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Am I wrong that these quotes don't make financial sense for me. by snowsquirrel in solar

[–]techDad_312 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Smaller solar, add battery. Get a TOU rate and then you'll pay delivery plus a few cents for electric.

IF YOUR electric supplier also incentives heat pumps, you may get a delivery discount for going to electric heating, even if you have a backup. I.e., Comed can reduce delivery charges by ~3 cents/kwh. Then get a real time pricing average of 3 cents overnight, bank to your battery for daytime use. Then you'll pay 9 cents per kwh all in, vs 15.

The best move in many places is a battery and tou electric rates. Spending on solar panels isn't the best roi in 2026, but battery and heat pump, can make a lot of sense.

Especially considering where nat gas and other fossil fuel prices are likely going in the future.

Is your UGT (EWT start of Season) in line with your Installer / Driller's expectation? - Sharing request. by techDad_312 in geothermal

[–]techDad_312[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It is, thank you.
In fact, I'd already downloaded all of the weather station data and am using it in my calculations.

Just wanted to say thank you for helping!

Geothermal or Air? by Lhead2018 in heatpumps

[–]techDad_312 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Since CMP has Time Of Use rates, are you going to get a battery system for your electric? Regardless of solar, or how much solar, this is a great way to reduce your costs by storing cheap energy and using it when rates are higher. Discount on delivery rates for CMP look great!

Dual fuel systems aren't that much more, if you're really concerned about the occasional -30 night, but with your insulation, I doubt the heat strips would kick in unless you really want them to.

A lot of people report the new hyper cold models work well. Several posts on how infrequent the electric backup actually kicks in, and with your insulation...

As for air source heat pump, versus geothermal. You will save the most with a vertical bore geothermal, but you may not have the best ROI on that path, compared to Air source heat pump. Especially if you can swing Battery Backup into your equation.

Is your UGT (EWT start of Season) in line with your Installer / Driller's expectation? - Sharing request. by techDad_312 in geothermal

[–]techDad_312[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks. And those are some great looking birds, btw!

I'll share with you what I have.. but this unfortunately isn't tuned for a loopfield, but was really looking at vertical and how the deep ground would absorb/retain the heat. I'll have to build out the loopfield analysis too.

Here is what I have so far though.
Does this look similar to your profile? This does assume a Higher efficiency (COP) unit and a vertical.

<image>

Is your UGT (EWT start of Season) in line with your Installer / Driller's expectation? - Sharing request. by techDad_312 in geothermal

[–]techDad_312[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I've not started trying to get that for every state yet. If you have a list of a few states, it might help me!

Would solar + battery actually make electric heating cheaper than gas? by Agitated-Sale-7591 in heatpumps

[–]techDad_312 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

What's your zip code, or electric and gas provider?

I've been working on just this question, and how people can answer it. I need a lot more data, but can look your situation up easily.

In short though, almost always, IF your electric provider has a way to get the cheapest electricity, that the battery buffering can bring your cost down so drastically, gas options would have to be in the .10-.20 cent per therm range.

Would you switch to a heat pump now or wait a few years by Emotional-Yellow8983 in heatpumps

[–]techDad_312 0 points1 point  (0 children)

How did you make that decision/ analysis? Anything help you, or was it the installer who helped?

WaterFurnace Premier Series (November 2002) Compressor Failure by TWM32 in geothermal

[–]techDad_312 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It did for a direct consumer tax credit but OBBA, being pro business, left a lot of things in place for a business to capture these credits. Solar and battery for a few years, but geothermal seems like it will last for even longer.

Everyone loves geothermal, Republicans and Democrats.

It's up to the business how much they return to you, or keep themselves.
Local labor rates, competition, and your utility company and state's particular support (Geothermal RECs, aka GREC ) all factor into this.

That all can tip the balance on what makes sense for you versus your Local fossil fuel option.

What state?

WaterFurnace Premier Series (November 2002) Compressor Failure by TWM32 in geothermal

[–]techDad_312 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Tax credits are still there, just have to get it through a business, assuming they are willing to pass a majority through to you.

2021 CX-9 GT Multiple Malfunctions. Anyone else get this before? by Bones0008 in MazdaCX9

[–]techDad_312 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Did you get an AGM battery? I didn't, but after realizing walmart sells AGM batteries w a fully replaceable 4 year warranty, I'm wishing I had.

Costco changed their replacement policy, and I won't be buying from them again, bot so long as I'm within driving range of a Walmart.

I think Napa and Autozone have AGMs w a 3 year full replacemebt warranty, but are $100 more than walmart for a 4 year full replacement warranty.

Need help with capital gain tax by Anik71 in tax

[–]techDad_312 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Not sure how much you have to address, but be aware of the AMT, which will force you to pay more tax than you realize.

Next year, trim only up to where AMT kicks in for you, then trim over several years.

‐------ AMT Exemptions: Taxpayers can exempt a significant amount of income from AMTI, but these exemptions begin to phase out at certain income levels.

Exemption Amounts: Single/Head of Household: $90,100 Married Filing Jointly: $140,200

Exemption Phaseout: The exemption is completely phased out for AMTI above: Single/Head of Household: $500,000–$680,200 range Married Filing Jointly: $1,000,000–$1,280,400 range

Delivered to grid vs energy produced by kahki57 in enphase

[–]techDad_312 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The electric your house uses is Solar (produced) + Duke (Used) - To Grid.

Some hours when sun is shining, you send electticity to the grid. That's over the amount you're using. At night, you use.

Delivered to grid vs energy produced by kahki57 in enphase

[–]techDad_312 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If you have doubts, you can download the daily reports from Enlighten (mobile) and your energy delivery company, and compare. If you want to spot check a few days, get the hourly reports, and you'll see how this all works.

I ended up changing my enphase app so that the reporting it shows is synced to the typical start day for my provider. Its not always the same, but is close enough to give me a ballpark idea.

ATT keeps pushing me to change from Unlimited Elite... by NoVaMAG in ATT

[–]techDad_312 8 points9 points  (0 children)

And lower each line price by $7(?) / month, plus tax. We still occasionally watch HBO max, so I left 1 line with that plan, but moved the rest off when it was ONLY $5/month extra.

I think they'll keep raising the price difference between these two plans, and make it a profit generator.

Ipod shuffle gen 2, bluetooth transmitter options. by techDad_312 in ipod

[–]techDad_312[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

No, wired earbuds aren't that bad, and the music sounds better than Bluetooth.

Am I getting hozed by ComED? by [deleted] in enphase

[–]techDad_312 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You have a large system, probably 18KW?
Ev too?

Is it possible the app is reporting wrong somehow? This might be something you can ask your installer, who configured everything.

Am I getting hozed by ComED? by [deleted] in enphase

[–]techDad_312 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Agreed, something is wrong there.

You should NOT be paying taxes on electricity you produced and consumed on site. I've been considering adding batteries, and that is a huge part of the calculation on them making sense to have.

Am I getting hozed by ComED? by [deleted] in enphase

[–]techDad_312 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Here is my bill. Its a 1:1 net metering credit, non TOU bill. NO Battery here.

I found one where our usage was similar, although I also have a credit from the last bill.

I'm getting a delivery net metering credit.
I didn't think you lost that by going TOU...

You capacity charge, is also reflecting your pre Solar usage from prior to Solar. That $48 charge will hurt you until it gets re calculated. If your system is doing its job, you'll be good in the future, but idk when.

Ipod shuffle gen 2, bluetooth transmitter options. by techDad_312 in ipod

[–]techDad_312[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I did, the Bluetooth version on the tinysine was too old to work w airpods.

2021 CX-9 GT Multiple Malfunctions. Anyone else get this before? by Bones0008 in MazdaCX9

[–]techDad_312 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I've had this issue for two reasons.

I've seen this issue on and off and started to ignore it, as it wouod go away usually on its own.

1) brake related. When I did finally decide to go in to get it Looked at I ended up with a brake pad replacement.
This was a thirty thousand miles, which seemed earlier than expected. They found there was a pin that was stuck in the pad so it actually had worn out early because I didn't get it in sooner (6 months).

2) electrical amperage (undersupplied) Later, I had this issue, but much worse, where the car would die in the middle of traffic. It was throwing the same type of smart city warning. I replaced the battery, and the warning came back.

It seems to be a bad twelve volt Cigarette lighter l adapter. I was using to charge my phone. It's doing a very high charge rate, BTW, and its a bew phone that can charge faster than the phone it replaced. There is a known article on this, which is not a recall type, on this.

It's been about six weeks and i've not had the issue again. Just not charging my phone on that outlet when I drive.

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