On 4/13/2014 10:30 AM, Dan Fink wrote:
I absolutely recommend including the build-your-own solar panel
schemes / scams that Dave mentioned -- there are a zillion of them,
most have a "4" in the URL (power4patriots, etc)
And don't forget to look for the "investors" link !
boB
One thing I have noticed online with people selling PV modules (Amazon
and Ebay) and alternators for homebuilt wind turbines (all over the
'net) is -- multiplying open-circuit voltage by closed-circuit
amperage to get overrated "watts" , and a video of the multimeter to
"prove" it. Ouch. Good teachable moment on how to use a multimeter,
though.
You might also include the very popular (on Ebay) little grid-tie
inverters that take DC solar input on one side and simply plug into a
wall outlet on the other side.
I also admit to, when in a whimsical mood, asking staff at Home Depot
/ Ace hardware etc., how to make up a male to male extension cord so
my Honda generator can run my house in an emergency. One of these days
I'll find a co-conspiritor with a tiny camera and make an educational
video of it.
Dan Fink,
Executive Director;
Otherpower
Buckville Energy Consulting
Buckville Publications LLC
NABCEP / IREC accredited Continuing Education Providers
970.672.4342
On Sat, Apr 12, 2014 at 6:53 PM, Dave Click <davecl...@fsec.ucf.edu
<mailto:davecl...@fsec.ucf.edu>> wrote:
If you also have the local electricians selling the kvar units as
surefire ways to save 30% on your electric bill, I'd nominate that
as myth/scheme/scam, though I hope most of those resellers are
doing so only because they're naive. There was also some absurd
company a few years ago which was selling a "3000W" module that
looked suspiciously like a 200W module yet could produce a steady
3kW even without any load and even while in the shade. They had
the clamp-on meter to prove it, so maybe they're still selling off
area code exclusivity off for a mere $50,000 initial deposit.
Screen-shots from this would be fun-- one of the ubiquitous "$50
for this complete guide to unplugging from grid by making your own
solar panels"
http://www.powerfreedom.com/System/
The YellowBook ad from a few years ago:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hpHxEhO_DQ
I don't know where I got this picture-- from one of the "make your
own solar panel" things online. Lovely aesthetics!
https://www.dropbox.com/s/bxhl3q6hrr9z5sp/DIY%20PV.png
On 2014/4/12, 16:47, Allan Sindelar wrote:
Fellow Wrenches,
Last year I prepared an hour's presentation for our local Solar
Fiesta on "Energy Myths, Schemes and Scams". I covered mostly PV
and the solar industry, with a few slides about the physics of
wind and those cute spinny yard-art things called VAWTs. I also
hit on "it takes more energy to make a PV panel than it will ever
produce", the limitations of 25-year module warranties, "free
energy generators", James McKirdy, lunar modules, and modules
with fraudulent listings. This was what I was able to pull together.
The workshop was popular and I have been asked to give it again
in a couple of weeks. I'm looking for any suggestions that you
may have for new or additional material to update the
presentation. Any ideas are welcome, especially if you can
provide links to good stories and slide materials. This is for a
general non-technical audience, but I have the freedom to go in
any direction I wish. So I'd like to be more than just
entertaining, but make points about value over price, using local
installers with knowledge and experience, etc.
Beside my appreciation for the material, I'll offer in return to
share an editable version of the presentation for your own use
(although it's a 14 meg PowerPoint file at present).
Thank you in advance for your suggestions of anything that gets
your blood boiling, that would be funny if it wasn't giving PV
and clean energy a bad name.
Allan
--
*Allan Sindelar*
_Allan@positiveenergysolar.com_
<mailto:al...@positiveenergysolar.com>
NABCEP Certified PV Installation Professional
NABCEP Certified Technical Sales Professional
New Mexico EE98J Journeyman Electrician
Founder (Retired), *Positive Energy, Inc.*
A Certified B Corporation^TM
*505 780-2738 <tel:505%20780-2738> cell*
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