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Mr. Joe Utasi

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RE: National Solar Tour 2024: Celebrating Sustainable Living & Building Community

Posted By Joe Utasi 08-21-2024 09:56 AM
Found In Egroup: Everything Solar Forum \ view thread
If you are opening your property for the solar tour, make sure that your ENTIRE property is up to code. I participated in the tour one year, and I ended up getting SUED. Gentleman claimed he fell off my porch and it didn't have rails. Rails are only required if the height is more than 32 inches. Fortunately ...

RE: Read our innovation-showcase issue of Solar Today

Posted By Joe Utasi 07-26-2024 07:56 PM
Found In Egroup: Everything Solar Forum \ view thread
My Home is super tight. Foamed everywhere. Blower door test showed LESS THAN 1 AIR TURN PER HOUR. Apparently that's more than enough to satisfy the hot water heater. It's been running GREAT for 7 years now with no issues whatsoever. Only uses 400 watts running in heat pump only mode. What you say may ...

RE: Read our innovation-showcase issue of Solar Today

Posted By Joe Utasi 07-26-2024 10:29 AM
Found In Egroup: Everything Solar Forum \ view thread
OR YOU COULD SIMPLY VENT THE UNIT OUTDOORS THROUGH THE SILL PLATE DURING COLD WEATHER LIKE I DO!!! NO NEED FOR "MAKEUP" HEAT THEN! Virus-free.www.avg.com

RE: Hardening against EMP

Posted By Joe Utasi 12-21-2023 08:57 AM
Found In Egroup: Everything Solar Forum \ view thread
SOl-Ark has been offering "EMP Hardened" inverters for quite some time, and I've heard that others are following this trend. ------------------------------ Joe Utasi PV Solar Consultant Cinci Home Solar, Keowee Home Solar, DIY Solar Helper ------------------------------

RE: Hardening against EMP

Posted By Joe Utasi 12-20-2023 02:48 PM
Found In Egroup: Everything Solar Forum \ view thread
If I recall correctly, just shortly after we criss crossed the usa with telegraph lines, there was a significant coronal event, and it pretty much TOASTED all the telegraph lines. nothing to say this couldn't happen again... I'm pretty sure this is well documented in the history books... ------ ...

RE: Hardening against EMP

Posted By Joe Utasi 12-20-2023 10:29 AM
Found In Egroup: Everything Solar Forum \ view thread
Large split FERRITE beads, installed at the end of each roof string, as well as just before the inverter, would help to squash any "spike" that might appear across the array strings as a result of solar flares, EMPs, or whatever... May not be 100% effective, but definitely worth the LOW COST and EASE ...

RE: What themes do you recommend Solar Today cover in 2024 and 2025?

Posted By Joe Utasi 10-18-2023 01:40 PM
Found In Egroup: Everything Solar Forum \ view thread
As my "introduction" to solar 16 years ago, I built my first panel from a "kit" of raw blue cells with tabs. As a BSEE, I figured I should certainly be able to do this. Well, I did!! I even built a small thin box and put glass in front to protect from the weather. I tried it VENTED as well as SEALED. ...

RE: What themes do you recommend Solar Today cover in 2024 and 2025?

Posted By Joe Utasi 10-17-2023 12:29 PM
Found In Egroup: Everything Solar Forum \ view thread
I've been working as a "DIY Solar Consultant" for the last 15 years. Originally as "Cinci Home Solar" and lately as DIY SOLAR HELPER. I've got well over 100 jobs completed where I do the paperwork, make design recommendations, PASS THROUGH my "dealer" pricing, and then SUPERVISE the DIY "CREW" as they ...

RE: 3-Phase, <10kW grid-tie System in CA

Posted By Joe Utasi 06-28-2023 10:03 AM
Found In Egroup: Everything Solar Forum \ view thread
Also, the SOL-ARK (and associated "knock offs" from China) now include a nice color LCD touch screen that allows you to CONFIGURE the operation of the inverter in ANY manner you want. If you cannot "backfeed", you simply set the "backfeed" parameter to ZERO, and you will no feed any power back to the ...

RE: 3-Phase, <10kW grid-tie System in CA

Posted By Joe Utasi 06-27-2023 09:34 AM
Found In Egroup: Everything Solar Forum \ view thread
SOL-ARK has 30 and 60KW 3 phase hybrid inverters. ------------------------------ Joe Utasi PV Solar Consultant Cinci Home Solar, Keowee Home Solar, DIY Solar Helper ------------------------------

RE: "Grid Down Power Up" documentary

Posted By Joe Utasi 04-25-2023 11:16 AM
Found In Egroup: Everything Solar Forum \ view thread
I have a rather "unique" system from Magnum Energy. It consists of their Dual Micro – GT500 – 14 on the roof with 28 panels. I've AC COUPLED them to their MS4448PAE inverters. The ARTR router, when operated in the AC coupled mode and grid down (or in my case OFF grid) there is only ONE parameter that ...

RE: What are some technologies that you would like to see covered more in Solar Today?

Posted By Joe Utasi 04-10-2023 01:35 PM
Found In Egroup: Everything Solar Forum \ view thread
Yeah - I already use solar thermal panels for in-floor radiant heating.. I have 4, 4X8 german panels on the roof, and a 105 Gallon storage tank. From there it goes out through a manifold to the different rooms upstairs. I have the pex tubing (1700 LINEAR FEET) embedded in 1 1/2 inches of gypsum concrete ...

RE: What are some technologies that you would like to see covered more in Solar Today?

Posted By Joe Utasi 04-10-2023 09:34 AM
Found In Egroup: Everything Solar Forum \ view thread
I agree. I live off grid with an all-electric home. I use a Rheem heat-pump water heater. In the "heat pump only" mode, it uses 400 watts when running. It dehumidifies the basement, and down here in South Carolina for 8 months out of the year, I take the 8 inch exhaust duct over to a wall vent in my ...

RE: Solar Energy Equals Freedom

Posted By Joe Utasi 02-09-2023 10:34 AM
Found In Egroup: Everything Solar Forum \ view thread
Along the lines of this discussion is ANOTHER disappointment by the power companies and our government. What I'm referring to is BIOMASS ENERGY CONVERSION PLANTS. Back in the day (the 60's) "Biomass" conjured up images of piles of cow dung, horse manure, vegetable leftovers, grass clippings and some ...

RE: Issues With My solar System Help

Posted By Joe Utasi 01-31-2023 03:08 PM
Found In Egroup: Everything Solar Forum \ view thread
The "Utility Grade" (VERY Accurate...) was a requirement 9 to 14 years ago when "SRECS" (Solar Renewable Energy Credits) were a nice way to help pay off the system. For every 1 MWh generated you got ONE "SREC". Back in the day when I set up my first (personal) system, I was able to get Almost $300 per ...

RE: Issues With My solar System Help

Posted By Joe Utasi 01-31-2023 10:31 AM
Found In Egroup: Everything Solar Forum \ view thread
The ONLY time that your panels MIGHT produce 100% of their rating is on 2 days of the year at solar noon. Depending on the SLOPE (tilt) of your panels, 99% of solar owners see on average about 80 to 90% of the rated power. In order to produce RATED POWER, the sun must be hitting the panels STRAIGHT ON. ...

RE: Inverters that allow use of power when provider is down?

Posted By Joe Utasi 01-12-2023 03:03 PM
Found In Egroup: Everything Solar Forum \ view thread
Or you can switch to ENPHASE IQ-8 Microinverters. One under each panel. When the utility goes out, they WILL PROVIDE 240vac/split to your home if the sun is out. More sun means more power. If you use more power than they can make, they shut down until you reduce the load, then they come back on. When ...

RE: Inverters that allow use of power when provider is down?

Posted By Joe Utasi 01-12-2023 10:24 AM
Found In Egroup: Everything Solar Forum \ view thread
The only inverter that I know of that meets that description is the Enphase IQ-8 MICROINVERTER. Since its a "micro" it requires one under each panel - and it's not "backwards compatible" with anything else.... If the sun shines and the power is down, it will provide as much power as you have solar (minus ...

RE: Is Storage Worth the Investment?

Posted By Joe Utasi 12-12-2022 02:59 PM
Found In Egroup: Everything Solar Forum \ view thread
to answer your storage question... The sad state of affairs in the USA and Russia and North Korea could easily escalate to a point where having storage will be a blessing. This doesn't mean you are a paranoid "prepper" - it only means that you have taken into account the above mentioned "sad state of ...

RE: Is Storage Worth the Investment?

Posted By Joe Utasi 12-12-2022 02:24 PM
Found In Egroup: Everything Solar Forum \ view thread
And, be informed that LiFePo4 batteries (That most solar backups are currently using) do NOT take kindly to temperatures below 32 degrees. That means the upper half of the USA needs to provide insulation and some minimal heating to batteries OUTSIDE the house envelope. Hopefully, the installers doing ...