A show of hands for a pop quiz after a training session
Has it really been a whole year since we last enjoyed the warm embrace1 of the Melbourne convention center? It doesn’t feel like it but for those who couldn’t attend, please read on while I document a few random pictures from the enormously busy exhibition floor.
The only thing that’s grown more than electricity bills recently is the number of new solar power systems installed with batteries. I’m guessing a close third is the growth of my inbox, specifically with questions about small unwanted energy imports. Read on while I explain; please, stop emailing me…
For years now, Catch Power has offered what I think is the go-to consumption meter for single-phase houses. Now that the six-channel unit has arrived, your three-phase house can enjoy the same benefits. Electricity bills might be growing, but thankfully, Catch Power is adding features to its Catch Control faster than retailers can add zeroes to your bill.
Off-peak, ‘controlled load’ has traditionally been cheap electricity overnight, but these days, “over lunch” is the cheapest electricity ever. If you’ve got a hot water service, floor heating or a similar load, you can take advantage of this ridiculously cheap energy. Read on, and I’ll explain how.
Image: Facebook
I’ve seen more than one instance where roof restorers have ruined solar arrays, and it’s a horribly wasteful lesson for people to learn. If you’re thinking of having your roof painted, then make sure it doesn’t go pear-shaped with this simple guide to restoring a roof with solar panels on it.
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A year’s consumption data with a solar power system that stopped dead
Flicking through some photographs recently, I was reminded of a very expensive saga where thousands of dollars of electricity would have been saved with some free solar monitoring. Read on as we detail episode one of several expensive mistakes.
Tesla’s Powerwall 3 is starting to hit the ground in Australia. We’ve had the launch. Selected retailers are humble bragging about their latest Tesla deliveries hitting the ground, and Tesla is running installer training to get everybody ready. I went along on Friday to see what we could glean.
Some standards live forever. That’s a 100-year-old battery charger with a glowing valve rectifier maintaining an EV.
Running late on the morning school run? That’s when problems tend to hit. Even with two EVs and a PHEV in the driveway, I’ve learned flat 12v batteries are still a problem, and keeping a few tools handy can save the day. Let me show you why charging a flat 12v battery can be quicker than shifting the kids’ car seats into a new car.
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Whilst we usually try to make our blog posts understandable to almost anyone, this post will get technical, as I show, with numbers, why the new 1000-volt limit for residential solar makes life better for installers and homeowners alike.
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We’re headed back to the future, despite the stamp, this was a frame for 1kW in December 2007
When the Earth was young, feed-in tariffs were 44 cents, and solar panels were $5 per watt, we spent lots of time building angled frames, facing them in exactly the right direction for maximum yield. These days, with bargain panels wholesaling for under $0.25 per watt, you just buy more of them. So, are angled frames dead? I think not, but let’s explore why. [Read more…]
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