Umm, let's not forget multiple desulphators for large battery banks. db
Dan Brown
Foxfire Energy Corp.
Renewable Energy Systems
(802)-483-2564
www.Foxfire-Energy.com
NABCEP #092907-44
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Myths, Schemes and Scams request
From: "b...@midnitesolar.com" <bgud...@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, April 14, 2014 12:29 am
To: RE-wrenches <re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org>
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> 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
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 CorporationTM
505 780-2738 cell
_______________________________________________
List sponsored by Home Power magazine
List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org
Change email address & settings:
http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org
List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org
List rules & etiquette:
www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm
Check out participant bios:
www.members.re-wrenches.org
_______________________________________________ List sponsored by Home Power magazine
List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Change email address & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org
