Learning a new language
In my case it is about a solar panel
powered backup to my primary water powered electric plant.
And I have already been through the
process of reducing my intents if it comes to that.
I live at 36 degrees north latitude
in east Tennessee, which means this is not that good a solar place. Plus there
are a lot of tall forest trees, and the sun does move during the day, which
makes chasing the sun difficult when it also includes moving heavy batteries
(and the cables and losses would be too long in the chasing scenario). I have
chosen not to do so. After all indirect light makes electricity, too, in my
back up scheme.
As always these days, there is no
book on the subject, and one usually just does their best, hooks it all up
(including the intended loads), and sees what happens. Yep, I've got various
gear from different companies.
And I have gotten to an age where I
actually read the directions. What's the
old joke...if all else fails, read the directions.
And lord knows, this industry has
its own language for me to learn about, interpret if you will, since knowing
what I am doing, or at least trying to do, does help. I don't want to do harm
to myself from ignorance, after all.
Last, the new terms I have had to learn
are like saying PV (photovoltaic) vice solar panel. And then there are at least three kinds of
solar panels these days, all with different efficiencies, generally around 16%.
Plus one usually needs a solar controller (like MRRP or PWM), and on and on.
Like the title to this post says, I
am having to learn a new language, and it is not a fun experience. But, and in
fairness, I want to do it as well as I can, mostly to save money, but also just
to be efficient. Thank goodness I went to an engineering school.
And all this just for a backup. Now
I will write it all up for my relatives, just to help their transition, if this
backup situation even comes to pass.
Let it rain.
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