Good morning!!!!

[sodamo]

RNK. I think you have a good plan, especially with your erratic grid.

That’s a great price on your batteries. When I was weighing alternatives that led to my Aquions I was hopeful for the Powerwall but also didn’t consider the other Lithium options ready, especially at the cost.
I could have replaced my Rolls Surettes but prices had doubled to over $2k each plus installation. A second alternative was used 2v submarine batteries for $250 each, but installer wanted over $2k for install and wouldn’t sell for self install. Hindsight either may have been wiser option. My 1st Rolls lasted 9 years and the submarine bats should last 3-5. Either a more cost effective route to where I am. If only we could turn hindsight into foresight

Racking is insane. While we often concentrate on the major components the in between parts add up fast. When I redid our PV I repurposed the original rack and added to it with aluminum, 2x2 angle and square tube for adjustable legs and stainless steel fasteners. Had I the luxury of time most likely would have gone similar route for the batteries but installation could occur as early as Wed and the rack is only part of my prep work. Minimum work for installer, delivery, wire to existing combiner, and commissioning. All with my help of course.
I would not use steel for my PV due to wx. Know it would rust out. The batteries will be in my tractorshed, protected from wx. I do plan on priming and painting to delay the rusting.

 

[LouNY]

Years ago when building battery racks for ups systems for process control rooms we used welded angle iron and square tubing,
after priming and painting we sprayed on rubberized auto undercoating,
never saw any corrosion on those racks several years later when going back in for upgrades on the controls.

 

[Looking4new]

jbrumberg; "The way my Tundra is acting I think I will be taking a picture of it on the AAA flatbed taking it to my mechanic."
When I first read your statement I was expecting 'scrapyard' instead of mechanic.

 

[jbrumberg]

RNG- Thanks for the warning on Waze. The one time we did not re-route as Waze advised a 6 hour PA trip took 11. Things were not helped by a motorcycle fatality on a tertiary road. The poor guy; he T-boned an oncoming car that turned into his lane. The driver of the car never saw him. Your generator and solar back ups make sense for your needs as David's off the grid power sources make sense for his. Both setups are fascinating.

RonJH- I feel badly for Sassy and you. Poor Sassy. I do not believe in them nor do I think that it would work with Brogen with his animal aggressiveness. A shock would probably just agitate him. I read some caveats on one particular brand. They actually admitted that their unit will not work for some breeds (Huskies in particular). A local lady who owns Bull Mastiffs told me they really did not work on her dog . Her dog got the shock and took off and would not return to the 吐ence.

Bill- Thanks for the laugh. Who knows maybe the Tundra will be heading to some scrap yard after the visit to the mechanic . I think/hope it is a wheel bearing failing w/o the usual failing bearing noises. I've already replaced both rear wheel bearings before the Tundra hit 60K. Now I have +80K on the odometer.

 

[jbrumberg]

I just can not help myself.:embarrassed: The first weather maps that make sense for the Thursday-Friday timeframe.

 

[txdon]

Ron thanks for the update on the wireless fence. Too bad about the reliability and lack of shocking control. I think Whipper would respond the same way as Sassy.

David my Sunday afternoon H&F have come to an end now that the weather is just too good to sit inside.

Kyle I wish the golf cart people would soon come out with a battery that can do 30 miles on a charge. I'm still waiting on technology before I buy a gasoline model. I'm thinking a Prius battery might work.

 

[Looking4new]

jbrumberg; I had to replace both front wheel bearings on the '13 Dodge with only 78,000 miles on it. Yes, I switched the fuel management system readout over to mpg, while keeping the speedometer in k/ph.

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

Costco had a lot of this second dose of the vaccine. The first shot didn't have negative side effects, but both my wife and I were feeling flu like all day yesterday after this one...might have been the combination of getting the flu shot at the same time.

Just this past week, I got my flu shot and the pharmacist tech said I was eligible for the shingle shot but the head guy said better to parse them out a week or so.

What I was doing wrong finally dawned on me.

LOL!

Ron thanks for the update on the wireless fence. Too bad about the reliability and lack of shocking control. I think Whipper would respond the same way as Sassy.

David my Sunday afternoon H&F have come to an end now that the weather is just too good to sit inside.

Kyle I wish the golf cart people would soon come out with a battery that can do 30 miles on a charge. I'm still waiting on technology before I buy a gasoline model. I'm thinking a Prius battery might work.

Obviously, car companies are placing their bets on lithium. One big advantage besides weight, is that it will hold a charge a long time if there are no drains.

Ron, glad you have family there for support. Prayers.

At church today, our pastor got the phone call about his aged, bed ridden mother about to pass. She's been in this condition so long that she cried to him that "the Lord must've forgotten about her". She hasn't been able to do much of anything for a while, and was ready to go to the Lord. She has many other family members there in person. They put him on speaker phone and he said his words to her in private. He has peace about it he said.

 

[txdon]

New store opened up this Fall down the road on IH35.
This was in the foyer. My kind of store.

 

[RedNeckGeek]

If only we could turn hindsight into foresight

Well, instead we can benefit from our shared experiences, even if they were somewhat less than enjoyable or successful, and I very much appreciate you sharing your insights and plans.

So far, the county here hasn't levied any requirements on the battery rack, but they did insist that the solar panel grid be approved by an engineer with a wet stamp and signature. That cost $900, and now the panels specified don't seem to be available from the supplier any longer. In fact, the supplier seems to have gone MIA and is no longer returning phone calls or emails. I share your pain, but of a different sort and a much lower magnitude.

But back to the batteries, with each battery weighing 124 lbs., each leg of a four post rack would be carrying close to 800 lbs. I'm planning a rack with two rows with twelve batteries per row. The space where the batteries will go is 89" wide, the batteries are 7" wide, so that leaves 5" for the legs. I have a bunch of 1"x2" steel tubing that I think would make great racking, so I could have legs at each end and one in the middle as well, reducing the load on each leg to about 500 lbs. The weight between legs would be 744 lbs. which sounds like a lot, depending on how many lateral supports are used. I'd like to just use two, but may end up with three to be safe. I'll get some strength from the 2x4 studs in the wall as well, to which the rack will be bolted. But again, I'd like to see what you end up with, and listen to why you did what you're doing.