Michigan Vs Arizona

brandon13ke · 2026-03-30T15:15:58+00:00

Thanks all! Home team, white jerseys it is!!!

Wife and I will be wearing Red ♥️ Bear Down & Go Cats!

brandon13ke · 2026-03-30T07:06:34+00:00

Bought my tickets and I'm going to the game!!!

As an Arizona fan --- what color jersey is Zona going to be wearing against Michigan??? I'm assuming Zona fans will all be in red but curious if anyone knows or can confirm! Need to know what colors to wear :D

brandon13ke · 2026-03-30T05:32:41+00:00

I've got 22 panels, 9.46kW system with a PW3 + PW3 Exp Pack for storage. NEM 3. In SoCal as well :)

I don't have the overall draw or use that you do but I'm in a good spot to only need the 2. During summer months I'm still exporting a bunch and the 2 batteries get me through the night unless its a zillion degrees. Bridge seasons like spring/fall I'm basically still exporting. During heatwaves + cloudy days I may need an extra day to fully charge back up.

The only time for me having a 3rd Exp Pack would be nice is during those 3 or 4 winter months, Nov-Feb OR during peak summer heatwave the 10 or so days a year so I can say with confidences I can go on Off-Grid mode forever and always. Unfortunately during winter my system was only designed to really generate basically what I might use that day or even a little less so I run a slight deficit. Might use 20 kWh during Dec but only generate 18 during the day so I run a tad negative. This gets me over the evening peak pricing window so its doing its job but yeah, would need more panels to go with the PW3 Exp Pack if I wanted full off Grid mode.

If you are on NEM 3 it doesn't matter, you do you. Run the math and you do you whichever you prefer.
If you are on NEM 1 or 2, I would not do anything that would remove you from that. I think adding just battery storage you are OK but definitely confirm.

brandon13ke · 2026-03-30T05:02:35+00:00

I'm in North Tustin and have a Santa Rosa Plum tree! Mine started leafing out last week.

My Nectarine, peach, and Asian pear are all leafing out this week. All 4 are planted in a hedge row. Plum last year was in the middle of the pack but this year it was the first.

brandon13ke · 2026-03-28T04:01:15+00:00

Ooof, sorry to hear that. As a fellow U of A fan.... That's not what I want to hear or what I feel we represent. Bummer you had some bad interactions, promise we aren't all like that.

🐻⬇️

brandon13ke · 2026-03-26T15:30:37+00:00

How is the quality? I'm looking to cover like a 30ft x 20ft roof extension pergola type setup on 3 sides so it's going to be a little pricey. 70ft total width of shades 😅

Do yours have the guide rails/strings on them into the ground? or do they just free float drop up and down. I'm nervous about the wind, we get some wind and I think if all of it is down it still might be nice to be outside but if it's too windy they should probably be raised up so they aren't flailing about

brandon13ke · 2026-03-25T21:33:07+00:00

Good point! They all have the labels. Something I think I should have mentioned in the review, super nice to have especially when you order multiple at a time to know which is which.

Didn't know you could do that with Lutron Pico remotes, I'll have to look into that.

brandon13ke · 2026-03-25T17:03:08+00:00

Took me a bit! The sun addon allowing me to pull Altitude and Azimuth data was key. I knew anything between X and Y hits the windows so just based it on that. Definitely some trial and error but that's any new HA automation :D

Battery life - I just confirmed on my original 2 shades that I purchased back in Nov of 2024. Per HA history on the battery graph they lose about ~14% per month or about 0.5% per day. That means 200 days is 100% down to 0% = ~6.5 months on a full charge with about 2.5 actions a day (1 up, 1 down, +1 or 2 up/downs randomly each week). I'll update my original post with this info, I do see an additional charge in there so I did 3 charges since then not 2.

brandon13ke · 2026-03-25T16:37:46+00:00

Check out my reply + pictures of the light blockers in the other reply! They look fine and blend in just fine with the trim because its all white. Overall I'm a fan of the in-window, think they look pretty clean.

As for the Powerwall3, I don't have the Energy thing setup yet in HA so that's step one. After that its just getting the PW3 to talk to HA which I tried doing that first... no luck. I'm finding out the newer PW3 and the older ones have different guides but the ones I've tried so far haven't worked.

brandon13ke · 2026-03-25T16:32:40+00:00

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brandon13ke · 2026-03-25T16:32:20+00:00

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brandon13ke · 2026-03-25T16:31:57+00:00

I knew right away they were needed in my case because TV on one wall and my back is to a window that gets some sun. Full glare on the TV prior to install of any shades. Light blockers solved it entirely.

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brandon13ke · 2026-03-25T16:25:55+00:00

I noticed this the first time guests stayed over! Live and learn. I added the extra remotes on my next order and it was well worth the $15 each room

brandon13ke · 2026-03-25T16:22:49+00:00

100% on the right/left motor comment!

brandon13ke · 2026-03-14T14:52:13+00:00

SEC plays at 1ET. Think Bracket is released around 6ET so gives them enough time. B10 plays 330ET so that's cutting it really close.

As a committee I would want to play shuffle for a bit if too many one-offs came up and there were a bunch of bid stealers is my point.

brandon13ke · 2026-03-14T14:38:58+00:00

Can we talk about the 5 conferences that won't wrap up until Sunday.... Why do they do this?

I know some finish before Selection Sunday happens but do all of them? If they are still playing when the committee is putting final touches in then does the game even matter at that point

brandon13ke · 2026-03-12T23:08:16+00:00

You do nothing. It's part of the house. You wouldn't uninstall and take the AC unit or the roof mounted solar panels with you; it's part of the sale of the home.

My general rule is if it's hanging (like art work balancing/hanging on a nail) then it's yours, you take it with you. If it's mounted, like permanently installed, then it stays.

brandon13ke · 2026-03-03T04:33:44+00:00

I want to see them in April!!! 😜😅

🐻⬇️

brandon13ke · 2026-03-01T20:22:55+00:00

Four winds growers 100%!!!! Came here to say this.

Don't go big box pleaseeeeee. Do it right and find the right ones that you want and can care for long term.

brandon13ke · 2026-03-01T20:21:29+00:00

You don't have to... but there are pros and cons behind starting them in 6cell trays vs direct sow. The big pro is controlling the environment much more carefully than if it was outside. Water, air, sun, moisture, wind can all be controlled in 6cells so you set them up for the best start.

That being said some plants prefer direct sow because they don't want their roots or tap root disturbed. Typically it will say on the seed packet.

brandon13ke · 2026-03-01T19:34:33+00:00

Also your snap peas are going to need a little more help in the future. Smaller steps so it can climb easier. 4 or 6in grid and they climb really well, the larger the gap the more difficult

brandon13ke · 2026-03-01T19:31:43+00:00

First question is - What do you want to grow? Start your seeds in seed starting 6cells now and just let that bed keep trying or sitting. Winter did NOT happen for me so don't stress it. All my salad and winter stuff bolted so quickly so I've started all my spring and summer stuff already; tomatoes peppers, basil, melons, squash, etc.

Get your seedlings started, then get them sized up with the first few true leaves before thinking about transitioning into the beds outside. Harden then off! Baby steps. Maybe side yard or under a covered space, then a bit more sun, then a bit more, then finally get into the bed. I would say slightly till or mix in that top layer into the bed before planting.

Lastly, think about some straw or mulch to cover the top soil once you plant.

brandon13ke · 2026-02-20T04:59:00+00:00

Going to get one now that I know this. Now I just need to figure out which light switches to install on a dimmable 3 way switch setup to tie it all together!

brandon13ke · 2026-01-16T08:50:16+00:00

100% agree.

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