The winter months are brutal!!!

[J_Mack58]

Check out ramped earth https://www.rammedearthworks.com/ There are a few rammed earth homes in the SF bay area. Looks more conventional than an earthship
Later floyd

Very nice FloydR she down with it. My pockets may not be deep enough though.

 

[J_Mack58]

Not really severe weather, but for us DIYers relying on the Sun these cloudy days are like Tornados, Hurricanes, earthquakes,Tsunamis and hail storms all in one. We are in survival mode. 15kWh battery is useless if you can’t charge it. Excuse my rant I installed my system in the summer…. This my first winter. Anyway with 1.2kW worth of panels to charge my Powerwall the panels made 1.06kWh guess we had the equivalent of 1 hour of sunshine. My 2.6kW REC panels grid tied through my SMA inverter made 1.471Wh of power for the day. I remember making 16 -20kWh’s/day this pass summer.
How is everybody else doing?

 

[J_Mack58]

I got 10.4 kWh’s today so my rant is over. Got to take the good with the bad and roll with it.

 

[floydR]

My pockets may not be deep enough though.

I know my pockets aren't deep enough. But I can dream
later floyd

 

[Dr. Dickie]

I know it is not as bad as some of you are experiencing, but yesterday was rainy with complete cloud cover--got next to nothing going into the battery. Battery handled one day of clouds.
But here is what is expected today and tomorrow:


Battery is only down to 52.5 V and cut off is about 49V, but no way it is making it for 48+ hours with no sun.
It is disappointing to have done all of this and not be able to ride out three days of no sun, but that is the reality.

 

[OffGridInTheCity]

On a 13kw PV array - In Dec 2020 I had 311kwh thru the 19th = avg 16.4kwh/day. This year I've had 173kwh = 9.1kwh/day.

That's only 56% of last year. The extended forcast is rain, clouds, rain, clouds, as far as it goes out. Sigh.....

 

[J_Mack58]

I know it is not as bad as some of you are experiencing, but yesterday was rainy with complete cloud cover--got next to nothing going into the battery. Battery handled one day of clouds.
But here is what is expected today and tomorrow:
View attachment 26652

Battery is only down to 52.5 V and cut off is about 49V, but no way it is making it for 48+ hours with no sun.
It is disappointing to have done all of this and not be able to ride out three days of no sun, but that is the reality.

Doc once you get pass Tuesday you got it made in the shade.... Opppss I mean SUN! That's nice forecast data, especially the Cloud Cover(%) I could plan my consumption and alternate power strategy with it. Where did you get it?

 

[floydR]

looks like it from www.wundrground.com 10 day forecast

Later floyd

 

[J_Mack58]

Thanks Floyd, Hayward forecast look like Sactown... we about to get wet.

 

[Wolf]

No solar in the NE today.
Wolf

 

[OffGridInTheCity]

No solar in the NE today.
Wolf
View attachment 26741

UGH!!! (Solar wise). Beautiful!!! (Snow wise)

 

[J_Mack58]

No solar in the NE today.
Wolf
View attachment 26741

Reminds me of where I was born "Ohio", been away from there since 1985 only to return for visits in the summer time only. This is conformation
I will retire somewhere in the southwest of the USA. Makes a nice Christmas card though.

 

[100kwh-hunter]

Now i just dipt my toe into the water of solar panels, but to go with the line of the sun, is it not wise to get a sort of car jack built into your frame.
Cous i was playing with them and it matters a lot during the day.
To adjust the corner 3x a day that is not doable without a automatic system.
But adjust it manually once a month or so at 1300 could this benefit your harvest?
In the Netherlands there is a hugh differents in the hight of the sun during winter time and summer time.

With best regards Igor