🚀 go-pugleaf

Greig Ebeling wrote:
> 
> On 07 Jun 2000 10:35:53 EDT, "D.A.Kopf" <dak@dakx.com> wrote:
> 
> >Greig Ebeling wrote:
> >>
> >> On 06 Jun 2000 10:20:06 EDT, "D.A.Kopf" <dak@dakx.com> wrote:
> >>
> >> >[New thread since References line becoming too long for my news mailer]
> >> >
> >> >Murray Love wrote in message I0%_4.7705$F9.266005@news1.gvcl1.bc.home.com...
> >> ><snip>
> >> >>
> >> >> Thoughtful post, ant.  Thank you for being civil.  As an aside, I don't see
> >> >> the attraction of decentralized power.  I like my huge utility; it never
> >> >> goes out on me, it's cheap, and if there's a problem I know who's
> >> >> responsible.  This is a genuine question:  what is the attraction of
> >> >> decentralization?
> >> >
> >> >Possibly it's too cheap, in that people can use unnecessary electricity
> >> >without realizing the hidden consequences. Particularly in the workplace when
> >> >they don't see the electric bill. I've known people using electric heaters
> >> >under their desk because the air conditioning was set too cold! You'd probably
> >> >reduce consumption if you had to do your own maintenance, or if your local
> >> >plant made less noise and smelly emissions whenever you switched off a load.
> >> >In my experience most of this reduction is effortless - turning off lights,
> >> >replacing most-used lights with fluorescents, using battery-powered or wind-up
> >> >clocks, plugging wall warts and always-on appliances into switchable outlets, > >etc.
> >>
> >> These actions may be effortless, but they do almost nothing to reduce
> >> electricity load.
> >
> >I average 12KWH a day, down from about 30 KWH pre-PV system.
> 
> That is a handy saving!
> 
> >Computer monitor
> >and lights are now turned off when not in use.Replacing 3 100 watt bulbs with
> >15 watt fluorescents saved 1 KWH/day (and gives better light). Switchable
> >outlets on the TV, computer, microwave, and coffemaker another 0.5 KWH/day. As
> >you say, not noticeable on the power meters at the nuke plant [I like to think
> >of it as around 70 gallons a day less water vaporized up the cooling tower,
> >others might wish to think in pounds of CO2]. But from what I observe,

> >everyone using these same techniques in the workplace would save considerably more.
> 
> Your savings still amount to a small amount of power overall, not the
> 18KWh you state above.  Your solar system appears to cover about 50%
> of your needs, which is a very good figure from my experience.

Most of the 30-to-12 KWH reduction was the result of becoming more aware of
electricity usage after experience with the PV system. Lights off when a room
is unoccupied, fill dishwasher before running, no more 24x7 factoring or
seti@home analysis. 
> 
> >> >There is also the self-sufficiency factor; where I live a major hurricane or
> >> >ice storm will will pass through every few years and typically cut grid power
> >> >for 1-2 weeks. For me, having power during those times more than makes up for
> >> >several years of PV system maintenance.
> >>
> >> This is a good reason to have a backup diesel or petrol generator, but
> >> why would you spend all that money trickle charge systems and
> >> batteries?
> >
> >Just one KWH marine battery, allows adequate lights plus running the TV or
> >computer up to five hours overnight.
> 
> That is all I used on my yacht for those applications.  But what about
> the other 11kWh your house consumes?

The PV system is a backup, sorry if I gave the impression I use it routinely.
The grid connection costs $7/month and it would be silly not to use its $0.08
kilowatt-hours when available. The panels are hinged under the eaves and spend
most of the time vertical and out of the elements. Two 75 watt panels are
exposed to keep the battery charged and provide continuous power for an old
stripped-down 20 watt Mac that monitors the insolation and battery charging
curves (the microphone input is connected to a Trace C-40 battery charger
metering jack and decodes the TTL waveform to get once-per-second voltage and
current data). If all panels are exposed I can expect about 5 KWH most days,
that's enough to be comfortable during power outages.

> 
> >Most loads (computer, water pumping,
> >washing machine) can be shifted to run directly off the PV panels when the sun
> >is shining.
> 
> What if it isn't shining?

Most loads are optional, and I have a 500 liter storage tank for the well water.

> 
> >The portable generator is noisy and hard on the back, and now no
> >longer needed since the battery-inverter system could be charged from the car
> >or tractor as a last resort.
> 
> What about heating and cooking?  Boiling hot water, and making toast?
> These are the applications which consume 90% of your power, and you
> haven't even mentioned them.

Morso wood stove for heating. Prefer wood heat, in my opinion it is the most
healthful and comfortable adjunct to cold winter nights. Still working through
the white oak courtesy of hurricane Fran. Use rather small amounts of propane
for cooking and hot water. Most summertime cooking involves the microwave,
during winter there is of course always the wood stove. It's fairly easy to
adjust these usages to match available energy.