Comments for WattHackers | Save Power | Go Solar | Live Green http://www.watthackers.com/wp Watt Hackers is all things energy. How to produce it, how to reduce it. Wed, 08 Sep 2010 19:43:18 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 Comment on Understanding the True Cost of Installing Solar Panels by Ron http://www.watthackers.com/wp/understanding-the-true-cost-of-installing-solar-panels-in-2008/comment-page-1/#comment-638 Ron Wed, 08 Sep 2010 19:43:18 +0000 http://www.watthackers.com/wp/?p=24#comment-638 This is one of the best discussions on this subject I have seen-very thoughtful. There are a few considerations that do not seem to be covered, however. 1) what is the effective lifetime and failure rate of solar panels? Does the output diminish with time due to aging over to 20-year life? 2) Can you really recoup your investment if you sell the house? Many buyers may be turned off by the appearance of the panels or the "techiness" of the system. This may greatly diminish the size of the pool of potential buyers. 3) Is it really fair to count all the subsidies and credits? They don't make the system any more cost-effective; it's just that someone else is picking up part of the check. How can this be sustained? True enough that subsidies might be needed to encourage R&D and growth of new technologies, but it is really artificial accounting. This is one of the best discussions on this subject I have seen-very thoughtful. There are a few considerations that do not seem to be covered, however.
1) what is the effective lifetime and failure rate of solar panels? Does the output diminish with time due to aging over to 20-year life? 2) Can you really recoup your investment if you sell the house? Many buyers may be turned off by the appearance of the panels or the "techiness" of the system. This may greatly diminish the size of the pool of potential buyers.
3) Is it really fair to count all the subsidies and credits? They don't make the system any more cost-effective; it's just that someone else is picking up part of the check. How can this be sustained?

True enough that subsidies might be needed to encourage R&D and growth of new technologies, but it is really artificial accounting.

]]> Comment on Installing Dusk to Dawn Photocell in Exterior Lighting to Save Power by wm. chapman http://www.watthackers.com/wp/installing-dusk-to-dawn-photocell-in-exterior-lighting-to-save-power/comment-page-1/#comment-637 wm. chapman Tue, 07 Sep 2010 17:19:16 +0000 http://www.watthackers.com/wp/?p=39#comment-637 I have a porch light just outside my kitchen door in which I was using one of these power-saving bulbs - you know the type - a little florescent tube wound in a tight spiral. I tried installing a small photocell much like is pictured above - and when I finished and tested - it blew! I got another one, thinking the 1st was bad, tried it and blew it also. I changed to an ordinary incandescent bulb and now it works. Do the power-savers have some kind of inductive kickback that destroys photocells? I have a porch light just outside my kitchen door in which I was using one of these power-saving bulbs – you know the type – a little florescent tube wound in a tight spiral. I tried installing a small photocell much like is pictured above – and when I finished and tested – it blew! I got another one, thinking the 1st was bad, tried it and blew it also. I changed to an ordinary incandescent bulb and now it works. Do the power-savers have some kind of inductive kickback that destroys photocells?

]]> Comment on Understanding the True Cost of Installing Solar Panels by guest http://www.watthackers.com/wp/understanding-the-true-cost-of-installing-solar-panels-in-2008/comment-page-1/#comment-573 guest Fri, 11 Jun 2010 14:55:50 +0000 http://www.watthackers.com/wp/?p=24#comment-573 Nils: You hit the nail on the head. The expense. So, what we need to do is focus on encouraging and fostering building a reliable, competitive market of US made and installed solar energy sources for the general public. . We could help solve so many problems, by getting people back to work , and solve environmental and energy problems as well. And, don't forget to include better windows, and skylights. They help a lot! Want to cut a KW, install some skylights. Nils: You hit the nail on the head. The expense. So, what we need to do is focus on encouraging and fostering building a reliable, competitive market of US made and installed solar energy sources for the general public. . We could help solve so many problems, by getting people back to work , and solve environmental and energy problems as well. And, don't forget to include better windows, and skylights. They help a lot! Want to cut a KW, install some skylights.

]]> Comment on How to Eliminate Paper at Home by sblackb http://www.watthackers.com/wp/how-to-eliminate-paper-at-home/comment-page-1/#comment-559 sblackb Sun, 23 May 2010 14:17:46 +0000 http://www.watthackers.com/wp/?p=41#comment-559 Not really on scanning. The system I set up just works. Hardest part is finding the time to do the scanning and shredding when I fall behind. I like your share point idea. Please keep me posted on how that works. Not really on scanning. The system I set up just works. Hardest part is finding the time to do the scanning and shredding when I fall behind.

I like your share point idea. Please keep me posted on how that works.

]]> Comment on How to Eliminate Paper at Home by Bill http://www.watthackers.com/wp/how-to-eliminate-paper-at-home/comment-page-1/#comment-558 Bill Sat, 22 May 2010 17:33:03 +0000 http://www.watthackers.com/wp/?p=41#comment-558 Hi, I just googled this subject and found your article from 2008. Are you doing anything new these days? I am about to embark on this effort to eliminate paper files and piles from my home. I am looking at the Neat Scanners which seem pretty slick including the software which organizes. I am also considering doing a simple sharepoint install (I do it for a living) to organize things and keep them clickable. bill (at) losfitzpatricks (dot) com Thanks! Hi, I just googled this subject and found your article from 2008. Are you doing anything new these days? I am about to embark on this effort to eliminate paper files and piles from my home. I am looking at the Neat Scanners which seem pretty slick including the software which organizes. I am also considering doing a simple sharepoint install (I do it for a living) to organize things and keep them clickable. bill (at) losfitzpatricks (dot) com Thanks!

]]> Comment on Installing Dusk to Dawn Photocell in Exterior Lighting to Save Power by vince http://www.watthackers.com/wp/installing-dusk-to-dawn-photocell-in-exterior-lighting-to-save-power/comment-page-1/#comment-451 vince Thu, 18 Mar 2010 19:42:45 +0000 http://www.watthackers.com/wp/?p=39#comment-451 I am looking for a low voltage photo cell that I can use to control my address light fixture that is mounted over my garage door. Everyone I have found requires mounting in a box. Since this is the front of my house, I would prefer one that I can mount above the address light fixture without a box. Is anyone aware of a lv photocell that can be installed without a box? I am looking for a low voltage photo cell that I can use to control my address light fixture that is mounted over my garage door. Everyone I have found requires mounting in a box. Since this is the front of my house, I would prefer one that I can mount above the address light fixture without a box. Is anyone aware of a lv photocell that can be installed without a box?

]]> Comment on Understanding the True Cost of Installing Solar Panels by Valentine Luzell http://www.watthackers.com/wp/understanding-the-true-cost-of-installing-solar-panels-in-2008/comment-page-1/#comment-438 Valentine Luzell Sat, 13 Mar 2010 20:25:14 +0000 http://www.watthackers.com/wp/?p=24#comment-438 I stumbled onto your blog and read a few post. I like your style of writing. Keep up the good work I stumbled onto your blog and read a few post. I like your style of writing. Keep up the good work

]]> Comment on Installing Dusk to Dawn Photocell in Exterior Lighting to Save Power by sblackb http://www.watthackers.com/wp/installing-dusk-to-dawn-photocell-in-exterior-lighting-to-save-power/comment-page-1/#comment-437 sblackb Fri, 12 Mar 2010 01:38:37 +0000 http://www.watthackers.com/wp/?p=39#comment-437 Tom, You're not the first person to have made a similar comment. I installed mine in April of 2008 and it's still running strong, so maybe they had some bad quality control. Based on other's comments, I have posted several other dusk to dawn sensor options with my favorite being <a href="http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/B000NVBS20\?ie=UTF8&amp\;tag=wwwwatthacker-20&amp\;linkCode=as2&amp\;camp=1789&amp\;creative=390957&amp\;creativeASIN=B000NVBS20" target="_blank">Lumatrol A-Series Wire-In Photo Control (Dusk to Dawn) / 208-277 Volt / 1000 VA / A-1068</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=wwwwatthacker-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B000NVBS20" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" /> If you need a 240 volt version, try this article for more options: <a href="http://www.watthackers.com/wp/more-options-for-installing-dusk-to-dawn-lighting-sensors/" target="_blank">http://www.watthackers.com/wp/more-options-for-in...</a> Thanks for the feedback. Scott </img> Tom,

You're not the first person to have made a similar comment. I installed mine in April of 2008 and it's still running strong, so maybe they had some bad quality control. Based on other's comments, I have posted several other dusk to dawn sensor options with my favorite being

Lumatrol A-Series Wire-In Photo Control (Dusk to Dawn) / 208-277 Volt / 1000 VA / A-1068<img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=wwwwatthacker-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B000NVBS20" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" />

If you need a 240 volt version, try this article for more options: http://www.watthackers.com/wp/more-options-for-in...

Thanks for the feedback.

Scott

]]> Comment on Installing Dusk to Dawn Photocell in Exterior Lighting to Save Power by Tom http://www.watthackers.com/wp/installing-dusk-to-dawn-photocell-in-exterior-lighting-to-save-power/comment-page-1/#comment-433 Tom Thu, 11 Mar 2010 14:52:28 +0000 http://www.watthackers.com/wp/?p=39#comment-433 This Hampton Bay sensor is a piece of junk. I installed one, only to have it die when the light bulb blew. I installed another and when that light bulb burned out, it took the second one with it. This problem is not unique to me (<a href="http://www.bobvila.com/BBS/Dusk_to_Dawn-Lighting-1-F160.html)." target="_blank">http://www.bobvila.com/BBS/Dusk_to_Dawn-Lighting-...</a> Don't waste your time with this POS. This Hampton Bay sensor is a piece of junk. I installed one, only to have it die when the light bulb blew. I installed another and when that light bulb burned out, it took the second one with it. This problem is not unique to me (http://www.bobvila.com/BBS/Dusk_to_Dawn-Lighting-... Don't waste your time with this POS.

]]> Comment on Understanding the True Cost of Installing Solar Panels by Jim http://www.watthackers.com/wp/understanding-the-true-cost-of-installing-solar-panels-in-2008/comment-page-1/#comment-410 Jim Wed, 24 Feb 2010 03:48:16 +0000 http://www.watthackers.com/wp/?p=24#comment-410 Jim Do you have any videos of the class you teach? Jim

Do you have any videos of the class you teach?

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