SUV's and the sexy PV sale [RE-wrenches]

[Kurt Nelson]

Greetings,

I've been thinking a lot about marketing and the mainstream.  I don't think
marketing PVs with super wide nobby tires, custom mud flaps and a big black
bra around the battery box is the way to go (though I'd love to see such a
system).  The people to whom that would appeal are really into consumption
big time and they aren't happy with us selling them on the idea that less is
better.  We also do not want to end up selling them systems that "don't
work", even though they deliver just what they were designed to deliver.
The exception may be the "grid-tied and green", those that are keeping up
witht he P.C. Jones'.  These people are not my primary market though I have
done three larger (1k plus) grid-ties in the last year or two.  I would
agree with Steve in that I would rather focus on helping people who really
need basic, reliable power in their lives, as well as those who just really
don't want to consume any nuclear energy, etc.  So, I made a decision
several years ago to leave central Wisconsin and move North to a much more
remote area of the State where there was lots of area in need of remote
power applications.  Here's the problem... Though there is a need up here,
there's no money up here.  There's lots more folks needing remote power up
here but way less cash in this northern neigborhood.  Most of my larger
installations are a two to six hour drive south and all the jobs I get
around here are one to three panel systems that are under sized and NOT a
shining example of how well solar works.  It is very bad for business from
all aspects and a lesson I just can't seem to learn.  I find it very
difficult to say "no", and I end up helping people put together minimial
systems, sometimes with with sub-standard components, I make little or no
money on it and then I have MY name on the whole damn thing.  An all too
typical example -- I got called in on a system recently that has a couple
old Siemens panels sorta strapped to a post in the ground with some 12 gauge
NM Romex running to two 12 volt batteries on the unheated porch, that for
some reason are wired as a dedicated battery and a secondary, switched
through an antique open framed 2P2T knife switch.  Loads are all low voltage
incandescents and a boom box.  Load wiring is 12 gauge THHN pairs hung from
the walls and ceiling and the switches aren't even in boxes, just nailed to
the walls or hung from the fixtures.  There is not a single fuse in the
entire system.  She wants to know if there is anything I can do to make her
system work better, but she doesn't have any money to speak of.  Am I to say
no?  If I say no, what good will I have done when her house burns down and
is the first solar energy house fire in the State?  I am going over there
tomorrow to put in some fuses, clean up some wiring, add a meter (NO METER)
and three compact flourscent lights.  I will make next to nothing on it and
have my name on another one of these shitty systems.  Does anyone know of a
help group out there?  Some kinda ten step program?  Final plea... go easy
on me.  I do install some nice, up-to-code systems from time to time.  I
just gotta drive south to do it, down to where the money is, green and clean.

Kurt Nelson
SOLutions

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