Clean Solar Panels!

[ACHiPo]

PS I don’t want a pick up truck, but the Ford Lightning has bidirectional charging and I really want another 7 PowerWalls which is how big the batteries are on the Lightning.

But I digress. Clean panels definitely help!

 

[Janderso]

Jeff,
I saw about a 10% efficiency increase the first time I cleaned our solar panels. I have our window cleaners do it every year for an extra $100.
Evan

10%, I'll take it.
We signed up for the twice a year program. $332 a year.
Add another $27 a month to my electric bill.
Considering PG&E increases their rates by double digits every year, I hope we still made the right decision to install solar. Time will tell.
We do hear the groaning/complaints from friends and neighbors about the ever increasing electric energy bills.

 

[Janderso]

PS I don’t want a pick up truck, but the Ford Lightning has bidirectional charging and I really want another 7 PowerWalls which is how big the batteries are on the Lightning.

But I digress. Clean panels definitely help!

The Lightning is an amazing vehicle.
Speaking of EV's, I watched a video of a Tesla pick-up truck getting stuck in a driveway. There was about 4" of snow and it must have been icy.
The 8,000# doesn't help. The used an ICE F-150 to pull it out
When I lived in heavy snow country the Subarus were incredible. Super light they just popped up over all the snow related obstacles when other 4X4's would struggle.

 

[woodchucker]

The Lightning is an amazing vehicle.
Speaking of EV's, I watched a video of a Tesla pick-up truck getting stuck in a driveway. There was about 4" of snow and it must have been icy.
The 8,000# doesn't help. The used an ICE F-150 to pull it out
When I lived in heavy snow country the Subarus were incredible. Super light they just popped up over all the snow related obstacles when other 4X4's would struggle.

Yep, When I would ski in Colorado I would rent a Subaru, loved them in snow. Too bad they were so poorly made, and would require a ton of maintenance. From day one, I had problems... Great snow vehicle, but quality is important, and it's just not there.

 

[mmcmdl]

When I lived in heavy snow country the Subarus were incredible.

They are all I see up in NY snow country .

 

[Gnpenning]

PS I don’t want a pick up truck, but the Ford Lightning has bidirectional charging and I really want another 7 PowerWalls which is how big the batteries are on the Lightning.

But I digress. Clean panels definitely help!

The utube channel Ambition Strikes just did a video on this.

They are off grid in northern Idaho. If you don't find it I can look for it tonight.

 

[projectnut]

I decided to go with one of these for backup power. It should be large enough to power everything I need to use. It's a mere 3273 hp and puts out 2250 KW.

Rebuilt CAT 3516CHD Generator Set – T4i ‣ React Power Solutions

#post_titleRebuilt CAT 3516CHD Generator Set; 2010 Model - 0 Hours Since Major Overhaul; 2250kW Prime Power; 480/277V; Open Skid Mounted; EMCP 4.2 Control Panel; Tier 4i Emissions; Clean Emissions Module; In Stock - Ready to Ship

www.reactpower.com

I changed my mind on purchasing the Cat generator. I did however run across a 1991 Libby Corp MDL MEP-002A 5KW diesel generator set. It was originally built for the military and has less than 1,000 hours on the clock. The seller is asking what I would consider a give away price.

It's a bit ironic that I just gave away a 3KW unit because I hadn't used it in years, and it was extremely noisy. I'll check out the 5KW unit a little closer later in the week. Here's a link to a similar unit. The one I'm looking at is on the skid, but not on a trailer.

1991 LIBBY CORP MDL MEP-002A 5KW 60 HZ DIESEL GENERATOR SET

1991 LIBBY CORP MDL MEP-002A 5KW 60 HZ DIESEL GENERATOR SET (GEN SET ONLY 3000.00 WITH TRAILER ADD 900.00)SER#RZ01335 HOURS 360

tnjmurray.com

 

[Provincial]

My backup generator is an Allmand light tower. It has a 6KW Perkins diesel and sips fuel. I installed a receptacle for single phase 240V (it had two 120V circuits/breakers) with a separate breaker so I can plug it into my transfer switch. It has a built-in trailer and the four big HID lights, and has been handy for outdoor projects that run late into the dark. It is a holdover from a business that I sold over 15 years ago, but remains in perfect shape and has very low hours for it's age.

 

[sycle1]

Funnily I haven't ever had our panels cleaned in all the years we have owned them and the last bill the electric company actually owed us money so that was a first.
Must have been a real sunny day! They mess with the weather so much nowadays Geo engineering we are lucky to get a sunny day now .

 

[Gnpenning]

This is the video about the lighting.