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My 2 cents. prioritize air sealing the house. Put more budget toward air sealing and insulation...the kind that you can spray. We live in central texas...similar in many ways...just not as much humidity as y'all get. Manual J calcs are nice, but they are not worth much unless you have a...

In all fairness, I am pretty happy we have the ability to flip a light switch and have the lights come on...whenever I want. There is a cost to everything. I have certainly been to other countries where that is not a certainty...nor is fuel. Everyone needs to eat and put food on the table...

That is just the base rate...but, I think we end up around 10.3 cents per. Let's all be honest...I don't think we are doing this for the investment. :) The last few years the power has gone out for extended periods...this year's ice storm knocked out our power for 5 days. It is a big...

I have two 20’ containers. We used Tiger closed cell spray foam to seal up the inside after tension fitting 2x4 wall and ceiling framing and wiring. Sealed it up with drywall, etc. We mounted a window unit into the front (wood framed) wall. We set the front wall back a couple of feet to allow...

most structural steel can be purchased by the pound...if you can find the regional supplier. I paid 0.82/lb two weeks ago. 3" (3.5"OD) Schedule 40 pipe is 7.58lb/ft. It is not some flimsy fence post...it has a wall thickness of 0.216". Shape is not relevant when you get to a good source, they...

Depends on what kind of soil you have, how deep you want to have the finished trench to be. Other considerations are obstructions, how close you are to buildings (and other things you don't want to destroy), and how much actual work you want to do. I have done a fair amount of this in our...

Well, I had thought about starting one of these threads, but didn't see a lot of upside...but, since it is here...:) Honestly though, the sales experience has been pretty darn crappy. I ordered inverters, charge controllers, BCS, etc, etc on the 7th...and I can't get a response as to when my...

Maybe weld on a lift ring so you can pick ‘er up with a crane?

Has anyone tried to replace fans with something like the noctura brand fans? I remember my TiVo fans being pretty noisy at times and someone suggested a noctura fan…it was night and day when I replaced them. Fans seem to be a recurring theme on these forums

The first part was really why I posted this. If the cost of electricity is causing a 30% increase in the cost of base generation, then I would think that would be an indication of what others may be seeing soon as well. On the investment side, I see it as more of a hedge or insurance...which I...

What are you running out of each 200a panels? And, do you really want to run everything in a grid down situation? I am working through a similar situation. In my case, I will have some significant shop tools in a large garage/shop and would like to have a dedicated 200a service for it. But...

I am putting together my super duper deluxe solar spreadsheet. Included is my Emporia Vues' usage data, PVWatts estimated solar output for my location (average of first week in August for now) with 6,12,18,24kwh solar arrays and I am trying my best to size battery banks based on 280ah...

And so it begins...

My well pressure pump froze and cracked. Ordered a new one the next day. It sat in a ups trailer for almost three weeks before it made it here. Once it did, I had it in place in about five minutes. That’s when my daughter let me know that there was a “waterfall on the back of the house”…the on...

Looks awesome...and the view too

Yeah, no doubt they are going to be way more than that. Looks awesome.

Anything is easy with the right tool... https://www.ditchwitch.com/trenchers/ride-on/rt80/

I think the issue is that you are selecting the wrong display type. Use the History Graph Card and select the same sensor you have already and then put in how ever many hours you want it to display. I use that to display a week's worth of data for many dashboards

Ahh sorry. just re-read your initial post. I think the Energy dash is where you want to live. I know you are looking for something in your own dash. But, getting the energy one setup is pretty nice. The Statistic Card doesn't do that if you select "change" and "Today"?

Is there only one sol ark sensor available in the HA sensor list?

Also, how many batteries are ok to buy before you have a solar system?

Ok. Thanks.

I think wattmatters' suggestion to create a Meter Helper (Settings -> Devices, Helpers -> Meter Then use the Statistic card with Today & Change. I think that will get you there EDIT: I think you should still look into the Energy dash. Reset it if you already set it up empty. The refresh on...

Was just watching the assembly video they have on the EEL youtube channel. Looks like the battery mount front plate (the one inside the box behind the outer front plate) screws on and could possibly provide more room if the cells are swollen? How long did the shipping take when you ordered...

Is this for the City of Austin or are you working in the county? There are people in Austin that allow people to use their license. Last time I heard, it was around $500 to have someone do that.

bummer about the wires...but, it looks like you could set that mini-van on top of that box no problem. How thick is that plate?

I think I need to show you guys what I am doing. :) I will try to make a video tonight and walk through what I have so far...I think it is pretty cool. The goal is to use my ACTUAL usage data. I have three Emporia Vue monitors in use right now. I get to capture every watt used here...and LT...

I hear ya. I know the 400a service gets stuck in my head. The energy monitors I bought, plus the graphing available in Home Assistant have helped get me focused on the peaks and what my actual needs are. As many people have said, and will continue to :), you are not likely to max out your...

we pay around $25/mo for the connection. That is far less than I pay for just about anything on a monthly basis...and living without electricity is not I am interested in doing. I see it as a $300/yr insurance policy

Hi all, been lurking here for a while, watching and re-watching every solar video on YouTube, etc. I am trying to wrap my head around how to get to the finish line and start spending a bunch of money on solar equipment. We have an existing 400a service that we paid to put in a couple of...

I have been stuck in a similar wormhole for a little while now, trying to weigh the pros and cons between the two main UL listed AIOs or a Schneider setup. It seems there are a couple of things that don't seem to get enough attention in these discussions and those are: 1) are we talking about...

120v and 240v

Yeah. They have two agreements and the one for “backup” systems appear to have just changed to be in line with the parallel agreement. I was planning on going the backup angle…but, I am not sure now

Yes, and it is also still going up over 30% :) I lived in SD for 15 years. I was running 5 servers out of my house when SDG&E thought it would be cool to take out their frustrations on the customer base and instituted rolling blackouts. Then I got on my cruiser and hit Lahiana's...all was good. ;)

FWIW, you may want to spray the inside of the container with closed cell foam while you are waiting for your batteries. We have a small window unit cooling our 20' container to 67 degrees constantly...it has no problem keeping up. My plan is to put a 9k or maybe 12k mini split in there at some...

Thanks. But, if the BMS fails...then? I know all of this is unlikely, but then again, my house burned to the ground a few years ago. I didn't think that was likely either. It had nothing to do with batteries, solar, or anything other than an unlikely chain of events. Shit happens. I am...

That is one hell of a gusset. I have a similar structure planned. I just picked up 400' of 6x2x3/16HSS. I assume you know that unistrut has solar clamps?

I believe the 120 rule is to keep people from overloading the bus bar inside their panel...the metal bar(s) that connect the line to your loads. I think this does a good job of explaining it: https://www.purepower.com/blog/120-rule-explained-nec-705-12d2

Awesome…100a+ seems like a reality here at times. I felt like I read something about potential pass through issues when running parallel units…maybe it is the fumes Thanks for posting that

I have plenty of room. My plan is to build a stand alone shed for all of this stuff near the service entrance panel. Since gardening in central Texas is a bust in the summer, I have plans to build a steel pergola type structure to mount 30 Bifacials on and hopefully that will shade things...

Ok, so I am getting ready to submit to my local coop to put in a parallel grid-tied system. They have been very easy to deal with in the past but, I have to say I am a little surprised at the example one line diagram that they have included. This is the big requirement aside from uploading...

I would get a 15' torch. I have been using a 140A Everlast wire feed outside for 5 years now. With nice flux core wire it is really convenient if a bit messy at times.

Yes, I have three! Curious to see what the foam they just sprayed upstairs will do if anything…especially with the forecast for next week. I have all of the big circuits on the house panel in the Vue…another on the Well house leg…and one further down on that leg for the 20’ container pantry...

Is there a piece of software that can generate these nice diagrams I see floating around that someone can recommend?

It is about moisture. Vacuuming the lines and holding vacuum removes water from the lineset. There are newer line sets, with special fittings, that can come pre-charged (and vacuumed) with refrigerant. If you have some picks of the fittings outside, you/we should be able to tell.

Geothermal is something I have always been interested in...digging in solid limestone is not. I have an auger for my 75hp skid steer and a couple of rock bits, "easy" is not how I would describe my experience. Sure a purpose built rig would probably do it much more easily. I am more...

So, how are you liking how your plan is working out? The rafters are 2' O.C.? Any thoughts on how you might do it differently if you built the pergola again with solar on the roof?

So, it seems like a hub integration for HA that brings a whole group of <edit>devices</edit> to HA with one integration? Seems like most of that is available as stand alone integrations for Home Assistant, no?

Swamp cooler, propane heater, wire welder, misters, party lights, a ladder...bring on the apocalypse! Looks like my yard. Looking awesome.

At midnight you are still at 100% you think? I am trying to get a ballpark for how much juice people are using up my midnight...on a percentage basis. Thanks