DaveH - Member - The Prepared

Reply to: Solar power options for a home Posted April 29, 2022

I’ve been working for an east coast solar company for almost two years. A pandemic re-direct of sorts. I started as an installer, but my experience and age got me out of the field rather quickly and into operations and now sales and design. I would find a reputable installer in your area. We’re part of a co-op and would recommend any of the companies in this link. Just click on Oregon. https://www.amicussolar.com/our-member-owners/ Most every residential system is designed and installed as grid-tied because it helps offset your utility bill by sending electric back to the grid when you’re overproducing, the grid is your battery. When a system is grid tied and without battery storage, the solar goes through a rapid shut down so that it doesn’t backfeed the grid. With battery storage there is additional hardware that prevents this and you’re able to keep solar running and charging the batteries in a power outage. Indefinitely if sized right and your loads are manageable. Look up cases in Texas deep freeze and just recently in Puerto Rico. There are plenty of off grid and diy battery systems, but the big names like Tesla Powerwall, Generac, and Enphase all have batteries that work with grid tied systems and continue to operate in a power outage. Enphase has a new and somewhat untested technology called Sunlight Backup. It’s all the extra hardware that goes with a battery without the battery. It allows the solar panels to function and feed the house when the grid is down but the sun is up. No other system has this. But know that it’s only a few circuits with a low maximum amperage. And if a cloud comes out, everything might shut off. If a battery depletes fully overnight and the grid is down, enphase is the only system that can black start in the morning. The others will have to wait until the grid is back. Also, good luck getting a Powerwall. They are so backordered we don’t even sell them anymore and we have very unhappy customers that order them at the end of 2020 and still don’t have them. The tax credit for solar is still a decent 26%, set for 22% next year and 0 after that. I like to tell people that they’re locking in your utility rates now for the next 25 to 30 years. If you could do that with gas or food you surely would. And as long as battery storage is solar powered it’s also got the same tax credit. Here’s a website that compiles all the incentives. https://www.dsireusa.org

Reply to: No, 73% of US COVID-19 cases aren’t Omicron yet: how the press got it wrong Posted December 28, 2021

Ari, Thanks for posting this, here’s the latest: https://twitter.com/davidalim/status/1475844235991552002

Reply to: My portable generator setup Posted December 17, 2021

Thanks for sharing. Very similar to what I’ve done. Wanted to let others know that instead of installing a sub panel, your electrician can add a breaker tie in with a generator interlock kit. I chose this option because it costs less and gives me greater flexibility about what to back up. I’m not limited to choosing circuits. The downside is that I need to know what my consumption is and it’s possible that if I weren’t careful I would overload the generator. Every circuit should be flipped off, then the critical loads back on as needed until you max out your power limit.

Reply to: Liquid fuel vs. propane bottles for lanterns and cook stoves Posted September 28, 2021

And one more thought. I’ve found white gas stoves to be more finicky, they take a little practice to figure out pressuring the fuel bottle, getting the starter flame going, using when it’s really cold, etc.

Reply to: Liquid fuel vs. propane bottles for lanterns and cook stoves Posted September 28, 2021

Didn’t realize it was that long, I thought I read two years somewhere. Maybe that was for opened containers.

Reply to: Liquid fuel vs. propane bottles for lanterns and cook stoves Posted September 28, 2021

Bob, yes I think I would rather evacuate with a smaller and more portable container. I guess I haven’t thought about it much, but if I were leaving my home in my vehicle after a disaster I’d probably bring a 20lb tank. In my area, on foot, I’d bring a good fire starter. I keep two one pound tanks in my camp kitchen bin. Another bin on the shelf with more one pounders in addition to the big tanks. It’s always good to have options

Reply to: Liquid fuel vs. propane bottles for lanterns and cook stoves Posted September 28, 2021

Hey Waldog, Echoing Hikermor here: I like white gas for the energy density and portability when backpacking, but I’d rather spend a bit more to have a fuel source that stores much longer without degrading and is safer to use. Coleman lanterns and small stoves can be hooked up to larger propane tanks with the “tree adapter”. Pretty sure that would get you much closer to the cost per gallon of liquid fuel. A single 20 pound grill tank would be all I needed for most emergencies.While I still love the propane lantern for its nostalgia, my go to for power outages has been a Milwaukee tools led lantern. Expensive, but it’s at least 5 years old and still works like new and the batteries can be charged with a car adapter charger, small solar or inverter generator. And it has a USB port to charge devices. Oh, and the mantles on my Coleman are at least 8 years old, surprised they’ve lasted this long.

Reply to: Anyone have any experience with heated clothing? Posted August 30, 2021

I have a Milwaukee Tools heated vest. The main advantage is being able to wear less bulky layers while working. It has three heat settings and one battery will last me about half a day. I use their tools too, so in an emergency I would have a few extra batteries. You could also use the car charger to recharge batteries if grid down. I love it, sized down so that the vest is a little snug. The larger size didn’t feel as warm.

Reply to: FDA keeps changing KN95 guidelines, so stick to N95s or cloth masks Posted February 5, 2021

Thanks Josh

Reply to: FDA keeps changing KN95 guidelines, so stick to N95s or cloth masks Posted January 26, 2021

Josh, Any chance we could get an update on masks soon? The recent news about more contagious mutations has prompted me to do some mask shopping and after getting confused and frustrated I thought I’d check back in on my favorite review site, The Prepared. Have you learned anything about kn95 since this article? Can we expect manufacturers to deliver p100 or n95 masks any time soon? Thanks very much.

Reply to: What are some valuable tools to have on hand? Posted January 20, 2021

Yep, The heater still requires a propane tank, but the battery runs a small fan on it. Dewalt is the only one I’ve seen like that. It’s similar to a Mr Heater. Milwaukee small blowers are the greatest bellows ever made for getting a wet fire going. They even have a great little chain saw. Forgot to mention that the Milwaukee 12v lineup also includes an air compressor and battery heated jackets. Last note, you can look on YouTube for a DIY system to charge the cordless batteries with a single solar panel for extended use.

Reply to: What are some valuable tools to have on hand? Posted January 20, 2021

Hi Olly, Another thought about cordless tools. I’ve been using the Milwaukee brand, but other brands have similar accessories. As you think about Shelter, Power, Light, comms; cordless tool systems have accessories like fans, work lights, radios, usb chargers, etc. Milwaukee even came out with an inverter device for 110v. The also have fluid transfer pumps, I think one company makes a small heater and another a coffee maker. So, in a short term outage, with no repairs to make, you might be able to cool off the house, work on your laptop, charge your phone, light the dinner table and listen to the news, or more.