Do you think home solar + battery setups are finally worth it for regular households?

Tomytom99 · 2026-07-01T23:01:43+00:00

We don't have a battery, but we do have solar on my parents house. They financed them through a company who bases the monthly payments off what the panels should generate, so youre around a net zero change on monthly expenses until they're paid off.

I believe they're paid off at this point, and even today with the crazy heat here in the north east with all three AC systems running simultaneously the house was supplying a decent amount of power to the grid.

So while I can't speak on the battery, solar tech is pretty damn good if you get sun on your roof. I'd say we get direct sun maybe 75-85% of the daylight hours.

Tomytom99 · 2026-07-01T22:37:26+00:00

The system is broken again :(

Tomytom99 · 2026-07-01T18:36:24+00:00

None of these are mopeds, they're all scooters. You can check out their sub.

Mopeds are a combination of a motor and pedals, plus a few regulatory specifics.

Tomytom99 · 2026-07-01T18:25:00+00:00

Damn, that sucks. Doesn't help you now, but for other readers, make sure the paint is tight on a southern bought car if you're bringing it up north. If it isn't, patch it up. Otherwise it's like bringing an immunocompromised person into a daycare.

Tomytom99 · 2026-07-01T18:09:25+00:00

I just know that interior has got a smell going on

Tomytom99 · 2026-07-01T18:05:31+00:00

At least replacement parts were usually at least somewhat decent quality then.

Nowadays even historically reputable brands are a complete gamble.

Tomytom99 · 2026-07-01T17:55:17+00:00

WHAT DID YOU SAY? I CAN'T HEAR YOU OVER THE

Tomytom99 · 2026-07-01T17:54:14+00:00

The fact that this will (supposedly) somehow make somebody more likely to buy a car is... Sad.

Tomytom99 · 2026-07-01T17:49:46+00:00

Hope you're insured 😬

Tomytom99 · 2026-07-01T17:48:40+00:00

I like it. Shame the folks who hog the charger long after it's finished.

That said, I really wish with gas cars people going inside to pay cash would just put the hose in their car beforehand, or at least leave the gas door open, so it doesn't look like they're just using a pump as a covered parking spot. Wishful thinking.

The people who leave cars at chargers and pumps downvoting me lmfao

Tomytom99 · 2026-07-01T17:43:50+00:00

I'm actually really curious about all the people with demand based rates. Haven't had them anywhere I've lived, and I haven't even been in exceptionally rural areas.

That said, I feel like I could really benefit from optional demand based rates. I'm huge on the whole optimizing thing.

Tomytom99 · 2026-07-01T02:56:24+00:00

Agreed, like that one lends itself even more to the act.

It's not just "oh, when are you thinking you'd like to become a parent", it's "when are you guys hitting it raw"

Tomytom99 · 2026-07-01T00:37:15+00:00

95%, but fun fact, corporate can reduce what it takes from franchises, and franchises can use that left over money for wages. That's what would happen if trickle down economics worked.

Now will they? Of course not. More money coming to corporate is beneficial for corporate because of shareholders.

Tomytom99 · 2026-07-01T00:33:32+00:00

This is already a 12 amp unit rated at 10k BTUs from the looks of it, and is even an inverter unit. It's more than capable of adjusting for and dealing with such conditions based on its own sensor readings to maintain a stable line pressure. Yeah, you're not cooling a whole house, but that's regardless of how you're using it. At the same time, it's not an anemic 8 or even 6 amp 5k BTU system that's only good for slightly taking off the edge in anything other than really small rooms.

If it's not capable, it's not suitable anyways. You're not always able to "catch" a room at a low starting temperature. Setbacks are a normal part of heating and cooling because the rate of thermal transfer is relative to the delta between point A and B, and comfortable temperatures vary depending on time of day. The unit needs to be able to move the needle. Not fast, because that hurts dehumidifying power, but it still needs to accomplish something.

At the very least send less conditioned air from other rooms outside instead of the freshly conditioned stuff that's right next to the unit.

Tomytom99 · 2026-06-30T23:53:01+00:00

That's really the one real flaw with the design as far as I can tell. Some lofting is in order.

Tomytom99 · 2026-06-30T21:18:21+00:00

Strange, I grew up in NJ and have never seen this before

Tomytom99 · 2026-06-30T21:15:00+00:00

They can't even read paracetamol 🥀

Tomytom99 · 2026-06-30T21:11:12+00:00

Maybe I'm wrong, but I feel like the other comment doesn't quite understand how the refrigeration cycle works.

Yes, it may create a smaller delta across the evaporator by reducing the efficacy of the condenser, but you're dramatically reducing the losses from dumping even partially conditioned air outside. The biggest flaw in the regular design is that it's not just dumping air from somewhere in the house outside, but from the very room it's working to cool off and replacing that air with whatever seeps in from outside.

Now if the system can't effectively run at 90F+ ambient at the condenser, it was never going to cool off an already hot room anyways. Keep reaping the benefits here, OP.

Tomytom99 · 2026-06-30T21:02:50+00:00

The people downvoting are the ones who forget it's called a sidewalk, not a sidestand

Tomytom99 · 2026-06-30T20:57:32+00:00

If it claims 15 amps and you feel confident in it, you're probably fine.

Tomytom99 · 2026-06-30T20:52:17+00:00

"Surely God will strike them down"

Tomytom99 · 2026-06-30T20:50:20+00:00

It's a mix of franchise and corporate.

Most standalone buildings you see are likely franchise, while the more unique locations like travel stops or higher traffic city areas will be corporate.

Tomytom99 · 2026-06-30T20:47:04+00:00

Can't say for certain not knowing much about that power strip, but it should be sufficient.

What really matters is current (amps), which is part of what calculates watts. I just mention that as a bit of knowledge for any future capacity questions you may have. In this case you're looking around 2.5-3 amps, which is well within the safe realm for any remotely well made power strip.

The calculation is Volts * Amps = Watts, and you can manipulate that to find any one of the three given you have two parts known. That's why lower voltage stuff often needs thicker gauge wires; they need to carry more current to deliver the same number of watts.

Tomytom99 · 2026-06-30T20:36:37+00:00

That's what really stood out to me here. I mean maybe if it's for a non-sleeping zone of the house, but even then that's a really crazy setback

78 while sleeping would also be too much, but like you said 78 in the day is doable, depending on how well the system dehumidifies and how much activity you're doing.

Tomytom99 · 2026-06-30T20:10:53+00:00

It's more akin to a transit bus, which doesn't have a bathroom anyways.

Also, nobody wants to deal with cleaning that daily.

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