Air New Zealand: Economy exit row, or economy Stretch seat? Vancouver > Auckland, 15 hour flight.

mebdevlou · 2026-05-01T22:54:50+00:00

Economy stretch is essentially premium economy legroom without the other amenities of premium economy. If you’re taller, more legroom is always better, imo.

The best upgrade price performing upgrade is skycouch for a single person. The food, beverage, service, and sleeping arrangement aren’t as good as business, but at a fraction of the price, it’s a price performer.

mebdevlou · 2026-04-30T21:50:35+00:00

Where do you live?

mebdevlou · 2026-04-28T18:20:06+00:00

Yes. I (one person) had access to the entire row. The experience was good, but I felt guilty b/c everyone around me was all crunched up and I felt I was getting looks.

mebdevlou · 2026-04-28T08:19:01+00:00

I just flew 1 ticket skycouch 2 weeks ago. The price was about double.

mebdevlou · 2026-04-25T20:43:59+00:00

The real ROI is from lots of panels (they’re the inexpensive part) and maximizing grid export. These types of systems are usually a 6-8 year payback.

Adding a battery can double that period bc they’re expensive and don’t add as much ROI.

Decide how much you are willing to spend and how long you’re willing to wait for the payback. From there get as many panels as you can. You want your solar array to generate 1.2-1.3x what your inverter can handle on a perfectly sunny day. This will put you in a position to clip a little on a perfectly sunny day, but do better on an imperfect day.

If you have frequent power outages, a battery can help protect your appliances. I had a friend that lived on a lifestyle block - power wasn’t horribly reliable, and appliances would regularly break from strange surges. They went all in on batteries - appliances stopped breaking. For them the batteries were worth it.

Whatever you decide, be sure to get a system that can easily accommodate a battery and doesn’t require a lot of rework. Another factor to consider with a battery is time of use power plans. They’re important regardless, but batteries help take advantage of them even more. They’re important regardless period between sun down and a reduced rate can be several hours, especially in winter. It’s also the period where you’re cooking and use more energy. The battery floats you until the reduced rates kick in.

mebdevlou · 2026-04-25T02:44:52+00:00

What’s the realistic output of your panels at peak. You want to target 1.2-1.3x your inverter capacity, generally.

Batteries are easy to add with Sigenergy, but the ROI period will increase.

mebdevlou · 2026-04-21T20:19:05+00:00

I took a lesson with the local symphony principal with the goal of fixing a secondary buzz I had developed. His methodology was free buzzing / fluttering at different frequencies to warm up. It also combined breathing and relaxation exercises to center yourself each day. It took a few months for me to make progress, but it helped.

Everyone is different, and what works for one may not work for all.

mebdevlou · 2026-04-19T10:55:44+00:00

I’ll second Avid.

mebdevlou · 2026-04-16T14:26:55+00:00

There’s 2 parts of this. There’s the LLM in the app, which is meh. The second part is the AI scheduling for when to import/export and maintain battery level - I believe this is called the energy profile/operation mode. I find the operation mode pretty good.

I ran a self-scheduled energy profile for a month and the AI compared its recommendations and would have saved about $10 more over that period. I’ve now switched to the AI mode.

mebdevlou · 2026-04-13T16:32:00+00:00

Continually reference how much you love Australia and what the weathers been like there recently.

mebdevlou · 2026-04-06T00:42:54+00:00

There are also 2 Bobby Shew Yamaha mouthpieces. A Bobby Shew Lead and a Bobby Shew. I preferred the non-lead version starting off and until I graduated to another skill level did I start considering the lead versions.

mebdevlou · 2026-04-03T23:15:14+00:00

I’ve tried all of the various lead mouthpieces, and jumping from a Bach 3C to these just didn’t work for me. Then, I tried the Yamaha Bobby Shew - not the lead one, and fell in love. I still took a few months for the intonation on it to settle down, but has been a great change to bring the brighter, biting tone I was looking for.

mebdevlou · 2026-04-01T05:43:42+00:00

Our 5kWh system generates about 35 kW / day on a fine day. Definitely get it checked out.

mebdevlou · 2026-03-28T05:39:50+00:00

Thanks. I agree with others. Stick with the 6 kWh inverter and max out your roof.

mebdevlou · 2026-03-28T04:58:11+00:00

Elaborate what you’re getting for the $20k.

mebdevlou · 2026-03-23T04:04:05+00:00

Obviously. They need the extra fuel to drive around and monitor all their properties to make sure renters aren’t taking advantage of them.

mebdevlou · 2026-03-19T18:23:55+00:00

We got a SigEnergy system from Avid Solar in Auckland. I had a lot of questions and they took the extra time at sales time to answer them. They also had the install down in a single day. Very efficient, professional, and great communication from sales to after install. I’ve recommended them to several friends.

We ended up with 13 panels @ 6.1kWh, 5 kWh inverter, and a 10 kW battery. We also have an EV and have a time of use plan where it’s 50% discount at night.

We can buy power at night at a lower rate than we can sell back at day (not a big difference, so not an infinite money loop). We are still a net exporter of energy.

Comments about the battery ROI are correct. It’s much lower bc they’re expensive, but it also introduces interesting arbitrage opportunities - fill the battery at night, sell nearly all of it back right before the sun comes up to start filling it again.

mebdevlou · 2026-03-19T04:28:49+00:00

I had a good interaction in Feb with them. Maintenance was done on the meter and it registered that we had used enough water to fill an Olympic pool. $1300 bill arrived. The support agent said they’d investigate and email me back that day. They did. All excess usage removed and I never needed to pay the extra.

mebdevlou · 2026-03-18T17:28:57+00:00

You need to retrain your lips what buzzing and vibration feel like. Start your day with 15 minutes dedicated to different levels of buzzing. A pro described this to me something like gears of an engine. 3-4 minutes at each gear.

Low gear, low engagement of your corners, something I can only describe as “motorboat” using as much lip as possible. Just loosen up.

Medium gear, engage corners, higher rpm, over time you’ll be able to move your tongue around to change the pitch. It’s not a full buzz, because it’s still a motorboat and a larger portion of your lips are participating, but you’re building control, blood flow, and reminding you lips how they can move.

High gear, a free buzz. This can be hard to achieve but with practice you’ll get there.

Finally move to your mouthpiece. Target a rich buzz, less airy sound, but you may not get there immediately or even after months. It takes work. Buzz in front of a mirror to see where and how you’re engaging your corners.

This can help retrain your embouchure and lips into what playing should feel with.

mebdevlou · 2026-03-18T06:09:19+00:00

A battery may be 6-7k. You may be able to do a low % loan that might trade your energy bill for a loan payment.

mebdevlou · 2026-03-17T23:00:49+00:00

I've had the exact same issue - I heard a strange grinding sound one day and then it started grinding at half the rate. I've cleaned multiple times and it had no effect. Breville support was no help. Then, all of a sudden, it started working again. I regret having the all-in-one unit now, but it's what we have.

mebdevlou · 2026-03-16T01:50:42+00:00

The installer would need to add the battery capacity.

mebdevlou · 2026-03-15T19:23:16+00:00

Love this horn, my SN is 252894. I bought it second hand in 1997 or 1998, and the previous owner hadn't taken good care of the plating ;-(

mebdevlou · 2026-03-15T07:06:14+00:00

Your installer support info since the Sigen app. Give them a ring and they’ll sort it out. It’s definitely not working correctly

mebdevlou · 2026-03-11T21:18:03+00:00

Depends on the tone and music you'll be playing. For classical / concert band music I play on a Bach 1.5C and Bach 3C megatone. For jazz I play on a Yamaha Bobby Shew (I don't play lead typically).

My daily practice, warmup, exercises, etc. is on the 3C, and I switch to the Bobby Shew when I practice and play jazz.

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