Decided to run my ebikes on solar

[mschwett]

…

I know it's against the law in California to capture rainwater in a rain barrel on your own property.
The state owns the rain.

no, it is not. in fact the state encourages rainwater capture and use for irrigation and other non potable uses.

AB-1750 “rainwater capture act” expressly allows the collection of rainwater without a permit.

 

[PCeBiker]

no, it is not.

I watched a documentary where a woman hiked along the water pipe from LA to the start of the pipeline.

It was in that documentary where it was mentioned.

Perhaps it was within the LA county borders, or before that “rainwater capture act” was enacted??

 

[PCeBiker]

Perhaps it was within the LA county borders, or before that “rainwater capture act” was enacted??

Thinking about it some more, it could have been a local By-law that disallowed rain barrels the same way outdoor clothes lines are banned in places.

Common sense would suggest that storing Any rain from a downpour in LA (that is almost completely paved over) would only help to reduce flooding, so ugly rain barrels should be allowed without a permit.
(Maybe it has to be a fancy handsome barrel though?? )

 

[mclewis1]

Thanks usclassic, I have to say that despite some of the “detours” from others that I’m really enjoying this thread. It seems to parallel much of my interest in power from alternative (non grid) sources. I’m always interested in new technologies and in particular when I can learn and put them to practical use at the same time.

I started using portable 12v lead acid batteries 20+ years ago to power my telescopes in the field. That led to using them with small inverters to power some low wattage in house systems during grid outages (lights, radio, Internet router, fireplace circulation fans, etc.).

Ebikes opened up big lithium batteries and CV/CC charging. Then it was recently putting together an inexpensive little lithium battery based UPS for the router (5+ hrs of backup with nothing to manage).

Now it’s a small commercial (Bluetti) LFP based battery system that also has MPPT capabilities so I can explore some solar charging along with it’s higher wattage UPS and AC inverters.

For grins and giggles I’m also going to use the solar setup to occasionally recharge the ebikes.

 

[usclassic]

So change of plans since the Anker arrived I have given my old inverters and charge controller to my son along with the two 100 ah AGM batteries. Also I ordered two 100 watt panels for him. The unit runs the 240v dryer just fine but over 5000 watts sucks down the battery post haste so I won't be using it regularly at all.

Anker app works very well. Customer support is outstanding. My unit arrived with a couple small scratches

and Anker sent me a $60 refund after looking at the pictures I sent. Nice.

Will probably add more Anker products over time. Had a really nice ride on the CargoWagon Neo to the UPS store today. Perfect weather for riding and I returned the Renolgy controller and gave my son my old controller to go with all the other system stuff. Mowed the lawn and charged the batteries both 40v and 80v using the Anker. Now it is powering my internet 24/7.

 

[usclassic]

Now using DC power for my T Mobile 5G wireless internet router. Anker has plenty of power after making my morning coffee. Running the microwave and the clothes washer while charging two ebikes....

Plenty of sun today I will run the clothes dryer too gets the wrinkles out lol

 

[PCeBiker]

Running the microwave and the clothes washer while charging two ebikes....

My washing machine is only 425 Watts, so I can't use the cost of doing laundry as an excuse to not do laundry.

Plenty of sun today I will run the clothes dryer too gets the wrinkles out lol

I do the same thing.
I hang my laundry inside the house to dry cuz I'm too cheap to spent the 64 cents for an hour of heat. Lol

 

[usclassic]

My washing machine is only 425 Watts, so I can't use the cost of doing laundry as an excuse to not do laundry.



I do the same thing.
I hang my laundry inside the house to dry cuz I'm too cheap to spent the 64 cents for an hour of heat. Lol

Only because the power station is at 100% and the solar coming in would be wasted may as well suck some out with the dryer lol

By the way it is interesting to watch the washer's power use. Highest about 700 watts when first starting the spin cycle lowest when filling about 20 watts for the open valve, then draining with about 60 watts for the pump. In the 400s for the agitator.

 

[mclewis1]

Interesting how we've come full circle in many ways. My grandparents had a dairy farm in the 40s, 50s, and 60s with a very limited grid connection (less than 50amps to the house - and in the 40s it was even less). So there was always the consideration about power and things like when to do laundry ... to take advantage of those nice sunny/breezy days to do the drying after the wringer washer was done. I had elderly friends (in their late 80s) who up until this year were on good days still hanging out the laundry to dry (despite a robust grid connection and plenty of money to pay the power company ).

I just wish it didn't cost so much money (solar + batteries, heat pumps, EVs, etc.) to be able to take advantage of many of those "advantages" from years gone by.

Perhaps when the price of gas has more than doubled more of us will embrace more of these older frugal ideas.

 

[PCeBiker]

I've got an apartment sized fridge that's only 85 Watts (1amp) but it's got a 3.9 amp surge current. (468 Watts)

I've got a small chest freezer with a 12 amp surge that needs its own separate circuit.

 

[usclassic]

Finished setting up the solar panels today....done for now