Posts tagged as:

solar

Solar Proposal

February 27, 2017

This past week, I turned in my proposal for my solar electric system to the local power utility. Here’s the equipment I’ll be using and why. Please keep in mind that there’s more than one way to design a solar electric system. What is right for me may not be right for you, but I […]

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Garage Update Feb 9 2017

February 9, 2017

  Time for a Garage Update! Ross the Electrician has been over a few times lately, and got most of the rough wiring done. The downstairs is wired for plenty of wall outlets, two electric car chargers, an electric boiler, and plenty of switched outlets in the ceiling for the LED shop-lights. There will also […]

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Garage Progress, Jan 3 2016

January 3, 2017

…After that, it was time to install the skylights. SKYLIGHTS!?!!? In a garage!?!? Yup….

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Solar Pathfinding

December 17, 2016

The last two days, I was working with my friend, Kurt. Kurt and his wife, Monica, helped out on the garage a little while back when I was putting in the Pex tubing for the hydronic heat. Kurt mentioned that Monica had a Solar Path Finder. I asked if I could borrow it, and sure […]

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Ben’s Garage: Winter Solar Access

December 14, 2016

The rough shell of the garage is now up! We got the roof boards and felt on just before the first major winter storm of the season. Since then, a cold front has moved through. While that DOES drop the temperature (single digits F. right now,) it also means CLEAR skies! It’s cold, but sunny! […]

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Garage Update; Nov 9 2016

November 9, 2016

Been working hard lately! Whew, time for an update on the garage! In the time since tearing down the garage, the next step was to get the ugly old maple tree out of there. It’s EXACTLY where the new corner of the larger garage will go, so it needed to come out roots and all! […]

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Destroying My Garage

October 20, 2016

Well, it’s been a long time coming, but today I finally DESTROYED my garage! And no, not with a Solar Death Ray, nor dropping a bowling ball on it! My whole secret master plan (If Elon Musk can have a master plan, so can I) is to rebuild my garage, but FAR better than it […]

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Around the World in 80 Days

April 25, 2016

When I was a kid, I read in amazement as the British Gentleman Phileas Fogg made it AROUND THE WORLD IN EIGHTY DAYS. The explorer trekked across the world with pocket-watch precision, using rail, steam, all of the modern conveniences of the late 1800’s, to complete an unimaginable journey around the world. As I headed in to […]

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Solar is MIND-BLOWINGLY CHEAP!

November 14, 2014

Just the other day, I got the latest copy of HOME POWER magazine in the mail. The cover article was about a DIY 6 Kilowatt system that is about 13 miles from my house. What I wasn’t expecting to learn from the article is how CHEAP solar can be! I live in south-eastern Wisconsin. We […]

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Getting ready for Spring

April 20, 2014

Weather in Wisconsin is weird. Last week, it was snowing. This afternoon, it was 75 degrees and I swatted my first mosquito. Go figure. Well, while I had the chance, it was time to break out the electric motorcycle for spring. One of the many things I like about electric motorcycles is how EASY they are […]

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