~ 2004 ~
Harvesting the Sun’s Energy
Harvesting the Sun’s Energy The digital electric meter has been installed, the contract has been signed and finally the sun is shining. To know that clean, renewable energy is powering our...
Waning Moonfest
Waning Moonfest Attempting to schedule Moonfest during a full moon has become quite a challenge, so we have now diversified into all phases of the moon. June 12th was about the only Saturday in the...
A Visit to Carleton College
A Visit to Carleton College As you may recall, students and faculty from Carleton College came to visit our cordwood home at the end of April. (See the May 2nd Journal.) The students were conducting...
Testing the PV Array
Testing the PV Array It’s hard to describe the euphoric mood that instills you when you connect all the wires to a solar electric system and it actually works. Such was the mood at about 1PM...
Minnesotan Responsible for Toad Strangler
Minnesotan Responsible for Toad Strangler ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~AS Wire—SE Minnesota. Local residents use to blame themselves for causing rain by...
The Angels are Bowling
The Angels are Bowling I’m a little delinquent (I’ve been called that before) in getting the journal out. Usually I try to do it on weekends, but I was quite busy doing my best to work...
Do Solar Panels Sleep at Night?
Do Solar Panels Sleep at Night? Ok that’s a pretty strange question to ask, but consider the source.After testing twelve of the twenty-four panels, I was amazed as to how much power the panels...
On Track with the Rack
On Track with the Rack The first of the two large racks was completed this week. It was quite a laborious project, but doing the labor myself has kept the cost quite a bit lower compared to building...
Only 3,792 Watts to Go!
Only 3,792 Watts to Go! The head wound has healed nicely and the only side effect remaining is the obsessive need for putting up cordwood walls and solar panels. Other than that I feel fine.This...
Holey Hill – Ground Mounting Solar Array
Holey Hill – Ground Mounting Solar Array Nothing I do ever is easy and Murphy’s Law always gets in the way making a simple task quite arduous. This entire week is a case in point.I spent...
The End of a (Subaru) Legacy
The End of a (Subaru) Legacy She never complained much. Occasionally she would get a little “tired” or should I say “exhausted”, but she was always willing to...
Here Comes the Sun
Here Comes the Sun Minnesota’s Department of Commerce Solar Rebate Manager has approved my plans for a 4.2kW (Input) solar electric system. This gives me a green light to purchase and install...
A Lesson in Utility
A Lesson in Utility It’s been three months now since I began the quest to install a solar electric system and since that time I have learned a lot. I have learned about the technical details...
A Googling Toilet Story
A Googling Toilet Story Bob Kaplan, President of LW Paul Supply Company was doing a search on Google one day. He typed the words: “Caroma Toilet Chicago” into Google’s search...
In like a Lion
In like a Lion March is always an unpredictable weather month around these parts and you never know what your going to get. This year so far it has been fairly wet with almost daily Alberta Clipper...
I hate those Meeces to Pieces
I hate those Meeces to Pieces Rural Living Lesson #1: Never leave a vehicle unattended for more than a day or two.Rural Living Lesson #2: Never underestimate the power of a mouse.The plan has been...
Kilowatts Shmilowatts
Kilowatts Shmilowatts In our last episode, the local electric cooperative gave me an option to give away all of my excess power. Well, that didn’t fly with their lawyer because state law says...
Solar Electric System Options
Solar Electric System Options The verdict is still out as to what plan the utility company may approve, but it appears as if the non-net-metering approach will be the best of three bad options....
Instant Winter
Instant Winter Me and my big mouth. A few weeks ago winter hadn’t arrived yet and I opened my big mouth about it and now we’re paying the price. Not only has it been snowing (with a...
Road Blocks to Solar Electric Installation
Road Blocks to Solar Electric Installation Effective January 1, 2004, the Minnesota Department of Commerce in cooperation with Xcel Energy (we are not part of their grid down here in the SE corner...
Global Warming Close to Home
Global Warming Close to Home In the past week dire predictions have been made by scientists (Nature 427 , 107 – 109 ) regarding global warming and the mass extinction of life upon this planet....