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<p>The unit is rated to the appropriate IP weatherproof reading - in fact the fancy casing isn't as waterproof as the innards. So as far as being outside goes, it is covered</p>
<p>
I think humidity will be a factor, but its effectively a sealed lithium battery. So provided you're not buggering up the temperature factor too much - 50C max operating - you should be fine.</p> -
<p>Apparently this can be retrofitted to an existing system which should make my parents happy. Their solar system and associated tariffs provides free electricity, which isn't bad considering multiple widescreen tvs, aircon and pool. Father wanted to store the energy rather than feeding it back into the grid.</p>
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<p>And in other news: fuck.</p>
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<p> </p>
<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.techradar.com/news/world-of-tech/tesla-powerwall-mark-ii-confirmed-for-2016-launch-by-elon-musk-1314184'>http://www.techradar.com/news/world-of-tech/tesla-powerwall-mark-ii-confirmed-for-2016-launch-by-elon-musk-1314184</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p></p><p></p><blockquote class="ipsBlockquote"><span style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:'Open Sans', sans-serif;font-size:16px;">ast year saw the introduction of the </span><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.techradar.com/news/world-of-tech/tesla-powerwall-a-home-battery-with-a-green-vision-1292613'>Tesla Powerwall</a><span style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:'Open Sans', sans-serif;font-size:16px;"> – a wall-mounted rechargeable lithium ion battery with the ability to power your entire home, powered entirely by solar energy.</span>
<p style="font-family:'Open Sans', sans-serif;font-size:16px;color:rgb(51,51,51);">And while the first version of the Powerwall has only recently gone to market, just like Tony Stark and his various armors, Musk is already working on a next-generation model of his zero-emission power solution.</p>
<p style="font-family:'Open Sans', sans-serif;font-size:16px;color:rgb(51,51,51);">Speaking at an event for Tesla car owners in Paris, Musk told attendees that plans for a second version of the Powerwall are already on track for a 2016 launch.</p>Elon story short
<p style="font-family:'Open Sans', sans-serif;font-size:16px;color:rgb(51,51,51);">“We are coming up with the version two of the Powerwall probably around July or August of this year, which will see further step changes in capabilities,†said Musk.</p>
<p style="font-family:'Open Sans', sans-serif;font-size:16px;color:rgb(51,51,51);">Though Musk did not elaborate on what these changes are, he did reveal that<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.techradar.com/news/car-tech/tesla-plans-5-billion-gigafactory-for-car-batteries-1229810'>Tesla’s Gigafactory</a> will now be producing its own battery cells, instead of using the ones manufactured by Panasonic the first time around.</p>
<p style="font-family:'Open Sans', sans-serif;font-size:16px;color:rgb(51,51,51);">“Moderate improvements†to the technology were teased, and it is expected that the second generation Powerwall will boast a longer lifecycle.</p>
<p style="font-family:'Open Sans', sans-serif;font-size:16px;color:rgb(51,51,51);">You can watch the full video of the Musk’s talk in Paris below.</p></blockquote> -
<p>Great podcast here with Lyndon Rive talking about the economics and business of SolarCity in the US.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://ecorner.stanford.edu/podcasts/3557/The-Science-and-Incentives-Behind-Solar'>http://ecorner.stanford.edu/podcasts/3557/The-Science-and-Incentives-Behind-Solar</a></p>
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<p>I was thinking of a similar business plan a few years back - should have got off my arse and done something about it</p> -
<p>You'd assume most of Australia & a lot of NZ the eventual home setup will be really good solar units, a powerwall & effectively zero input from the grid. Even more so once you tie it all into well designed houses with great insulation, underfloor heating etc.</p>
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<p>Whats the insulation like on your house Nick? Double glazed etc?</p>
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<p>Thats weirdly the bit that always makes me go "maybe next year" when I look at building a self suffecient home. The powerwall tech is more or less there, Solar has come way down, but I'd want to incorporate REALLY good insulation & yet I have a thing for full length glass. And fuck me, double or triple glazed glass will do very bad things to your budget. </p> -
Unfortunately no double glazing - don't get it a lot in Australia except for noise related reasons, or architect designed bespoke jobbies.<br><br>
However, I have ensured the insulation in the ceiling (batts) are of suitable size and coverage. The original owner didn't put batts over the garage, so that was a massive suck hole for the thermal status of the house, which I corrected. I also insulated the inside of the garage door, which faces west, to limit heat transferred into the house from the metal surface late in the day.<br><br>
The house was built with wide eaves - very important in Australian heat - and the roof (corrugated steel) had a pretty big pitch on it. I installed a solar powered extractor fan that keeps it pretty nice up there and on the hottest days, the fan works hardest, so it balances things nicely and stops more reflective heat against the ceiling.<br><br>
The air con is a ducted system in the whole house, which isn't the most efficient, but is zoned to do either the east or west (roughly), so that minimised wasted energy to as large a degree as can be expected as the sun moves.<br><br>
I can take it a step further and get exterior blind or shutters, but I think I've spent enough money for now -
Have just seen consumer group CHOICE Australia say the payoff time for the PowerWall, with 4kw solar panels, of 23 years.<br><br>
LOT of assumptions made. Look forward to proving them wrong. <br><br>
Today was a new record for my solar panels: 32.68kWh generated. Wish my fucking meter was changed over so I could at least get some cash for that -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="NTA" data-cid="555892" data-time="1454405836">
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<p>Have just seen consumer group CHOICE Australia say the payoff time for the PowerWall, with 4kw solar panels, of 23 years.<br><br>
LOT of assumptions made. Look forward to proving them wrong.<br><br>
Today was a new record for my solar panels: 32.68kWh generated. Wish my fucking meter was changed over so I could at least get some cash for that</p>
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<p>Setup a website detailing stuff you are doing. Have links to retailers. You can get that down to 15 years with click thrus. This stuff is going to get more & more mainstream & folks will always want to have a read about what people are doing with their houses, I've book marked half your stuff & I'm probably not building for 5 years </p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="gollum" data-cid="555896" data-time="1454406885">
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<p><strong>Setup a website detailing stuff you are doing. Have links to retailers.</strong> You can get that down to 15 years with click thrus. This stuff is going to get more & more mainstream & folks will always want to have a read about what people are doing with their houses, I've book marked half your stuff & I'm probably not building for 5 years </p>
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<p>Great idea - you should be all over this Nick. Add a few sneaky links to the fern for shits and giggles too!</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Paekakboyz" data-cid="555962" data-time="1454451499">
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<p>Great idea - you should be all over this Nick. Add a few sneaky links to the fern for shits and giggles too!</p>
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<p>If I reference "interested fluffybunnies in FNQ" you'll know I'm speaking about Mariner ;)</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="NTA" data-cid="555967" data-time="1454452314">
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<p>If I reference "interesting fluffybunnys in FNQ" you'll know I'm speaking about Mariner ;)</p>
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<p>fixed</p> -
<p>Not sure if its geo-blocked for some, but last night on ABC their resident science show, Catalyst, were looking at home storage. Besides a lot of stuff I've covered here, they had a more in-depth look at Reposit, and also the future of batteries: zinc-bromine.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://iview.abc.net.au/programs/catalyst/SC1502H001S00'>http://iview.abc.net.au/programs/catalyst/SC1502H001S00</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p>If you can't see it - the Zinc-bromine stuff is great, because its quick to charge and about as efficient as lithium, BUT being liquid in the current configuration, not very small or practical for some application.</p>
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<p>Except some smart cookie at Sydney University has thought about making the liquid into a gel - WHICH IS ALSO FIRE RETARDANT - which means they can make the scale much smaller. And cheaper than lithium.</p>
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<p>Advantages? Well, what about 5 minutes to charge your smartphone, on a battery that lasts days instead of hours? Could be integrated into buildings and make superstructure a storage medium in itself. Fucking rad.</p> -
<p>Overcast nearly all day today, still drew off just over 14kWh - enough to fill the battery almost twice, considering efficiency ratio.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Have signed up with Reposit, and will change energy providers to one that has GridCredits as part of their scheme. In essence, this is the "selling" bit where I get more than the 5-8c / kWh off my current energy provider. When an "event" happens, I can sell for up to $1 per kWh.</p>
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<p>It'll be interesting to see what we use out of the battery. It is quoted as "5 hours of the average house" but what if they mean the average house in the USA?</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Dunno. Sitting tight, waiting for the last technical bit to be fitted. Then the stats will flow for all devices.</p>
Solar Power and Storage - a nerd's view