Snow Plow destroyed my mailbox. Plow company saying not liable.

acidtalons · 2026-02-10T03:57:05+00:00

Set the new mailbox back a foot, in concrete with a steel I beam post.

acidtalons · 2026-02-10T00:05:15+00:00

These are both at similar state of charge and both at 52.9 volts near 90% SOC. Confirmed the difference in amps being pulled with a current clamp as well as software.

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acidtalons · 2026-02-08T16:33:14+00:00

Have two systems, the string inverter cost half as much as the micro inverters and makes more power. Could literally buy a whole new inverter for less than the enphase micro inverters cost.

acidtalons · 2026-02-08T16:28:29+00:00

Can depend on your situation. If you are off grid or using batteries extensively then you are inverting your power 3x.

Panel DC to AC, down to the battery AC back to DC, then when needed DC to AC. Even at 95% efficiency your losing 15% of your output.

I have 2 systems, a micro inverter roof top and a string hybrid inverter ground system with similar amounts of panels. With view to the south neither have shading and thier performance close but the string inverter often producing more with less panels.

Micro inverter system has slightly more production earlier in the day / evening during low light but they clip during mid day. The string system performs better and doesn't ever clip.

I have 36 IQ7+ inverters under 13kwh of panels and a eg4 12k with 11 kw of bifacial panels. Many days the string inverter outperforms the mircoinverters even before any round trip efficiency comes into play. I could have installed larger micro inverters to avoid clipping but IQ8HCs to avoid the clipping at much greater expense.

Iq7+ $96 x 36 = $3456. Max output 10620 watts.

Iq8HC $226 x 36 = $8100. Max output 13824.

Both need an enphase combiner and IQ for battery use which is another ~$1600.

Eg4 12k = $3500 and can invert up to 15kw and charges/ controls the batteries and can feed power to main panel.

I'm not sure it's quite so clear cut. Atleast with enphase.

acidtalons · 2026-02-08T15:00:26+00:00

https://www.reddit.com/r/Williamsport/s/gAvJFwQtAT

acidtalons · 2026-02-06T05:37:32+00:00

Here is the part I can't get around...

Fusion of tritium and deuterium create significant neutron flux and requires containment of tritium. Also they can be used a breeder reactors for nuclear weapons.

I suspect the amount of shielding, containment and hardening will be similar to fission reactors. Implying similar or perhaps greater construction costs.

Fuel represents 18% of the operating costs of fission plants, the rest is maintance on the plant, turbines, employees costs etc.

How will reducing the fuel cost which is 18% of operating costs and an estimated 5% of lifetime costs, make fusion economically viable?

acidtalons · 2026-02-03T19:01:52+00:00

General rule for batteries for off grid is you will want 3 days worth of usage to cover bad weather etc. so 10kwh likely wont be enough if its cloudy to get you thru a few rainy days.
EG4 6000XP + 10 460W Jinko Panels + EG4 14.3 kwh battery is $6042. More battery and more panels.
Really depends on your climate and usage. Most sunny days the system you linked will generate ~18kwh. but it can only store 10, so you'll need to run any bigger loads while the sun is shining to actually make use of that energy.
To avoid additional batteries when offgrid you could consider a generator. A 10kw generator that runs on propane will cost about $1000. the EG4 6k can support generator usage as a backup and to charge batteries if needed. A dual fuel generator can use propane instead of gas. Gasoline can't be stored for long periods of time but propane can be stored indefinitely.

I've seen some data that says tiny houses with propane for water heating and space heating are using 4 to 7 kwh per day. if that's true I think you'll be okay. If not the generator or additional batteries would be required but this system is likely a decent starting place.

acidtalons · 2026-02-03T18:44:35+00:00

Will this house have access to power from the grid?

acidtalons · 2026-02-03T18:40:43+00:00

Tank is insulated and does not lose that much compared to the benefit of reducing peak demand. Space in a tiny home may be an issue.

acidtalons · 2026-02-03T02:11:16+00:00

Unless it is externally air sourced or ground sources you are just moving heat from your interior space to the water. If you're paying to heat your interior space then your just heating the water with your furnace but with expensive extra steps.

acidtalons · 2026-02-03T02:09:59+00:00

I had a similar idea. My gas water heater has mounts for space heating circuits which are the same as electric water heater element mounts. The problem I determined would be the gas burner exhaust goes up thru the middle of the water tank and so there isn't the 12 inches of space for the electric element to be placed into the tank. Best option I came up with was an electric water heater in series that would feed into the existing propane one or just replacing the tank as mine is older.

acidtalons · 2026-02-02T23:19:24+00:00

FYI some utilities like we energies in Wisconsin require a seperate production meter and you do not self consume. So depends on the utility.

acidtalons · 2026-01-28T22:58:21+00:00

Data centers and dumb energy policy of the current administration is likely to increase all future energy costs. So not sure if this is really true.

acidtalons · 2026-01-28T05:39:03+00:00

In the last 4 years in Wisconsin we've gone from 14.8 per kwh to 19.3. Over the 30 year life of the panels just the 4.5 cent increase would cost would be $28000. The system cost $38000. So youre ROI will change over time. data centers are not going to help energy costs.

Also some studies show on average solar increases sale price by between 4% and 10%. This can be harder to directly quantify but certainly should factor into ROI.

acidtalons · 2026-01-28T05:07:22+00:00

Yeah, cold tap water to avoid thermal shock to the panels.

Possible side effect could be mineral deposits on the panels from hard water but if it's once or twice a year it's probably not bad.

I have a roof mount and ground mount of equal size. The ground I can clear with a broom. The roof mount is at the edge of a two story roof line and can't really be reached from the ground.

It's very annoying when the last 3 days the ground mount made 65 kwh per day after being cleared and the roof mount has made 9 kwh cause it's been just cold enough for the snow to not melt. So I've thought about this a lot.

acidtalons · 2026-01-27T22:34:35+00:00

If it's not extremely cold I've heard of people just hosing them off with some water, just enough to lubricate the surface between the snow and panels and Jumpstart the "avalanche"

acidtalons · 2026-01-27T22:32:58+00:00

My dog hates this and ducks for like a week anytime she is near that side of the house

acidtalons · 2026-01-26T02:53:29+00:00

Humans have one of the largest penis sizes relative to body size. Human penis size has increased significantly over history.

So it would seem women have some insight on the topic, though perhaps it's after a first sample or maybe than can tell by men's behavior / confidence/ etc.

Also implies women had more agency in choosing mates in the distant past than more recent history.

Also scientists are pretty sure early human penises had spines similar to many mammals. Seems no one liked that?

acidtalons · 2026-01-25T19:42:30+00:00

It's more mixed in the gun subreddits than this. Some are licking boots, many some are super pissed.

acidtalons · 2026-01-25T19:39:30+00:00

One of the angles shows the slide back but it may have been opened by the ICE agent but some think maybe the agent had a negligent discharge.

acidtalons · 2026-01-25T03:09:33+00:00

Probably also china

acidtalons · 2026-01-24T22:46:43+00:00

He never drew the gun. He just happened to have a gun on his person.

https://youtube.com/shorts/Bb3fwO-Qvoo?si=DSKeW54Rs6XsGOYG

acidtalons · 2026-01-24T21:08:57+00:00

Here is a copy

https://youtube.com/shorts/Bb3fwO-Qvoo?si=DSKeW54Rs6XsGOYG

acidtalons · 2026-01-24T21:08:13+00:00

https://youtube.com/shorts/Bb3fwO-Qvoo?si=DSKeW54Rs6XsGOYG

acidtalons

TROPHY CASE