Gabriël Posted January 27, 2019 Share Posted January 27, 2019 hi guys, i take note that many guys on this forum have vested interests in the solar industry and your knowledge is invaluable. when i came here i did not know a volt from a watt etc, neither do most guys in the street, i know it is shocking so after realizing that i came to this forum MUCH too late, i.e. thousands of rand [dollars] too late, and even then the learning curve was steep in order to get the right data etc [including buying stuff which now is superfluous ;-)]; i now propose that we dedicate a thread to the solar power 'idiot', to help him WITHOUT TRYING TO BUY THIS OR THAT BRAND OF EQUIPMENT! or at least give him choices! if you search the web, there is much advice on solar stuff, much at a premium though - would it be possible to venture into this territory here and for instance compile a manual etc - like an all in one package, even if it is only for south africa, or maybe it could be made generic??? if there is something like that here, pardon my ignorance and tag this post as weekend humor and relegate it to the off topic section. God bless Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Energy-Jason Posted January 27, 2019 Share Posted January 27, 2019 This is a fantastic Idea. How should we structure it and set it up - Shall we create a new Thread? Really great idea Sincerely Jason Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phil.g00 Posted January 27, 2019 Share Posted January 27, 2019 Ah, were it be that it was so simple? Almost everyone poses a similar question, security of supply, cost of energy or a blend of both. But everyone's usage, circumstance, budget, experiences of equipment and even personalities are different enough to at least subtlety change every answer. I would say this forum is largely successful as a place to learn, but not because it is an easy look-up reference for right answers first time. It is successful because it is practically the polar opposite, it is a compendium of wrong answers and the struggle for the optimal answer in a multitude of circumstances. Energy-Jason, ibiza and GreenFields 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Energy-Jason Posted January 27, 2019 Share Posted January 27, 2019 This is very true and well versed. The collective group struggle to find the correct configuration of any system. I feel finding the correct solution is a sum up of opinions, personalities, personal preferences and experiences. That being said a basic 101 could be established sticking to a generic template without the above factors at play. Possible. Sincerely Jason Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Energy-Jason Posted January 27, 2019 Share Posted January 27, 2019 Gabriël 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gabriël Posted January 27, 2019 Author Share Posted January 27, 2019 (edited) @phil.g00's summary is indeed applicable and valid; and as such commendable.... YET [i knew you were waiting for it to come ] we could save the idiot some time and money by keeping things as simple as possible; for instance i propose most who want to go solar are in some delirious state where they really believe that the powers of nature are going to solve their energy needs, until the rubber hits the road. in other words we must in very few words [kiss] [unlike myself ] tell them the basics, sort of checklist and monkey-puzzle style. demolish preconceptions without the idiot [lets call him the victim of sun-stroke] loosing hope! start off by needs vs wants, progress to calculate consumption and indicate means to save on fittings to diminish load. spreadsheets are good here. etc etc etc EDIT: WRITTEN WHILST ENERGY POSTED THE NEWBIE THING... Edited January 27, 2019 by gabriel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gabriël Posted January 27, 2019 Author Share Posted January 27, 2019 it is a very good basic document, cudos to the author/s! now that is a good document for me, but i would venture to say that 2 years ago i would regard it as technical and might [to my own demise] have ignored it. i'll go through it and make some notes/ask questions etc and forward it back to @Energy per pm or we could all work on it [who???] via the cloud or some other way and keep it visible on the forum home page - sort of like wikipedia edits with their admins. ideas? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Energy-Jason Posted January 27, 2019 Share Posted January 27, 2019 Very good point. Let me make the "Downloads"- Files section much more visible , Let me have the night to work on this. Thanks for this. Sincerely Jason Gabriël 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fuenkli Posted January 28, 2019 Share Posted January 28, 2019 14 hours ago, gabriel said: i now propose that we dedicate a thread to the solar power 'idiot', to help him WITHOUT TRYING TO BUY THIS OR THAT BRAND OF EQUIPMENT! or at least give him choices! good idea. I think a very important point to get across would be what the real cost of solar is. There is to much false misleading advertising out there. Gabriël 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rautenk Posted January 28, 2019 Share Posted January 28, 2019 Fully supported, let me know how to add / edit if required. (Yes, I haven't clicked the download link yet...) Gabriël 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 28, 2019 Share Posted January 28, 2019 (edited) 1 hour ago, Fuenkli said: I think a very important point to get across would be what the real cost of solar is. There is to much false misleading advertising out there. Ditto!!! People are all different and all that. But one must not miss the fact that hard cash / watts and volts have no emotions attached whatsoever. Telling people what a great saving solar can be knowing full well people tend to focus on the good only can lead to disappointment as people tend to ignore the bad. Don't be negative they say. Or "It is my money" till that first bank is up for replacement. Then someone must be blamed. Having had a few chats with friends and others about going solar, my latest approach is to talk them out of it ... s'true ... with the caveat I add, if they still do it they will know what they are in for. A negative approach, why not to do it, works better for ensuring a more positive outcome i.e. "No-one told me!" is left at the gate. Like: Are you at home during the day when the sun shines i.e. what is the solar system going to power? Are you a DIY person or do you have a fat bank account to optimally use the power when you are at work? Do you want to power a kettle for 2min, microwave for 5, oven on batteries, as you tend to cook at night? Are you going to buy the system on a loan? Did you do the sums, ask a financial adviser to help you check the numbers? Do you know where your power is used? Evenings or daytime? Do you know where most of the power goes? When last have you upgraded your fridge/freezer? Have you already reduced your average consumption to as low as it can get? Do you know exactly what will be on solar, like say a pool pump / geyser? When last have you had your DB tested? Are you aware of the regulations in CoCT and pending possibly all over SA? A UPS and a generator may be a cheaper option, have you looked at it? etc. Any person who gets past the real hard not so rosy facts of going solar, the costs involved, is seriously committed to find solutions. Maybe such a document should be part and parcel of the process. Edited January 28, 2019 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Energy-Jason Posted January 28, 2019 Share Posted January 28, 2019 Such great ideas. I will gladly facilitate this with pleasure. As we speak I am making the files section more visible. I will also add top submitter of Files - Files being Resources such as solar 101 and so. Let me work on this file section now to make it more visible. It has always been there but its interface is a bit hidden. The forum is about freedom of infomation. But I know under the files section the up-loader can charge a small fee in order for the member to download it. This could be fair if the submitter of the file spent a lot of effort and time on it? The fee will be a token of appreciation and could be beer money :>>> What do you gents think of that idea? @The Terrible Triplett @gabriel @Fuenkli @Rautenk @Jaco de Jongh @phil.g00 Sincerely Jason Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gabriël Posted January 28, 2019 Author Share Posted January 28, 2019 57 minutes ago, Energy said: charge a small fee i believe we should avoid this and keep it 'open source' - although it cost me a lot in 'school fees' to be where i am solar wise, i do not mind sharing for free, as aptly stated 1 hour ago, Energy said: The forum is about freedom of infomation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Energy-Jason Posted January 28, 2019 Share Posted January 28, 2019 1 minute ago, gabriel said: i believe we should avoid this and keep it 'open source' - although it cost me a lot in 'school fees' to be where i am solar wise, i do not mind sharing for free, as aptly stated Hehe! Perfect. I am inclined to the same feelings as you. Other members mentioned above what are your feelings? Sincerely Jay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 28, 2019 Share Posted January 28, 2019 1 hour ago, Energy said: What do you gents think of that idea? I agree, open source. Do the effort for the love of it, otherwise don't. However, there is a case to be made for like say a engineers report, that one can download and effect the changes. Such a doc must be constantly updated, maybe even answers given. That's a whole different ballgame IF such a doc was to reach the forum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phil.g00 Posted January 28, 2019 Share Posted January 28, 2019 Would I charge for my opinions? That's a turn up for the books. Back in the day, in South Africa I was very nearly charged for my opinions, fairly often in fact. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gabriël Posted January 28, 2019 Author Share Posted January 28, 2019 28 minutes ago, phil.g00 said: I was very nearly charged for my opinions, fairly often in fact. , that's what i would call 'opinionated' - no harm intended @phil.g00 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulF007 Posted January 28, 2019 Share Posted January 28, 2019 One of my first responses when any one ask me about solar is why are you interested as this will determine what my answer will be. If you want to go solar out of principal - wanting to go , get a way or get in - Go Green , Get a way from Eskom , Get in with the buddies with Bragging rights , Go for gold and fork out the cash. If you want to save - complete different game as Solar is still quite expensive - first get your house solar ready by cutting all power consumption to a minimum , getting a solar geyser for one. Then after all of that is done look at your bill. It should have dropped by at least 40% then start to budget and check if it still makes sense to go Solar . Gabriël and Mark 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulF007 Posted January 28, 2019 Share Posted January 28, 2019 I was looking at my system this morning and for a household of 5 were are not doing too bad consumption wise. Gabriël 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phil.g00 Posted January 28, 2019 Share Posted January 28, 2019 2 hours ago, gabriel said: 3 hours ago, phil.g00 said: I was very nearly charged for my opinions, fairly often in fact. , that's what i would call 'opinionated' - no harm intended @phil.g00 None taken, I was young and and idealistic and there were very few grey areas, back there and then. Gabriël 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tanujagdale Posted January 29, 2019 Share Posted January 29, 2019 Helpful.. https://crbtech.in/online-electrical-design-training-course Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gabriël Posted January 29, 2019 Author Share Posted January 29, 2019 5 minutes ago, tanujagdale said: Helpful.. indeed @tanujagdale, but the solar idiot [they might be a 'rocket scientist' in other disciplines] will most likely say 'so what?'... we can at least safely state that the solar idiot has a 'social consciousness', an average too above average intelligence, access to the internet and can write and read. not? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 29, 2019 Share Posted January 29, 2019 Let me get this straight @gabriel So if we are in solar, that makes us an "idiot with average to above average intelligence that cannot write and read" ... seeing the "not" at the end of the sentence? (Could not resist.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
___ Posted January 29, 2019 Share Posted January 29, 2019 2 hours ago, gabriel said: the solar idiot has a 'social consciousness Not necessarily. Apparently some research was done on that (in America, so it is not really representative in solar terms, but it does cast doubt) and it appears that most people who install solar doesn't do it because they feel all greeny lovey dovey. They do it because it saves them money. It's about good old capitalism in many cases. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gabriël Posted January 29, 2019 Author Share Posted January 29, 2019 1 hour ago, The Terrible Triplett said: So if we are in solar, that makes us an "idiot with average... 15 minutes ago, plonkster said: It's about good old capitalism in many cases okok guys, whatever the case, i lack the poetic eloquence and scientific/logical rational ability to summarize the characteristics of a solar idiot in one concise sentence - maybe because of the foggy and hazy state i personally was in prior to acquiring the expensive solar t-shirt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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