November Journal

[maple flats]

My solar project update. Entrance finished, power co. came and connected line at the transformer. Utility is awaiting net meter (an electric meter made to run forward & backward, it seems the local service department does not stock these.) ( My solar contractor said the net meters generally take about 10 day-2 weeks to arrive, inspection and meter request was last Fri, 11/16. When they get it in a service tech will come hook it up. A regular one could not be connected because they are not designed to accept power flowing toward their transformer. My original 1480 watt system with battery backup is ready to send them power as soon as the meter is connected. The new solar is awaiting a replacement inverter, due in next Monday(?). It seems the one that came had internal damage in transit. Something about a relay breaking loose and causing damage to the motherboard and circuitry. Everything else is wired and ready. New panels are 22 @ 220 watts each, just grid tied. 4840 watts new + 1480 watts existing = 6320 total nominal. Next year I hope to do a couple of solar open houses and maybe invite some school field trips (& have each feature a syrup sales booth).
When this is all finished, I will look at converting my gas powered RO to electric and I'll more pleasantly run later at night. In the past my solar ran everything all day and about 2-3 hrs into the evening. After that I had to fire up my diesel generator and listen to that noise til shutdown.

[adk1]

I have not done a thing maple over the summer or fall. plan on getting to it once hunting season is over in a few weeks!

[heus]

Just about have all of my wood split and stacked. Got a 500 gallon stainless tank from A&A Metal Shop coming through Ray Gingerich at Deer Run Maple. I will have to build a wood frame around it. It will be my main holding tank at the sugar house. I purchased a 205 gallon Groen stainless bulk tank at Ray's auction which will become my head tank. Also have a 275 gal cage tank for reserve storage, and 325 gallon and 169 gallon tanks in the woods for gravity collection. Also have a stainless 125 gal gathering tank on order from A&A to help with the 200 or so buckets that we will still hang. Trying to streamline the sap colllection process so I can spend more time boiling.

[heus]

adk you better get moving!

[Tweegs]

Took this week off and got a bunch done.

Stack is all set now.
Cupola doors (louvered) have been fabricated, installed and are fully operational.
Winch installed on the Gator, got it pre-wired for the sap collecting apparatus, too.
Another cord of wood cut, split, stacked.

Been hunting the morning and evenings. A smallish 6 point and a nice 8 point are roaming the property, can’t get either of them in close enough for a shot (hunting with a handgun this year).

Going to leave the tubing alone until after deer season.

Whilst dinking around with the stack, I noticed that mice had taken up residence in the arch under the flue pan. Hadn’t planned on pulling the pans, but it looks like I’ll need to now.

A few things scratched off the list, one added on. At least it is getting a little shorter.

[FDA]

My solar project update. Entrance finished, power co. came and connected line at the transformer. Utility is awaiting net meter (an electric meter made to run forward & backward, it seems the local service department does not stock these.) ( My solar contractor said the net meters generally take about 10 day-2 weeks to arrive, inspection and meter request was last Fri, 11/16. When they get it in a service tech will come hook it up. A regular one could not be connected because they are not designed to accept power flowing toward their transformer. My original 1480 watt system with battery backup is ready to send them power as soon as the meter is connected. The new solar is awaiting a replacement inverter, due in next Monday(?). It seems the one that came had internal damage in transit. Something about a relay breaking loose and causing damage to the motherboard and circuitry. Everything else is wired and ready. New panels are 22 @ 220 watts each, just grid tied. 4840 watts new + 1480 watts existing = 6320 total nominal. Next year I hope to do a couple of solar open houses and maybe invite some school field trips (& have each feature a syrup sales booth).
When this is all finished, I will look at converting my gas powered RO to electric and I'll more pleasantly run later at night. In the past my solar ran everything all day and about 2-3 hrs into the evening. After that I had to fire up my diesel generator and listen to that noise til shutdown.

If you dont mind me asking what did your solar cost per watt or how long does solar take to pay for itself ? I looked into wind turbines here in Wisconsin and it would take 25-30 years to pay for itself with the current prices per KW hour. I am always looking to save some money, even if it takes a while to happen.

[PerryFamily]

Have been wiring the sugarhouse, just waiting on hooking up the generator lead. Now when we loose power all I have to do is flip my main breaker and fire up the generator. Sweet. Will be nice to not have to listen to the generator and have lots of light. Got a ten yr lease on a small bush, 150 taps max. Going to talk to the neighbor to see if I can tap his as well. Most of the wood is done but want to have plenty just in case. Still need to do some plumbing for the sink.
Will be tapping before we know it.

[maple flats]

Upon returning to the sugarhouse this afternoon, I found that the meter needed had been installed. I am now on the grid, with 1.48 KW solar, soon to be 6.32 KW solar when a replacement inverter arrives. Electrical inspection last Friday, utility connected the lines from the transformer to the meter socket Tuesday and the missing net meter was installed today. That chain of events took a lot less time than I expected. I guess that was to make up for the 2 month wait for the utility to approve the plan and quote a price. Then another 2 months to run the wires in from the road to a pole. Then in about 3 weeks time I had the rest done and awaited the required certified installer to install my expanded solar system (I was not allowed to install my own even though I had run the first 1.48KW that is now grid tied.
On another note, I got a call from a friend who was hunting at my blueberry fields. I had asked if he would try to shoot one of the does, and he did,in his first 30 minutes he hunted it. I'll try my hand tomorrow morning there too. I have far too many deer, especially does in there.