[RE-wrenches] Oversizing Solar Hot Water Storage?

2009-01-30 Thread August Goers
Hi Solar Hot Water Wrenches - Does anyone have experience or references to the results of over sizing solar hot water storage tanks? We've been approached on several instances to add additional storage (beyond the normal 1 to 2 gallons/ft^2 of collector size) to help bump up the solar fraction.

[RE-wrenches] Fulmen batteries?

2009-01-30 Thread Jeff Lahl
Wrenches, We have an installation in Burundi, Central Africa that we need to get done in a hurry and may not be able to wait to ship batts from the US.  In looking for batteries in Africa, we've found a battery called "Fulmen" that I believe is made in France.  The model we're looking at is 2-vo

[RE-wrenches] "General contractors taking a cut"

2009-01-30 Thread Dana
In 20+ years, I have only had one contractor that "wanted to run it through his books". Everyone else has had me work directly with the owner. No one has gone into competition with me, but then we have 4 solar companies in a town with 800 people, go figure that one out. We all do well n business an

Re: [RE-wrenches] general contractors taking a cut...

2009-01-30 Thread Joel Davidson
With only a few exceptions, every general, electrical, and roofing contractor I have worked with, taught, or "partnered" on a job that needed PV either stopped offering PV, stopped giving me referrals, or went into competition with me. The exceptions are a good friends. Some lessons learned: PV

[RE-wrenches] "General contractors taking a cut"

2009-01-30 Thread Nick Houser
Tump, and all I work with several builders (mostly off-grid) who surprisingly don't seem to want the "cut"! these guys are really reputable contractors who just want to be assured of a good job , on time, to keep their reputations as a get-it-done on budget guy. That's what I want, too,

Re: [RE-wrenches] general contractors taking a cut...

2009-01-30 Thread Tump
When this guy is saying this"he can sell a lot of solar", has his work slowed down so much that this selling of solar will become a sideline or is he looking for a professional that will compliment his reputation? I work w/ some very hi end contractors. One thing that my contactors are aware of is