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diy solar

diy solar

How the DIY Solar Power Forum fits into the interwebs

Bluedog225

Bluedog225

Solar Wizard
Joined
Nov 18, 2019
Messages
4,403
Location
Texas
I put this up here instead of chit chat on the theory that it relates to the nature of this place. This forum is all about solar power and this post is all about this forum. That is, where this forum fits in the grand scheme of the internet. I’m happy to move it if needed.

I’ve often thought that forums like this are one of the last places where actual people can exchange ideas mostly free from advertisements, corporate media, AI, bots, wokeness, and censorship. Not a free speech haven per se but, with a benevolent and mostly hands off site owner, a good place to exchange ideas.

As we have come to find out, a google search results mostly in advertising. Or corporate media content supporting one world view or another. “I want to buy a solar panel.” “Here’s 1700 solar panel installers near you!!!”

Pretty simple concept but it does help me visualize and understand what has happened to the “information superhighway” that the web was supposed to be.

Thanks Will!

maggieappleton.com

The Dark Forest and the Cozy Web

An illustrated diagram exposing the inner layers of the dark and cozy web
maggieappleton.com maggieappleton.com


IMG_1104.jpeg
 
Forums like this (very active) are getting rare for technical things. I guess it just happens that solar is one thing that is still popular for DIY, even with the younger crowd. Allot of the DIY forums have died off and get very low traffic. The replacement drones just hang out on their phones and don't know how to do anything in the real world.

As far as google, thats a big can of worms to open.
 
Also, as a content creator, I imagine it is difficult to respond to everybody and everything that gets posted on a YouTube video. Managing content in multiple locations must take a few people to manage.
 
Hopefully, there will always be "technical" forums out there, supporting folks who want either the best advice on purchasing or diy building of something. There are chainsaw, generator, solar, tractor forums ... you name it, and a technical forum exists for it.

Only thing I can think of is that they come and go as they age out or lose relevance ... but, another one should pop up in its place.

I haven't tested yet, but I wonder if AI has scraped enough of this forum that someone can get my design solution to a given problem, without having to even ask on this forum ... I'll have to check that ...

Wouldn't it be something if the design issues, product features, etc. were all in front of someone, *before* they started purchasing ...
 
I think facebook groups have absorbed a lot of traffic that would have previously gone to special interest forums. Which is a shame. I have found some useful and interesting discussion in various facebook groups but there sure seems like a whole lot more unintelligent chaff to sort through. Not to mention the volume of spam.
 
Part of the problem with new social media forms is they're designed towards providing "New." Facebook and Reddit would both rather have a question be repeated than have the first time avaliable as a resource.

Forums, it's not uncommon to have threads dredged from the depths of time. As long as the topic is something where something said two years ago is just as true as now, that's an advantage.
 
Tech forums like this are being replaced by YouTube. Just look at the number of DIY videos on there. It is actually self feeding.. I have watched YouTube contant providers with channels that have pretty good number of subscibers, in in their video they admit they didn't know how to do what they are showing you until they watched other YouTube videos. So this makes it very hard for the average person to know which content is from an actual expert in the the subject. This can be very dangerous when it deals with electricity. I actually saw a video of a guy change out the Main Service circuit breaker box on a house and the service entrance wires were live !!. He just said,, " you can do it if you are carefull"
He really should have said, You can do it until it kills you.
 
I agree forums like this one are getting very rare. A big part of what make it so special here is the exchange of little but oh so important details. Just the tiny adjustments others have discovered that saves everyone else who reads the thread valuable time and money.

Just this week I learned how touching the exposed wire you are about to connect negatively impacts the quality of the connection. who would've thunk it? Not me. I doubt you get that level of detail on facebook. (I don't use social media so I might be wrong.)

The collective knowledge that resides here is like none I've found anywhere on the "modern" internet. It is truly a dying breed.
 
I’m not sure I’ve ever installed a wire that I haven’t put my grubby fingers on. What was the point of the post-salt and corrosion.?
 
The one major thing I like about forums over Facebook etc is that you can always find something in the forums especially if you're good at searching, on Facebook once you've seen something you can never find it again.
This is a great forum, very straightforward and simple to use, I love the layout of it.
 
Bluedog225 said:
I’m not sure I’ve ever installed a wire that I haven’t put my grubby fingers on. What was the point of the post-salt and corrosion.?
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Exactly. I stripped and prepared Romex during my home build last summer, sweating and moaning the whole time. When I went to install the switches/outlets etc I had to snip and strip the ends again, they had started to turn green 😥
 
The problem with youtubers is that they are 99% paid commercials with very little valuable advice. Being a lifetime licensed electrical contractor, I cringe at most of the solar videos. Hopefully, everyone here spots the obvious pandering in this forum. Watch me get banned for speaking the truth LOL.
 
Sparks-n-Splinters said:
Here it is guys, a recent thread - Don't under size your wires
Post #20 by @Koyaanisqatsi

Never gave it any thought but it made sense. Made me reflect back to the days of childhood watching my grandpa wear gloves to handle rare coins
Click to expand...
The highest honor to be quoted for good advice. Thank you for that!

One thing about me and forums is that they are "Discussion Forums" not, "Reference Forums". Point being the discussion is what makes them a great place to get info. I've never liked being scolded for asking the same question that has been asked over and over, and "I should have just searched for the answer". Because that kind of response kills the discussion part of the discussion forum. And I (almost) always search before asking anyway. This forum has a great sense of "discussion", which keeps me engaged.

And of course I am learning a lot myself. I hesitate to try to name people because so many have come back with very good info, and I'm terrible about forgetting about someone. But thank you - I hope you know how you are.
 
Koyaanisqatsi said:
The highest honor to be quoted for good advice. Thank you for that!

One thing about me and forums is that they are "Discussion Forums" not, "Reference Forums". Point being the discussion is what makes them a great place to get info. I've never liked being scolded for asking the same question that has been asked over and over, and "I should have just searched for the answer". Because that kind of response kills the discussion part of the discussion forum. And I (almost) always search before asking anyway. This forum has a great sense of "discussion", which keeps me engaged.

And of course I am learning a lot myself. I hesitate to try to name people because so many have come back with very good info, and I'm terrible about forgetting about someone. But thank you - I hope you know how you are.
Click to expand...
Well said!
 
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