or so and got enough to reach Holbrook.  On subsequent visits, management has been far more agreeable.

Payson is a wonderful mountainous area.  Far removed from the congestion of Flagstaff and Phoenix/Mesa/Chandler/etc.






Thursday, November 1, 2018

First Model 3 LR D P trip

A trip to Lafayette for an EV charging site fund raising event.

The trip was noteworthy because I was able to go from Lake Charles to near Columbus on AutoPilot with no operator intervention.  Around 150 miles.  This was right through the middle of Houston during the fairly heavy traffic noon hour.  The car had just received the first (older) Version 9 software.  The only driver actions were to adjust target speed with a thumb wheel and indicate lane changes with the turn signals.  No touching steering wheel; no touching brake or accelerator.

A very nice lunch at the downtown Don's, only about two blocks from the event.  Hush Puppies in the basket were the best I've eaten in many years.
https://www.donsseafoodonline.com/
Lafayette is the world center of cajun cooking.  Below is a wonderful gumbo.  I regret I was able to eat only about ten meals per day during the trip.

Downtown Lafayette is very nicely refurbished.  Event was held in a "vacant lot" park.  Test drives were staged from the parking garage in the background.


A downtown park includes a couple of chunks of steel from Twin Towers.




This is the front of the little "vacant lot" park where the event was held.   My car nearest the camera.



The highlight of the trip home was driving AutoPilot all the way from the Lake Charles SuperCharger to within 10 miles of the Columbus SuperCharger.  This was through downtown noon traffic Houston on IH10.  Around 150 miles. Self steering, no hands all the way.  Speed adjustments were made with thumb wheel on steering wheel.  Some lane changes were instigated by the turn signal.  The early Version 9 software was recently installed.  Afterward, I received the later version which includes "navigate on AutoPilot".  Or, maybe it's "AutoPilot on navigation".