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

[Steve Willey - Backwoods Solar Electric]

I too am concerned with the poverty case PV users. Fact is, there are people
with very low incomes and abilities.  Are they safer with the inadequate PV
system and an old car battery, or where they were before with a bunch of
un-maintained kerosene lamps?

Since we probably are not able to adjust their incomes, we can at least
offer $15 fuses & holders and education on battery safety. Will doing so
leave us hanging on liability or is there a way to certify that our input
has at least increased safety to the extent the customer could buy?
Unfortunately that still won't meet code without several hundred dollars
additional boxes and labor that often will not be possible.

Steve Willey   www.backwoodssolar.com
Backwoods Solar Electric Systems
----- Original Message -----
From: Kurt Nelson <sunwise at win.bright.net>
To: <RE-wrenches at topica.com>
Sent: Wednesday, February 23, 2000 9:28 AM
Subject: SUV's and the sexy PV sale [RE-wrenches]


> 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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