Recent content by Abe53

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    Cleaning Solar Panels

    Not one report states the angle the PV panels are mounted? Has anyone seen a report of production loss by dust/whatever plotted against the angle of the panels? I install panels at 45 degrees to maximize winter production and reduce risk of hail damage. (Gauteng) Reckon cleaner washing when it...
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    UPS 5 to 10 kW office type 180VDC

    Hi everyone, in office storerooms gathering dust are many old type 5 to 10 kW UPS's. These are generally scrapped as it is uneconomical to replace their 15 or 16 lead acid batteries to get maybe 10 minutes emergency power. However, I will pay double what the copper scrap is worth, since I have a...
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    Aiming Solar panels, Grog gets it wrong.

    Thanks, Benedict, my thoughts exactly, going 45 deg angle for winter sun. Also, we get hailstorms and steeply angled panels should survive better. Now off to https://re.jrc.ec.europa.eu/pvg_tools/en/tools.html (Thanks to Left of Bang for link!)
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    Aiming Solar panels, Grog gets it wrong.

    Talking to Grog this morning: in pretoria south africa what is the angle of the sun at 12:00 The angle of the sun (solar altitude angle) at 12:00 in Pretoria, South Africa, on June 7, 2025, is approximately 40.9° above the horizon. (Right so far...) How many days in a year will the solar...
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    Using pumped storage schemes to mitigate load-shedding

    If there is not a mountain close by, but perhaps a disused mine: https://www.pv-magazine.com/2025/02/17/chinese-consortium-building-1-2-gwh-compressed-air-energy-storage-project/ I wonder if one could use jet aircraft engine technology? Well developed technology to efficiently compress air and...
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    UPS Conversion

    Hello Travis, yes and no. Eaton PX9 still backing up my backup to Eksdom, but not for the novice. No problem with the 1802 x 18650 cell powerwall, which is remarkably stable. The bloody Eaton takes some fiddling to come online sometimes. Unhappy with some internal PCB power supply, display...
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    Cargo vessel collides with oil tanker in North Sea

    Maybe Russian hybrid warfare like the subsea cables cut by dragging anchors? 7m litres of USAF Jet-A1.... Solong came barrelling straight for the Stena Immaculate on a track rarely used since 2022 since many ships at anchor there. All valuable shipments might now need chaperones.
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    Escom SMS alerts - how to turn off?

    Thanks for the correction, Saor. The k in Eskom used to refer to "Elektrisiteits Voorsienings Kommissie" when it still was Evkom and it still "voorsiend" I now usually spell it Eksdom... I thought of blocking the sender number when it does not affect us, but the reported sending number changes...
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    Escom SMS alerts - how to turn off?

    Good morning MyBroadband Forumites. I would understand an Escom employee not willing to admit such here, but could one perhaps PM me the contact number of the (likely out contracted) entity running Escom SMS alerts? These alerts come in at all hours of the night and I would not mind receiving if...
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    Eskom says businesses and homeowners with solar must register or face penalties

    Good evening gents, Please help this here skeptic with a knowledgeable reply? We with solar have to jump through hoops to register our puny systems. Now, the received wisdom is that this is necessary to avoid inadvertently feeding electricity back into the line and endangering technicians...
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    Did you braai yesterday?

    Lamb bulk pack (R100/kg at our Spar) provided 4 thick chops + 2 ribs + 2 big cuts for braai. Tender and flavourful. Rest goes into split pea soup or stew.
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    Eskom says its tariffs don't reflect the cost of producing electricity in South Africa

    Fat Chance or slim chance of taxing solar self-generation. (take your pick, ironically they mean the same thing .... ;-) As with E-Toll, we will refuse to pay solar tax, maybe this will be the start of something bigger?
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    George muni requires building plans for solar installations

    Time for a hi-tech garden umbrella: Solar panels on a pole, swiveling to follow the sun. Would like to see the authorities try to collar this one...
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    Prepaid Sub Meter after Inverter

    With more information to hand, the system crystalizes out: no freebees, both gain. Tenant is liable for grid usage but owner has a solar system which he will graciously permit usage of. Since WAslayer said owner may not charge for electricity (Eskom dreads competition) owner rents solar system...
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    Prepaid Sub Meter after Inverter

    If it is a full solar system, it does not matter how much kWh the tenant consumes. However, if tenants deplete the batteries, they are in the dark till the sun comes up. That will be a learning curve, but you could give some guidance. Trust the geaser is on a time switch for daylight time? If...
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