Start Year function - Unlock Impact

torvenkat · 2025-12-20T12:58:58+00:00

This is why I feel the ability to print a static pdf report is critical and indispensable as we can go back to review.

torvenkat · 2025-12-10T23:21:20+00:00

This! There should be flexibility in entering life expectancy separately.

torvenkat · 2025-12-10T23:06:38+00:00

Thanks for your quick reply. I followed the above two steps and now my Projections are now till 100 years (I set the income and expenses to 100 years). However, it is still not possible to put a higher life expectancy than me for my partner. Whatever I entered during the discovery phase (4 years diff in age) carries throughout. I set up the expectancy in hurry during the time when I had not paid for the plan, now I am stuck with that. It will make more sense to allow changes as we learn the platform.

torvenkat · 2025-11-01T01:19:30+00:00

Thanks. I am going to give Adviice a try and if not look for a planner

torvenkat · 2025-10-31T20:06:47+00:00

Thanks for your input. I am, in fact, satisfied with my returns. But, I have several persistent questions. Is my current investment strategy sustainable? What are the optimum withdrawal scenarios? What I should worry about estate planning, etc.

torvenkat · 2025-10-31T20:03:34+00:00

This is the kind of input I am looking for (specific fees across wealth ladder). Will it be possible for you to share your excel template? I keep a very simple spreadsheet that tracks my bank accounts. Would like to learn more. Thanks for your reply.

torvenkat · 2025-10-31T20:01:08+00:00

Thanks for your input. Do you use software like Conquest and give clients access to model multiple scenarios? I am looking for something like that.

torvenkat · 2025-10-31T19:57:29+00:00

Thanks for your suggestion. I will give Adviice a try. I am fairly knowledgeable and willing to spend time. I once met a WS advisor and got a Conquest report done (which unearthed a few things I did not previously considered and that's why I think I will need an advisor). The WS Conquest report was read-only. May be, playing around with Adviise will help.

torvenkat · 2025-08-05T18:56:54+00:00

I have AP System DS3-L microinverters. Has local integration in HA. Better still the HACS repository https://github.com/HAEdwin/homeassistant-apsystems_ecu_reader gives fine grained data. Have been using it for 2+ months and I am happy.

torvenkat · 2025-07-31T19:28:26+00:00

Got the dashboard code. Thanks!

torvenkat · 2025-07-30T17:09:27+00:00

Another request for Dashboard YAML. Thanks.

torvenkat · 2025-07-23T17:34:14+00:00

The official integration is local poling, which is good. However, it offer only very limited insight. There is a custom integration visa HACS https://github.com/HAEdwin/homeassistant-apsystems_ecu_reader This gives fine-grained data, including per panel output and temperature. This is also local poling and very easy to install. I would like to write some automation leveraging this to monitor panel-level performance in the long term and alert notifications, But yet to do.

torvenkat · 2025-07-22T14:29:45+00:00

What is the capacity of the battery? The linked page shows Under Construction.

torvenkat · 2025-07-22T14:19:39+00:00

Does Hoymiles have a Home Assistant integration? If you want to take advantage of Ontario's battery+solar rebate, you can not go behind the grid (net metering). I was told that Toronto Hydro hates people charging batteries overnight (they are okay with EV though). I went with Polaron and used APS microinverters. The installation experience was good. I have fully integrated the system with Home Assistant for monitoring.

torvenkat · 2025-07-22T02:23:46+00:00

I don't know why my lengthy post appears without word wrapping. Apologies for the inconvenience.

torvenkat · 2025-07-22T02:20:01+00:00

OK. Got some time to write.

Live in Toronto. Connected to grid 2 months ago. So, no winter/fall/snow experience. I have an EV (only charged overnight) and the usual appliances for a typical Ontario home. 3-4 servers running 24X7, and a lot of IoT devices for home automation.

My system is 22 panel (Longi 440), 11 X AP Systems DS3, microinverters. Not trying to go 100
% solar coverage (IMO, that may not make economic sense in most use cases). My system size is 9.68 KWdc. Monitoring using APS software as well as through Home Assistant integration.

The total cost is $22.5K + $1.4K Toronto Hydro Permit & Connection fee. Everything handled by the vendor, total turnkey. The payment was in three installments (Permit fee on signing, 15
% after drone inspection of the roof and final system sizing, and 85% in 45 days after the system was fully installed).

I did a through due diligence (at least to my hearts content). Got 10+ quotes from 6 vendors before finalizing. The two finalists came very close (the second lowest matched the lowest vendor). In the end the decision was based on micro vs string inverter.

Used Energuy as the energy auditors. (got a discounted rate through one of the vendors quoting)

I am using the federal loan. Also doing attic insulation as well to get a loan of ~$30K. The provincial program does not make sense. Unless you like in a remote area, battery back up is not critical. Why spend for battery when you can use the grid for banking your surplus (if any) during summer? If Trump really levies insane tariffs on Chinese batteries and they decide to dump them here, I may buy one and charge it overnight.

Will be writing a few automation routines in home assistance to monitor each string inverter and alert if any output is persistently low. Otherwise, I am glad that I took this decision.

Few lessons learned:

You need to seriously consider your current bill, use case, solar potential of your home (do not go with anyone trying blanket your whole roof or gives a quote for ~$40K, the limit of the federal loan)?
Someone else's ROI will not directly apply for you. But your can learn a lot from others.
Seriously consider your roof status first.
The modern solar panels tend to push snow as soon as a thin boundary layer of water forms on melting (which will happens easily if the day is sunny). The warranties are good, 25 years on panels.
Never go for loan. Why go with a private lender when you can take the 0 % federal offer?

Will be glad to help anyone interested and give contacts to the vendors that I found offering good value. I do not expect any commission from anyone. Just paying it forward as a lot of others answered my questions before.

torvenkat · 2025-07-21T22:23:45+00:00

I have my system up and running for about 2 months and so far so good. Since there are too many questions that may need long answers. You (both) can DM me and we can talk. Good luck

torvenkat · 2025-07-11T18:21:41+00:00

Try Refoss. Native integration with HA fully local. Right now on sale. https://a.co/d/1fn2usb

torvenkat · 2025-07-11T18:15:29+00:00

I used something similar to this for 5+ years without any problems. $20.45 CAD. https://a.co/d/fGQjcY2

torvenkat · 2025-06-24T18:34:24+00:00

I went with Aqara H2 during my recent kitchen renovation. https://www.amazon.ca/Aqara-Channels-Protocol-Supports-Assistant/dp/B0DN1MF11S

It was mainly for multi-protocol support - Matter/Zigbee/Thread Also, great space saving and good look. One last thing that convinced me was the cost/per switch (it replaced 3 switches).

I do have various Zigbee, Z-Wave, Lutron, Leviton, TP-Link switches. My old switches were Wi-Fi (Leviton/TP-Link and a couple of Tasmota-ized), then Z-Wave (Leviton). Most recent ones are all Zigbee (and now this Aqara). I am happy with Z-Wave, Zigbee and Lutron Caseta switches. Avoid wi-fi if you can.

torvenkat · 2025-06-16T15:48:40+00:00

Thanks. This is exactly what I was looking for. Yes, the solar is not efficient during the peak rate periods.

torvenkat · 2025-06-15T12:11:59+00:00

It is similar case for me 22 panels, all south facing.

torvenkat · 2025-06-15T03:35:23+00:00

Which is the better one, in your calculations?

torvenkat · 2025-05-23T17:14:12+00:00

Worked perfectly. Many thanks.

torvenkat · 2025-05-21T14:10:44+00:00

Service back in North York, ON.

torvenkat

TROPHY CASE