[RE-wrenches] Myths, Schemes and Scams request

[Dave Click]

If you also have the local electricians selling the kvar units as 
surefire ways to save 30% on your electric bill, I'd nominate that as 
myth/scheme/scam, though I hope most of those resellers are doing so 
only because they're naive. There was also some absurd company a few 
years ago which was selling a "3000W" module that looked suspiciously 
like a 200W module yet could produce a steady 3kW even without any load 
and even while in the shade. They had the clamp-on meter to prove it, so 
maybe they're still selling off area code exclusivity off for a mere 
$50,000 initial deposit.

Screen-shots from this would be fun-- one of the ubiquitous "$50 for 
this complete guide to unplugging from grid by making your own solar panels"
http://www.powerfreedom.com/System/

The YellowBook ad from a few years ago:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hpHxEhO_DQ

I don't know where I got this picture-- from one of the "make your own 
solar panel" things online. Lovely aesthetics!
https://www.dropbox.com/s/bxhl3q6hrr9z5sp/DIY%20PV.png



On 2014/4/12, 16:47, Allan Sindelar wrote:
> Fellow Wrenches,
> Last year I prepared an hour's presentation for our local Solar Fiesta 
> on "Energy Myths, Schemes and Scams". I covered mostly PV and the 
> solar industry, with a few slides about the physics of wind and those 
> cute spinny yard-art things called VAWTs.  I also hit on "it takes 
> more energy to make a PV panel than it will ever produce", the 
> limitations of 25-year module warranties, "free energy generators", 
> James McKirdy, lunar modules, and modules with fraudulent listings. 
> This was what I was able to pull together.
>
> The workshop was popular and I have been asked to give it again in a 
> couple of weeks. I'm looking for any suggestions that you may have for 
> new or additional material to update the presentation. Any ideas are 
> welcome, especially if you can provide links to good stories and slide 
> materials. This is for a general non-technical audience, but I have 
> the freedom to go in any direction I wish. So I'd like to be more than 
> just entertaining, but make points about value over price, using local 
> installers with knowledge and experience, etc.
>
> Beside my appreciation for the material, I'll offer in return to share 
> an editable version of the presentation for your own use (although 
> it's a 14 meg PowerPoint file at present).
>
> Thank you in advance for your suggestions of anything that gets your 
> blood boiling, that would be funny if it wasn't giving PV and clean 
> energy a bad name.
> Allan
> -- 
>
> *Allan Sindelar*
> _Allan at positiveenergysolar.com_ <mailto:Allan at positiveenergysolar.com>
> NABCEP Certified PV Installation Professional
> NABCEP Certified Technical Sales Professional
> New Mexico EE98J Journeyman Electrician
> Founder (Retired), *Positive Energy, Inc.*
>
> A Certified B Corporation^TM
> *505 780-2738 cell*
>
>
>
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