Solar taking over the grid - Page 5

Robaroni · 01-03-15, 08:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frazelle09

"They're starting to use it in wind now to capture gusts and I have a couple of magazine articles coming out using supercaps in applications."

Please let us know when they come out so we can read them. Thanks and have a super afternoon!

Sure will, right now I'm not doing too many articles as I'm restoring the three tier tower clock in my village. I'll start another thread showing the clock, it's really neat!

Rob

oil pan 4 · 01-03-15, 11:35 AM

If any one up north is trapped in the "fuel oil or propane 4 heat" racquet. Get a pellet burner, even if you have to take out a loan (from an actual bank not a payday loan place).
If you actually take the money you save on fuel oil or propane and put it towards the loan you will likely pay it off after one full winter and less than one year of finance charges at a normal interest rate isn't squat.
I hate to say it but even putting it on a credit card would be a good idea.

Right now in just about every part of the country, fuel oil and propane are the #1 and #2 most expensive ways to heat your home.

ecomodded · 01-03-15, 04:04 PM

A geothermal heat pump would work well in those frozen Places , although you may need to go deeper.
Also the air source heat pumps work in cold weather to a point or with diminishing returns in the coldest weather. Either type would give you good bang for your buck in investment especially for those people with large heating costs.

Comparing different fuels Btu output x cost per would be a good way to pick your heating method.

SDMCF · 01-03-15, 05:16 PM

I considered a pellet burner but decided on a GSHP. The pellet burner was an attractive option which I eventually rejected because:
a) I wasn't sure how reliable the pellet delivery mechanism would be after a few years
b) I suspect pellet costs could rise significantly when there is a significant installed base
c) I would need a sizable storage area for the pellets. Pellets are light so a significant energy store would occupy a fair volume, and anyway to be viable I would need to have delivery by the lorry load
d) I understand there is a lot of dust involved in using pellets, particularly during deliveries
The GSHP was more expensive to buy but I think in the long term it was a better choice.

oil pan 4 · 01-03-15, 08:44 PM

Whats the power demand for the GSHP?

NeilBlanchard · 01-03-15, 09:35 PM

The challenge with pellet stoves is vacuuming out the ash - you have to do it regularly or it stops working well, and then not at all.

And even with sealed bags then covered by two (or more layers) of tarp, sometimes bags are spoiled by water.

oil pan 4 · 01-03-15, 11:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NeilBlanchard

The challenge with pellet stoves is vacuuming out the ash - you have to do it regularly or it stops working well, and then not at all.

Only a problem for lazy people.
If the pellet stove is going to save you $1500 to $2500 a year, you spend 10 minutes vacuuming it out every other day, that equates to 15 to 20 hours of work done over the course of the heating season.
Think of it as a job where you are making at least $75 an hour.

Quote:

Originally Posted by NeilBlanchard

And even with sealed bags then covered by two (or more layers) of tarp, sometimes bags are spoiled by water.

I asked my parents about this. They said no bags have been ruined by water this year but they had one or two bags go bad last year or maybe the year before when ice fell from the roof and hit the bags tearing them open. Then they got rained on.

SDMCF · 01-04-15, 02:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oil pan 4

Whats the power demand for the GSHP?

As an electrical ignoramus I would probably give you the wrong information if I tried to quote the manual, so here is a link to it: http://www.nibeonline.com/pdf/031094-6.pdf
The specifications are at the end of the manual, and our model is the one in the right hand column, headed 17.

oil pan 4 · 01-04-15, 02:43 AM

Looks like in cooling only mode (with out the immersion heater on) with the smaller unit its rated to draw up to 10 amps of 230 volt power.
So I am thinking 5 to 9 amps depending on the heat load.

SDMCF · 01-04-15, 04:53 AM

OK, if you say so, but what does that signifiy? Why did you want to know, and what conclusion do you reach now that you do know? As far as I am aware I don't need to worry about that - or even know about it. Am I missing something?

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01-03-15, 11:35 AM	#42
oil pan 4 Land owner Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: NM Posts: 1,026 Thanks: 12 Thanked 127 Times in 107 Posts	If any one up north is trapped in the "fuel oil or propane 4 heat" racquet. Get a pellet burner, even if you have to take out a loan (from an actual bank not a payday loan place). If you actually take the money you save on fuel oil or propane and put it towards the loan you will likely pay it off after one full winter and less than one year of finance charges at a normal interest rate isn't squat. I hate to say it but even putting it on a credit card would be a good idea. Right now in just about every part of the country, fuel oil and propane are the #1 and #2 most expensive ways to heat your home.

01-03-15, 04:04 PM	#43
ecomodded Supreme EcoRenovator Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Vancouver Island,Canada. Posts: 1,037 Thanks: 116 Thanked 100 Times in 87 Posts	A geothermal heat pump would work well in those frozen Places , although you may need to go deeper. Also the air source heat pumps work in cold weather to a point or with diminishing returns in the coldest weather. Either type would give you good bang for your buck in investment especially for those people with large heating costs. Comparing different fuels Btu output x cost per would be a good way to pick your heating method.

01-03-15, 05:16 PM	#44
SDMCF Apprentice EcoRenovator Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Finland Posts: 125 Thanks: 5 Thanked 35 Times in 34 Posts	I considered a pellet burner but decided on a GSHP. The pellet burner was an attractive option which I eventually rejected because: a) I wasn't sure how reliable the pellet delivery mechanism would be after a few years b) I suspect pellet costs could rise significantly when there is a significant installed base c) I would need a sizable storage area for the pellets. Pellets are light so a significant energy store would occupy a fair volume, and anyway to be viable I would need to have delivery by the lorry load d) I understand there is a lot of dust involved in using pellets, particularly during deliveries The GSHP was more expensive to buy but I think in the long term it was a better choice.

01-03-15, 08:44 PM	#45
oil pan 4 Land owner Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: NM Posts: 1,026 Thanks: 12 Thanked 127 Times in 107 Posts	Whats the power demand for the GSHP?

01-03-15, 09:35 PM	#46
NeilBlanchard Journeyman EcoRenovator Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Maynard, MA Eaarth Posts: 383 Thanks: 78 Thanked 39 Times in 32 Posts	The challenge with pellet stoves is vacuuming out the ash - you have to do it regularly or it stops working well, and then not at all. And even with sealed bags then covered by two (or more layers) of tarp, sometimes bags are spoiled by water.

01-04-15, 02:43 AM	#49
oil pan 4 Land owner Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: NM Posts: 1,026 Thanks: 12 Thanked 127 Times in 107 Posts	Looks like in cooling only mode (with out the immersion heater on) with the smaller unit its rated to draw up to 10 amps of 230 volt power. So I am thinking 5 to 9 amps depending on the heat load.

01-04-15, 04:53 AM	#50
SDMCF Apprentice EcoRenovator Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Finland Posts: 125 Thanks: 5 Thanked 35 Times in 34 Posts	OK, if you say so, but what does that signifiy? Why did you want to know, and what conclusion do you reach now that you do know? As far as I am aware I don't need to worry about that - or even know about it. Am I missing something?