Solar and Wind projects

[quinnf]

Sure.  Governments hate competition.  Declare your independence and see what happens.  They'll have a regulary hissy fit. 

Last time it was tried here was in 1861, which precipitated the War of Northern Aggression.  I have to call it that 'cause Bill Rogers might be reading this.

Quinn

[mobile_bob]

Bill Rogers isn't the one you need to worry about!

Magic Jack would be the one i would be watchin over my shoulder for!

i have seen his cannon, both of em
and i am sure i can't run fast enough

bob g

[Rom]

The system doesnt work that way here... For example... maybe 6 years ago, our workforce for Batelco ( Bahamas Telecomunications Corp-Governenment Owned Corp) went on "strike"... The company's offical press realease was that all the company's vechicles broke down, at the same time, and cause a terrible traffic jam during a good time in the tourist season. Only person fired during this company wide strike, was a lady of lighter coloured skin, in my neibourhood, of mostly British loyalists, of lighter skin. We are not on the right side of the system to attack it dead on unfourtunatly.

[dubbleUJay]

ROM, you are definitely correct, we are a'sailing the same boat by the sounds of it!

The thing is, the people in power are "arrogantly ignorant" and the rest of the world doesn't have a clue of what are really happening over here, except what they read/see in their news, which is usually biased towards the poor previously disadvantaged government. (I just call it propaganda, totally my own opinion)

The one good thing I can see coming out of the 2010 Soccer World Cup, is that people might see what are really going on, this is if they can see through all the smoke and mirrors that will be presented!

Our power grid problems started with the failure of one of the two reactors at our only nuclear facility. All of a sudden the demand was bigger than the supply, power was relayed from other areas and overloads occurred. Then the Right/Left or what ever politic opposition "wing" was blamed for sabotage by dropping a nut into one of the reactors!
It later surfaced that the fat cats "forgot" to maintain the grid. We had substations blown up from overloading from bypassed trip switches, main supply lines "blown over by the wind" ( they forgot to tell us that the pylon's legs were sawn off for scrap metal a few months earlier) exec, exec ,exec.

Its one thing to have no infrastructure and working towards bettering it, but a completely different kettle of fish if you had it, but let it deteriorate through corruption and then still have to audacity to blame someone else!

Needless to say, the backup generator business made a killing! The repair workshops as well, because most of the sets sold were of the JC verity, Jap-Crapp Pty (Ltd)  Not that all Jap stuff is crapp, we just got the stuff the are not allowed to use over there. (We get great used diesel engines for trade-ins over here, apparently when they've done 60,000km or so, they are no longer allowed in some Eastern Countries and they are about half the price.)
The "NUT hit the fan" so quick, no one had a chance to do some homework and just went out and bought the cheapest 3 or 5 KVA petrol driven gen-set and ran it for two days continuously out the box!
Electrical "Experts" popped out of the woodwork everywhere.
In our townships, illegal connections must make up for about 80% of the connected households. They were promised housing, electricity and running water by the current government for voting purposes and the deadline was a few years ago!
The poor BEE utility workers cannot go in and disconnect them as they will probably be killed on the job or they and their family tonight, as they are mainly their neighbors through Black Economic Empowerment.
An ignorant government imposed catch 22 situation.

We should have listened to our Minister of "Lights Out" and go to bed early! 
Someone once said: "Don't underestimate the knowledge and integrity of the common people, Sire!" (His last word BTW)

PS-This thread should probably be taken to the "ranting" section by now!  Yes, I know, mainly because of me, sorry 

[mkdutchman]

mobile_bob,
I have to confess my ignorance, who is magic jack and his cannon? A quick google didn't give me any useful info

[mobile_bob]

who is "Magic Jack"?

he is a fellow board member and one of the most interesting gentlemen i have ever had the pleasure to meet.

he is an accomplished machinist, gunmaker, cannon builder, architect/builder, 6/1 owning, snake killin/gator wrestling,
writer, geologist, historian, amongst other things and a great guy to get to know.

the guy you want on your side of the fence when the shtf!

i suspect we will be hearing more out of him on this forum as the weather gets colder and he has to come indoors
for the winter.



bob g

[quinnf]

I second what Bob says.  Jack's a most interesting gentleman.  When you're in the room with him, you find yourself sitting down, shutting up and making like a sponge.  I've met only a couple of people like him.

Here's Jack:  http://www.utterpower.com/jack_belk.htm

Quinn

[mkdutchman]

oh I see, wasn't he on the other forum as "hotater"?

[admin]

that would be the man

admin

[mkdutchman]

I just checked the member list and I believe he's on here Magic Jack

[Carlb]

I just thought I would update the group on our current Photovoltaic project.  In addition to the 9.996kw array we currently have on our home, we are adding an additional 11.2kw tiltabale ground mount array in our back yard. All of the state and local approvals and permits have been approved. The rough in electrical and conduit out to the array has been inspected and approved, The 24"x72" footing have been bored (7 in all) and approved.  Delivery of the panels and racking to arrive today from the West Coast. 

I hope to have the uprights in place this weekend and pour the concrete early next week.   I will take some pictures as soon as something more exciting than just big holes in the back yard are there to photograph.

Carl

[BruceM]

Carl, is your system grid tied or battery based?

[Carlb]

grid tied

[Apogee]

I would be very interested to see the numbers once the project is complete.

i.e. - initial cost for each piece minus any subsidies, then the ROI.

Would be very interesting and encouraging to others I would guess.

If you'd be willing to share...

Looking forward to pics!

Thanks,

Steve

[LowGear]

Hi Carlb,

Nice to see you're expanding your most enviable system.  Did you take your website down or is that my crumbling memory?  I too agree that a spreadsheet of your projects would be nice but then I'm not the one "grid-tied" to a computer for half a day.

I got a preliminary property location check last week from the local power company.  They just had to raise prices to 36 cents a KWH (Hawaii Electrical Light Company Co. (HELCO) – or as some call it – The company from Heck.  Being located in a farming district rendered us "No problem" for a grid tie.  The scary thing is that you put the system in and then the power company approves it based on county permits and well established – accepted engineering standards. 

When I saw the heading "Wind and Solar projects" I hoped someone would have knowledge of an inverter that would work with solar during the hours of light and generator or wind during the hours of darkness.  So???  Does anyone have avenues of investigation? 

Casey