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Where to start - converting from generator/UPS to more reasonable solar / powerwall?
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I agree some are confused about cost differential, but it's not an apples to apples comparison. In theory one system is put to use daily and then is there if the grid is gone. The other is a resource that sits there being unused. One is loud and might stink, the other is silent and doesn't depend on outside fuel. If you have the money and enjoy the tech/elegance - there are many worse ways money could be spent.Comment
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I agree some are confused about cost differential, but it's not an apples to apples comparison. In theory one system is put to use daily and then is there if the grid is gone. The other is a resource that sits there being unused. One is loud and might stink, the other is silent and doesn't depend on outside fuel. If you have the money and enjoy the tech/elegance - there are many worse ways money could be spent.
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While most of those that feel it is better to depend on solar and batteries instead of depending on an outside fuel source to provide their electricity, I say that the highest probability that will take down the grid for an extended period of time will probably be an event that will also take out most of the solar panels ability to recharge those batteries.Comment
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Volcanic would be one type. Just about any weather related that produces winds or debris, ice storms, blizzards, floods, along with earthquakes all can severely damage the arrays to the point no longer producing enough to recharge a battery system. Some could be short term others much - much longer.Comment
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Powerfab top of pole PV mount (2) | Listeroid 6/1 w/st5 gen head | XW6048 inverter/chgr | Iota 48V/15A charger | Morningstar 60A MPPT | 48V, 800A NiFe Battery (in series)| 15, Evergreen 205w "12V" PV array on pole | Midnight ePanel | Grundfos 10 SO5-9 with 3 wire Franklin Electric motor (1/2hp 240V 1ph ) on a timer for 3 hr noontime run - Runs off PV ||
|| Midnight Classic 200 | 10, Evergreen 200w in a 160VOC array ||
|| VEC1093 12V Charger | Maha C401 aa/aaa Charger | SureSine | Sunsaver MPPT 15A
solar: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Solar
gen: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-ListerComment
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Hurricane, blows debris around, smashes the glass PV panels. Even 1 plastic flamingo can take out a row of panels at 60mph. Or ice storms, Wind that takes down power lines can also blow the panels off the roof, or blow ice/hail onto them. Or it could just be cloudy and panels produce nothing, like mine do for weeks in the winter,
It is what I call the lack of vertical thinking.Comment
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MSEE, PEComment
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I have spent a lot of time learning to perform root cause analysis for problem solving at work that I try to stop "cliff jumping" at the "obvious" solution. So I find that I have to look outside the box at things that might be the real reasons that cause the problem.
It is amazing that once you get past someone's fears about something you can find the real reason of an issue.Comment
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I actually like the term Critical to vertical thinking. Seems it might be easier for some people to comprehend.
I have spent a lot of time learning to perform root cause analysis for problem solving at work that I try to stop "cliff jumping" at the "obvious" solution. So I find that I have to look outside the box at things that might be the real reasons that cause the problem.
It is amazing that once you get past someone's fears about something you can find the real reason of an issue.Comment
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FWIW, a long time ago I thought I was ahead of the game when I (looking back, probably erroneously) figured and felt I had internalized thinking outside the box until one of my older mentors asked a simple and socratic question: Why not simply get rid of the box ? Seems to make more sense as I get older.Comment
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Well I would say that the "box" is the comfort zone for most people and they choose not to go outside of it for a lot of reasons. The first being fear as I mentioned above. Once you get past the fear of something you can accomplish a lot more because you can see more. Getting rid of the box would be akin to going naked which is not something a lot of people want to even think about.
But all this has little to do with the name over the door, so back to business for me.Comment
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