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Score!! 16- 265w panels @80% efficiency is just under 3400 watts. You might get less if they are old or damaged. Check the resources section, there's a ton of good info.

Anyone have an app they suggest for tracking/forecasting cloud cover? I have used , AccuWeather, and Weather Radar but they weren't very accurate. I am using Astropheric currently. I believe it's an app aimed at astronomers.

Barstow rocks!!......

Aluminum feeders are used all the time in residential wiring.

Bueller?....Bueller?.....

The grounding electrode (rod, ufer) should be at the main panel as well.

The front of the pump controller may or may not have some gpm info . We used to write the pump depth , gpm etc on the inside of the box with a sharpie. The USGS says Americans avg daily use is 80-100 gallons per day. That seems like a lot. Total gallons daily ÷ pump gpm will give you run...

Dang doe dang doe fisn poe!

You nailed it! The seer rating for the existing 2.5 ton ac unit is 9.1, and the 1 ton ac in the bedroom is only a 13 seer. I will redo my load calcs based upon new units. Thanks again

Before any de rating , the #4 al conductor is only good for 65 amps. I would not exceed the 60 amp breaker size. Make sure you have good connections and use anti ox on the aluminum wire. I would use copper wore

My system is off grid and has 2 6500ex48 inverters. Unit one has had the internal g/n bond screw removed. Unit 2 has the n/g bond screw still intact and provides the n/g bond for the system. This is the only location that the n/g bond takes place. The 4 wire 240 vac power from the inverters...

I like to know when there is a string of cloudy days headed my way.

Voltage is pressure

What's a signature block? Do I just click your user name? That's great info. I'm changing the existing ac units out , they are garbage . Hoping I can get the consumption down significantly. Thanks

I would move the 400 amp fuse as close to the busbar as possible.

Scuff the box coating till you see bare metal , then check continuity between your scuff mark and the neutral and the ground bar.

Going to replace the ac , it's 12yrs old and has a 9.1 seer rating . I will check that propane ac out , never heard of one. I have heard of propane refrigerators though, so it makes sense. Thanks

Is the ac input utility or a generator?

Yes. The wire, breaker , disco, etc...will be sized based upon your generators output. Mine only provides 25 amps @240vac, so I have #10 wire and 30 amp breakers.

I would never install any device beyond its manufacturer's rated limit. To do so is an NEC violation

The reason you can't pour over a ground rod in a residential setting usually has to do with access to the connection. You can pour concrete all around it as long as you can access the connection. A ufer ground is when your ground wire is bonded to the steel in the concrete foundation of the...

Electricity will take the easiest path to ground. If that path is the grounding conductor fine , if it a short or direct path to ground that's another. Taking the easiest path to ground and tripping the breaker or fuse are 2 different things.

The rating of the jacket makes a huge difference. There is #8 landscape wire rated at 150vac and #8 l824 aviation wire rated at 5,000 volts. Voltage is pressure, so just as water pipes are made of different materials that can handle different pressure and temp ratings before bursting, so is...

A diy grid tie in so cal ? Did you have to submit plans etc...for a permit? Do you have a net metering agreement? Just curious, seems like it would be quite difficult to get a diy grid tie approved in Cali.

We used to call them "insta-hots " and lots of large custom homes have them . Usually because the water heater is so far away you have to run the hot water for a minute before it gets hot water to the kitchen or 2nd story bathroom. They seemed to work fine for hand washing. These were mounted...

If you have a "beginning" electronics class maybe build a solar panel. It will not be as efficient as a real one but it's an easy project for a class. All the materials are available on ebay . I used grade b individual solar cells , some "buss" and "tab" ribbon, and an old sliding glass...

During WWII the U.S. govt. put out manuals on how to convert combustion engines to wood gas. I have one that details building one for a good sized farm tractor. They are very detailed and do not require a lathe.

The nec does not govern whom may do electrical work. The local AHJ or state legislature do.

For my set up this configuration is correct. Inverter 1 provides n/g bond while in "inverter mode" and the Gen provides its own N/g bond when in "gen" mode.

That's a great idea!