Solar power as a second language.

[Mattb4]

Recently I have had several neighbors and acquaintances ask me about solar. So I start talking about loads, grid tie, Off grid, panel wattage, pointing, shadows, insolation hours, series and/or parallel hookups, arrays, strings, SCC's with MPPT voltage concerns, rating of wires and safety devices, ground mounts, roof mounts, RSD's amperage for battery charging and C values. ATS, MTS.

After I catch my breath I continue with grid tie inverter, AIO's, component systems, mobile inverters, inverter chargers, breakers, conduit, distribution panels. KWh, Ah, hybrids, AC coupling, back up generators, crimping tools, DMM, clamp meters, battery capacity testers, panel capacity testers, o-scopes and on and on. That is until people flee or the shock on their faces gets me to quit speaking in tongues.

Without really realizing it I have learned an obscure foreign language that completely bewilders others and it takes consider effort to simply speak plainly in my native language.

 

[1ufvlsi6x]

I just got a hybrid inverter and it dropped the list down by half.

 

[fuzzmunky415]

Worked in a college town for 4 decades, and have seen all sorts of 'specialty' jargon make it's way into everyday discourse. Once your brain thinks of a thing or process a certain way, it defaults to that during translation to language, so tends to reuse the same terms you are familiar with, even if it's Greek to everyone else.

Acronyms are fun...you can almost write a complete sentence using them, just need a glossary.

 

[timselectric]

I've trained electricians for many years. And I always explain what, how, and why I'm doing what I'm doing, to my customers. So, I'm used to speaking in simplified terms.

 

[fuzzmunky415]

I've trained electricians for many years. And I always explain what, how, and why I'm doing what I'm doing, to my customers. So, I'm used to speaking in simplified terms.

"....and this doodad recharges the flux capacitor"...

 

[LydMekk]

After 10 seconds when someone ask me about solar...I see their eyes glaze over if I try to explain, even in simple terms.
I've gotten used to just say "Yes" and smile if the question is "So you have solar?".
Saves time and confusion.
I am a bad tempered teacher ^^ lifes too short to train monkeys.

 

[fatjay]

I'll meet people at family events, and they'll ask how the solar is coming, and they quickly regret asking.

To be fair, the same is true for the chickens or tractors, or other home projects.

 

[kc130up]

I keep it simple when asked about solar, I talk about how much my bill was reduced and how much I'm saving each month.

If they don't look like they fell off a cliff, I talk how much solar I produced yesterday, how much I exported/purchased from the grid

 

[Mattb4]

I think I will just keep it to:

Sun good!
Cloud and darkness bad!

I might be understood.

 

[SunDave]

Neighbors asked if the solar was working well when stopping over for Halloween. I keep it simple, and factual unless someone shows real interest. Some people do want to see how it is wired up, etc.

I told the neighbors that I had an $850 bill credit going into winter (true), and even at that rate, it may never actually pay for itself in dollar terms (also true).

 

[Rednecktek]

I speak Geek and Redneck too y'all.

 

[fatjay]

I keep it simple when asked about solar, I talk about how much my bill was reduced and how much I'm saving each month.

If they don't look like they fell off a cliff, I talk how much solar I produced yesterday, how much I exported/purchased from the grid

Not me, you want to ask about solar, i'll whip out my phone and bring up solar assistant, i'll go through all the tabs, showing production, charts, consumption, automation. go over my past week. I'll make sure they NEVER ask about solar again.

 

[Mattb4]

I speak Geek and Redneck too y'all.

I know a few words in Nerd, enough to ask for directions. My accent is atrocious.

 

[MrSparkle]

Sun good!
Cloud and darkness bad!

The flip side could be, you saying that to a person with narrow mind and short temper, perceiving your answer as an insult or something similar, rendering a date between its fist and your nose.

In short terms. No matter what one do, one can not make everyone happy.

Btw, I am similar with bikes. Every time some one comments on my bike. 15 minutes later I realize the person long ago lost interest and just continue to "listen" out of politeness.

After all. Maybe better get people tired than risking the fist?
Well then, keep feeding them with a fire hose!

 

[fuzzmunky415]

15 minutes later I realize the person long ago lost interest and just continue to "listen" out of politeness.

All good shaggy dog stories require a callback...when you get to it, if they laugh, they were actually listening. Callbacks a great...I can bring one up hours later and floor the place.

 

[ConnerLabs]

Wise words from the late Bob Pease (or was it Jim Williams?) A dog will listen to whatever you have to say as long as you have a doughnut in your hand.

 

[kc130up]

Not me, you want to ask about solar, i'll whip out my phone and bring up solar assistant, i'll go through all the tabs, showing production, charts, consumption, automation. go over my past week. I'll make sure they NEVER ask about solar again.

I used to do that, then I realized it was more a "nicety" than real interest. I have never had a person ask twice.

If someone kept asking, i'd ask if they'd like a quote for "consultation"...

 

[DC_Ripple]

I showed a co-worker Solar Assistant on my phone 1 day during lunch.
Now everyday he goes out for a smoke break, he comes back and says "It's really sunny out, how much power are you making right now?"

He looks at the app and nods his head and smiles.

 

[ScrodusGargleRotten]

Without really realizing it I have learned an obscure foreign language that completely bewilders others and it takes consider effort to simply speak plainly in my native language.

Yes you have.

 

[ScrodusGargleRotten]

I used to do that, then I realized it was more a "nicety" than real interest. I have never had a person ask twice.

Is it jealousy or disinterest?

I see the rolling eyes when i talk to people about it

 

[Daddy Tanuki]

Is it jealousy or disinterest?

I see the rolling eyes when i talk to people about it

rolling of eyes indicates one of two things in these circumstances... not smart enough to understand, and two lazy to learn and DIY it on own.

 

[timselectric]

I just short answer whatever questions they ask.
I only go into details, if requested to.

 

[HRTKD]

When out camping, if someone asks how much solar I have I say, "Enough to run the A/C all day long on a sunny day." That's usually enough info because they don't really understand what a number like 2,360 watts really means.

 

[1ufvlsi6x]

they don't really understand what a number like 2,360 watts really means.

And then the bill comes at home, and they don't know what caused it.
They often think the loudest stuff spends the most energy.

 

[Madcodger]

I find that most of my friends and acquaintances just like to complain about the cost of heating their homes and dealing with power outages but never actually DO anything about it. Then there are those who grid tie and just complain about the outages. Finally there's the one other person who is 100% off grid who texts me almost every time the power is out and just says, "Hmmm... Seems fine here. You too?" followed by a laughing out loud emoji. I still get a kick out of it, every time.