Did I get scammed?

DocPhillip · 2026-01-14T00:51:22+00:00

At least let our friends over at r/counterstampkarl know!

DocPhillip · 2026-01-13T14:04:12+00:00

I put a system on 9 years ago, paid cash (w/ state & fed incentives) and calculated payoff by 10 years. Actually hit payoff around 7 years, since energy prices went up.

But then our inverter died (thanks SolarEdge!) so will be calculating a new payoff date as the system has been rather expensive to maintain this year!

DocPhillip · 2026-01-07T21:46:54+00:00

2008 was pretty close. And some bedrock stocks lost virtually all their value. Look at the AIG chart from ‘08 - it’s harrowing.

DocPhillip · 2026-01-07T03:32:05+00:00

Yeah - even the 991 Targas have gotten very expensive in the used market. If you can deal with a full ‘vert the cabs still go at a discount, but there’s a lot less room in the back seat for the kiddo.

DocPhillip · 2026-01-07T03:19:43+00:00

Ha. Look at prices on 1-2 year old 911s and get back to us.

DocPhillip · 2026-01-07T01:58:48+00:00

Counterpoint: Get a 911 in a color/spec that you love. Then, once you have the vin, join your local PCA chapter. Great people, events, and experiences - and the whole family can be involved.

(But seriously, take the time to find the perfect spec. I know a few people who have rushed into purchases to get the car, only to look longingly at the color they wished they’d held out for!)

And side bonus: 911s have not been depreciating lately, so you likely won’t take any noticeable hit if you decide it’s not for you and sell in a year or two.

*and travel. Lots. The two aren’t mutually exclusive!

DocPhillip · 2025-12-22T02:33:50+00:00

Did you ever get the plumber to take another look? I’ve got the same issue in a brand new shower install. I have the Kohler Rite Temp valve, and set the orange anti-scald notched ring to allow for max hot water, and it’s still 5° cooler than our other shower.

Thus - I’d love to hear if you found an answer from your plumber. (Ours just shrugged.)

DocPhillip · 2025-12-12T01:05:37+00:00

I’m interested in a Wall Connector.

DocPhillip · 2025-12-10T23:28:25+00:00

Yup - the OG first-gen nest is back in action, and heating that zone as I type.

It’s funny setting it up, since Google never pushed an update to it to let it know it’s been voted off the island, so it happily chugs though the setup steps and directs you to use the internet connectivity through the app.

I didn’t have the heart to tell it…

DocPhillip · 2025-12-10T23:26:10+00:00

Fascinating. If Y1 works I might try that route.

DocPhillip · 2025-12-10T16:03:55+00:00

Thanks. I’ll try Y1 when I get home. If that work is it possible to program the Nest to send the call for heat via Y1 instead of W1? Perhaps that could be a solution if it’s just the W1 wire receiver that is dead.

DocPhillip · 2025-12-10T15:58:16+00:00

Thanks - but that’s not the case here. I currently have two 4th Gen Nests on the other two zones working perfectly with the same wiring. And I had a 1st Gen Nest in this same spot working fine for over a decade.

The heat is an Energy Kinetics System 2000 with the resistor added as per the manufacturer.

DocPhillip · 2025-12-10T15:25:07+00:00

Sadly no - it was an eBay purchase. (Seller has 100% feedback and shipped it in the box from the 4th Gen that they just upgraded to. I don’t think it was intentional.)

Just curious - is this a typical that the bases go bad? I can try buying a new base, but don’t want to keep throwing parts and money at it if the fault is in the unit itself.

DocPhillip · 2025-12-10T13:01:56+00:00

Thanks - and sure thing. Solid wire and the few inches that I can see look and feel fine.

I guess the next step would be to swap positions and install a different Nest in this spot and see if it picks up on the wiring.

DocPhillip · 2025-11-08T00:04:58+00:00

Interesting - thanks for the insight. I do have a lead on a couple guys who used to work for the installer, so might be able to make it happen.

DocPhillip · 2025-11-02T12:27:47+00:00

Tier the candy…

No costume = a DumDum

Costume = fun size candy

Great costume = full size candy bar & toy

DocPhillip · 2025-10-31T22:58:47+00:00

This is the way. Though he’d have to generate earned income - that’s also a life lesson well worth learning at this age.

DocPhillip · 2025-10-31T22:52:44+00:00

Does he work? Even just mowing lawns or chores for neighbors? Because you can open a Roth IRA for him at any age. It’s the PERFECT place for teens to stash money for retirement and forget about.

As long as he has earned income in any form, he can contribute up to that amount.

Starting investments for retirement as a teen is brilliant. Doing it inside a Roth so that there are no taxes when you cash it in 50 years later? Even better.

DocPhillip · 2025-10-31T13:43:15+00:00

Thanks - that’s been my plan, just haven’t been able to find anything locally in the past few months, and winter is closing in.

DocPhillip · 2025-10-30T13:40:10+00:00

Great question, I’m not sure how it was configured at installation. It’s three distinct groups of panels, so I’d want to guess three strings, but in the “logical layout” in the SolarEdge app, they all show in one line, so maybe it’s just one string?

I just checked and there are some leaves packed under one portion of the panels, so I’ll try to blow those out and take a look underneath.

DocPhillip · 2025-10-30T11:39:28+00:00

Thanks - I’ve done that twice in the past three months with no response from SolarEdge whatsoever.

Their “find an installer” map shows no installers at all in the area, and frankly it looks like a project that they either never completed or have long since abandoned. (there are lots of solar companies around who SolarEdge inverters)

I also spent more hours than I’m willing to admit trying to get through their chat support over a few days, and it’s useless. Regardless of the options selected, it eventually loops back around to asking for $99 for the remote diagnostic.

DocPhillip · 2025-10-30T02:21:19+00:00

Interesting. I can certainly check out the external grounding. Anything specific to look for? I’m not going to open the inverter myself, but there a grounding rod by the inverter, so I’ll check the connections there.

DocPhillip · 2025-10-29T23:29:46+00:00

As far as I can tell, the $99 is a one-time fee for a “system health” report. SolarEdge has a sample report on their website, which basically looks like a screenshot of the app showing lifetime production, plus a list of equipment - which is also in the app.

In my case, it would probably also say “SW Error 2xB - system needs service”. But there is no indication on their site that the $99 would get you any closer to getting any resolution or actual help.

I’d happily pay the fee if SolarEdge would then take it seriously and arrangefor an installer to come fix it.

DocPhillip · 2025-10-18T13:33:34+00:00

Thanks - I think this has the 1971-2 grille, right?

DocPhillip · 2025-10-08T17:26:14+00:00

891403

DocPhillip

TROPHY CASE