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Mike Curran

Retired EE

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Retired EE

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RE: nest under the solar panel

Posted By Mike Curran 06-12-2025 04:08 AM
Found In Egroup: Everything Solar Forum \ view thread
I adjust the tilt angle on one of my arrays twice per year and sometimes find a wasp nest, which means waiting until dusk to make the adjustment. No birds or squirrels yet (knock wood). ------------------------------ Mike Curran Retired EE ------------------------------

RE: Personal Feedback on Previous Solar Energy Conferences

Posted By Mike Curran 04-22-2025 06:48 AM
Found In Egroup: Everything Solar Forum \ view thread
Hi Johnny - I attended the 2007 conference here in Cleveland, Ohio, just before doing my first solar install on my garage roof (it's the one on the left in attached photo). I attended several tech sessions and I found them to be very helpful for my install. Plus it was great talking to like-minded folks. ...

RE: Personal Feedback on Previous Solar Energy Conferences

Posted By Mike Curran 04-22-2025 06:48 AM
Found In Library: Everything Solar Forum

RE: Trump/Musk Alliance

Posted By Mike Curran 11-11-2024 01:01 PM
Found In Egroup: Everything Solar Forum \ view thread
"We believe that President Trump's trust in Elon Musk is a true sign that he is willing to go the extra mile towards continued implementation of this technology all across America." Also a true sign that Trump values the $118 million that Musk contributed to his campaign. ------------------------------ ...

RE: Slar panel mounting

Posted By Mike Curran 09-05-2024 07:08 PM
Found In Library: Everything Solar Forum

RE: Slar panel mounting

Posted By Mike Curran 09-05-2024 07:08 PM
Found In Egroup: Everything Solar Forum \ view thread
Don't know, and no structural assessment done. House is pretty well surrounded by trees, and that array has been up since 2007. Last August (2023) we had a large live cherry tree fall on our barn during a windstorm. That occurred with the house array panels/struts in their summer position, fairly flat ...

RE: Slar panel mounting

Posted By Mike Curran 09-03-2024 01:40 PM
Found In Egroup: Everything Solar Forum \ view thread
This array faces south but is supported by Unirac high-profile tilt legs on the north side of my hip roof. I use them to seasonally adjust tilt angle. I don't think they are really the right solution for you but it may give you some ideas. ------------------------------ Mike Curran Retired EE --- ...

RE: best deal for PV energy going to the grid in northeast ohio ?

Posted By Mike Curran 06-26-2024 08:58 AM
Found In Egroup: Everything Solar Forum \ view thread
Thanks Ken! My residential bill is cryptic so I can't imagine how hard FE's commercial bills are to read. ------------------------------ Mike Curran Retired EE ------------------------------

RE: best deal for PV energy going to the grid in northeast ohio ?

Posted By Mike Curran 06-18-2024 05:00 PM
Found In Egroup: Everything Solar Forum \ view thread
Dennis - Your question regarding the "bank" should be directed to William Fitch, since his statement has that terminology, not mine. To be honest, to me my bill statement is pretty cryptic, and I can see why the OP is having a hard time getting our supplier to explain his net metering agreement. In hindsight ...

RE: best deal for PV energy going to the grid in northeast ohio ?

Posted By Mike Curran 06-18-2024 11:46 AM
Found In Egroup: Everything Solar Forum \ view thread
Sorry about that. Partly my fault for a poor screenshot, but mostly it's just the format my power delivery service (CEI) uses. I posted because it should resemble the OP's, and hoped it might give him some insight into how a net metered account billing would look. He has the same deliverer as I do. ...

RE: best deal for PV energy going to the grid in northeast ohio ?

Posted By Mike Curran 06-17-2024 04:27 PM
Found In Egroup: Everything Solar Forum \ view thread
I have a net metering agreement with CEI and I'm residential, so this may not be entirely relevant, but FWIW, here's a copy of my May, 2024 bill with personal info redacted. Note my energy supplier is through NOPEC; CEI provides delivery. ------------------------------ Mike Curran Retired EE ---- ...

RE: best deal for PV energy going to the grid in northeast ohio ?

Posted By Mike Curran 06-17-2024 04:26 PM
Found In Library: Everything Solar Forum

RE: 2024 Annual Membership Meeting Recording

Posted By Mike Curran 04-01-2024 01:15 PM
Found In Egroup: Everything Solar Forum \ view thread
I can answer 2 questions: - I have a total of 16.5kw of grid-tied solar on my house and barn. Both have battery backup for critical loads: barn 11.4kwh of LiFePO4 batteries, house 41kwh (20 usable) of FLA batteries. - I plan to participate in the tour, in person, as I have off and on since 2008. ...

RE: ASES Member in the News!

Posted By Mike Curran 03-19-2024 11:03 AM
Found In Egroup: Everything Solar Forum \ view thread
Also, extreme gerrymandering has given Republicans a permanent majority in both Ohio's legislative houses. ------------------------------ Mike Curran Retired EE ------------------------------

RE: Generator recommendations

Posted By Mike Curran 02-26-2024 03:00 PM
Found In Egroup: Everything Solar Forum \ view thread
IMO, the best home generators are made by Honda. But they are relatively expensive compared to what else is out there. Her choice somewhat depends on what loads she wants to support during an outage. If she needs something that her electronics can accept, Honda offers some 2000 watt inverter generators ...

RE: Zoom Discussion - Will Bi-Directional EV Charging become a Reality in 2024 (Solar Noon Tuesday discussion)

Posted By Mike Curran 01-18-2024 07:38 PM
Found In Egroup: Everything Solar Forum \ view thread
I'm not suggesting the PV system be capable of charging the EV's battery. All I'm saying is that an EV battery (via a 240VAC connection) might be a better option for additional backup power (rather than a bigger stationary battery) for those with home PV systems that already incorporate a backup battery. ...

RE: Zoom Discussion - Will Bi-Directional EV Charging become a Reality in 2024 (Solar Noon Tuesday discussion)

Posted By Mike Curran 01-18-2024 04:06 PM
Found In Egroup: Everything Solar Forum \ view thread
For those of us with PV systems that have a generator input for charging batteries and load support (during outages for grid-tied systems), a vehicle with 240V split phase output would be ideal. I believe the Cybertruck incorporates this feature. I wish other manufacturers would do this without requiring ...

RE: Are fossil fuels required if an off-grid home has resistive loads?

Posted By Mike Curran 01-01-2024 04:51 PM
Found In Egroup: Ask a Renewable Energy Expert \ view thread
"Does this mean that anyone who has electric heating, incandescent lighting, electric stoves, or space heating has to have a generator run by propane or another petroleum fuel if they are off-grid?" No. If you have enough solar resource and a large enough battery, any amount of extra loads can be supported ...

RE: Trick for nighttime ventilation cooling

Posted By Mike Curran 07-12-2023 07:06 PM
Found In Egroup: Everything Solar Forum \ view thread
I do that. The cold air return plenum in the basement has a finned register that we keep open, draws in cool basement air (which is dehumidified, too) and distributes it thoughout the house. We put the furnace fan on to do this. ------------------------------ Mike Curran Retired EE --------------- ...

RE: Trick for nighttime ventilation cooling

Posted By Mike Curran 07-05-2023 01:18 PM
Found In Egroup: Everything Solar Forum \ view thread
Our house is partially surrounded by trees and we're in a rural area so it often cools down enough at night to open the windows in the back bedrooms and run a window fan at the opposite end of the house. By morning it's almost cool enough that the A/C doesn't come on until late in the day, if at all. ...