Hello From San Diego!

[J.P.M.]

I took the house down to the studs and remodeled it after purchase only a few years ago. So, everything is newer. New AC. New electrical. Tankless water heater. All lights LED. City even made me put in a whole-house fire sprinkler system.

I think the house itself is pretty optimized. It's just that we are all also very heavy electronics users. Powerful gaming computers running long hours. Home entertainment system with surround sound going all day. Wife is from the East Coast. So, she is used to AC running all day. I run a software business from home office. So, I have multiple PCs and a pretty hefty server running.

That said, the meter could be helpful identifying which machine(s) are hurting us most. Do I understand the DROK correctly that the little sleave would go around the power cable and it reads through it that way? Is this right one?: https://www.amazon.com/Multimeter-Te.../dp/B09G2JC1KQ

So, for a start, how many kWh do you use per year ?

[wheaton4prez]

The first step (taken here after I bought my first house) is to put
numbers on exactly how much, and to where your energy is
going. Then see clearly where the best improvements can be
made. Today a KILL-A-WATT meter is quite useful. For 240VAC
you might apply a DROK 6-IN-1 MULTIMETER, plenty of
examples of that here.

Using Energy Star appliances can really help, with both running
and Vampire loads. If your AC is ancient stuff with a 14 or so
SEER, dump it for the latest closer to 30. You will like it much
better too. Other occupants can be dealt with, make sure the
lights they always leave on are LED, and motion det or timers
can work. How is your house insulation? Bruce Roe

I took the house down to the studs and remodeled it after purchase only a few years ago. So, everything is newer. New AC. New electrical. Tankless water heater. All lights LED. City even made me put in a whole-house fire sprinkler system.

I think the house itself is pretty optimized. It's just that we are all also very heavy electronics users. Powerful gaming computers running long hours. Home entertainment system with surround sound going all day. Wife is from the East Coast. So, she is used to AC running all day. I run a software business from home office. So, I have multiple PCs and a pretty hefty server running.

That said, the meter could be helpful identifying which machine(s) are hurting us most. Do I understand the DROK correctly that the little sleave would go around the power cable and it reads through it that way? Is this right one?: https://www.amazon.com/Multimeter-Te.../dp/B09G2JC1KQ

[wheaton4prez]

Yes. My system was installed in early 2019 and has been running with no problems ever since. I have a stone covered metal roof which added a bit of difficulty to the install. They partnered with an experienced roofing company during the install to ensure that the panels were mounted correctly. It was a flawless install and I was up and running with the blessing of both the city of Poway inspectors and SDG&E three days after the install. Back then they were installing with LG panels and SolarEdge inverters. I understand they have swapped over to Enphase microinverters and don't have a clue on which panels they are using.

Thank you. I will reach out to them for an estimate.

[wheaton4prez]

Are those prods even legal in CA?

I hear they might be under NEM 3.0.

[J.P.M.]

I mean with all of them over the hill gun laws in CA I though any type of defensive tool had to go through the legal system. But whatever works for you. Enjoy..

If I believed the talking heads (particularly those at the "news for dum fux" network) it might look to me that people of all stripes in our failed country get to do what they want regardless of the rule of law so what difference do gun laws make except to give right wing nuts something else to rail and bitch about ?

But that's off topic.

Rant mode off.

[SunEagle]

Legal's got zero to do with it.
They're simply motivational tools that cut to the chase and bypassed the political correctness cluster functions.
Tip: The lower voltage models didn't seem to impair production as much and the office floor stayed cleaner.

I mean with all of them over the hill gun laws in CA I though any type of defensive tool had to go through the legal system. But whatever works for you. Enjoy..

[bcroe]

Thank you. It's good advice to reduce power use first. But, for that, I need to read up more about how to control wives and teenagers. I'm not sure if I will have enough time to master that before it becomes irrelevant.

The first step (taken here after I bought my first house) is to put
numbers on exactly how much, and to where your energy is
going. Then see clearly where the best improvements can be
made. Today a KILL-A-WATT meter is quite useful. For 240VAC
you might apply a DROK 6-IN-1 MULTIMETER, plenty of
examples of that here.

Using Energy Star appliances can really help, with both running
and Vampire loads. If your AC is ancient stuff with a 14 or so
SEER, dump it for the latest closer to 30. You will like it much
better too. Other occupants can be dealt with, make sure the
lights they always leave on are LED, and motion det or timers
can work. How is your house insulation? Bruce Roe

[J.P.M.]

Are those prods even legal in CA?

Legal's got zero to do with it.
They're simply motivational tools that cut to the chase and bypassed the political correctness cluster functions.
Tip: The lower voltage models didn't seem to impair production as much and the office floor stayed cleaner.

[RichardCullip]

Were you happy with them?

Yes. My system was installed in early 2019 and has been running with no problems ever since. I have a stone covered metal roof which added a bit of difficulty to the install. They partnered with an experienced roofing company during the install to ensure that the panels were mounted correctly. It was a flawless install and I was up and running with the blessing of both the city of Poway inspectors and SDG&E three days after the install. Back then they were installing with LG panels and SolarEdge inverters. I understand they have swapped over to Enphase microinverters and don't have a clue on which panels they are using.

[SunEagle]

LOL

Can you recommend a cattle prod brand?

Are those prods even legal in CA?

[wheaton4prez]

It's all in the leadership. That and cattle prods.

LOL

Can you recommend a cattle prod brand?

[wheaton4prez]

I used San Diego County Solar as I wasn’t comfortable trying to do it myself

Were you happy with them?

[J.P.M.]

Thank you. It's good advice to reduce power use first. But, for that, I need to read up more about how to control wives and teenagers. I'm not sure if I will have enough time to master that before it becomes irrelevant.

It's all in the leadership. That and cattle prods.

[RichardCullip]

Thank you. Did you hire a vendor for your install? (Assuming you have one?). Or, are you DIY?

I used San Diego County Solar as I wasn’t comfortable trying to do it myself

[wheaton4prez]

Welcome aboard. As another North San Diego member I hope you find a vendor that does quality work at a price you re comfortable with. As you know, SDG&E has very high electric rates and this makes a solar installation quite attractive. However do your homework so you can dial in a fit-for-purpose solar system size. Hopefully you can hit the goldilocks design - not too big, not too small.

Thank you. Did you hire a vendor for your install? (Assuming you have one?). Or, are you DIY?