Re: [MBZ] OT: Practical solar application

> Andrew wrote: > > There is no heat requirement. I use low wattage (?) > seedling heat pads... A heating pad is a heater. > ... that draw almost no current. "almost no current" when there is 115 VAC in the wall outlet is not the same as battery power! > Typically these: >

Re: [MBZ] OT: Practical solar application

Rick Knoble via Mercedes wrote: ‎Philip writes: A quick look at Amazon for prices results in almost $500 to >run two heat pads. Which is why, without subsidies, solar makes NO economic sense. Medium-large name brand home panels can be had for under $1 per rated watt. So figure $0.20-0.25

Re: [MBZ] OT: Practical solar application

All you really need are a couple of group 49 or 93 batteries, a battery charger and a cheap inverter. Every morning and evening, put a freshly charged battery in the shed and take the other one to the house and put it on the charger. Consider it free exercise carrying 50lb batteries around.

Re: [MBZ] OT: Practical solar application

‎Philip writes: >A quick look at Amazon for >prices results in almost $500 to >run two heat pads. Which is why, without subsidies, solar makes NO economic sense.  ‎ Rick  Sent from my BlackBerry Z10    ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives

Re: [MBZ] OT: Practical solar application

"Tulip poplar" as you know is a misnomer for Liriodendron, a member of the magnolia family. Fast growing but basically useless tree except for shade; has a love affair with lightning due to high H20 content. On Tue, Sep 8, 2015 at 2:18 PM, Randy Bennell via Mercedes < mercedes@okiebenz.com>

Re: [MBZ] OT: Practical solar application

Yup, what is it? Occam's razor or something similar - use the simplest solution? On Tue, Sep 8, 2015 at 1:18 PM, Randy Bennell via Mercedes < mercedes@okiebenz.com> wrote: > On 08/09/2015 8:22 AM, Andrew Strasfogel via Mercedes wrote: > >> Thanks for the insights. Looks like I may simply run an

Re: [MBZ] OT: Practical solar application

Thanks for the insights. Looks like I may simply run an extension cord across the back 40 to the shed for the 2 week incubation period.. On Tue, Sep 8, 2015 at 8:01 AM, Mitch Haley via Mercedes < mercedes@okiebenz.com> wrote: > Rick Knoble via Mercedes wrote: > >> ‎Philip writes: >> >> A quick

Re: [MBZ] OT: Practical solar application

<astrasfo...@gmail.com> To: Curt Raymond <curtlud...@yahoo.com>; Mercedes Discussion List <mercedes@okiebenz.com> Sent: Tuesday, September 8, 2015 1:21 PM Subject: Re: [MBZ] OT: Practical solar application Is ash categorized as a hard or soft wood for wood heat purp

Re: [MBZ] OT: Practical solar application

From: Andrew Strasfogel <astrasfo...@gmail.com> > To: Curt Raymond <curtlud...@yahoo.com>; Mercedes Discussion List < > mercedes@okiebenz.com> > Sent: Tuesday, September 8, 2015 1:21 PM > Subject: Re: [MBZ] OT: Practical solar application > > Is ash categorize

Re: [MBZ] OT: Practical solar application

the house, should drive down our oil and wood bill seriously. -Curt From: Jim Cathey via Mercedes <mercedes@okiebenz.com> To: Mercedes Discussion List <mercedes@okiebenz.com> Cc: Jim Cathey <jim.cathey...@gmail.com> Sent: Tuesday, September 8, 2015 12:19 PM Subject: Re: [

Re: [MBZ] OT: Practical solar application

se, > should drive down our oil and wood bill seriously. > -Curt > From: Jim Cathey via Mercedes <mercedes@okiebenz.com> > To: Mercedes Discussion List <mercedes@okiebenz.com> > Cc: Jim Cathey <jim.cathey...@gmail.com> > Sent: Tuesday, September 8, 2015 12:19 PM &g

Re: [MBZ] OT: Practical solar application

aymond <curtlud...@yahoo.com>; Mercedes Discussion List <mercedes@okiebenz.com> Sent: Tuesday, September 8, 2015 1:45 PM Subject: Re: [MBZ] OT: Practical solar application OSB?? Does ash split easily?  IIRC black locust is numero uno in heat value but extremely tough to spl

Re: [MBZ] OT: Practical solar application

On 08/09/2015 8:22 AM, Andrew Strasfogel via Mercedes wrote: Thanks for the insights. Looks like I may simply run an extension cord across the back 40 to the shed for the 2 week incubation period.. BINGO! WE HAVE A WINNER! RB ___ http://www.okiebenz.com

Re: [MBZ] OT: Practical solar application

I guess I would be. All it does is raise the temperature at the base of the seedling flats to about 80 degrees. On Sep 8, 2015 12:12 AM, "OK Don via Mercedes" wrote: > Plug one into a Kill-a-watt and measure the current it uses. I think you'll > be surprised. > > On Mon,

Re: [MBZ] OT: Practical solar application

There is no heat requirement. I use low wattage (?) seedling heat pads that draw almost no current. Typically these: http://www.amazon.com/Hydrofarm-MT10006--19-1-2-Inch-Seedling/dp/B0001WV010/ref=sr_1_1/187-6656968-8374561?ie=UTF8=1441681761=8-1=seed+heat+pad On Sun, Sep 6, 2015 at 10:18 PM,

Re: [MBZ] OT: Practical solar application

Plug one into a Kill-a-watt and measure the current it uses. I think you'll be surprised. On Mon, Sep 7, 2015 at 10:10 PM, Andrew Strasfogel via Mercedes < mercedes@okiebenz.com> wrote: > There is no heat requirement. I use low wattage (?) seedling heat pads > that draw almost no current.

Re: [MBZ] OT: Practical solar application

If you want to go solar...I just did a solar install on the motor home. I put 2 100W panels on the roof, an MPPT controller (so I could wire the panels in series and have the wiring handle the higher voltage more efficiently) and 2 Group 27 deep cycle batteries wired in parallel. The system works

Re: [MBZ] OT: Practical solar application

My bad. I'm guessing that is because of heating issues which would be minimal outside, but I get it. I might even have known that at some point. The single wire stuff is tmmw or something like that, it has a higher temp rated insulation. --R (sent from my miniPad) On Sep 3, 2015, at 6:25

Re: [MBZ] OT: Practical solar application

> On September 4, 2015 at 12:27 AM Andrew Strasfogel via Mercedes > wrote: > > > We don't have glacial till (tilth is a term referring to the tillable > quality of the soil) around here but rocks and roots are plentiful. Using the vibrating blade on a Ditch Witch,

Re: [MBZ] OT: Practical solar application

I had a final plumbing and gas line inspection yesterday, the inspector is a cool guy I like, he sorta looked at it for about 10 seconds and signed off, we chatted for another half hour and he recommended I do the rest of the work in the house without telling anyone about it. Turns out he

Re: [MBZ] OT: Practical solar application

Thanks - that helps. I wonder why there is no simple kit that goes from PV to 110 V without all the interconnecting parapernalia, battery, inverters, etc. Because unlike a politician's promise, the 'kit' purchaser would expect results and would be mightily pissed when the simple kit didn't

Re: [MBZ] OT: Practical solar application

> > On Thu, 3 Sep 2015 15:46:18 -0400 Andrew Strasfogel via > > Mercedes wrote: > > > Thanks - that helps. I wonder why there is no simple kit > > that goes from PV to 110 V without all the > > interconnecting parapernalia, battery, inverters, etc. > Craig wrote: > >

Re: [MBZ] OT: Practical solar application

There are plenty of solar power kits, for example: http://www.homedepot.com/p/Grape-Solar-400-Watt-Off-Grid-Solar-Panel-Kit-GS- 400-KIT/203505963 Just Google: "110v solar power kit for shed" But they aren't cheap if you get a useful capacity and they won't last near as long as a buried cable.

Re: [MBZ] OT: Practical solar application

I have been thinking about something similar for a shed I want to build. Harbor Freight has some fairly cheap solar panels of not particularly high wattage, that would be cheap enough to do a test set up. Buy one, hook it to a battery/inverter (I think they might come with a 12V battery

Re: [MBZ] OT: Practical solar application

60' uphill. :( On Thu, Sep 3, 2015 at 2:45 PM, Dan Penoff via Mercedes < mercedes@okiebenz.com> wrote: > What happened to renting a DitchWitch and buying a spool of direct burial > cable? How many feet is the run between the house and shed? > > > > > On Sep 3, 2015, at 2:40 PM, Andrew

Re: [MBZ] OT: Practical solar application

So you start at the top? Dan > On Sep 3, 2015, at 2:54 PM, Andrew Strasfogel wrote: > > 60' uphill. :( > > On Thu, Sep 3, 2015 at 2:45 PM, Dan Penoff via Mercedes > > wrote: > What happened to renting a DitchWitch

Re: [MBZ] OT: Practical solar application

Just use direct burial stuff. Then you don’t have to mess around with conduit. Dan > On Sep 3, 2015, at 3:03 PM, clay via Mercedes wrote: > > Dig the thing downhill. Lay some flex conduit and stuff a pair of romex > inside. > > > > On Sep 3, 2015, at 11:54 AM,

Re: [MBZ] OT: Practical solar application

On 03/09/2015 12:11 PM, Andrew Strasfogel via Mercedes wrote: I would like to electrify my shed in the back 40 in order to provide 1) simple overhead lighting and 2) a 110V outlet for grow mats under my seedlings next spring. I might also want to recharge batteries for a B trimmer, although

Re: [MBZ] OT: Practical solar application

Extension cord from the house to the shed would be vetoed immediately by SWMBO. On Thu, Sep 3, 2015 at 3:46 PM, Andrew Strasfogel wrote: > Thanks - that helps. I wonder why there is no simple kit that goes from > PV to 110 V without all the interconnecting parapernalia,

Re: [MBZ] OT: Practical solar application

What happened to renting a DitchWitch and buying a spool of direct burial cable? How many feet is the run between the house and shed? > On Sep 3, 2015, at 2:40 PM, Andrew Strasfogel via Mercedes > wrote: > > Thanks, Rich. The house and shed are too far apart to run

Re: [MBZ] OT: Practical solar application

Dig the thing downhill. Lay some flex conduit and stuff a pair of romex inside. On Sep 3, 2015, at 11:54 AM, Andrew Strasfogel via Mercedes wrote: > 60' uphill. :( > > On Thu, Sep 3, 2015 at 2:45 PM, Dan Penoff via Mercedes < > mercedes@okiebenz.com> wrote: > >> What happened to renting a

Re: [MBZ] OT: Practical solar application

True. It’s against code to run phone with power, or any other signal wiring, I believe. Not to mention you risk inducing a voltage into it, which can wreak all kinds of havoc. Dan > On Sep 3, 2015, at 3:29 PM, Rich Thomas via Mercedes > wrote: > > Then it is easier

Re: [MBZ] OT: Practical solar application

Thanks, Rich. The house and shed are too far apart to run a 110 V line (got a quote for $2000 from a licensed electrician, half of which was for digging a deep trench). I am still puzzled at how to plug in my heat mats into a solar setup. Send me some links plesae. On Thu, Sep 3, 2015 at 1:57

Re: [MBZ] OT: Practical solar application

Then it is easier to put a shovel through too! 1" PVC conduit is cheap and no harder to bury than romex, plus you can run a phone line or something else in it too if you want. --R On 9/3/15 3:08 PM, Dan Penoff via Mercedes wrote: Just use direct burial stuff. Then you don’t have to mess

Re: [MBZ] OT: Practical solar application

> Andrew wrote: > > I am still puzzled at how to plug in my heat mats into a > solar setup. A solar panel will generate direct current (DC). A power cell - and therefore a battery - can only store DC. If you need alternating current (AC), then a converter is needed. It is called an "inverter".

Re: [MBZ] OT: Practical solar application

Thanks - that helps. I wonder why there is no simple kit that goes from PV to 110 V without all the interconnecting parapernalia, battery, inverters, etc. On Thu, Sep 3, 2015 at 3:46 PM, fmiser via Mercedes wrote: > > Andrew wrote: > > > > I am still puzzled at how to

Re: [MBZ] OT: Practical solar application

2015 1:57 PM Subject: Re: [MBZ] OT: Practical solar application I have been thinking about something similar for a shed I want to build.  Harbor Freight has some fairly cheap solar panels of not particularly high wattage, that would be cheap enough to do a test set up.  Buy one, hook it

Re: [MBZ] OT: Practical solar application

60' uphill. :( Easy! all you need is a trenching spade, an afternoon, and a 100' roll of #12 UF wire. (12-2 with ground) (oh, and a spare breaker space in the panel) ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives

Re: [MBZ] OT: Practical solar application

; Sent: Thursday, September 3, 2015 2:54 PM Subject: Re: [MBZ] OT: Practical solar application 60' uphill.  :( On Thu, Sep 3, 2015 at 2:45 PM, Dan Penoff via Mercedes < mercedes@okiebenz.com> wrote: > What happened to renting a DitchWitch and buying a spool of direct burial > cable?  Ho

Re: [MBZ] OT: Practical solar application

Go and buy a 100 foot power cord. Minimum 12/3. I saw one in a flyer this morning for $50 here and you can likely get it there for less. That should be sufficient for your heating mats unless you are using a lot of them. Don't expect any code issues if you just plug it in at the house and at

Re: [MBZ] OT: Practical solar application

> Rich wrote: > > 1" PVC conduit is cheap and no harder to bury than romex, > plus you can run a phone line or something else in it too > if you want. PLEASE not in the same conduit! NEC (National Electric Code) won't allow it - because it's not very safe.

Re: [MBZ] OT: Practical solar application

There probably is if you look around. It won’t be cheap, however. Doing it yourself is really pretty easy. As previously described, you only need three things: PV panel 12V battery Inverter (DC to AC) Work backwards by calculating your load. If you’ve got 100W of 110VAC load, you’ll need

Re: [MBZ] OT: Practical solar application

Inrush current. Fred Moir.Lynn MA.Diesel preferred. > Date: Thu, 3 Sep 2015 15:46:18 -0400 > To: mercedes@okiebenz.com > Subject: Re: [MBZ] OT: Practical solar application > From: mercedes@okiebenz.com > CC: astrasfo...@gmail.com; fmi...@gmail.com > > Thanks - that

Re: [MBZ] OT: Practical solar application

How long is it going to be in use? I assumed that your seedling warming is only for a short time. Why would she object to the use of a cord for such a short term purpose? RB On 03/09/2015 2:47 PM, Andrew Strasfogel via Mercedes wrote: Extension cord from the house to the shed would be vetoed

Re: [MBZ] OT: Practical solar application

> WILTON wrote: > > Buried mine for about 120' to outbuilding (a little more > than a shed - a shed doesn't usually have a slate roof) 27 > years ago all by myself using a flat shovel to make a slit > about 10" deep. 10 inches [25 cm] is not really deep enough to be safe. A child and a shovel,

Re: [MBZ] OT: Practical solar application

> > Andrew wrote: > > > > 60' uphill. :( > Curly wrote: > > Easy! all you need is a trenching spade, an afternoon, and > a 100' roll of #12 UF wire. (12-2 with ground) 60ft? One afternoon? That sounds like Iowa. *smiles* Around here, there is so much rock and clay that it took me and a

Re: [MBZ] OT: Practical solar application

t;astrasfo...@gmail.com> Sent: Thursday, September 03, 2015 2:54 PM Subject: Re: [MBZ] OT: Practical solar application 60' uphill. :( On Thu, Sep 3, 2015 at 2:45 PM, Dan Penoff via Mercedes < mercedes@okiebenz.com> wrote: What happened to renting a DitchWitch and buying a spoo

Re: [MBZ] OT: Practical solar application

ail.com> Sent: Thursday, September 03, 2015 3:47 PM Subject: Re: [MBZ] OT: Practical solar application Extension cord from the house to the shed would be vetoed immediately by SWMBO. On Thu, Sep 3, 2015 at 3:46 PM, Andrew Strasfogel <astrasfo...@gmail.com> wrote: Thanks - that helps.

Re: [MBZ] OT: Practical solar application

Agreed. +1 but, I'd suggest a trenching spade in place of a shovel. Makes quicker work of it. Also, I've been told that you cant run type NM ("romex") in a conduit as it is against code. Makes no sense to me, but you have to use the "pulling type" (I forget the type) single wires in

Re: [MBZ] OT: Practical solar application

Electrical code book does NOT permit running Romex wire inside conduit. Thus, you should not. I suggest you rent a walk behind engine driven trencher. With reasonable soil, you can trench 100 ft in 1 hr of run time to a depth of 18 inches. Then lay "Direct burial Romex wire" into the trench.

Re: [MBZ] OT: Practical solar application

for solar: Much simpler to use a PV panel to generate, one or more 12V batteries to store, and 12vDC lighting and heater units. No inverter needed unless you want to run a corded drill. a century ago, the Delco light plant worked in a similar manner. A generator, generating DC, batteries,

Re: [MBZ] OT: Practical solar application

> > > Rich wrote: > > > > > > 1" PVC conduit is cheap and no harder to bury than romex, > > > plus you can run a phone line or something else in it > > > too if you want. > > PLEASE not in the same conduit! > > > > NEC (National Electric Code) won't allow it - because it's > > not very safe. >

Re: [MBZ] OT: Practical solar application

- Original Message - From: "Rich Thomas via Mercedes" <mercedes@okiebenz.com> To: <mercedes@okiebenz.com> Cc: "Rich Thomas" <richthomas79td...@constructivity.net> Sent: Thursday, September 03, 2015 5:25 PM Subject: Re: [MBZ] OT: Practical solar

Re: [MBZ] OT: Practical solar application

--- From: "fmiser via Mercedes" < > mercedes@okiebenz.com> > To: <mercedes@okiebenz.com> > Cc: "fmiser" <fmi...@gmail.com> > Sent: Thursday, September 03, 2015 9:02 PM > Subject: Re: [MBZ] OT: Practical solar application > > > WILTON wrot

Re: [MBZ] OT: Practical solar application

; > Cc: Dan Penoff <d...@penoff.com> > Subject: Re: [MBZ] OT: Practical solar application > > What happened to renting a DitchWitch and buying a spool of direct burial > cable? How many feet is the run between the house and shed? > > > > > On Sep 3, 201

Re: [MBZ] OT: Practical solar application

Dad just installed a 100w solar system at camp. Bought a kit from Amazon plus a couple electric wheelchair batteries. I think the single panel is too small but he didn't want to spend too much money. How much power do the grow mats pull? Can't be too much, I still think a 100w panel would be

Re: [MBZ] OT: Practical solar application

Andrew, google the word "shovel" I have relocated my water line, dug up my buried power line, relocated my buried phone line (OK my wife did that because she wanted to do something useful outside) using a shovel. It is ancient technology. you only have to go down a little ways and bury some

Re: [MBZ] OT: Practical solar application

120 V in a residential application is 12" http://www.irrigation.org/uploadedFiles/Certification/National%20Electric%20Code.pdf Scroll down to the first table. 18" for commercial in plastic conduit. 24" commercial without conduit. 6" residential for low voltage > WILTON wrote: Buried

Re: [MBZ] OT: Practical solar application

On Thu, 3 Sep 2015 22:45:42 -0400 Rich Thomas via Mercedes wrote: > The single wire stuff is tmmw or something like that, it has a higher > temp rated insulation. THHN Craig ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives

Re: [MBZ] OT: Practical solar application

Yep. Wilton - Original Message - From: "fmiser via Mercedes" <mercedes@okiebenz.com> To: <mercedes@okiebenz.com> Cc: "fmiser" <fmi...@gmail.com> Sent: Thursday, September 03, 2015 9:02 PM Subject: Re: [MBZ] OT: Practical solar application WI

Re: [MBZ] OT: Practical solar application

3, 2015 7:28 PM Subject: Re: [MBZ] OT: Practical solar application > > Andrew wrote: > > > > 60' uphill.  :( > Curly wrote: > > Easy!  all you need is a trenching spade, an afternoon, and > a 100' roll of  #12 UF wire.  (12-2 with ground) 60ft?  One afternoon?  T

Re: [MBZ] OT: Practical solar application

rcedes Discussion List <mercedes@okiebenz.com> Cc: Curly McLain <126die...@gmail.com> Sent: Thursday, September 3, 2015 9:12 PM Subject: Re: [MBZ] OT: Practical solar application 120 V in a residential application is 12" http://www.irrigation.org/uploadedFiles/Certificat

Re: [MBZ] OT: Practical solar application

My bad. I'm guessing that is because of heating issues which would be minimal outside, but I get it. I might even have known that at some point. The single wire stuff is tmmw or something like that, it has a higher temp rated insulation. --R (sent from my miniPad) > On Sep 3, 2015, at 6:25

Re: [MBZ] OT: Practical solar application

On Thu, 3 Sep 2015 20:12:34 -0500 Curly McLain via Mercedes wrote: > 120 V in a residential application is 12" > > http://www.irrigation.org/uploadedFiles/Certification/National%20Electric%20Code.pdf > Scroll down to the first table. Yes, that is correct! But you do need

Re: [MBZ] OT: Practical solar application

On Thu, 3 Sep 2015 15:46:18 -0400 Andrew Strasfogel via Mercedes wrote: > Thanks - that helps. I wonder why there is no simple kit that goes > from PV to 110 V without all the interconnecting parapernalia, battery, > inverters, etc. Because it cannot be done without all