I was out shredding weeds in the burro pasture and decided the pecan trees there were worth mentioning. The ~4 acre field was my first real vegetable/orchard site. To add to our 5 acre home site, I bought adjacent 70 acres primarily to get the good soil in the 4 acre field. That was about 1981 after we had moved to Dale in 1976. Up to 1981 I was an Austin commuter. Starting about 1985 I was a farmer. In that 4 acre field I planted tomatoes, blackberries, peaches, potatoes, and pecans. The pecans are all that remain. I learned pecan grafting from the Extension Service, planted some seedling pecans, then grafted them to Desirable a year or two later. So, the pictured pecans are about 35 years old as of 2019.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/grkJYGMpmGA3K8nY6
The first photo is the field circa 1982 before the pecans were noticeable or maybe before they were planted. The second two photos are from 2019.
Though the pecan trees thrived, I have not harvested a single nut. Due to crows, squirrels, and lack of motivation. I did lose a couple of the trees near the top of the hill (closest to the barn) where the sand is thinner.
My grandfather, father of my mother, planted, then grafted pecans on his Red River farm. Probably around 1910; perhaps before. In my memory, from around 1950, those trees were enormous; the whole family looked forward to a good pecan harvest every couple of years. That was a real orchard of 100 or more trees; I think my row was about 11. The Red River trees are near the river, withing a few hundred yards. They were not closely spaced and mostly provided shade for grazing cattle.
One story told about my grandfather was that he would come upon a water moccasin sunning on tree trunk, partially submerged in the river, grab him by the tail, and pop his head off as with a bullwhip. It always sounded implausible to me.
Here are some photos of "the big barn" under construction around 1983.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/uFCwZ1LyzgRx12X5A
The barn is south of the field, about 100 yards or so. At the top of a hill and located on poor soil. As one moves north away from the barn through the field, the sand gets increasingly deep. That is, better.
Wednesday, July 31, 2019
Tuesday, July 23, 2019
THE END, Austin is Dead!
El Patio is closing! Aug 9 is to be their last day.
An earlier story:
https://www.kxan.com/news/local/austin/beloved-austin-restaurant-to-celebrate-65-years-as-others-close/
In the early Austin TexMex days, there was El Matamoros, El Patio, El Toro, La Tapitia All serving pretty much the same dishes. Only El Patio was left. La Tapitia may have been the best but El Patio is plenty good. All four preceded El Rancho and El Gallo, I believe. I also fondly recall the departed newcomers El Norteno and Vikashmo's.
On reflection, I see Jaime's Spanish Village deserves a place in the above list of titans:
http://alcalde.texasexes.org/2010/07/jaimes-spanish-village-to-close-after-80-years/
Since it was rather inconveniently located for me, I was not a frequent visitor. The food, however, was great!
Austin can finally be declared dead. Though I think El Rancho remains but can not be called early Austin TexMex.
9/20/19
Austin Survives a Brush with Death!
Recent news is that some descendants decided to continue to operate El Patio!
I'll get by there first chance I get.
An earlier story:
https://www.kxan.com/news/local/austin/beloved-austin-restaurant-to-celebrate-65-years-as-others-close/
In the early Austin TexMex days, there was El Matamoros, El Patio, El Toro, La Tapitia All serving pretty much the same dishes. Only El Patio was left. La Tapitia may have been the best but El Patio is plenty good. All four preceded El Rancho and El Gallo, I believe. I also fondly recall the departed newcomers El Norteno and Vikashmo's.
On reflection, I see Jaime's Spanish Village deserves a place in the above list of titans:
http://alcalde.texasexes.org/2010/07/jaimes-spanish-village-to-close-after-80-years/
Since it was rather inconveniently located for me, I was not a frequent visitor. The food, however, was great!
Austin can finally be declared dead. Though I think El Rancho remains but can not be called early Austin TexMex.
9/20/19
Austin Survives a Brush with Death!
Recent news is that some descendants decided to continue to operate El Patio!
I'll get by there first chance I get.
Thursday, July 18, 2019
First new project on "across the road" meter
I just brought online 36 panels on a steeply sloped TwoFaced Rail. 18 east facing and 18 west facing. The old PV on that meter is about 8 years old and consists of 41 panels. Enphase monitoring tells me only 40 of those are currently working. The addition may push my production as high as 19kw. That could overload my 15kva transformer and cause energy loss. My hope is that east and west facing will not much increase my peak power. I plan to add a second parallel TwoFaced Rail with another 36 panels. I'm pretty sure that WILL overload my transformer.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/xmrSwsfX5coUGir49
Older photos from previous post:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/zHSQb55p67wGeCtQ6
The new TwoFaced Rail is now my favorite configuration. I expect them to minimize peak power which has been causing me so much trouble with my small transformers. The rail better securely supports the panels. The negative is that the backs of the panels are nearly inaccessibly so operation can not be easily monitored; that is a big positive on the old one faced rails. I expect that propping up one middle panel will allow me to look at a total of six panels. Something I have yet to try.
7/22/19
Well, I've had occasion to test my maintenance access:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/dEcpFX5yXXrnwrqX6
A panel is propped up with a 5' long board. It does give me good access to 6 panels, inverters, and wiring.
The reason? I got a batch of bad inverters and am having to change them out.
The first rail is performing very well by minimizing mid day peak power and supplying good early and late power.
I now have a second rail installed. Shown in the above photo. Since I observed on the first rail that two joints of pipe will support 38 panels, I will have 38 on the second rail and 36 on the first. The second rail is not yet fully populated due to lack of stock of panels, inverters, and weed block metal roofing.
I'm "pretty sure" a full second rail will max out my transformer capacity like my other two transformers. I'm also "pretty sure" my total energy production on all meters would be quite a bit greater if ALL my panels were east and west facing. I started my PV adventure by installing south facing panels at all three meters. Live and learn.
7/16/19 Stopping Point
I finished populating the 2nd TwoFaced Rail across the road. I was surprised to see no evidence of high voltage shutdowns. We will see what the BlueBonnet report, available tomorrow says; I've had all 36+38 new panels producing since just after sun up. Before the new project, my over production has been about 40kwh/day. Before the 2nd rail was completely producing, it had risen to near 90kwh/day. I predict today's over production will be about 95kwh.
About 2:30pm, after "solar noon" I believe, I measured 14+ amps at 240vac on each of the rails. Individual panel DC currents were 1-2 amps for east facing and 5+ amps for west facing. The total of about 28 amps going into 6 gauge wire on a 50 amp breaker indicates that I have wiring capacity to add a 3rd rail in that area. Transformer capacity is likely another story.
I'm pleased to see that my loop of drop cable strategy seems to work ok. Up to 38 panels feed into a loop of drop cable. Each end of the loop is tied to a 10 gauge that connects to a 20 amp breaker. The 14 amps is a bit too much for the 12 gauge drop cable wire size but, being a loop, it doesn't all go through a single section of the wire.
My next project is not imminent but will likely be reconfiguring some of the south field panels into a TwoFaced Rail.
8/1/19
Up to date costs for these 74 panels:
1) Six joints of $15 pipe, used oil field salvage. $.61/panel
2) Sixty panels delivered to Austin, $3202. $53.37/panel
3) 48 Enphase M215 inverters delivered to Dale, $1566. $32.63/panel
4) 240 drop Enphase cable delivered to Austin, $3350. $13.96/panel
Total for principal components: $100.57
Aside from labor and hauling from Austin, incidentals are
1) About 100-150' of 6 gauge romex plus the about the same length of conduit
2) 1 50 amp breaker, 2 20 amp breakers.
3) A $10-$20 breaker panel.
4) About 30' of 10 gauge romex plus about the same length of conduit.
5) Various wire to hold things together, maybe 100-200'.
6) A few wire nuts.
Total above estimated to be about $500. About $6/panel.
This is marginally below my previous estimate of $110/panel; that estimate did not include the "incidentals". $.45 per rated watt.
Total cost for the 74 panels was about $8140. Rated capacity is 18kw. Observed production has been about 7kw. That production should persist for about 8 hours per day in clear weather. So, hoped for production could reach about 60 kwh/day. Production estimated from Bluebonnet meter reading reports average about 40 kwh/day. Hoped for value of production, at $.06/kwh, maybe $2.40/day. 3392 days for pay back. I'll just hope for 50 kwh/day. The good weather (60kwh/day) payback would be 2261 days. Time MAY tell.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/xmrSwsfX5coUGir49
Older photos from previous post:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/zHSQb55p67wGeCtQ6
The new TwoFaced Rail is now my favorite configuration. I expect them to minimize peak power which has been causing me so much trouble with my small transformers. The rail better securely supports the panels. The negative is that the backs of the panels are nearly inaccessibly so operation can not be easily monitored; that is a big positive on the old one faced rails. I expect that propping up one middle panel will allow me to look at a total of six panels. Something I have yet to try.
7/22/19
Well, I've had occasion to test my maintenance access:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/dEcpFX5yXXrnwrqX6
A panel is propped up with a 5' long board. It does give me good access to 6 panels, inverters, and wiring.
The reason? I got a batch of bad inverters and am having to change them out.
The first rail is performing very well by minimizing mid day peak power and supplying good early and late power.
I now have a second rail installed. Shown in the above photo. Since I observed on the first rail that two joints of pipe will support 38 panels, I will have 38 on the second rail and 36 on the first. The second rail is not yet fully populated due to lack of stock of panels, inverters, and weed block metal roofing.
I'm "pretty sure" a full second rail will max out my transformer capacity like my other two transformers. I'm also "pretty sure" my total energy production on all meters would be quite a bit greater if ALL my panels were east and west facing. I started my PV adventure by installing south facing panels at all three meters. Live and learn.
7/16/19 Stopping Point
I finished populating the 2nd TwoFaced Rail across the road. I was surprised to see no evidence of high voltage shutdowns. We will see what the BlueBonnet report, available tomorrow says; I've had all 36+38 new panels producing since just after sun up. Before the new project, my over production has been about 40kwh/day. Before the 2nd rail was completely producing, it had risen to near 90kwh/day. I predict today's over production will be about 95kwh.
About 2:30pm, after "solar noon" I believe, I measured 14+ amps at 240vac on each of the rails. Individual panel DC currents were 1-2 amps for east facing and 5+ amps for west facing. The total of about 28 amps going into 6 gauge wire on a 50 amp breaker indicates that I have wiring capacity to add a 3rd rail in that area. Transformer capacity is likely another story.
I'm pleased to see that my loop of drop cable strategy seems to work ok. Up to 38 panels feed into a loop of drop cable. Each end of the loop is tied to a 10 gauge that connects to a 20 amp breaker. The 14 amps is a bit too much for the 12 gauge drop cable wire size but, being a loop, it doesn't all go through a single section of the wire.
My next project is not imminent but will likely be reconfiguring some of the south field panels into a TwoFaced Rail.
8/1/19
Up to date costs for these 74 panels:
1) Six joints of $15 pipe, used oil field salvage. $.61/panel
2) Sixty panels delivered to Austin, $3202. $53.37/panel
3) 48 Enphase M215 inverters delivered to Dale, $1566. $32.63/panel
4) 240 drop Enphase cable delivered to Austin, $3350. $13.96/panel
Total for principal components: $100.57
Aside from labor and hauling from Austin, incidentals are
1) About 100-150' of 6 gauge romex plus the about the same length of conduit
2) 1 50 amp breaker, 2 20 amp breakers.
3) A $10-$20 breaker panel.
4) About 30' of 10 gauge romex plus about the same length of conduit.
5) Various wire to hold things together, maybe 100-200'.
6) A few wire nuts.
Total above estimated to be about $500. About $6/panel.
This is marginally below my previous estimate of $110/panel; that estimate did not include the "incidentals". $.45 per rated watt.
Total cost for the 74 panels was about $8140. Rated capacity is 18kw. Observed production has been about 7kw. That production should persist for about 8 hours per day in clear weather. So, hoped for production could reach about 60 kwh/day. Production estimated from Bluebonnet meter reading reports average about 40 kwh/day. Hoped for value of production, at $.06/kwh, maybe $2.40/day. 3392 days for pay back. I'll just hope for 50 kwh/day. The good weather (60kwh/day) payback would be 2261 days. Time MAY tell.
Friday, July 5, 2019
Hot water
or, "Propane Suppliers are Unreliable"
For near 40 years, I have been going from one propane supplier to another. A new one every 6-8 years. I tell a new provider to do whatever they need to keep me from running out of propane. Things go smoothly for a few years. Then, I find myself out of propane and go on to another supplier. I've been through 4-6 suppliers over the years.
I ran out of propane a few weeks ago. I've been taking cold showers since. With a great supply of cheap electricity, why should I put up with such horseshit, I ask myself.
I immediately started cooking with a single "burner" induction hot plate. I'm pleased with it's functioning.
I've been plotting several possible electric solutions for hot water. A straight forward solution is complicated by not having a big wire going to the water heater closet. I've been toying with the idea of using a low power electric heater whose output is circulated through the propane heater's storage tank.
A consideration is that I do not wish to spend electricity on heating water unless I am producing a surplus. That is, I do not wish to use PowerWall electricity to heat water.
With a little luck, I'll get a photo link posted here. It seems my Android phone is still refusing to give up it's photos. I'll take more photos with another Android.
The not phone Android seems to have worked smoothly.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/8sFggqvJyTryHUwCA
A few days ago, while mowing the clothes line area, I was reminded that I have outside faucets for both hot and cold water. Those are just across the outside wall where the clothes washer is located. So, I decided to run water between the cold and hot faucets through some black poly pipe. A 300' coil of that pipe, 1" diameter, should hold about 12 gallons. I decided on 600'. Laying out on the ground in the sun. I put a check valve so water can only go into the hot line. I have turned off the cold water supply to the propane heater. If I do get solar heated water out of my hot water outlets in the house, I'll devote myself to prettying it up and building some enclosure for the big pile of black pipe.
First photo shows rear of house with two hose bib outlets. Hot on the left with a check valve. The black riser is overflow for clothes washer. To prevent overflow inside in case the drain (to yard) becomes clogged.
Second photo shows coils of pipe around the corner of the house and also the rear of the house.
Third photo shows an accumulation of pipe fittings I had available for use. The hose bibs need to be replaced with better valves. The whole conglomeration is made up of 1/2", 3/4", and 1" pipe.
I have HIGH hopes of having my first warm/hot shower in many days.
7/7/19
Tweaking is CLEARLY in order! Luke warm showers, however, are a LOT better than cold showers.
After first placement, I discovered my black plastic pipe coils had morning shade. I then discovered that 24 gallons of water is HEAVY; the coils were very difficult to drag to a better location.
First tweak will be to spread out the coils so they see more sun. But, that will make building an enclosure a bigger project.
I try to wash dishes every couple of weeks. Whether they need it or not. With only cold water, I postponed to about a month. Finally washed most dishes with warmish water this afternoon.
I'm thinking about trying to relocate the pipe coils to the roof of the house.
I've priced commercial solar water heaters and was not much enticed.
Running a wire and installing a real electric heater remains a possibility.
7/18/19
https://photos.app.goo.gl/WKbf5H8GeGWR3WubA
The above shows new location for the water heater. Currently chopping out brush stumps and leveling a bit. Ground layer will be weed block fabric. Over that, old pallets from PV panel shipments. Then, black plastic. Then, the pipe coils. Then, covered with clear plastic.
A kludge?. Yes, I embrace kludges. But it will serve the purpose of cleaning up that area of the yard as well as providing a site for the heater.
For near 40 years, I have been going from one propane supplier to another. A new one every 6-8 years. I tell a new provider to do whatever they need to keep me from running out of propane. Things go smoothly for a few years. Then, I find myself out of propane and go on to another supplier. I've been through 4-6 suppliers over the years.
I ran out of propane a few weeks ago. I've been taking cold showers since. With a great supply of cheap electricity, why should I put up with such horseshit, I ask myself.
I immediately started cooking with a single "burner" induction hot plate. I'm pleased with it's functioning.
I've been plotting several possible electric solutions for hot water. A straight forward solution is complicated by not having a big wire going to the water heater closet. I've been toying with the idea of using a low power electric heater whose output is circulated through the propane heater's storage tank.
A consideration is that I do not wish to spend electricity on heating water unless I am producing a surplus. That is, I do not wish to use PowerWall electricity to heat water.
With a little luck, I'll get a photo link posted here. It seems my Android phone is still refusing to give up it's photos. I'll take more photos with another Android.
The not phone Android seems to have worked smoothly.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/8sFggqvJyTryHUwCA
A few days ago, while mowing the clothes line area, I was reminded that I have outside faucets for both hot and cold water. Those are just across the outside wall where the clothes washer is located. So, I decided to run water between the cold and hot faucets through some black poly pipe. A 300' coil of that pipe, 1" diameter, should hold about 12 gallons. I decided on 600'. Laying out on the ground in the sun. I put a check valve so water can only go into the hot line. I have turned off the cold water supply to the propane heater. If I do get solar heated water out of my hot water outlets in the house, I'll devote myself to prettying it up and building some enclosure for the big pile of black pipe.
First photo shows rear of house with two hose bib outlets. Hot on the left with a check valve. The black riser is overflow for clothes washer. To prevent overflow inside in case the drain (to yard) becomes clogged.
Second photo shows coils of pipe around the corner of the house and also the rear of the house.
Third photo shows an accumulation of pipe fittings I had available for use. The hose bibs need to be replaced with better valves. The whole conglomeration is made up of 1/2", 3/4", and 1" pipe.
I have HIGH hopes of having my first warm/hot shower in many days.
7/7/19
Tweaking is CLEARLY in order! Luke warm showers, however, are a LOT better than cold showers.
After first placement, I discovered my black plastic pipe coils had morning shade. I then discovered that 24 gallons of water is HEAVY; the coils were very difficult to drag to a better location.
First tweak will be to spread out the coils so they see more sun. But, that will make building an enclosure a bigger project.
I try to wash dishes every couple of weeks. Whether they need it or not. With only cold water, I postponed to about a month. Finally washed most dishes with warmish water this afternoon.
I'm thinking about trying to relocate the pipe coils to the roof of the house.
I've priced commercial solar water heaters and was not much enticed.
Running a wire and installing a real electric heater remains a possibility.
7/18/19
https://photos.app.goo.gl/WKbf5H8GeGWR3WubA
The above shows new location for the water heater. Currently chopping out brush stumps and leveling a bit. Ground layer will be weed block fabric. Over that, old pallets from PV panel shipments. Then, black plastic. Then, the pipe coils. Then, covered with clear plastic.
A kludge?. Yes, I embrace kludges. But it will serve the purpose of cleaning up that area of the yard as well as providing a site for the heater.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)