If propane is preferred get something like this.
Posted on 08/16/2020 10:07:21 AM PDT by rktman
An electrical engineer once proposed an energy storage system to be constructed from off-the-shelf components available in the 1980’s time frame. It stored the energy as a very high velocity flow of ferro-magnetic material subject to control by applied magnetic fields. A recirculating flow would be directed within an evacuated tunnel similar to that which contains particle beam experimental equipment, such as is housed at CERN’s location in Switzerland.
The input and extraction of energy would be accomplished by linear induction drive units similar to certain forms of magnetic levitation trains, perhaps most similar to attractive levitation units as explored in Germany. Quasi-static magnetic fields would provide support of the rapidly moving energy storage medium against gravitational loads, and deflect the material around two turning points to achieve a race-track like pathway.
The indications were that this could likely achieve a velocity of 11 km/sec which would provide for an exciting event if control ever lapsed.
If propane is preferred get something like this.
He’s not doing it primarily to go off-grid. His issue is that he’s in an exurb development where for some reason people keep taking out power poles with drunk driving or where storms drop the power lines, and it can take a while for the power company to get around to fixing it. During the tornadoes last year he was down for two weeks - so he got tired of that and now has a house that can run by itself for at least a while if grid power is interrupted.
When off-grid his house is a lot better than your cousin-in-law’s. He has instant water heaters everywhere needed, so overall consumes less power, no problems with showers or clothes washing, lighting, etc. He also invested in largeish battery banks and supercap banks.
They are good for near-term charge/discharge cycles in relatively quick succession - like charging up an electric vehicle with some of the day’s power collection, which is what my friend uses them for in part.
Forgot to mention - I don’t know anything about any tax breaks he got but that wasn’t the point of his project and it didn’t come up in our discussions.
I’ve had a feeling for a long time that the push for electric cars is to control our mobility. Can you imagine having to depend on the inadequate power of the power grid to charge your Tesla?
Sounds like your friend has developed a solution, perhaps somewhat pricey but effective, to deal with a special case. I recall reading when rural electrification came in there were concerns about reliability in isolated areas, perhaps prone to violent weather and other factors. I remember my Mom telling me stories of going out to her grandmother's farm in what was then rural NJ. The first thing the visitors had to do was pump water from the cistern and haul it into the house, if the cistern had enough water pumped from the well by their windmill. When they got REA power, the first thing her grandfather did was tear down his windmill. An electric pump was all they needed to pipe water directly from the well into the house, which they had plumbed for running water. She said her grandmother never dreamed of having such a thing (running water). Sure, they had an electric bill to pay every month, but saving the wear and tear on their aging bodies was worth it. So I understand the value in having reliable electricity. If you can get that off-grid and have the wherewithal to do it, well, I say, God Bless America, we're free (for now) to spend our money as we please.
Except that only affects battery-electric vehicles and not hybrids or hydrogen fuel cell (which are electric drive) vehicles.
Yes, they can - see the Tesla Superchargers and other industry rapid charging stations. A current Model 3 can charge from 2% to 100% in about an hour at maximum charge rate and have a nominal range of ~300 miles when done.
Does that range include the use of environmental controls? I just made a 1200 mile trip down south and don’t think I could have made it without a/c.
Yes, though it varies by the type of climate control engaged - air conditioning is less power hungry than heating. Real world experience seems to indicate that with full AC, it has a range of 250-300 and with full heat somewhere around 200-250.
The guy you were debating almost assuredly had a grid tied solar system which runs his electric meter backwards during the day that the power company by law has to pay him for effectively banking kilowatt hours during the day. At night he then plugs in and uses those banked kilowatt hours and gets to charge his EV effectively for free. If he owns the PV system not roof leases it. California and Texas both have net metering laws that require power grid operators to take and pay a offset rate for solar power from residential systems into the grid.
I have a 15kw grid tied system on my roof that runs my meter backwards my home in DFW is at 67 degrees at night and 70 all day. I pay 3.6 cents a kilowatt for every kilowatt I use net from the panels all surplus is put into the grid that the company who is leasing my roof space from me gets payed for.
It cost me zero dollars for the system or the install the company was going door to door asking home owners to lease our large open sky roof tops in exchange for selling us power at a 20 year fixed rate of 3.6c per kWh any usage over what the panels produce on a MONTHLY basis is charged at 3.6c plus the oncor delivery PUC charge of 3.4c the cheapest 24 month commercial power contract in DFW for my zip code is 9 cents per kWh over 2000 kWh a month.
I love my grid tied solar system it cut my power bill by 1/3 and it peaks out right now in August Texas heat I have been using 80kWh a day and the panels have been making over a hundred in the bright August Texas sun so every kWh I use is 1/3 the commercial rate here. These power partnerships are win win for the home owner I had ZERO out of pocket cost to cut my power bill by $200 a month in August even in January when I only use 550 kWh in a month not 2500 the panels easily exceed that in a months time. I have never had to pay the PUC fee since the panels always cover my monthly usage patterns. I had added after the install by a licenced electrician a whole house grid disconnect breaker this is so if the grid goes down my inverters can operate in stand alone mode most grid tie systems do not by default have the stand alone mode and grid breaker I made sure my contract allowed it they had to write in the provision. I also have a generator that is backfeed into the house main panel for nighttime use or if the sun is cloudy that is natural gas tied. We had an ice storm a few yeara ago the grid was down for almost a week my house and my neighbors across the street were the only ones with power during the day the panels feed all my needs and at night I ran the genny. We have gas heating and tank less water heater but strangely this house didnt have a gas line to the kitchen which is weird since the water heater is less than 8 feet from the common wall of the stove.
What’s your stove top size 30” or 36”?
You should get a commercial grade induction drop in cook top. I upgraded to a Viking 36” beats gas cooking hands down for temperature control and can boil 3 quarts in less than 4 min on power boost mode. Then go to softest simmer at sub 300 watt. Once you go commercial grade induction one will never go back to gas cooking. I only use Matfer Bourgeat, De Buyer, Lodge or Le Crueset cookware. Got exposed too and worked for a number of years as a sous chef in between college degrees. One of the kitchens was a all electric power with induction burners and Matfer Bourgeat pots and pans I fell in love ever since.
This is the cooktop I had installed
https://www.build.com/viking-mvic6365b/s1509716?uid=3540330&displaypla=1
Do those must-take laws affect the marginal rates paid by other customers? I was curious about how those laws affect overall costs because when I used to do energy analyses for one of my colleague's consulting firm we looked at the type case for the PPA negotiated for electricity from the Solana solar thermal plant, which has a LCOE of 19.22 cents/kwhr compared to the then-going rate of 0.28 cents/kwhr at the Palo Verde hub. But that is industrial-scale solar-thermal and not backyard PV. But Arizona's RPS and must-take laws allowed the higher-cost generation to be mixed into the overall prices paid by customers.
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