<div dir="ltr">Set-it-and-forget-it<div>Plug-n-play</div><div>No moving parts</div><div><br></div><div>Unfortunately these don't necessarily apply only to those trying to make a fast buck!</div><div><br></div><div>Cheers!</div>
</div><div class="gmail_extra"><br clear="all"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><br></div><div>Brian Mehalic <br>NABCEP Certified Solar PV Installation Professional™ R031508-59<div>IREC Certified Instructor™ PV US-0132</div><div>
<div><br></div><div>PV Curriculum Developer and Instructor<div>Solar Energy International<br><a href="http://www.solarenergy.org" target="_blank">http://www.solarenergy.org</a></div></div></div></div></div></div>
<br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Sun, Apr 13, 2014 at 1:30 PM, Dan Fink <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:danbob88@gmail.com" target="_blank">danbob88@gmail.com</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
<div dir="ltr">I absolutely recommend including the build-your-own solar panel schemes / scams that Dave mentioned -- there are a zillion of them, most have a "4" in the URL (power4patriots, etc)<div><br></div><div>
One thing I have noticed online with people selling PV modules (Amazon and Ebay) and alternators for homebuilt wind turbines (all over the 'net) is -- multiplying open-circuit voltage by closed-circuit amperage to get overrated "watts" , and a video of the multimeter to "prove" it. Ouch. Good teachable moment on how to use a multimeter, though.</div>
<div><br></div><div>You might also include the very popular (on Ebay) little grid-tie inverters that take DC solar input on one side and simply plug into a wall outlet on the other side. </div><div><br></div><div>I also admit to, when in a whimsical mood, asking staff at Home Depot / Ace hardware etc., how to make up a male to male extension cord so my Honda generator can run my house in an emergency. One of these days I'll find a co-conspiritor with a tiny camera and make an educational video of it. </div>
<span class="HOEnZb"><font color="#888888">
<div><br></div></font></span></div><div class="gmail_extra"><span class="HOEnZb"><font color="#888888"><br clear="all"><div>Dan Fink,<br>Executive Director;<br>Otherpower<br>Buckville Energy Consulting<br>Buckville Publications LLC<br>
NABCEP / IREC accredited Continuing Education Providers<br>
<a href="tel:970.672.4342" value="+19706724342" target="_blank">970.672.4342</a><br><br> </div></font></span><div><div class="h5">
<br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Sat, Apr 12, 2014 at 6:53 PM, Dave Click <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:daveclick@fsec.ucf.edu" target="_blank">daveclick@fsec.ucf.edu</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
<div bgcolor="#FFFFFF" text="#000000">
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.<br>
<br>
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"<br>
<a href="http://www.powerfreedom.com/System/" target="_blank">http://www.powerfreedom.com/System/</a><br>
<br>
The YellowBook ad from a few years ago:<br>
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hpHxEhO_DQ" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hpHxEhO_DQ</a><br>
<br>
I don't know where I got this picture-- from one of the "make your
own solar panel" things online. Lovely aesthetics!<br>
<a href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/bxhl3q6hrr9z5sp/DIY%20PV.png" target="_blank">https://www.dropbox.com/s/bxhl3q6hrr9z5sp/DIY%20PV.png</a><div><div><br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<div>On 2014/4/12, 16:47, Allan Sindelar
wrote:<br>
</div>
</div></div><blockquote type="cite"><div><div>
Fellow Wrenches,<br>
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.<br>
<br>
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. <br>
<br>
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).<br>
<br>
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.<br>
Allan<br>
<div>-- <br>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Allan Sindelar</b><br>
<span style="font-size:10.0pt"><a href="mailto:Allan@positiveenergysolar.com" target="_blank"><u><span style="color:#000099">Allan@positiveenergysolar.com</span></u></a></span><br>
<span style="font-size:10.0pt">NABCEP Certified PV
Installation Professional<br>
NABCEP Certified Technical Sales Professional<br>
New Mexico EE98J Journeyman Electrician<br>
Founder (Retired), <b>Positive Energy, Inc.<u></u><u></u></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">A
Certified B <span>Corporation<sup><span style="font-size:7.5pt">TM</span></sup></span><br>
<b><a href="tel:505%20780-2738" value="+15057802738" target="_blank">505 780-2738</a> cell</b><br>
<br>
</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
</div>
</div>
<br>
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