YouTube of the day

**bill_bly_ca** · 05-25-2022, 06:48 AM

Originally Posted by KeyWestPirate

Do you remember those cute British sports cars of the 60's and early 70's.

Their wiring was garbage too

I had a Sunbeam,, circa 1968 or so,, a V-8 that barely fit into the engine compartment,
To change the two rear most spark plugs,, you had to pull the engine.

I gave it to my younger brother. I don't think that he's ever forgiven me for it.

Up here it was the Triumph series TR6 and TR 8

The techie punch line to British engineering and electronics..

Q: Why did the British never break into the chip and Microprocessor industry?
A: Because no matter how hard they tried the could not make them leak oil....

**bill_bly_ca** · 05-26-2022, 06:37 AM

Here is a little ditty from a plumbing company that just bought an e-transif for their fleet. Costs $10Kish more but uses almost a hundred dollars less a week in fuel. That would put a break even point at around 2 years over a gas version. This is more in line of the pricing necessary to really make electric stick.

**bill_bly_ca** · 05-27-2022, 06:45 AM

So another from Young Will

If I understand correctly you are seeing less than 20K setup for a transparent to grid Solar system. 6K for inverter Charger - 10K for batteries, and put 4K of panels on top of that.

**KeyWestPirate** · 05-27-2022, 07:10 AM

I'm surprised that he doesn't dress his wiring a bit more neatly.

**Little Corn Tom** · 05-27-2022, 11:47 AM

It is just so difficult to justify $10,000 in batteries when a $1,000 dual fuel generator would do the job.....not as sexy but is functional.

**billbudsocket** · 05-27-2022, 12:38 PM

Originally Posted by Little Corn Tom

It is just so difficult to justify $10,000 in batteries when a $1,000 dual fuel generator would do the job.....not as sexy but is functional.

so... run a generator everyday? For how many hours?

**Little Corn Tom** · 05-27-2022, 03:11 PM

I see what you mean but in reality almost everyone has a connected utility option. Almost no one is totally isolated from standard utilities.

At least in southern climates, the big electric load is during the day (AC) and not so much at night, so make hay (or electric) while the sun shines

Obviously everyone needs to make their decisions based on their particular situation and alternative costs.

**billbudsocket** · 05-27-2022, 08:03 PM

I guess I figured we were talking about 100% off grid situation... if you have the grid then why bother with a solar situation? A UPS for a couple hours grid down and a generator and some gas cans make more sense for the odd hurricane or whatever.

**Little Corn Tom** · 05-28-2022, 07:41 AM

Well, obviously the reasons to make or buy power are complicated and it is more than an availability issue.
Other issues include power cost, quality, availability, usage, quantity, etc. Hidden costs like damage to motors from low voltages, damaged electronics from high voltages and transient voltage (spikes) damage to everything need to be accounted for as well.
It is not a simple calculation.
I have found that for most people in the US, solar power is not justifiable on a strictly monetary basis. Most people that get it simply want it. It makes them feel good by saving the planet, and obviously makes them superior to their friends....lol. So then their friends get it and so on. Here in the US, we call these people Democrats.
My reasons for adding SOME solar to my house are simple....I enjoy the technical challenge (I am an engineer) and I think it would be a fun project. There is no way that I can justify it on an economic basis here in the US with good, reliable, and cheap power available. But, like those Democrats, I just want it. :-)

**bill_bly_ca** · 05-28-2022, 07:09 PM

Doug reviews the Nissan Z

**bill_bly_ca** · 05-29-2022, 08:44 AM

Cowboy Kent rebuilds his Chuck waggon that is almost 150yrs old.

**bill_bly_ca** · 05-30-2022, 08:25 AM

Mustie fixes up a nice old Celica

**bill_bly_ca** · 05-31-2022, 10:21 AM

Starlink for RV has started to roll out.

Maybe pick one up next winter to move between the island and the house in Masaya - But only if the honeycomb patterns start to extend over the isthmus.

Update - Hovering the mouse over Nicaragua on the Starlink site produces an "Available in 2023" pop up.

And additionally hovering over Panama states Q4 22 and Columbia Q2 22 Brazil Q1 23 - Maduro-ville
is excluded from the party :-)

**bill_bly_ca** · 06-01-2022, 08:07 AM

Bike from California to Nicaragua guy is making progress on his farm.

I follow him on Instagram and surprisingly he followed me back - Liking my wood butchered front porch railing with Canadian, Nicaraguan and Dutch flags..

**bill_bly_ca** · 06-02-2022, 07:50 AM

Some fellows that bought the Japanese flagship car, Toyota Century.

A Japanese co-worker and I always made fun that we would both end up as limo drivers in our respective retirements in our respective countries. I sat in one of these cars in the Toyota museum in Tokyo about 10 yrs ago - They just oooooze quality with every click, turn and close of door.