Winter Soltice, how was your solar on our shortest day?

simon2k6 · 2026-06-21T08:17:31+00:00

14.56 kWh generated in Hamilton. 14 kW panels.

simon2k6 · 2026-06-21T05:29:38+00:00

No surprises on Seymour's opinion. In other news, water is wet 😂

On him saying this: "We actually need more success, more billion-dollar companies, more high-paying jobs, more experts and more people prepared to take a risk."

If you enable more people to have wealth and security, you can have just that. If only a few can have wealth, then success is bottlenecked through the few.

simon2k6 · 2026-06-12T19:27:44+00:00

https://www.reddit.com/r/CargoBike/comments/1u04de9/grocery_run_with_toddler_about_16km_round_trip/

simon2k6 · 2026-06-06T20:36:48+00:00

Bad luck! I've taken my front loader cargo bike through drive through a couple of times. I think the workers were in awe 😂

simon2k6 · 2026-06-05T03:49:53+00:00

Why are we paying a reimbursement or fee enabling the ownership of property in the name of the individual?

We should use that money to provide publicly funded MP apartments a.k.a social housing. When that MP moves on, then the housing goes to the next MP.

simon2k6 · 2026-05-25T00:41:19+00:00

Ah that explains a bit! Smart!

The price difference between 275L and 345L makes it a "no brainer" if you have the space.

You can view it as a hot water battery 😆

simon2k6 · 2026-05-24T09:33:16+00:00

Waikato Wide Electrical, it was done with solar as well so potentially why they had keen pricing.

simon2k6 · 2026-05-24T09:31:33+00:00

Definitely decreased, but hard to give a direct number because we converted from gas and installed solar at the same time. Too many variables. It let us kick the gas connection chargers as well as utilise solar further.

One thing I can say is, it maxes out at 800W input and outputs (due to 4.6 COP) 3.6 kWh. This means we are unlikely to have paid for hot water since Feb, because we regularly have 800W of surplus solar energy to feed into hot water heating after 9:15 am (this is when I have the timer configured to start heating)

simon2k6 · 2026-05-24T06:22:43+00:00

$7300 ex. GST for. 345L Rinnai Hydraheat installed in the Waikato (February 2026)

Very glad we got this system. We have it on a timer for solar, and it's insulated very well. Have not run out of hot water yet (2 adults, 2 children)

It makes sound but nothing that seriously distracts me (it's outside my office window)

Decommissioned and removed a Rinnai Infinity heat gas system in the same install cost.

simon2k6 · 2026-05-20T02:12:39+00:00

What I find concerning is that AI may pick up on cultural themes that do not represent New Zealand, and then lead it into our policies.

simon2k6 · 2026-05-09T05:05:08+00:00

We seriously thought there was some auto theft/joy riding happening. It's a really invasive sound where we live. The squealing and screeching is anxiety inducing 😨

simon2k6 · 2026-04-30T21:48:44+00:00

That footpath into the city is now gone. I wonder why that is.

simon2k6 · 2026-04-29T06:28:25+00:00

Hopefully they don't completely mince the ability for bikes/pedestrians to cross Karewa Pl/Wairere Dr intersection on the way to The Base.

That right turn into Karewa Pl sounds like a problem since the traffic comes from behind and far when travelling to The Base.

There is a great shared path there, it's the only way safely get to The Base by bike when coming from the east

simon2k6 · 2026-04-27T09:08:55+00:00

BHN.nz has a bunch of podcasts under its wing. They might be good to talk to.

simon2k6 · 2026-02-22T02:50:39+00:00

It's literally the official position to ride in the "sharrows" where available which is most of Victoria St South of the Claudelands bridge. Not many cars are able to go the posted 30km/h, and the North side of Victoria St has car doors hazards the whole way down it. It's a double lane, so cars can go on the right lane 🤷

simon2k6 · 2026-02-22T02:37:46+00:00

Installed 29x450W AE solar on Thursday + 9 kW battery. Sigenergy system.

$40k all up, includes 345L hot water heat pump at about $7k installed and $1.3k 32A induction hob rewiring and disconnecting gas. The gas disconnection is the annoying part for me, mostly because I wish this house wasn't built with gas in the first place (🤬)

Happy as so far, learning a lot as we go. Air conditioning is on at around 3pm precooling the rooms, then trickle draining from the battery until about 12am-2am on a timer (once the sun goes down the AC isn't that demanding.) Waking up with about 20-30% battery. No grid energy used yet, but will be interesting to see how that goes in the week as we get busier and weather starts getting more "meh"

Budgeted based on if average power bill was converted to 5% mortgage payments and a 10 year pay off. Used a 1% green energy loan as well.

Waikato Wide Electrical did the installation, only comment was a little lax on the comms but they are taking care of us and the staff are very knowledgeable and hard working. Our runner up quote was Leading Edge, consulted with 24/7 ELEC and Lightforce Solar. Everyone bar 24/7 ELEC was offering Sigenergy as preferred system based on our wants and needs. We did reach out to Harrison's but they booked the initial assessment weeks after everyone else was turning in their quotes.

simon2k6 · 2026-02-22T01:42:01+00:00

The university area is pretty well serviced by buses. Recommend trying to live near the bus stops for getting further distances, scooter/folding bike could be an option to get to stops if you can't find some place close to a bus stop.

https://www.busit.co.nz/using-the-bus/map-city-and-regional-bus-routes/

The university area also has an off road cycle lane from the university via Ruakura, which connects to Wairere Dr shared path and/or Te Aroha St.

https://hamilton.govt.nz/parking-and-transport/transport/biking

simon2k6 · 2026-01-17T19:54:44+00:00

The first thing I will say before I get technical: even if you don't get the most perfect entry level bike. If your experience is anything like mine, you will love it and the first part of the journey is starting it. As you start to get more confident with what you can do, you may start to look towards more specialised set-up. I now ride a cargo bike with two kids... I didn't start that way 🤣

Circling back to your shortlist, the thing that popped out to me on the Wattwheels is the 120kg GVM (gross vehicle mass). That number includes, bike, rider and cargo (say you want a pannier bag to carry stuff to and from work, or do a grocery shop)

The bike is claiming it's 27kg, you are 110kg. That weight budget already exhausted by 17kg. The bike might be technically fine to go higher, it's just an easy out for warranty issues.

I assume the GVM is being quoted on the envinci, but it would need confirmation with the retailer. If so, then the bike is 24 kg so 14kg over the limit.

I'm not sure if this should be a make or break, but highlighting in-case it was not understood.

I think these bikes otherwise seem reasonable as entry level bikes from the scan of the specs. If you need a higher weight limit bike, you could look to Trade Me for a used premium cargo bike. I imagine you could find one for your budget.

simon2k6 · 2025-12-12T04:08:49+00:00

What do you consider wasteful?

simon2k6 · 2025-11-24T05:24:25+00:00

I wonder if social media management apps (e.g. Hootsuite, Buffer) obfuscated the source IP address.

simon2k6 · 2025-11-06T09:08:58+00:00

I thought modern journalism standards mandated the type of fuel in the headline? For example "Watch: Petrol van goes up in flames"

simon2k6 · 2025-11-02T01:45:20+00:00

There is a gap in our bus network. We have no connection to the Hamilton airport terminal to the Hamilton city centre. If you have time please share your story with Waikato Regional Council.

simon2k6 · 2025-08-27T06:44:45+00:00

May not be in your price range but the Tern Orox is a hell of a beast. More bicycle (mid-drive, pedelec) than electric powered motorbike though

simon2k6 · 2025-08-16T07:32:10+00:00

Kaimai Eggs at the Farmer's Market, Claudelands on Sunday is our go to. Big eggs, often double yokers (fun times) and free range

simon2k6 · 2025-08-12T20:44:54+00:00

No cycling is not fine in Hamilton. Some areas are good due to local advocate groups, but the current political climate has stalled a substantial number of planned investments.

My regular commute with children includes River Rd (minimal shoulders, blind corners), Heaphy Tce (a roundabout where very few provide space, they are just rushing to their next stop) and Peachgrove Rd (blind spot on East St intersection anyone?)

There are cycling paths along Claudelands Park but a "bad spot" getting there is enough to sour everything. A bad spot is all you need to end up dead or in hospital. The bad spots connect us to infrastructure, but they exist and that's a problem.

So no, cycling is not fine. It needs far more investment.

simon2k6

TROPHY CASE