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The answer to many DIY solar questions will depend where you're located: Insolation and climate/weather Jurisdiction - power company, approving authorities, local electrical code Equipment supplies - distribution areas and availability So let's try to keep this bigger picture in mind when...

We all knew they had AI stuff in the back room but that's fast! The hoopla around ChatGPT (1 M users in 2 mo) really got their attention!

Be it resolved that with the advent of chat AI (chatgpt, and the like) the world will never be the same. It represents a major inflection point in the history of life on earth. Hopefully our descendants will apply it to benefit all mankind. (And, I hope it doesn't turn out to be a bad thing...

If you've ever wondered why a web system is free, it's because you ARE the system. Have you ever noticed that the more a person knows about the web, the more concerned they are about Privacy on it?

Document what you have first so you can redo it in the new place. I assume you're keeping it, not selling it.

Going solar off-grid means understanding and accepting certain constraints and restrictions relative to your former grid-tied lifestyle with unlimited power (at a price). In a nutshell, you will be constantly trying to balance cumulative intermittent Power Consumption (all household loads) with...

Something new to consider if you're thinking of going grid-tied! Depending where you live your grid operator may unexpectedly control your PV system. https://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2022-02-16/solar-how-is-it-affected-by-renewable-energy-curtailment/100830738

For the past 2 years - including winters - I've been using my Li yard lights despite all the warnings about not charging Li below freezing. Daytime temps here in Ottawa are consistently below freezing for weeks (months?) on end. Yet they continue to light up every night if there's been enough...

https://www.pv-magazine.com/2022/01/11/solar-supply-chain-trouble-to-ease-this-year-according-to-analyst/

Will these be used for Solar storage any time soon? https://electrek.co/2021/06/02/tesla-first-lg-new-ncma-nickel-based-battery-cells/

https://www.cnbc.com/2021/05/04/solar-stocks-are-getting-slammed-as-supply-chain-bottlenecks-hit-renewables-sector.html Are people experiencing problems getting solar equipment?

In many countries around the world the cost of road infrastructure construction and maintenance is funded by large taxes at the gas pump. (As the oil companies love to point out!) If more and more people switch to EV's in the future where is this money going to come from? Many governments are...

Is this something for DIY'ers or does it have to be installed by pros? Seems very new. Anybody know anything about it? https://www.dcbel.energy/

Idea for using a small solar-powered system to power a small 12v bilge pump in an open, uncovered unattended boat. Components: 12v bilge pump small battery small solar panel inexpensive 10A solar charge controller - with load output with settings for low voltage disconnect and voltage...

Seems to me that there's a need for some kind of screening process to help people decide if they realistically should take on a DIY Solar project. I've occasionally seen posts from people who obviously should not be doing this. Encouraging people that realistically have no chance is just...

Let's get the ball rolling with an over-simplified example: The goal is to make a PV system that can produce electrical power cheaper that your local utility. (Let's assume rates in NA are around $0.10 to $0.30 per kWh, depending on cost of production at your location, time of day metering...

Does anyone have any info or opinions about the newly announced Tesla inverter? https://www.tesla.com/support/energy/solar-inverter/tesla-solar-inverter Is this something of interest to DIY people or will it be strictly marketed by the company and installed by pros?

Interesting article https://www.electricbike.com/how-to-run-your-off-grid-tiny-house-with-an-ebike-battery/ From my experience most 48V consumer-grade ebikes have batteries in the range of 10 to 20 Ah (so 480to 960 Wh) but he's recommending extra big ones for this purpose. Comments, anyone?

Yes, but does he keep goin' and goin'?

Hi Will! Loved your book. Read it cover-to-cover and now I'm working my way through it again. I have a suggestion for the "Second Edition" if and when ..... Seems to me there's a new category of system you could include under your Lazy Method: I'd call it The Hobbyist and it could look something...

I've read the FAQ's and forums and looked at the YouTube videos but I'm getting mixed signals. For my small hobby system I have a 12V 25W panel and a 10A PWM controller. I'm thinking, just as an experiment, I'd like to add my little automotive 12V 2W battery tender panel to see if that gives me...

This is my very simplistic description of the flow of power, as controlled by a Solar Charge Controller (SCC) from the solar panels (source) to the battery bank (storage) to the output (load) in the course of a typical 24-hour day and night. For this simplified example the only load is "lights"...

What's a good, inexpensive way to remotely monitor charging and discharging cycles on a 12v system. I see Automotive Bluetooth battery monitors available or about $40. Are these any good? https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B07MD71GW1/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?smid=A2CNLEIJ5AXMGN&psc=1 Or there's the...

I needed an excuse to get started so, not having a man cave shed, I thought I'd start with the existing 110vac Christmas lights on the shrub in the backyard! And then I'll look at some of those 12v garden spotlights in the spring. So far I have these parts: 25W PV panel panel to be mounted on...

Seems to me there's an opportunity here to encourage new entrants to get their feet wet in solar by building a tiny, inexpensive system using commonly available parts from the local big box or automotive supply store. For example; one could learn a lot by building a quick-and-dirty $100 system...

Hi all, and Happy New Year! Love Will's videos and book and currently making a small hobby system to play with, learn from and drive a few lights in the yard. Seems to me this type of tiny, inexpensive solar system has been largely overlooked and I hope to change that. I've been lurking for a...