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.
Saturday, June 22, 2019
Three concurrent projects
https://photos.google.com/album/AF1QipMnz-GWvdVQr5h0ydePEY98Zf08mgM0KQ7-yRFZ
https://photos.app.goo.gl/UUxRuYNTcxWFw8Ut8
First two photos:
The "North Yard Rail"; house meter. Rail has room for 28 panels. My immediate goal is to install and get working 14 panels. These 14 panels are from the recent shipment of 60. I've completed about 80 feet of trenching to bring the power connection to the rail. 6 of the 14 panels are in place.
Next three photos:
The "Two Faced Rail Prototype"; pool/barn/guesthouse meter. Single joint of pipe will hold 10 east facing and 10 west facing panels. Panels also from recent shipment. 3rd photo has well, which will be be power connection point, in the background. Zoom in for enough resolution to see the well. Photos show the first pair of panels in place. Holes are drilled near the tops of the panel framing so that pairs of panels can be wired to each other, the adjacent pair of panels, and to the rail. At this time, I'm using repurposed salvage 12 or 14 gauge copper from romex cable. I hope that single panels can be propped up to facilitate access to rear of panels.
Last three photos:
The two rail powered from well project; also pool/barn/guesthouse meter. The first 14 panels shown have been operational for several weeks. The pool and guest house are shown in background of the first two photos. The markers near the panels are the well and the well power. 3rd photo is intended to show the Two Faced Rail Prototype in the distant background. Visible only if you zoom in. At the time of the photo, two pairs of panels are in place. The vertical PVC pipe marks the swimming pool drain outlet. This area was first intended to host two 28 panel rails with the hope that only 28 panels at a time would produce significant power. If the Two Faced Rail concept works well, I'll probably change that pair of rails to a single Two Faced Rail.
The Two Faced Rail shows promise of holding panels at a steeper angle and holding them more securely. The steeper angle is desirable to maximize early and late day production and, therefore, better share the limited wiring resources. The draw back of the Two Faced Rail is limited and difficult access to the backs of panels to confirm functioning. With a single rail, I can use a golf cart to drive behind the panels and check functioning with a clamp on DC amp meter.
The single pipe joint Two Faced Rail Prototype, with 20 panels, can likely deal with produced power as a single string even though the panel limit on the 12 gauge drop cable is 17. This is due to only 10 panels at a time having maximum production. My "standard" 3 joint rail feeds two 14 panel strings from the center of the rail.
The next Two Faced Rail, not yet under construction, with two pipe joints and 36 panels might work with one run of drop cable that has power connected on both ends. That is, in a "U" configuration.
The pool/barn/guesthouse meter has the same type of service problem that is present at the house. At times, I'm trying to push over 20kw into the grid through a 15kva (15kw) transformer. Voltages rise. Inverters shutdown. Energy is lost.
Sunday, 6/23/19
I'm in the process of populating the Two Faced Rail. It is working out extremely well! But much slower than with a single face rail. It is much like closing a zipper in slow motion. VERY slow motion. Put two panels near their home place. Drill four holes, both sides of one end of both panels. Thread ~14 gauge copper wire through holes in previously placed panels. Thread two wire ends through new panel holes while sliding new panels to the older ones. Wrap a length of stiff 12 gauge steel wire around the rail so one end hangs down; push looped wire near the center of the new panels. Plug two inverters into the drop cable and the panel wires. Crawl under the two new panels and cinch down the copper wire holding four panels together and to the rail. Hang the two inverters from the steel wire and bend so inverters are 1+ foot above the ground. Crawl out from under panels. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat.
So far, I have about 10 or 12 panels producing and hope to do the other 8-10 this afternoon.
I'll configure a loop of single conductor AC wire at the power end of the drop cable so I can measure current/power. Maybe put a plug receptacle at the other end of the drop cable so I can plug in an AC voltmeter.
7/11/19
Perhaps an update?
The "north yard rail" has been complete for some time. 14 panels have been installed and are producing. That is half the rail; there is space for a 14 more panels. On the house meter, I have a pretty severe service capacity insufficiency. Adding more panels gives more production only early and late in the day; mid-day production is capped at around 15kw. So, I will install more panels only when I get more service capacity; that is, a larger transformer.
The "TwoFaced Rail Prototype" has also been in full production for several weeks. 10 panels faced east and 10 face west, both at about 45 deg. I have the same capacity problem on that bigbarn/guesthouse/pool meter. Adding panels gives additional production only early and late in the day with a mid-day cap of about 15kw. So, no more panels on that meter either until capacity is increased.
The next TwoFaced Rail is complete "across the road". This successor to the prototype has a steeper slope; near 60 deg. Today, I start to install panels. I expect that rail of more steeply sloping panels, 18 east facing and 18 west facing, may hit my capacity limit on that 3rd meter. That will put a total of 77 panels on the meter. About 18kw on the 15kw transformer. Plans are for a second parallel rail also supporting 36 panels. Since the TwoFaced Rails are intended to give early and late production at the expense of mid-day production, I may find I can use that 2nd rail. Both rails, if completed, would give total rated power of about 27kw.
If my utility upgrades all three transformers, I should be able to eventually more than double my production on all three meters.
7/13/19
Some photos
https://photos.app.goo.gl/zHSQb55p67wGeCtQ6
First four photos are of the 2nd generation TwoFaced Rail. Two joints of pipe should hold 36 panels; 12 are in place and producing. Rail height is about 5' giving steeper panel angle than the prototype. Rail is supported by three posts.
First photo: labor housing RV trailer is just to the left of the power pole. Old barn just beyond the power pole which holds a 15kva transformer. "Party Shed" is in the distance. "RV Building" on right. Sprinter van is used to haul two pallets of panels per load. 6 gauge wire is trenched in from power pole, across the gravel road, to the rail. The 6 gauge wire supplies a breaker box under the rail which will be used to supply a second rail parallel to the first.
Perhaps interestingly, the length of drop cable, with 36 drops, is powered from both ends. I should not be getting max power from both east and west facing panels at the same time but, even when only one side is producing, 18 panels is too long, slightly, a string for the 12 gauge wire in the drop cable. I have hope that powering both ends will allow everything to work under all conditions.
A note on siting. My first intention was to place the rail in better sun near the distant fence in 2nd photo. I have old unused 10 gauge wire trenched in to that fence, placed ~15 years ago when I buried the high voltage fence charging wire. But Ray Menke properly prohibited me from putting the rail there because it is in the spillway for the tank that is just off to the left of the first photo. Then, I decided to use the water well electric supply; the well is shown near the center of the first photo. That wire path would cross the electric supply line to the RV Building. I located that line so that wasn't a big consideration. But, I finally decided to cross the gravel road with my trench and directly access the service panel. An unobstructed path and I plowed the entire length with my chisel plow. The site is less than ideal in that the RV building will give some morning shade to part of the rail and the tree is likely to give some winter shade to the south end of the rail. Trade offs and engineering judgments.
Last three photos are of TwoFaced Rail Prototype. One joint of pipe with a short extension holds 20 panels. Rail height is about 4.5'. Rail is supported by two posts.
Fourth photo: Guest house to far left. 6 panel, two post mount just in front of the concrete ring pool which is in front of "pool building". Near center, a 15kva transformer on a steel pole. South end view of rail. To the far right is a water well which is used to make to rail grid connection. 10 gauge wire is being trenched in from the well to the north end of the rail.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/UUxRuYNTcxWFw8Ut8
First two photos:
The "North Yard Rail"; house meter. Rail has room for 28 panels. My immediate goal is to install and get working 14 panels. These 14 panels are from the recent shipment of 60. I've completed about 80 feet of trenching to bring the power connection to the rail. 6 of the 14 panels are in place.
Next three photos:
The "Two Faced Rail Prototype"; pool/barn/guesthouse meter. Single joint of pipe will hold 10 east facing and 10 west facing panels. Panels also from recent shipment. 3rd photo has well, which will be be power connection point, in the background. Zoom in for enough resolution to see the well. Photos show the first pair of panels in place. Holes are drilled near the tops of the panel framing so that pairs of panels can be wired to each other, the adjacent pair of panels, and to the rail. At this time, I'm using repurposed salvage 12 or 14 gauge copper from romex cable. I hope that single panels can be propped up to facilitate access to rear of panels.
Last three photos:
The two rail powered from well project; also pool/barn/guesthouse meter. The first 14 panels shown have been operational for several weeks. The pool and guest house are shown in background of the first two photos. The markers near the panels are the well and the well power. 3rd photo is intended to show the Two Faced Rail Prototype in the distant background. Visible only if you zoom in. At the time of the photo, two pairs of panels are in place. The vertical PVC pipe marks the swimming pool drain outlet. This area was first intended to host two 28 panel rails with the hope that only 28 panels at a time would produce significant power. If the Two Faced Rail concept works well, I'll probably change that pair of rails to a single Two Faced Rail.
The Two Faced Rail shows promise of holding panels at a steeper angle and holding them more securely. The steeper angle is desirable to maximize early and late day production and, therefore, better share the limited wiring resources. The draw back of the Two Faced Rail is limited and difficult access to the backs of panels to confirm functioning. With a single rail, I can use a golf cart to drive behind the panels and check functioning with a clamp on DC amp meter.
The single pipe joint Two Faced Rail Prototype, with 20 panels, can likely deal with produced power as a single string even though the panel limit on the 12 gauge drop cable is 17. This is due to only 10 panels at a time having maximum production. My "standard" 3 joint rail feeds two 14 panel strings from the center of the rail.
The next Two Faced Rail, not yet under construction, with two pipe joints and 36 panels might work with one run of drop cable that has power connected on both ends. That is, in a "U" configuration.
The pool/barn/guesthouse meter has the same type of service problem that is present at the house. At times, I'm trying to push over 20kw into the grid through a 15kva (15kw) transformer. Voltages rise. Inverters shutdown. Energy is lost.
Sunday, 6/23/19
I'm in the process of populating the Two Faced Rail. It is working out extremely well! But much slower than with a single face rail. It is much like closing a zipper in slow motion. VERY slow motion. Put two panels near their home place. Drill four holes, both sides of one end of both panels. Thread ~14 gauge copper wire through holes in previously placed panels. Thread two wire ends through new panel holes while sliding new panels to the older ones. Wrap a length of stiff 12 gauge steel wire around the rail so one end hangs down; push looped wire near the center of the new panels. Plug two inverters into the drop cable and the panel wires. Crawl under the two new panels and cinch down the copper wire holding four panels together and to the rail. Hang the two inverters from the steel wire and bend so inverters are 1+ foot above the ground. Crawl out from under panels. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat.
So far, I have about 10 or 12 panels producing and hope to do the other 8-10 this afternoon.
I'll configure a loop of single conductor AC wire at the power end of the drop cable so I can measure current/power. Maybe put a plug receptacle at the other end of the drop cable so I can plug in an AC voltmeter.
7/11/19
Perhaps an update?
The "north yard rail" has been complete for some time. 14 panels have been installed and are producing. That is half the rail; there is space for a 14 more panels. On the house meter, I have a pretty severe service capacity insufficiency. Adding more panels gives more production only early and late in the day; mid-day production is capped at around 15kw. So, I will install more panels only when I get more service capacity; that is, a larger transformer.
The "TwoFaced Rail Prototype" has also been in full production for several weeks. 10 panels faced east and 10 face west, both at about 45 deg. I have the same capacity problem on that bigbarn/guesthouse/pool meter. Adding panels gives additional production only early and late in the day with a mid-day cap of about 15kw. So, no more panels on that meter either until capacity is increased.
The next TwoFaced Rail is complete "across the road". This successor to the prototype has a steeper slope; near 60 deg. Today, I start to install panels. I expect that rail of more steeply sloping panels, 18 east facing and 18 west facing, may hit my capacity limit on that 3rd meter. That will put a total of 77 panels on the meter. About 18kw on the 15kw transformer. Plans are for a second parallel rail also supporting 36 panels. Since the TwoFaced Rails are intended to give early and late production at the expense of mid-day production, I may find I can use that 2nd rail. Both rails, if completed, would give total rated power of about 27kw.
If my utility upgrades all three transformers, I should be able to eventually more than double my production on all three meters.
7/13/19
Some photos
https://photos.app.goo.gl/zHSQb55p67wGeCtQ6
First four photos are of the 2nd generation TwoFaced Rail. Two joints of pipe should hold 36 panels; 12 are in place and producing. Rail height is about 5' giving steeper panel angle than the prototype. Rail is supported by three posts.
First photo: labor housing RV trailer is just to the left of the power pole. Old barn just beyond the power pole which holds a 15kva transformer. "Party Shed" is in the distance. "RV Building" on right. Sprinter van is used to haul two pallets of panels per load. 6 gauge wire is trenched in from power pole, across the gravel road, to the rail. The 6 gauge wire supplies a breaker box under the rail which will be used to supply a second rail parallel to the first.
Perhaps interestingly, the length of drop cable, with 36 drops, is powered from both ends. I should not be getting max power from both east and west facing panels at the same time but, even when only one side is producing, 18 panels is too long, slightly, a string for the 12 gauge wire in the drop cable. I have hope that powering both ends will allow everything to work under all conditions.
A note on siting. My first intention was to place the rail in better sun near the distant fence in 2nd photo. I have old unused 10 gauge wire trenched in to that fence, placed ~15 years ago when I buried the high voltage fence charging wire. But Ray Menke properly prohibited me from putting the rail there because it is in the spillway for the tank that is just off to the left of the first photo. Then, I decided to use the water well electric supply; the well is shown near the center of the first photo. That wire path would cross the electric supply line to the RV Building. I located that line so that wasn't a big consideration. But, I finally decided to cross the gravel road with my trench and directly access the service panel. An unobstructed path and I plowed the entire length with my chisel plow. The site is less than ideal in that the RV building will give some morning shade to part of the rail and the tree is likely to give some winter shade to the south end of the rail. Trade offs and engineering judgments.
Last three photos are of TwoFaced Rail Prototype. One joint of pipe with a short extension holds 20 panels. Rail height is about 4.5'. Rail is supported by two posts.
Fourth photo: Guest house to far left. 6 panel, two post mount just in front of the concrete ring pool which is in front of "pool building". Near center, a 15kva transformer on a steel pole. South end view of rail. To the far right is a water well which is used to make to rail grid connection. 10 gauge wire is being trenched in from the well to the north end of the rail.
Sunday, June 16, 2019
Hanging Together
Longhorns, Cattle Egrets, and Turkey. It is the Turkey that is unusual to find associating with the other two.
You will likely have to access the higher resolutions to see the Turkey.
6/25/19
It looks like it is time for me to give up trying to get photos posted. They are hung up in my phone and not uploading to cloud.
Anyway, just use your imagination. I believe the wild Turkeys just happened to be in the same area as the Longhorns at the time I went by; that is, I don't believe they were socializing as the egrets and cattle do. I do see a flock of turkeys almost every time I go to that area. Sometimes, you will see an egret riding on the back of a cow. Presumably picking off ticks or other insects.
This is the first year I've noticed multiple turkey males/gobblers in one flock. They are easy to identify because they spread their tail feathers.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cattle_egret
It is interesting to note that the spread of Cattle Egrets across the globe is fairly recent. I believe Cattle Egrets are near the most wide spread of species.
You will likely have to access the higher resolutions to see the Turkey.
6/25/19
It looks like it is time for me to give up trying to get photos posted. They are hung up in my phone and not uploading to cloud.
Anyway, just use your imagination. I believe the wild Turkeys just happened to be in the same area as the Longhorns at the time I went by; that is, I don't believe they were socializing as the egrets and cattle do. I do see a flock of turkeys almost every time I go to that area. Sometimes, you will see an egret riding on the back of a cow. Presumably picking off ticks or other insects.
This is the first year I've noticed multiple turkey males/gobblers in one flock. They are easy to identify because they spread their tail feathers.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cattle_egret
It is interesting to note that the spread of Cattle Egrets across the globe is fairly recent. I believe Cattle Egrets are near the most wide spread of species.
Sunday, June 9, 2019
PV reflections and commentary
I've settled in on standard "hitching rails" of three joints of 33' oil field pipe. Though I have several shorter rails installed, I consider ~100' to be my "standard". Those rails support 28 panels each. Total cost, excluding labor, is about $3k/rail. Rated capacity is just under 7kw. I would be pleased to find that I'm averaging 25kwh per day. If BlueBonnet continues to pay me $.06+ /kwh, that would be $1.50/day, $45/month, $500+ per year. I've estimated pay back periods as low as 4 years. The above indicates 6 years. Time will tell. Clearly, I'm no where near that right now. An estimated 31kw worth of production capacity is yielding less than $100/month. One lives on hope.
HOUSE
Today, I took inventory of panels supplying my house electric meter. I am overloading my level of electric service but have high hopes of a resolution in the next month or so. The effect of trying to push more power than the service will accept is rising voltage on my side of the transformer which, in turn, causes inverters to shut down, losing power that might otherwise be delivered/sold. My current transformer is a 15kva which places my production limit at about 15kw though I start seeing inverter shut downs as low as 10kw. I have hope of getting a 37.5kva transformer with lower static voltage, my request is for 230 volts. Current "static", no production, voltage is 245-248. Inverters seem to shut down at 260-262 volts.
So, here is what I have now:
1) 26 300w roof top panels on a single string inverter. Though there is about 8kw in panels, the inverter is 5kw. That is, power is limited to about 5kw. Being very near my service entrance, this inverter almost never shuts down. All my other panels are on micro inverters, one inverter for each panel.
2) My ground mount additions in the south yard: 30 240-245w panels.
3) Four rails in the "south field", two east facing and two west facing. All panels are about 245w. The west most two rails are east facing, 25 and 26 panels with space for 2 more. The east most two rails face west, 21 and 1 panels with space for 7 plus 27 more. I have suspended additions in this area due to inverter shut downs.
4) Newly planned and under construction in the north yard: one rail with space for 28 panels. It will be about 100 unobstructed feet from an existing ~6kw wire.
It looks like my total panel count is currently 129 panels with space and planned space for 64 more. Right now, my production capacity is about 31kw. Due I hope mostly due to lack of service, I never see much more than 15kw with typical being 10-12kw for a few hours after noon. Under good conditions, I hope to see my production capacity rise to about 45kw.
As a cost saving strategy, I have been installing PV at locations that are already close to 240vac wiring. The ~15kw worth of wiring in the "new garage", I installed about 35 years ago mainly to supply a welder and a well. In other locations on another meter, I am putting rails in near water wells and using the well supply wire.
I read "somewhere" that panel pointing did not make a great deal of difference in total year round energy production. Any not much shaded site with pointing from due east to straight up to due west should produce within about 90% of optimal. Tradition has it that panels should point about south with a 20-30 deg tilt. With more cloudy mornings than cloudy afternoons, pointing a bit west of south might be a bit better than due south pointing. I took that "pointing is not very important" to heart and started installing both east and west facing panels for a couple of reasons:
1) Avoiding ANY grid consumption by using battery power at night makes both early day and late day production attractive.
2) With wiring restricting my peak power I can produce more total energy by having some panels produce better early in the day and some later in the day.
In the midst of construction, I am running through supplies far faster than I envisioned. I bought about 48 33' joints of salvaged oil field pipe from which to construct rails. I am now down to less than 15 joints and am shopping for another batch. I use old metal roofing between the ground and the panels that rest on the ground. That is to make keeping the weeds a bay easier. I am near out of old roofing material and seeking more sources. I've exhausted my supply of 10 gauge romex wire which feeds rails. I'll need to go buy more next week. All in stock panels are in place and producing. 60 more are in the delivery pipeline. I recently received drop cable for 240 panels; that should be a lifetime supply. I have only 48 inverters in stock so I will soon need to buy more.
BIG BARN / POOL
Only micro inverters in this area. This meter has 39 ~260w panels on a roof top, 13 rail panels under the eave of the roof, and two rails recently added at a greehouse site. Each, rail has 17 panels. An older 6 panel on two post install is adjacent to the pool. I am in the middle of installing two rails at a well site about 200' south of the pool. One rail is complete, east facing, and half populated with 14 panels.
Total PV on this meter is about 106 panels and about 20kw. 14 more panels will be added as soon as panels are available. I am not monitoring this power as closely as at the house. There is no power wall and no Curb energy monitor. All the monitoring is via the Enphase online system. I recently noticed I have a 15kva transformer for that meter so it is likely that I am experiencing inverter shut downs that I have not noticed. Though the both east and west facing panels may be minimizing those shut downs. I need to pay closer attention.
6/26/19
I have completed a 20 panel "Two Faced Rail" as discussed in comments. Location is about 150 feet south of the "PV Shed" which supports 39 roof top panels. Power connection is old water well. I'm highly pleased with the first TwoFaced Rail. Access is difficult but panels are at a steeper angle (about 45 deg) and are better secured. I am about to start construction of a 38 panel TwoFaced Rail "across the road" near "RV building". That electric service meter has not had PV additions in 5+ years.
On the house meter, the "North Yard" rail is complete and populated with 14 producing panels. The other 14 panels will not be added until/if my service power issue is resolved.
HOUSE
Today, I took inventory of panels supplying my house electric meter. I am overloading my level of electric service but have high hopes of a resolution in the next month or so. The effect of trying to push more power than the service will accept is rising voltage on my side of the transformer which, in turn, causes inverters to shut down, losing power that might otherwise be delivered/sold. My current transformer is a 15kva which places my production limit at about 15kw though I start seeing inverter shut downs as low as 10kw. I have hope of getting a 37.5kva transformer with lower static voltage, my request is for 230 volts. Current "static", no production, voltage is 245-248. Inverters seem to shut down at 260-262 volts.
So, here is what I have now:
1) 26 300w roof top panels on a single string inverter. Though there is about 8kw in panels, the inverter is 5kw. That is, power is limited to about 5kw. Being very near my service entrance, this inverter almost never shuts down. All my other panels are on micro inverters, one inverter for each panel.
2) My ground mount additions in the south yard: 30 240-245w panels.
3) Four rails in the "south field", two east facing and two west facing. All panels are about 245w. The west most two rails are east facing, 25 and 26 panels with space for 2 more. The east most two rails face west, 21 and 1 panels with space for 7 plus 27 more. I have suspended additions in this area due to inverter shut downs.
4) Newly planned and under construction in the north yard: one rail with space for 28 panels. It will be about 100 unobstructed feet from an existing ~6kw wire.
It looks like my total panel count is currently 129 panels with space and planned space for 64 more. Right now, my production capacity is about 31kw. Due I hope mostly due to lack of service, I never see much more than 15kw with typical being 10-12kw for a few hours after noon. Under good conditions, I hope to see my production capacity rise to about 45kw.
As a cost saving strategy, I have been installing PV at locations that are already close to 240vac wiring. The ~15kw worth of wiring in the "new garage", I installed about 35 years ago mainly to supply a welder and a well. In other locations on another meter, I am putting rails in near water wells and using the well supply wire.
I read "somewhere" that panel pointing did not make a great deal of difference in total year round energy production. Any not much shaded site with pointing from due east to straight up to due west should produce within about 90% of optimal. Tradition has it that panels should point about south with a 20-30 deg tilt. With more cloudy mornings than cloudy afternoons, pointing a bit west of south might be a bit better than due south pointing. I took that "pointing is not very important" to heart and started installing both east and west facing panels for a couple of reasons:
1) Avoiding ANY grid consumption by using battery power at night makes both early day and late day production attractive.
2) With wiring restricting my peak power I can produce more total energy by having some panels produce better early in the day and some later in the day.
In the midst of construction, I am running through supplies far faster than I envisioned. I bought about 48 33' joints of salvaged oil field pipe from which to construct rails. I am now down to less than 15 joints and am shopping for another batch. I use old metal roofing between the ground and the panels that rest on the ground. That is to make keeping the weeds a bay easier. I am near out of old roofing material and seeking more sources. I've exhausted my supply of 10 gauge romex wire which feeds rails. I'll need to go buy more next week. All in stock panels are in place and producing. 60 more are in the delivery pipeline. I recently received drop cable for 240 panels; that should be a lifetime supply. I have only 48 inverters in stock so I will soon need to buy more.
BIG BARN / POOL
Only micro inverters in this area. This meter has 39 ~260w panels on a roof top, 13 rail panels under the eave of the roof, and two rails recently added at a greehouse site. Each, rail has 17 panels. An older 6 panel on two post install is adjacent to the pool. I am in the middle of installing two rails at a well site about 200' south of the pool. One rail is complete, east facing, and half populated with 14 panels.
Total PV on this meter is about 106 panels and about 20kw. 14 more panels will be added as soon as panels are available. I am not monitoring this power as closely as at the house. There is no power wall and no Curb energy monitor. All the monitoring is via the Enphase online system. I recently noticed I have a 15kva transformer for that meter so it is likely that I am experiencing inverter shut downs that I have not noticed. Though the both east and west facing panels may be minimizing those shut downs. I need to pay closer attention.
6/26/19
I have completed a 20 panel "Two Faced Rail" as discussed in comments. Location is about 150 feet south of the "PV Shed" which supports 39 roof top panels. Power connection is old water well. I'm highly pleased with the first TwoFaced Rail. Access is difficult but panels are at a steeper angle (about 45 deg) and are better secured. I am about to start construction of a 38 panel TwoFaced Rail "across the road" near "RV building". That electric service meter has not had PV additions in 5+ years.
On the house meter, the "North Yard" rail is complete and populated with 14 producing panels. The other 14 panels will not be added until/if my service power issue is resolved.
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