Re: [RE-wrenches] PV and home value

2008-10-01 Thread Kirpal Khalsa
Hey Marco.we usually use a conservative number which is equivalent to the value of the energy produced each year times 20 years :I am sure you could attribute a greater valueand justify it with the proper documentation.increased value only matters if the homeowner plans on selli

Re: [RE-wrenches] PV and home value

2008-10-01 Thread Exeltech
Strictly anecdotal evidence: The house next to us was on the market this past spring. While showing the house to some prospective buyers one Saturday, the real estate agent and the interested couple were in the back yard of the home, where the agent looked over the fence and noticed the PV and

Re: [RE-wrenches] Favorite Flat Plate Solar Hot Water collectors

2008-10-01 Thread David Palumbo
Friends, We've been using Stiebel Eltron collectors with good success recently. We are now looking at other collectors because of availability and cost of shipping concerns. Presently we are considering Viessmann, Baxi (Marathon) as well as Heliodyne. I'm sure there are others to consider. What d

Re: [RE-wrenches] Micro Hydro control

2008-10-01 Thread Carl Emerson
Hi There, Thanks for the helpful comments. Hydro is 400V 3 phase AC. I have a 1500 foot underground feed back to the house I would like to hear if anyone has done this and what were the issues to watch for. Here in NZ streams change level very fast summer or winter. I am pla

[RE-wrenches] Security hardware

2008-10-01 Thread Hans Frederickson
After reading this article: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/24/technology/24solar.html?_r=2&oref=slogin&o ref=slogin I was reminded to look into offering security options to customers with particularly accessible arrays. Unirac offers starhead bolts with breakaway nuts: http://www.unirac.com/pdf/i

Re: [RE-wrenches] Micro Hydro control

2008-10-01 Thread jay peltz
HI Carl, I recommend you contact Derik at highpowerhydro.com He has done many of these systems. The main issues are pressure, number of nozzles, type/manufacturer of turbine and voltage to determine the voltage of the valve. Good luck, jay peltz power On Oct 1, 2008, at 1:04 PM, Carl Emer

Re: [RE-wrenches] Security hardware

2008-10-01 Thread Jeff Yago
We also use the UniRac star head bolts and break-away nuts for any ground mounted array in an area that appears to be a higher risk. Since they are a little pricey, we use two per module located at diagonal corners which should discourage most potential thieves. We do not see the need to engrav

Re: [RE-wrenches] Security hardware

2008-10-01 Thread R. Walters
We've found it was pretty easy to get those security bolts off, when we lost the little adapter tool. One of my guys had the security hardware off in minutes with a Leatherman. Another option is to use 1/4 inch stainless rivets. They're a bitch to drill out, but they need more exact hole sizi