https://www.cbsnews.com/news/this-week-on-sunday-morning-may-26/
I saw this on Sunday Morning this morning.
Jean and I used to aspire to touring the country in our Sprinter van conversion. I was an early Sprinter buyer, perhaps 2004 or so, and was much taken by the efficiency. I believe I bought the first USA imported model; badged as "Freightliner". Later, we bought a slightly newer used professional Sprinter conversion fitted with cooking, refrigerator, bed, etc. Jean had her last excursion in that Sprinter. For it's first trip, we took a one week tour through west Texas. Very fond memories of some of Jean's last days.
With my infatuation with EVs, I rather lost interest in extensive ICE driving. Though I have taken a couple of Big Bend trips and a Florida trip in the conversion. It now sits mostly unused in a building constructed to protect it from the elements.
Here are some dots that might be connected by the imaginative:
1) Mercedes Benz is supposed to be offering an electric Sprinter version.
2) I'm now infatuated with Tesla PowerWalls in addition to Tesla cars.
3) A PowerWall is light enough to carry around in a Sprinter.
4) I've become fairly experienced at lashing up grid tied PV systems. I might even use the term "skilled".
5) One or more panels can be used to charge a PowerWall.
6) A PowerWall can be charged from "shore power" where you might charge an EV. Certainly at RV parks and I doubt that using a J1772 would be an insurmountable problem.
7) A PowerWall can be used to charge EVs.
8) Conceptually, an EV battery can be used to replace or supplement a PowerWall battery.
I look forward to developments in vehicle to grid and micro grid fields that will make EV batteries more versatile.
Sunday, May 26, 2019
Saturday, May 25, 2019
Overnight air conditioning on PowerWall
Since I got the PowerWall installed, I've used essentially no energy from the grid; I've only sold energy to my utility. I've been dreading the time when I don't feel comfortable at night without air conditioning. Thursday night, 5/23/19, was a bit uncomfortable with a low of about 78 deg. So, I left the air conditioner on last night, 5/24/19. It wasn't a good test because the low was about 76 deg.
The result: about 7:30 am I'm producing over 1kw. The air conditioner pulls a peak of about 1300 watts but relatively briefly. Average is 300-800 watts. So, the PowerWall has hit it's minimum. That is 12%. The PW will revert to grid power at 10% in order to leave a little energy for a real power failure. So, a near thing. Especially for a not very demanding night.
It is silly for me to worry about pulling a little grid energy. My cost would be around $.10 per kwh used. For an hour or two in the early morning hours, that cost would likely be $.05 to $.15. Insuring remaining off the grid would require a second PW battery. Cost, around $8k.
I can continue to make the claim of having used no grid energy since the PowerWall install. Let me look that date up.....1/26/19.
https://wmckemie.blogspot.com/2019/01/powerwall-install.html
Four months tomorrow! I may continue to forgo night time air conditioning for a while. Though I'm sure now that a hot night will exhaust the PW battery.
I finish writing this about 7:50 and the PW is charging at a few hundred watts whenever the air conditioner is cycled off. Charge level remains at 12%. This is a cloudy morning, so far. 12 hour overnight air conditioner consumption was 3.91kwh. The first hour consumed .62kwh due to the warmer conditions.
Sunday, 5/26/19
It looks like we are in for a string of mid 70s nights so I have suspended overnight air conditioning experiments.
Sunday, 6/9/19
I just went through the first night with air conditioning running all night. My minimum charge level was about 13%. I'll probably start running the air conditioner around the clock.
Saturday, 6/22/19
I've been through several nights running the air conditioner. I've come close to hitting the reserve threshold of 3%; the lowest has been 6%, I believe. Once the threshold is hit, grid power is used. So, I have so far avoided using grid power even using overnight air conditioning.
I decided to buy a 6k btu window unit for the bedroom so I could avoid running the big unit overnight. Last night was the first using only the small new unit. The PW got down to 30% just before morning production began. So, a success! This gives me confidence that I can sleep comfortably during a long term grid down situation. A major step!
The result: about 7:30 am I'm producing over 1kw. The air conditioner pulls a peak of about 1300 watts but relatively briefly. Average is 300-800 watts. So, the PowerWall has hit it's minimum. That is 12%. The PW will revert to grid power at 10% in order to leave a little energy for a real power failure. So, a near thing. Especially for a not very demanding night.
It is silly for me to worry about pulling a little grid energy. My cost would be around $.10 per kwh used. For an hour or two in the early morning hours, that cost would likely be $.05 to $.15. Insuring remaining off the grid would require a second PW battery. Cost, around $8k.
I can continue to make the claim of having used no grid energy since the PowerWall install. Let me look that date up.....1/26/19.
https://wmckemie.blogspot.com/2019/01/powerwall-install.html
Four months tomorrow! I may continue to forgo night time air conditioning for a while. Though I'm sure now that a hot night will exhaust the PW battery.
I finish writing this about 7:50 and the PW is charging at a few hundred watts whenever the air conditioner is cycled off. Charge level remains at 12%. This is a cloudy morning, so far. 12 hour overnight air conditioner consumption was 3.91kwh. The first hour consumed .62kwh due to the warmer conditions.
Sunday, 5/26/19
It looks like we are in for a string of mid 70s nights so I have suspended overnight air conditioning experiments.
Sunday, 6/9/19
I just went through the first night with air conditioning running all night. My minimum charge level was about 13%. I'll probably start running the air conditioner around the clock.
Saturday, 6/22/19
I've been through several nights running the air conditioner. I've come close to hitting the reserve threshold of 3%; the lowest has been 6%, I believe. Once the threshold is hit, grid power is used. So, I have so far avoided using grid power even using overnight air conditioning.
I decided to buy a 6k btu window unit for the bedroom so I could avoid running the big unit overnight. Last night was the first using only the small new unit. The PW got down to 30% just before morning production began. So, a success! This gives me confidence that I can sleep comfortably during a long term grid down situation. A major step!
Tuesday, May 21, 2019
I'm in the business of producing electricity!
I just got my first bill on my new electric rate structure which maximizes the value of using my PowerWall which has been installed at my home electric meter for several months.
For the period 4/11/19 - 5/14/19 results are:
1) I was charged about $.36 for 4 kwh. That is noise from the PowerWall attempting to use NO grid power.
2) My monthly connect/overhead charge is $22.50.
3) I was credited $107 for the 1761 kwh I supplied to the grid. A bit more than $.06/kwh. That rate was a surprise to me; I was expecting about $.05.
Net bill for that meter was -$84.14. That is, the utility owes me $84 for the month.
My intermediate goal is to get my PV production up to the ~$200/month level. Concurrent goal is to do the same (PowerWall plus more PV) on other meters I have.
Not considering the PowerWall cost, which I allocate to it's grid failure value, my install cost for PV is about $.45/watt. My utility appears to be paying me about $.06/kwh which means a pay back period of just over 4 years. That is estimating an average of about 5 wh/day per watt of PV. That's not considering a possible 30% income tax credit on the PV installation costs or the income tax due on the energy sales.
Since I am willing to sell energy for $.06/kwh, that puts my EV charging value at the same $.06. Not much more than $.01/mile.
On other meters with a different rate structure, my EV charging costs may be less than $.05/kwh.
For the period 4/11/19 - 5/14/19 results are:
1) I was charged about $.36 for 4 kwh. That is noise from the PowerWall attempting to use NO grid power.
2) My monthly connect/overhead charge is $22.50.
3) I was credited $107 for the 1761 kwh I supplied to the grid. A bit more than $.06/kwh. That rate was a surprise to me; I was expecting about $.05.
Net bill for that meter was -$84.14. That is, the utility owes me $84 for the month.
My intermediate goal is to get my PV production up to the ~$200/month level. Concurrent goal is to do the same (PowerWall plus more PV) on other meters I have.
Not considering the PowerWall cost, which I allocate to it's grid failure value, my install cost for PV is about $.45/watt. My utility appears to be paying me about $.06/kwh which means a pay back period of just over 4 years. That is estimating an average of about 5 wh/day per watt of PV. That's not considering a possible 30% income tax credit on the PV installation costs or the income tax due on the energy sales.
Since I am willing to sell energy for $.06/kwh, that puts my EV charging value at the same $.06. Not much more than $.01/mile.
On other meters with a different rate structure, my EV charging costs may be less than $.05/kwh.
Sunday, May 12, 2019
I'm MUCH enamored of Cheap
Actually, I consider it more "cost effective".
I'm reminded by the 40v Black and Decker mower I've had, still boxed, on my front porch for more than a year. I opened it up and started using it a few days ago. It is a light weight thing obviously destined for a short life. We will see. But, it is highly useful for getting into places my bigger (and very expensive) Kubota will not reach. Since I got the Kubota a couple of years ago, I have been unable to easily mow a strip under my clothes line. With my ever increasing PV, I find the need to do more mowing in tight places.
I bought the Black and Decker mower because I've been highly satisfied with Black and Decker 20v tools. I started about 5 years ago with a string trimmer. It took me a while to develop an affection for it. But, then, I started branching out to other B&D 20v tools. First a 8" pole saw, then a 10" regular chain saw. Later, a 1/4" drill, a small circular saw, finally a hedge trimmer. All share batteries and chargers and all fit needs that I have. All are relatively light weight tools but function well for me though lives are relatively short. I was a bit reluctant to get the mower because it uses different batteries and a different charger.
A few uses for the 20v tools:
The pole saws are by far the most useful. I now do most of my firewood cutting with them. The reach allows me to cut high branches that are threatening roofs, roads, and casting shade on PV. Also, I can reach into a daunting thicket and more easily start whittling away while minimizing getting scratched up. The 8" chain allows me to cut perhaps 80% of my firewood. It is the ideal Christmas Tree cutting tool. Trees can be cut near the ground without getting close to the trunk. Lives are short, maybe 30-50 battery charges; the motors, gearing and connections wear out. I've been through 5+ of the saws. Costs are ~$80 +/-. A battery lasts 5-10 minutes which is a nice work period for me. Sometimes, I carry several batteries and cut as long as an hour.
The 10" regular chain saw serves well for easily accessed and larger wood. The bigger motor seems more durable than that of the pole saws.
Without a definite need in mind, I decided to try a circular saw. I think 4.5" compared to ~7" for a common circular saw. I've found the circular saw wonderful for cutting PVC pipe especially out in field. It makes quick and square cuts on up to about 1.5" pipe and conduit. FAR quicker and easier than my previously used hacksaws. And cuts are more square. It also does well on plywood and 1" lumber; I haven't used it on 2" lumber.
Similarly, I recently decided to try a hedger. I quickly found it does extremely well on Greenbriar. Greenbriar is a very common thorny thick vine that grows in thickets where ever it is protected from mowing/shredding. It can be likened to "vegetative barbed wire". I found it too tough to be easily cut with a string trimmer. With the (pole) hedger, I can reach into a thicket and cut the Greenbriar near the ground and then cut it into shorter pieces where it grows up into brush. With the Greenbriar threat removed, brush is much more easily cut. It is the right tool for Greenbriar.
The drills are of obvious use. Drilling holes, driving screws.
I now have 5+ chargers; they are scattered in convenient locations around the place. Generally, I'm never far from a charger where I can swap out a depleted battery for a fully charged battery.
If I get some interest in this post, I will take and add some photos.
I'm reminded by the 40v Black and Decker mower I've had, still boxed, on my front porch for more than a year. I opened it up and started using it a few days ago. It is a light weight thing obviously destined for a short life. We will see. But, it is highly useful for getting into places my bigger (and very expensive) Kubota will not reach. Since I got the Kubota a couple of years ago, I have been unable to easily mow a strip under my clothes line. With my ever increasing PV, I find the need to do more mowing in tight places.
I bought the Black and Decker mower because I've been highly satisfied with Black and Decker 20v tools. I started about 5 years ago with a string trimmer. It took me a while to develop an affection for it. But, then, I started branching out to other B&D 20v tools. First a 8" pole saw, then a 10" regular chain saw. Later, a 1/4" drill, a small circular saw, finally a hedge trimmer. All share batteries and chargers and all fit needs that I have. All are relatively light weight tools but function well for me though lives are relatively short. I was a bit reluctant to get the mower because it uses different batteries and a different charger.
A few uses for the 20v tools:
The pole saws are by far the most useful. I now do most of my firewood cutting with them. The reach allows me to cut high branches that are threatening roofs, roads, and casting shade on PV. Also, I can reach into a daunting thicket and more easily start whittling away while minimizing getting scratched up. The 8" chain allows me to cut perhaps 80% of my firewood. It is the ideal Christmas Tree cutting tool. Trees can be cut near the ground without getting close to the trunk. Lives are short, maybe 30-50 battery charges; the motors, gearing and connections wear out. I've been through 5+ of the saws. Costs are ~$80 +/-. A battery lasts 5-10 minutes which is a nice work period for me. Sometimes, I carry several batteries and cut as long as an hour.
The 10" regular chain saw serves well for easily accessed and larger wood. The bigger motor seems more durable than that of the pole saws.
Without a definite need in mind, I decided to try a circular saw. I think 4.5" compared to ~7" for a common circular saw. I've found the circular saw wonderful for cutting PVC pipe especially out in field. It makes quick and square cuts on up to about 1.5" pipe and conduit. FAR quicker and easier than my previously used hacksaws. And cuts are more square. It also does well on plywood and 1" lumber; I haven't used it on 2" lumber.
Similarly, I recently decided to try a hedger. I quickly found it does extremely well on Greenbriar. Greenbriar is a very common thorny thick vine that grows in thickets where ever it is protected from mowing/shredding. It can be likened to "vegetative barbed wire". I found it too tough to be easily cut with a string trimmer. With the (pole) hedger, I can reach into a thicket and cut the Greenbriar near the ground and then cut it into shorter pieces where it grows up into brush. With the Greenbriar threat removed, brush is much more easily cut. It is the right tool for Greenbriar.
The drills are of obvious use. Drilling holes, driving screws.
I now have 5+ chargers; they are scattered in convenient locations around the place. Generally, I'm never far from a charger where I can swap out a depleted battery for a fully charged battery.
If I get some interest in this post, I will take and add some photos.
Sunday, May 5, 2019
Botched Model 3 Hitch Install
https://photos.app.goo.gl/7wu29W8axfndiNaH7
Energy display shows about 3 miles of about 1kwh/mile energy consumption while the car was in the possession of the hitch installer. Normal energy consumption is around 200wh/m or a bit more.
Energy display shows about 3 miles of about 1kwh/mile energy consumption while the car was in the possession of the hitch installer. Normal energy consumption is around 200wh/m or a bit more.
Friday, May 3, 2019
How Many Panels?
https://photos.app.goo.gl/wENjh4iQEx76E23W7
Starting to answer the question: "How many panels have I installed?"
Not yet photographed are the first of the panels that went in across the road. I bought a four panel kit, about 1kw, off of eBay about 2011. Jean and I took the new Leaf to the UPS freight terminal on the north side of Austin to pick it up. We had to remove packaging to get it all in the car. Eventually, Steve Clunn installed them for me cantilevered off the south edge of the RV building. A bit later, Longhorn Solar did my first professional install with the blessing of my electric provider. I believe I ended up with 37 panels on the RV building roof. Those panels have been producing 6-8 years. 41 panels, as I count.
At the house, I first had a professional install of 26 panels on the roof of the house. About 8kw but feeding into a 5kw inverter. I've been adding panels in the south yard of the house. Recent count is 29 panels. 3rd photo.
Lacking any more room in the yard, I starting installing just outside the yard in "the south field". First, 5 panels temporarily leaning against a fence; visible in 2nd photo. Then, 17 panels on a temporary rail (which has collapsed, 1st photo). Finally, 25 panels on a semi-permanent rail; 2nd photo. Two more rails are installed waiting to have panels installed. So, the count: 26 + 29 + 47 = 103
At the big barn, pool, and guest house I first had a professional install of 39 panels on the "PV shed"; visible in 1st photo. That's a shed over two shipping container constructed to support panels. Then, I installed 6 panels at the edge of the pool; 5th photo. Then, 12 panels on my first rail under the eave of the PV shed; 1st photo. Count? 39 + 6 + 12 = 57. The rail of 12 will soon be a rail of 13. A new rail on the site of an old greenhouse will have 15.
Grand totals:
37 + 26 + 39 = 102 professionally installed on roof tops.
4 + 76 + 18 = 108 self installed ground mounts
Average panel power is about 250watts. So, 50kw altogether spread over three meters.
About 16 more panels should be installed and producing in the next few days. Perhaps 60 more panels in the next few months.
5/6/19
The above mentioned "collapsed rail" had 18 panels, not 17. Now installed on a permanent rail which has space for about 10-20 more panels.
The "greenhouse rail" is populated with 17 panels but not yet producing full power for reasons at this time unknown.
The totals should now be:
1) roof top professionally installed: 102 panels
2) guerrilla ground mounts: 126 panels.
5/8/19
I now have all in-stock panels installed and working. Well, I THINK working. Waiting for two more pallets of 30 panels each to arrive.
I added two panels to the previously collapsed string of 18 in the south field. 20 is too many for one string but I felt a compulsion to get the panels in production. They may produce under all conditions but certainly except a few hours mid-day with full sun.
I found a hook up problem with the new greenhouse string of 17 panels so they may all be producing. The new 20 panel string in south field and the 17 panels in the greenhouse string are all on the un-monitorable SolarBridge microinverters. I can test functioning only by putting an amp meter on the DC panel wires.
I added a panel to the string of 12 under the PV shed eve.
SO! The likely total for ground mount guerrilla panels is 129. 231 including roof top. Heading toward 300. Could go to 75kw. Heading toward 400 kwh/day. Could be worth $20/day. $600/month. Less ~$75/month connection fees. On site use is down in the noise. Am I overly optimistic? Probably.
6/7/19
Time for an update.
A shipment of two pallets, 60 panels total, arrived. Three of those panels were broken in shipping, so 57 new panels. All of those panels are either in production or almost in production right now.
1) I populated a new rail in the south field with 28 panels. This clearly overloads my wiring and production is lost during peak periods.
2) I completed and brought into production a 2nd greenhouse rail on the big barn meter. So, two greenhouse rails, each with 17 panels. 13 panels under the eave and 6 next to the pool.
3) I completed a new rail about 200' south of the pool and guest house. My last 13 in stock panels are in place on that rail. I hope for production today. Space for 15 more panels on that rail.
4) I reworked a temporary rail in the south yard, adding one more panel.
5) A new rail is now planned for the north part of my yard. 28 panels planned there.
Another shipment of 60 panels is on order. I believe that puts me at 6 pallets (25-30 panels each) over the past 6 months.
The "big barn" meter should soon have 17+17+13+6+13 = 66 ground mount panels plus 39 roof top.
The new sites are served by repurposed existing 10 gauge 240vac circuits. The green house and the 200' north of pool additions are served by wiring used for two wells. The north yard rail will be served by an extension of 240vac service to the "old garage".
At the house, my "new" 15kva transformer is limiting my production to about 15kw. An upgrade to a 37.5kva is in the works. The utility may be able to supply a lower voltage transformer; that will give me more "head room" before inverters shut down due to rising voltage.
6/25/19
Yet another inventory. After having installed 50 panels from the last shipment of 60 and deciding I'm at yet another stopping point.
1) "Across the Road" at RV building. Unchanged.
41 panels about 10kw
2) "Pool" aka "Big Barn" aka "GuestHouse"
39 roof top
13 below eave
34 old greenhouse site
14 south of guest house (with space for 14 more)
6 pool side two post mount
20 new "TwoFaced Rail Prototype"
126 total about 30 kw
3) "House"
26 roof top
87 south field (space for 19 more)
30 south yard
14 north yard (space for 14 more)
157 total about 37kw
Total for three meters: 324. about 77kw
Ray has been telling people I have about 300. I finally caught up to his estimate.
I expect my next project will be 36 panels on my second TwoFaced Rail near the RV building. I should have transformer capacity at that meter. If I get my service supply issues resolved, I'll likely order just one more pair of pallets, 60 more panels. Right now, I estimate I'm losing about 25% of my production due to two under size transformers.
Installing PV panels is just like eating potato chips. I can't stop. Obsessive compulsion. And, I'm making far more rapid progress than I envisioned just 6 months ago.
7/28/19
I just brought two TwoFaced Rails into production "across the road". 36 panels on one rail and 38 on the other. One of the 41 ~8 year old panels is not working. So, total number of panels on that meter is 40 + 36 + 38 = 114.
The other two meters remain at 126 and 157. So, total panels should now be 397.
All three meters can over produce around 100kwh on a good day. Somewhere around $15-$20/day total.
The 114 panel meter seems not to be overloading the transformer. Both the other transformers are being overloaded and energy is being lost.
Starting to answer the question: "How many panels have I installed?"
Not yet photographed are the first of the panels that went in across the road. I bought a four panel kit, about 1kw, off of eBay about 2011. Jean and I took the new Leaf to the UPS freight terminal on the north side of Austin to pick it up. We had to remove packaging to get it all in the car. Eventually, Steve Clunn installed them for me cantilevered off the south edge of the RV building. A bit later, Longhorn Solar did my first professional install with the blessing of my electric provider. I believe I ended up with 37 panels on the RV building roof. Those panels have been producing 6-8 years. 41 panels, as I count.
At the house, I first had a professional install of 26 panels on the roof of the house. About 8kw but feeding into a 5kw inverter. I've been adding panels in the south yard of the house. Recent count is 29 panels. 3rd photo.
Lacking any more room in the yard, I starting installing just outside the yard in "the south field". First, 5 panels temporarily leaning against a fence; visible in 2nd photo. Then, 17 panels on a temporary rail (which has collapsed, 1st photo). Finally, 25 panels on a semi-permanent rail; 2nd photo. Two more rails are installed waiting to have panels installed. So, the count: 26 + 29 + 47 = 103
At the big barn, pool, and guest house I first had a professional install of 39 panels on the "PV shed"; visible in 1st photo. That's a shed over two shipping container constructed to support panels. Then, I installed 6 panels at the edge of the pool; 5th photo. Then, 12 panels on my first rail under the eave of the PV shed; 1st photo. Count? 39 + 6 + 12 = 57. The rail of 12 will soon be a rail of 13. A new rail on the site of an old greenhouse will have 15.
Grand totals:
37 + 26 + 39 = 102 professionally installed on roof tops.
4 + 76 + 18 = 108 self installed ground mounts
Average panel power is about 250watts. So, 50kw altogether spread over three meters.
About 16 more panels should be installed and producing in the next few days. Perhaps 60 more panels in the next few months.
5/6/19
The above mentioned "collapsed rail" had 18 panels, not 17. Now installed on a permanent rail which has space for about 10-20 more panels.
The "greenhouse rail" is populated with 17 panels but not yet producing full power for reasons at this time unknown.
The totals should now be:
1) roof top professionally installed: 102 panels
2) guerrilla ground mounts: 126 panels.
5/8/19
I now have all in-stock panels installed and working. Well, I THINK working. Waiting for two more pallets of 30 panels each to arrive.
I added two panels to the previously collapsed string of 18 in the south field. 20 is too many for one string but I felt a compulsion to get the panels in production. They may produce under all conditions but certainly except a few hours mid-day with full sun.
I found a hook up problem with the new greenhouse string of 17 panels so they may all be producing. The new 20 panel string in south field and the 17 panels in the greenhouse string are all on the un-monitorable SolarBridge microinverters. I can test functioning only by putting an amp meter on the DC panel wires.
I added a panel to the string of 12 under the PV shed eve.
SO! The likely total for ground mount guerrilla panels is 129. 231 including roof top. Heading toward 300. Could go to 75kw. Heading toward 400 kwh/day. Could be worth $20/day. $600/month. Less ~$75/month connection fees. On site use is down in the noise. Am I overly optimistic? Probably.
6/7/19
Time for an update.
A shipment of two pallets, 60 panels total, arrived. Three of those panels were broken in shipping, so 57 new panels. All of those panels are either in production or almost in production right now.
1) I populated a new rail in the south field with 28 panels. This clearly overloads my wiring and production is lost during peak periods.
2) I completed and brought into production a 2nd greenhouse rail on the big barn meter. So, two greenhouse rails, each with 17 panels. 13 panels under the eave and 6 next to the pool.
3) I completed a new rail about 200' south of the pool and guest house. My last 13 in stock panels are in place on that rail. I hope for production today. Space for 15 more panels on that rail.
4) I reworked a temporary rail in the south yard, adding one more panel.
5) A new rail is now planned for the north part of my yard. 28 panels planned there.
Another shipment of 60 panels is on order. I believe that puts me at 6 pallets (25-30 panels each) over the past 6 months.
The "big barn" meter should soon have 17+17+13+6+13 = 66 ground mount panels plus 39 roof top.
The new sites are served by repurposed existing 10 gauge 240vac circuits. The green house and the 200' north of pool additions are served by wiring used for two wells. The north yard rail will be served by an extension of 240vac service to the "old garage".
At the house, my "new" 15kva transformer is limiting my production to about 15kw. An upgrade to a 37.5kva is in the works. The utility may be able to supply a lower voltage transformer; that will give me more "head room" before inverters shut down due to rising voltage.
6/25/19
Yet another inventory. After having installed 50 panels from the last shipment of 60 and deciding I'm at yet another stopping point.
1) "Across the Road" at RV building. Unchanged.
41 panels about 10kw
2) "Pool" aka "Big Barn" aka "GuestHouse"
39 roof top
13 below eave
34 old greenhouse site
14 south of guest house (with space for 14 more)
6 pool side two post mount
20 new "TwoFaced Rail Prototype"
126 total about 30 kw
3) "House"
26 roof top
87 south field (space for 19 more)
30 south yard
14 north yard (space for 14 more)
157 total about 37kw
Total for three meters: 324. about 77kw
Ray has been telling people I have about 300. I finally caught up to his estimate.
I expect my next project will be 36 panels on my second TwoFaced Rail near the RV building. I should have transformer capacity at that meter. If I get my service supply issues resolved, I'll likely order just one more pair of pallets, 60 more panels. Right now, I estimate I'm losing about 25% of my production due to two under size transformers.
Installing PV panels is just like eating potato chips. I can't stop. Obsessive compulsion. And, I'm making far more rapid progress than I envisioned just 6 months ago.
7/28/19
I just brought two TwoFaced Rails into production "across the road". 36 panels on one rail and 38 on the other. One of the 41 ~8 year old panels is not working. So, total number of panels on that meter is 40 + 36 + 38 = 114.
The other two meters remain at 126 and 157. So, total panels should now be 397.
All three meters can over produce around 100kwh on a good day. Somewhere around $15-$20/day total.
The 114 panel meter seems not to be overloading the transformer. Both the other transformers are being overloaded and energy is being lost.
Guerrilla Progress
Guerrilla progress.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/kEQ8tg1XB93uebf86
First photo:
The south field has two completed but unpopulated rails. Each should support about 28 panels. Since I believe I have insufficient wire capacity to the new garage, I'll probably not add many more panels in that area until I resolve the capacity problem.
Second two photos:
A new rail near the PV shed, big barn, pool, etc. On the old site of a greenhouse.
Power connection will be a nearby well. I'll install a small breaker box at the well with two breakers. One for the well and the other for the PV. I should be able to support about 25 panels with that connection. The rail will hold 15. I hope to have those 15 producing in a day or two.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/kEQ8tg1XB93uebf86
First photo:
The south field has two completed but unpopulated rails. Each should support about 28 panels. Since I believe I have insufficient wire capacity to the new garage, I'll probably not add many more panels in that area until I resolve the capacity problem.
Second two photos:
A new rail near the PV shed, big barn, pool, etc. On the old site of a greenhouse.
Power connection will be a nearby well. I'll install a small breaker box at the well with two breakers. One for the well and the other for the PV. I should be able to support about 25 panels with that connection. The rail will hold 15. I hope to have those 15 producing in a day or two.
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